zell_pop1

LC Gunfish in chartreuse or ghost blue shad.

Of the lines mentioned by the OP I like Siege. It is strong, casts for good distance and has good knot strength with the trilene knot. Use Elite if you need to use it on spinning, or you just like a more manageable line but with less abrasion resistance. Both lines are worth trying out. Now my .02 about Defier Armillo, it is like Siege but better and Defier Shooter is like Elite but better. Personally I like Shooter better than Armillo as it casts a little further. McCoys and Gamma are good copoly lines too.

When I visited my friend in sw Florida and did some inshore fishing I used a Citica E and cleaned it after every use and had no problems, so I think the newer Shimanos should be fine.

Still like shorter rods, in rivers you need pinpoint accuracy in casts. Someday I want to go around the south and catch some of those Shoalies/Red Eyes.

Hildebrandt use to be made in my hometown in Indiana and I use to catch alot of fish on em, then Yakima bought them and are made in Mexico ?

What kind of bass?

I mostly fish Shimano and Daiwa reels in the 100-150 range, but the South Korean made Pflueger reels I had that were in the same price range were just as good. Now I think I want to try out the Lews Kvd reel as it matches my old 6"8" Falcon lowrider rod.

I have a Team Daiwa S green handle 6'3" topwater/twitching rod. Just curious if this is the same rod or if it is more of a target spinnerbait/buzz bait rod. The TD rod is MH/Fast with a very soft tip.

2nd the smaller Spro.

I am going to 2nd the thinner line. I have 2 6lb lines at home-Pline Cx which is .0084 " and Trilene XT which .0100", the CX cast will cast further.

What reel and line are you using? There is more to distance casting than just the rod.

The Shad Rap is an all time great, but the Bomber Flat A catches em too.

I catch more on the SK Ocho as well.

I agree but I use the xcalibur one knockers.

Are not the TO cranks the exact same thing they use to call RC cranks?

This^^

This is why I do not use screw lock hooks, instead I use the Damiki weighted hook with the spring that Texas rigs it.

Maybe a Trion. I had one in a 5.2:1 gear ratio. Good reel IMO.

I suggest the regular old $100 SLX. They cast great, set 2 brakes on and practice and after a short time you will be happy.

The original Ardent reels were pretty good. I still have my C400 as a backup reel. I sent it once to DVT for a cleaning and I believe he even posted on here it was like a Curado on the inside. It was a $150 reel when it was brand new. There was a review on Tackle Tour of the x1000 which was biased because Daiwa/Shimano was not on the reel. Sad they were not a success.

$30 Kast King Hiwassee. Not as clear obviously as the Costa 580G Jose glasses I busted , but pretty good and impressive for the money.

Are the spools the same part#? I am thinking about pimpin out my regular SLX reels.

I like the Defier lines too, but it was not one of his choices. I like the Defier Shooter better than Armillo for reaction baits though

This ^^

That link claims it is saltwater proof, is the US 150 version also that way?