Packard

I'd look at the Dobyns, Savvy, St Croix Rage, St Croix Premier, and the Shimano Crucial. But if you are set on a 2-piece then your options are a lot more limited. I see at BPS that they have the Abu Garcia Veritas in 2-piece in 6'9"MH/F and 6'6"M/F. But that is all I could find that's decent in your range on BPS. I suggest you go with a one piece because 2-piece casting are rare.

They gave you a new PQ, right? The way you worded it in your first post made it seem like you were asking if you had to exchange for a PQ or if you could exchange for a Carbonlite for example. If you meant, do they give me the same exact reel you sent them, then it wouldn't be an exchange, just a repair.

BPS is almost always good about returns. As long as you have the name of the person who bought it, which most likely is yourself, they can look it up in their system and if everything checks out they will give you a new PQ. Why would they give you a different reel?

Heard they fall apart easily but if you take care of it, it is a good price even if it lasts half a year.

I can recommend for the baitcasting setup a St. Croix Premier 6'6" M/F and that would pair nicely with a Shimano Citica or a Lews Speed Spool, possibly a Shimano Curado. That will put you at around $200 retail but you can snag them for cheaper for sure. I use this combo for spinnerbaits, square bills, jigs, and a lot more. For spinning gear I would recommend a Bass Pro Shops Extreme 6'6" M/F with a Shimano Sahara. I use this for wacky worms, t rigs, jigs, top water, and other baits that are harder to use on a baitcaster. I even use it for dropshotting. This one will run you about $180 retail.

Looks like a fun outing. Nice diversity of bass too!

Cool idea, very overpriced though. I do all my fishing from my kayak and haven't encountered a problem with my frabill rubber mesh trout net. I can even get nice sized pike in there.

I'm pretty sure he is using the Google Earth application but he explained how to change the time right.

Beautiful fish, can't wait to do some fall bassin'.

Unless the hooks are super cheap and dull, I don't see a reason to replace them. Your not going to lose a fish because of your treble hook unless it is worn out but it's your money.

Funny story, I went into BPS to get a new rod and asked the guy what he recommended and he took me to the XPS Extreme rods and told me all the specs and then told me to put the tip up to his throat to test the sensitivity. I laughed at first thinking it was joke but it's as good of a test as you're going to get while in the store.

I've seen lots of problems with the newer revos. If you want a revo, check out the older skeet reese revo. Otherwise any shimano or lews reel in that range will do.

I've held one and they feel sensitive just putting the tip up to someones throat and having them talk to feel the vibration. They feel a bit better than the berkley lighting rods.

Hopefully this will help. http://www.tackletour.com/reviewmattluresrods.html

Stradic CI4 or the new Stradic FJ, love my stradics!

Shimano Citica 200E with a St Croix Premier or a BPS Extreme. Own all of the above and couldn't be happier.

Worked great, my lake doesn't have big enough fish in it to use 2oz+ swimbaits.

Why would you want to use it? It has to be pretty old with old guides and is probably heavy. Even if it is in good condition it would be worth more as an antique than for personal use, Heddon didn't make the best of rods.

All of those will work. Use the one that you aren't using for anything else at the time.

This, I bought one for $50 on ebay. I don't have it anymore because I wasn't very successful on swimbaits.

Good luck, heck of a deal if it performs fine.

I wouldn't recommend a reconditioned rod. I went to a flea market that had reconditioned St. Croix Avids, LTBs, and premiers for $30 each. Picked them up and they were crap.

Maybe this website will help. http://www.lurelore.com/hedrods.html

The BPS Extreme's are nice rods, I own two of them. But why compare them to a Cumara?

I love my premier, I don't have a dedicated purpose for it but I throw Lucky Craft RC1.5's, Lucky Craft Sammy 85's, Rage Craws, Lucky Craft Pointers, and the occasionaly swim jig. It's a great rod and I think it is a sensitive stick in that price range.