castaway

Raul posted it not too long ago. The alpha is cheaper bought in Japan. http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Daiwa-Casting-Reel-Alphas-103-Type-F-JAPAN_W0QQitemZ140058137698QQihZ004QQcategoryZ36146QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem Ivan

I couldn't figure why I never had a broken warranty rod. With the exception of a Castaway rod that was my fault, I never had one break before.It was my fault so I didn't send it in. They probably would send me a new one in return,but I can't ask them to do that, it was my fault.I realize I am a lucky person after all, even though I can't hit the lottery. No lottery winning= no new arsenal of Loomis rods & Shimano reels. :'( life is still good.I still get out and fish alot. Ivan

It is a Kalin grub impaled on a 1/4 oz. leadhead jig.It ain't fancy, but it works. ;)Ivan

I found the reel at Ginrinpech. I think I would be better off buying the Scorpion MG1000 reel if they are close to being the same. Ivan http://cgi.ebay.com/SHIMANO-Casting-Reel-METANIUM-XT-RIGHT-2005-JAPAN_W0QQitemZ140063043001QQihZ004QQcategoryZ36146QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

Thanks guys, Dammit, he always tries to get me. Lol.I will look elsewhere. I wish I hadn't fished it all day.I really liked the reel alot. Ivan

I have a chance to buy a Shimano Metanium XT reel, but I am not sure if its a deal ?My friend has it in mint condition with all the paperwork, oil, wrench, extra weights in the box. He bought it for $200.00, looking to get his money back, he says its too long for his liking ?I fished with it today, like it alot, it does seem long for I usually wrap my finger around the front of the reel, but I could get used to not wrapping it around.It's light weight, very smooth, casts very well.My question is ,am I going to take a beating if I buy it for $200.00 ? I gather it must be a Japanese Shimano version ?Ivan

A Lucky craft LV-0 , Aurora gray is my favorite color. For Megabass, I haven't had a chance to really fish with them yet.I bought the Deep X200 series crankbaits, Live X levianthan, flap slap so far. I took the levianthan and the DeepX200 to the lake to test them and I caught a largemouth and a smallmouth while testing them, its difficult to ask anything more from them than that. Ivan

The toothy critters will cut 50 lb braid off as easy as can be, when jig fishing. I wish there were a solution to the problem, I lose jigs topwater, traps, spinnerbaits every year to the critters, but I can't get myself to tie a steel leader on and fish with it.Ivan

Raul,Congratulations, Your bait monkey and mine are two different income levels. I am slowly collecting a few Megabass, I did get a Flap slap lure in gill color. Ivan

Welcome, I primarily fish 2 sizes of jigs, a 1/2oz. & 1 oz. jigs.I really like 2 brands of jigs All terrain grassmaster jig & Keystone Picasso jigs.They both have a recessed line tie and they fish thick weeds really well.I like a Gene Larew salt craw, Zoom super chunk, super chunk jr, salty pro chunks.For color, I don't have any preference for the most part.I do think Black/ blue & black/red skirts contrast each other and will work the majority of the time in the majority of water color and fishing conditions.I agree with KU Bassmaster, there is no substitute for a sharp hook.

Its a small world, I was also bidding on that very same lure.That lure fished at night has got to work for every predator that swims, especially if you have Northern pike, muskys in your lakes. Its basically a Japanese version of the Heddon crazy crawler lure. Ivan

The Cotton Cordell Minnow spot rattle traps.The Dalton special. I have picked up dozens of the minnow spots still new in the packs, but lost my last Dalton last summer and I haven't ran across any since. Ivan

I use a Falcon 5 power 7' MH rod with a Johnny Morris 5.2:1 reel with 17 lb Stren heavy cover line. Ivan

False.I always use a peice of water proof first aid bandage tape over my knot to secure it from slipping on the spool. I do not use mono for backing, if I can afford a Shimano reel, I can afford a full spool of braid for it.In my opinion the mono backing provides a cushion in which the braid can bind into easier on hooksets, where as a full spool of braid will wrap tighter on the spool so it doesn't bind in as deep. I am not always correct though.Ivan

I use the Matzuo circle hooks.They work extremely well for me.I have used the Owners and Daiichi circle hooks ad I think the Matzuos work just as well. :)Ivan

Sufix Siege, Or Mustad Thor worked well for me .I would like to buy bulk spools since I have so many different setups. Going back to Ande Back country line. The only reason I left it was because its not available in my area, Its a saltwater flats line.It handles very well and is strong, great priced. If you want to try a Japanese line, give Jinkai a try, very nice line, but a bit pricey. Ivan

Hardbaits cranks, Rapala, Manns, Bandit, lucky craft, evergreen, megabass Traps- Spro, manns, Bagely,rapala,lucky craft, Bomber,luhr Jensen,Bill Lewis,old cotton cordell minnow spots,Yo Zuri, strike King topwater, Spro, lucky craft, bass pro shop , excaliber , heddon Soft plastics, Yamamoto, Al's custom hand pours, Zoom, Culprit, Gene Larew Jigs- All Terrain grassmaster, Picasso, Teitjon jig Rebbasser made, Teitjon, Hart, picasso, Leverage, Fleck, Strike King, Hildebrandt, Stanley. For not liking spinnerbaits, I got alot of them. Ivan

Yes I have a few, they are something you don't hear of very often. Ivan

I agree, the color will work fine .I really like the Zoom super chunk jr trailers better, but the salty chunks will work . Ivan

Chartreuse blades, or white painted blades are the ticket to help me catch fish on spinnerbaits.I am not sure whether the subdued flash in the very clear water I fish is why, or whether its the overcast days that make them sucessful for me.I am not a very good spinnerbait person,in fact I suck at using them, but I have more confidence throwing a painted blade vs a shiny plated blade. Ivan

The Advantage and the Revo S fall into the first category.I own and like the Revo S model as I stated many times before.Abu really changed the centrifugal weights. It has a 6 pin centrifugal weight system , that imho works very well, has 9 bearings including the roller bearing.is very smooth and very low profile.I had a Fuego that was small and low, but I think the Revo is a hair smaller yet.As for the advantages, I had 2 when they were at bass pro shop for $60.00 a peice.I thought they were a great reel, but they seemed very wide to fish comfortably all day long.The thing with all of the Daiwas I have used is the old insta clutch feature is still in the reels, just not advertised anymore. This allows you to disengage the reel by pushing the thumbar and engaging the reel by pushing up under the thumb bar with the same hand postion,not having to turn the handle to engage the reel. Ivan

Which brand of spinning reels has integrated dingle-Scheafers as part of their design ? ;D I liked Sufix siege, but wish I could buy it in bulk spools. I think I am going back to Ande Back country saltwater flats line. It worked rather well in freshwater for me. Ivan

Where the hells the posse at ? Buy shimano oil, lithium 777 grease. That should cover it. ;D I am guessing that should cover it, I do use Abu Silicote oil on the line pawl assembly, but I am not always correct. Ivan

I also think the Berkley series one rods are a great rod at a bargin price, except I don't own one.My friend has a couple of them, waiting for him to want something different. ;D The Abu Garcia Revo S is also another great buy.Another one is the Browning silaflex glass rods. They are $29.99, extremely good product for that kind of money.Ivan

Jim, great post.Keithscatch, your an absolute asset to the site, thanks for being so kind. Avid , congratulations on your good Karma baits. It seems as though good Karma attaches to the lures given away in sincere generousity. Ivan