cart7t

I don't perceive them that way at all. I've bought and sold plenty of reels over the years and the Revo's are every bit as good as the competition. Granted, anything LP put out by Garcia is going to get a lot of scrutiny given that companies pathetic offerings in that area of fishing reels in the past but it's clear they decided to pull out all the stops and produce a reel that's not only a match for the competition but is also beating them badly in the the price ranges offered. Of course there's the durability question. I've got a couple of year old Revo S reels plus a couple new ones. I can't tell the difference. The year old reels function just as well as the newer ones. Abu seems to have come up with a solid performing reel that doesn't rely on high end materials or engineering to produce the same feel and performance as the higher priced competition. If these Revo's hold up as well as their round counterparts and are as easy to service these things will be long term reels for anyone who owns them. I fully expect to be retiring my Revo reels in 10 or so years, in good condition, when something better comes along. Now, let the fighting begin! ;D

It's 85 degrees, hot and windy out today. What are you doing putting your boat up for winter? ;D

OK, so it's a picture of a model boat. Anyway, strakes are those horizontal ridges in the hull you see in the picture. In a typical boat they help provide lift and aid in deflecting spray out away from the hull when the boat is underway.

I just can't imagine spending nearly $50k for a Nitro.

Yep. Same ol scam that's been running on Ebay for awhile. I'm sure it'll get pulled down.... only to reappear again.

Your problem is not motor noise but turbulence and air bubbles running across the face of the transducer while your underway. The only way to correct this is to find a spot on the back of the transom Where it will pick up correctly. Any kind of hull strake or a rivet, if it's an aluminum hull, can produce enough turbulence to break the smooth flow of water across the transducer. You could also try an thru the hull transducer if you've got a fiberglass boat.

After getting bitten by a brown recluse, I'd say those for starters. Followed by all manner of wasps and hornets.

I'm starting a new personal policy to never argue with the thread starter. Good post. 8-)

I just recently sold one used. Messed around with it for awhile. To be honest I was rather underwhelmed. For the price, the reel just didn't seem as solid as I thought it should. I didn't care for the twitchin bar at all.

Someone just had a couple of those listed on the flea market wondering what the value of them was. Not really sure on the collectability of that particular Storm model. There are some on Ebay but most have been going for around $4 - 6.

I remember launching one time at the Meramec river marina in Fenton, MO. That ramp was always kinda slippery as well as steep. The river had been flooded just a day or so previous and the ramp had mud on it. I started backing down when I began sliding. I thought the truck was a goner. I jack knifed the truck and the wheels caught on the curbing. Had I not done that I'd have launched the boat and truck at the same time. My friend had to pull me up with his 4WD.

Thems purty.

Trolling without Shimano's.

The BPS extremes I've owned in the past were great rods, very sensitive though they were a little heavier than other rods in the same range. I'm sure the PQ's are even better. I prefer the power hump grip and still have 3 BPS crankin sticks which I really love.

I'm not familiar with electric outboards at all. I know that Cabela's has quite a few offerings from Minn Kota on high powered electrics providing massive thrust. More than enough to push a 16 foot aluminum bassboat along at a good clip. As for the boat, I don't know if you can buy a standalone Tracker without a motor, you'd have to check with a dealer. Most of the others like G3, Lowes, Landau, etc. will be easier to deal with on something like that since they're not primarily package boat dealers. Let us know what you figure out.

I was going to send my stars out and have them polished but if it's going to intimidate people.......... well, I won't.

We could probably see whatever it is alot better if that truck wasn't in the way.

I C-rig them and flip or pitch them. Good bait.

That G.Loomis info for broken rods should be a sticky IMO.

I'd choose the Champion, bias of course. You're fishing Toledo Bend alot which can get rough quick. The Basscat will provide the most stable fishing platform but they aren't great in the really big chop. Champion wins on that mark but the 183 is an 18 footer with a 93" beam and only rated for a 150. That seems a bit light though all the remarks I've seen about that boat is that it runs like a dream with that motor. The Skeeter will probably be the fastest of the 3 just due to it's narrower 89" beam. That said, you're losing some space with that narrow beam. I'm guessing the Basscat will be the most expensive, the Champion behind it and the Skeeter the cheapest of the 3. Layout wise they're all pretty close. I've never really cared for how a Skeeter is designed both esthetics and the interior layout. Not a knock against quality, I've just never cared for the look of those boats. The Sabre is an old hull design, almost dated but of the three it's probably the best built. It's also very fishable. Not that I'd say there would be a quality issue with any of those boats, there probably won't be. Then it comes down to dealers. Of the 3, which dealer is the best? That's who I'd ultimately make the decision based on.

I've missed all those deleted senko posts. What was the general consensus for the "Best Senko knock-off"?

I'm a member of a couple Open wheel (Indy car) racing forums. Whether you follow the sport or not, that form of racing has been suffering from the equivalent of a strike for the past 11 years. There are basically 2 factions of fans who DON'T get along with one another. The forums for those series are basically one thread after another of posters attacking one another. I have to check my attitude at the door before I come in here but let me say that this place is nothing compared to those places. I've also seen a couple of competing Florida fishing forums challenge each other to a fishing tournament and then things really got out of hand with the trash talking as members crossed over onto the others board and it went haywire. One side contacted the employers of the other side showing the kind of posts they were making while they were supposed to be working, one site got shut down permanently...it got ugly. Reality is, when you've got 11,000 people that check into one place, disagreements are going to happen. Personalities are going to rub. disputes are going to happen. It's the job of the forum members to try and think twice before hitting the post button. It's the mods job to recognize the posters who continually keep rubbing people the wrong way and then ask them to tone it down. If they don't, then vacations are in order. Honestly though, this place is relatively peaceful. I've seen much, much worse.

how much?

Wow that was a suspensful post I'm trying to take the time to keep everyone on the edge of their computer chair with each and every post from now on.

Don't get me wrong. I don't use the ultra cheap Normans, I prefer the Professional edge baits. IMO, the zinc coated hooks on the cheaper Normans are junk and you can't really ever get them sharp. By the time I stick some premium hooks on the lure I'd be better off just buying the more expensive model that already has them on it. If the original poster is referring to those cheaper Normans he may be right. I haven't used them since the Pro Edge series came out so QC on those things may not be up to snuff all the time.