deep

Agree with what everyone else said. I'd never use anything stronger than 6 lb test (except braid of course) on my spinning rigs. KVD L & L also helps. Personally I like to set the drag as tight as I can without damaging the washers.

Powell makes some nice rods, no questions. I only wish they had some more lengths/ actions in their endurance spinning line-up.

Not to hijack the topic, but I'd like to know a bit more on this if anyone has got any info.

Better abrasion resistance than mono, better knot strength and castability than pure fluoro.. The higher price is worth it IMO.

I researched a lot, and finally decided to stay with Gary Dobyns. He did design the Powells right? I'm getting myself a Dobyns Champion 703SF, or a 763SF. I haven't decided on the length, yet. But there's plenty of time to think about that. I need to wait for the Memorial Day sales..

Do you mean this rod: Cumara Spinning Rod 7'2" Med Xfast, 6-12 lb, 1/8-3/8 oz?

DVT, the rod will come from TW or some other online store. So much as I'd like to, I won't be able to do store-fishing. By finesse, I mean slow-moving, bottom-bouncing soft baits. Hooligan, that's interesting. Thanks for the info. I'm not dead-set on an MH, but the heaviest lure I'm looking to throw is 1/2 oz, and most will be around 3/8 oz.

A sub $100 reel, probably Sedona or Sahara, in 2500 size.

Skip the first 11 posts. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Looking for reviews on this Cumara in particular (what techniques you use it for, balance, weight, etc), and on Cumara spinning rods in general. I found a couple of reviews on TW that said this rod is too tip-heavy. Any comments on that?

Okay, got it. Thanks everyone. I'm making a new thread on a Cumara I'm looking at. Let's see what folks have to say.

Ahhh, got it now. Thanks for the clarification.

Javelin200, you say " I'm more inclined to choose a rod based on its designation for a specific technique". But I'm not looking to drop-shot at all, I'm casting lures. Might have to find the cash for a Cumara after all. If anyone is wondering why I'm considering Powells and Shimanos only, it's because I've handled and fished with their rods a lot, and I'm used to them (lures, power, action etc).

Nothing much wrong with the Powell, except that I had to replace the tip guide; and it's been a long long time since I bought a new rod The 7'2" medium Crucial might be a tad underpowered for senkos? It's higher lure-rating is only 3/8 oz. I'm dying to try out a Powell Endurance, but it seems it's as sensitive, but lighter than the Max series.

Okay folks, I know the topic of finesse spinning set-up has come up quite a few times recently, and I went through most of those. I'll be throwing 5" senkos, fat ikas, and little finesse jigs. The rod I have, and the one I'm trying to sell, is a Powell Max 7'3" M/ XF, rated upto 0.5 oz. I want to spend around $200, preferably less, and I want another Powell or a Shimano (crucial or cumara). If I'm not convinced that one of the Shimanos is significantly better than the Powell, I'll probably buy another Powell. Questions: Casting distance: I know the issue is over-rated, but it's important to me. My Powell is 7'3", and I've gotten pretty used to it. How much casting distance will a 7' rob me of? Fast vs extra-fast: Which one? The line will be Daiwa Samurai. Lure rating: A 5" senko + hook weighs around 0.5 oz, and my Powell throws it without getting over-loaded. What is the higher lure-rating I should be looking at? 0.5 oz? or 5/8 oz? Thanks.

Just called Powell and explained the problem. They suggested I replace the whole guide, and are shipping a replacement guide for free. Great customer service!

I see. I'll ask Powell about that too. Thank you.

J, I will call Powell once the clock strikes 12.00 here (9.00 am PST). I scoured their website last night, but found no way to purchase the tip separately. I just bought some hot glue too.

I was cleaning the guides with an ear bud dipped in alcohol yesterday, and the tip ceramic insert popped out, just like that. Must have taken a beating sometime previously, as this rod is about a year old, and I use it for 50% of my fishing. I put the insert back in the guide, and pressed it in with a pair of needle-nose pliers, and it seems pretty stable now. I looked up online, and evidently this problem is not very uncommon. Should I just replace the whole tip guide (seems to be the general consensus, and an easy and cheap repair job) or fish with it as it is? Thanks.

I'll start. Do you mean a spinning/ open-face reel by "spinner"? Tangles might indicate that the lure you are retrieving is too light, and is creating slack while reeling in. Or maybe, you are using a line size that's not within the reels capability to handle (for example, 12 lb mono on an UL trout rig will simply not work out). Casting is more of a function of the rod and operator. The lure must load up (bend) the rod to create the spring action that would throw the lure. What is your set-up (rod/ reel/ line), and what lure are you trying to cast?

My only plastics/ T-rig/ (finesse) jig set-up is a Powell Max 7'3" spinning, medium/ XF with Samurai. Can't tell you how much I love it.

Now that you mention them, I do remember seeing those on a TW ICast video.

Ikas have been good to me lately. Caught me a total of 13 bass over the last two evenings in four hours of fishing. And that's off the shore. Let your imagination run wild with these things. Texas-rigging the wrong way (like the others mention) is my go-to rigging with these, always weightless. What happens then is that the ika pendulums away from you as it falls. It's also a great skipping bait, for which purpose I use the 4/0 or 5/0 Mustad twistlock (or whatever they call it) EWG hooks. Other similar hooks will probably also work. Once you cast it, and let it fall on a slack line, I like to drag it on the bottom, or sweep the rod tip. I don't really fish it like a senko or a T-rig, ever, although I hear that's it's an alternative to the senko. P.S. It's funny that I never seen an ika knock-off

I haven't been fishing long enough, but GYCB senkos, ikas, and Matt's baits are the 3 only (sort-of) expensive baits I'll buy. And compared to some SBs, Matt's are actually much cheaper. So actually it's only the senkos and ikas. I'm not a tournament fisherman, and I find it hard to justify $15+ on a lucky craft or megabass to catch 20 fish when I can catch 15 on a Rapala. JMHO.

I bought 2 Pinnacle Perfecta MH cranking rods last season, and still have one of them. It's difficult to lose a fish on these rods. These are 7'8" long, and suitable for .75 to 1.25 oz deep-divers, irrespective of whatever the lure rating says. Retailed for $170 when I got them.

Good show buddy. Next you might want to get some rattle-traps (if it's not too snaggy), a few spinnerbaits, and a couple of topwater poppers. If nothing is working, pick up a bag of GY senkos or a bag of GY Fat Ikas and fish them slowly.