OnthePotomac

I fish my spinnerbait on 17lb XL. For the last eight years it has worked well. I pick it up when it goes on sale.

I have al three of my Chronarchs on BPS 7' MH Carbonlites and could not ask for a better set up. And I got the rods on sale with $20 off. I fish plastics, spinnerbaits and swim baits with them.

I should have added that I use Oust Met Oil on my brake pins, Works great, at least it has for the last 16 years.

No less than a medium heavy rod.

I only use braid on my frog rod and it has been on three years.

And I recommend that you place a tiny drop of oil on the break pin(s) you decide to use. It facilitates the brakes sliding more efficiently. Until the new Chronarch and Curado series this year, all the Shimano brakes were as you have in the Caenan. Try starting with two. Enjoy.

Pull the line out of the reel for a distance, wet a cotton ball with KVD Rod and Reel Conditioner then pinch the cotton ball on the line while you retrieve it. Works for me for Potomac grunge. Clean as can be.

Fifteen years ago I bought a Cabelas Tourney baitcaster MH 2-piece for a trip and it is still going strong.. I can't believe how light that rod is.

I would say the Curado 70XG, which is 8.2:1, but regular price is $199. If you shop around you can find them for less.

You will love this little reel. I left the gear grease for the fall after the season and just cleaned the spool bearings and re oiled since everything else is a retrieve function and not a casting function. It also pays to remove the spool, vigorously wipe down the spool shaft and run a pipe cleaner through the pinion gear to ensure there is no oil or grease on either. I started with two brakes on, then moved the exterior dial up until I had the perfect casting line control. I have my 70XG spooled with 12 flouro and use it for Senko fishing on a 7' MH, fast tip rod. I thought my 50E's were great, but this reel with 8.2:1 is really great. It handled a 6lb 8 oz bass with no problem. Last tip is to put a drop of oil on a QTip and run it around the brake ring to prevent brake chatter. At the same time, put a tiny drop on the brake swivel points.

Only clean and oil spool bearings on new reels. Everything else is only affected on retrieve anyway.

BPS 7' Med Carbonlite baitcaster. Works very well and won't empty your wallet.

Well, 15 years ago I bought a Cabelas MH Tourney Trail casting rod two piece to take to Florida for a family visit and it is light as a feather, still going strong and I could never tell it was two piece while fishing..

I may be wrong but I don't think there is a decent rod made today which is not immune to "braid wear" on the inserts. This is according to my rod building friends, who are surprised the subject keeps coming with the insert materials used today.

I use the 12lb. You can't go wrong for the price in my opinion.

I second closing the bait by hand and ensure that you have tension on your line before you start your retrieve. If you have a limp line in the water, just place the line between your fingers to create tension before you begin reeling.

Both reels are 6.5oz, but my Curado 70 is a little smaller than my CI4 and the difference is the material used in the Curado reel body. The CI4 body has no metal and is a carbon infused material, but bigger than the Curado 70.

Just told a rep at BPS HQ that the Curado 70 will not be available there until April. And me with gift cards. Bummer!!!

Am I correct in that Gamma is really expensive?

That is a bitty screw for sure. I had to get a 00 Wiha screw driver.

Been using BPS flouro for years and being the cheap skate I am, I only buy it when it goes on sale. Beginning next Friday, if you buy two spools you get one one free. I have always found it to be very reliable and castable and it sure takes a beating on the Potomac river.

Invest in a line counter that clips to your rod. I think they are around $20 at BPS. I could not live without mine. Just reverse it on the rod for spooling on your reel. They measure feet and take the guess work out of spooling.

I second that ProQualifier and Carbonlite rod combo at Bass Pro shops for $99. That is a deal and a half for a nice reel and rod. That ProQualifier is a very popular, reliable reel for the money and I am a big fan of the Carbonlites. Great fishing tools without going broke. The sale starts Friday.

WOW! 110yards of braid. That is a football field long of 330 feet. I usually spool on no more than 40 yards and it is there for ever it seems. As suggested above, just do the math for the amount of backing needed.

Yes the 7.1:1.