elkriverangler

Sorry to hear that, I was considering the Lew's Tournament awhile back but found a Revo SX at a good price and got it. I have handled all the Lew's except the Tournament Pro and they seem like real nice Reels. Glad you were able to send it back. This is the first negative I have heard about with the Lew's, hopefully it is just an isolated incident.

My 3 are a lot different than most of you because I am primarily Fishing a Medium RIver for Smallmouth out of a Kayak. 6' Medium Light SC Avid Spinning with Shimano Sahara 1000 Topwater Jerkbaits Plastics other than Senkos 6'3 Medium Light XF SC Avid with Shimano Stradic 1000 Senkos 6'6 Medium Falcon Bucoo BC with Revo SX Spinnerbaits Crankbaits These are all I need for the River Smallmouth Fishing I do. I will occasionally fish a Small Lake nearby for LM and I use the Bucoo/Revo SX and a Abu Garcia Rod with a Revo and I use a 6'3 Medium XF Crucial with a Sahara 2500 for Spinning Needs.

I agree with the Stradic recommendation. You can pick up the FI Version for $150 or less. I am not sure if the new FJ is any better than the FI but I have an FI that I really like. I handled a Smoke at GM awhile back. It's a nice looking smooth Reel but I am not sure I like the Porting cutouts on the Frame

If you like Shimano you could go with a Sahara Reel, really nice Reels for $70-$80. For a Shimano Rod there is the 6'8 Dropshot 2011 Model Shimano Crucial that is listed pretty often on ebay that usually goes for less than $80. The new 2012 Shimano Clarus is another option for around $100.

The Elk has been higher than normal all Winter down this way even without Rain or Snow. Being below the Dam puts us at their mercy and I am not sure what they have been doing up at Sutton this Winter but the Water has stayed higher than normal even after the Lake Drawdown. Glad to hear you are catching a few on the Shad Shallow. I have not fished Hard Jerkbaits in the past, only Flukes, but I am going to try them this Year.

Just wondered if anyone is using the X Rap in the Shad or Shad Shallow version and how you are doing with them. I read a lot of good things about the X Rap but not much about these. I picked up a few of these as well as a few X Raps and plan on using the Jerk Bait more this season. Are these baits as effective in Late Spring/Summer as they are in Cooler Water? I primarily fish a Medium size River for Smallmouth. I love fishing Plastics, Topwater and Spinnerbaits for Smallies but want to add another weapon to the Arsenal.

smalljaw67, You should have been a writer, just reading your post got me all pumped up. I fish almost exclusively for Smallmouth on the River I live on here in WV (Elk). My favorite methods have been the Topwater bite with Floating Rapalas and Rebel Pop R's. When the Topwater bite is not on I love that little Tap you get with a Wacky Rigged Senko. These have been my top producers by far in the past but I am going to try some Jerkbaits this season. I picked up some X Raps and X Rap Shads I am looking forward to trying out. I have only fished soft Jerkbaits (Flukes) in the past.

River Fisher 13, I see your favorite Water is Greenville Creek, I fished that Creek a few times when I lived in OH before I retired here in WV. That is one pretty little Stream. Practically all of my Fishing is done from a Kayak for Smallies on a Medium Size River. My most productive Lures by far have been 3 and 4 Inch Senkos (Yum Dingers and BPS) much less expensive than Yamamoto), Best color here is Carolina Pumpkin with a Chartreuse Tail ,Rebel Pop R in 1/8 OZ Foxy Momma, Gold/Black F9 Floating Rapala, and 4" Berkley and Kalin,s Grubs in Smoke and Green Pumpkin. Budget wise these may not be the least expensive but they are worth the price for what they produce.

I can't say about the Carbonlite at all, I never have handled one. The Mojo I have handled and they seem to be a pretty decent Rod although maybe a bit Tip Heavy. I do have a Falcon Bucoo in a 6'6 M Baitcast Rod and I really like it. It is extremely light and handles 1/4-3/8 OZ Spinnerbaits and Cranks well. The Ratings on the Bucoos may be a little lighter than other Rod Brands. The 6'6 is not a stiff Rod at all, it has more of a Moderate Fast action.

I don't have any experience with the Saros or the FJ Model but I have fished with the Sahara's for the last few Years and just last year got an FI Model in the Stradic. The Sahara's are a very nice Reel for the Price but the Stradic is a very sweet Reel. I would love to try a CI4 but for now the Stradic serves me well. I have had no issues with it at all. It cats well and is very smooth.

Update on the Revo SX. The Brown truck delivered it today and I got to try it out with some Lawn Casting. DVT's and others tips were spot on. once it was dialed in it threw 1/4 Cranks and Spinnerbaits great. Excellent distance and no hint of a Backlash except for the one time I forgot to reset the Magnet after changing Lures but that is operator error. Just what I was looking for, a Reel that will cast light lures a good distance. I like my Revo S but this SX is a cut above for Casting distance and Smoothness. Thanks for the tips.

I don't own a Rod over 6''6". The majority of my Fishing is River Fishing from a Kayak and the shorter Rods work better for me. I will normally have 3 Rods, a 6'6 Casting Rod for Spinnerbaits and Cranks. a 6'3 and 6' Spinning for Senkos and other Plastics as well as Topwater. A lot of Guys that fish from Kayaks prefer longer Rods but I prefer the shorter Rods.

I don't have this particular Abu combo but I do have a Revo S. The Orra is pretty similar to the Revo, it shares the same Centrifugal Braking system. I like the Revo S pretty well. I am not sure what Rod is in this combo but I have one of the old Model Abu Vengeance Rods in a 6'3 Medium. It is their entry level Rod but it is not really bad at all for a cheaper Rod. If the combo Rod is on level with it you are getting a good price on the combo and like Delaware Valley Tackle said with the Orra MSRP of $99 you are getting the Rod for next to nothing. You can upgrade the Rod later if it doesn't work out for you.

Thanks for the quick reply. So if I understand you are saying the Mag Brake should be turned off every time you change a Lure, then set the Cast Control for that Lure and then reset the Mag Brake?

I have just ordered a 2012 Revo SX. I have read on this and other forums about the SX being finicky about the Cast Control and Mag Settings in regards to Backlashing if not set properly so I have few questions to those that have the SX. Is the Backlash issue more common with the older Models or have there been problems with the newer Red/Black models as well? I read that there was a Magnet upgrade on the newer Models. For those that use the SX without any Backlash issues are there "tricks" to the Settings that make them different than other Mag Brake Reels? Do the SX's handle 1/4 and 3/16 Lures pretty good?

Way to go. I love Fly Fishing for Smallies with Topwater. I do some Flyfishing for Trout but much prefer Smallmouth.