Tywithay

Look for the old model Daiwa Exceler with magforce Z. Great little reel that's on sale for around $50 at some places.

Performance is great. It's very smooth and casts unbelievably well. A few cons, the drag star is very cheap looking (hoping the KP star will be available); the reel foot is not recessed, so it sits fairly high on the rod. Despite how small it is, this makes it palm a little funky. The side plate has a very sharp edge to it, which actually makes it somewhat uncomfortable during certain applications. The knobs have a nice texture and the cork looks cool, but they're very awkward shaped because they flare out too much on the ends. It makes holding those uncomfortable when doing finesse techniques, like weightless plastics, because I don't really grip the whole grip, I usually lightly hold the ends. Overall I am please with the reel, but it's far from my favorite reel. Fortunately, I got it pretty cheap (relative to the MSRP), but I wouldn't even consider paying more than $300 for it.

True. The rating itself was created by Hexcel, and it is their system for modulus of graphite. Unfortunately, other manufacturers have started using the same rating, which doesn't necessarily coincide with the rating used by Hexcel.

Same Speedcast from the BB1 Pro. Carbon sideplates. 12/120

Daiwa's system is similar. The inductor cup moves on the spool shaft closer to the magnets, using centrifugal force, the faster that the spool spins. The external dial moves the magnets to give more or less initial force.

Daiwa did. MagZ/3d use centrifugal force via magnets.

I've used Trilene Armor Coated. It's ok, but has a lot of memory.

The latest addition.

I'm interested in hearing about the *** Muse and Archangel rods. Haven't seen anything on those yet.

7.5oz

Not really deceiving, because they put the material that they actually used on the blank. If it uses IM10 graphite, they can list that on the rod. What a lot of people don't understand is scrims, resins, and tapers, have just as much to do (if not more) with sensitivity and action as the graphite.

No. IM7 and IM8 are literally useless, unless you're comparing models from one manufacturer. One company's IM7 is a high modulus, sensitive rod; another company's IM7 is just a number they use to sell more rods. There's no universal number between all manufacturers.

I throw my worms and jigs on the same rod. I would probably use the Powell around moderate cover and the Smoke in open water.

I've never had any issues when I am wading and my reel gets dunked. I might rinse it off if I am fishing really nasty water, or a sand pit, but usually I just fish with it. If it feels rough, clean it. Otherwise, it's more than likely fine.

The brake dial is positioned the same as the Tatula.

1) *** 2) Tatula 3) KLX 4) *** 5) Orochi XX/Helium3 6) Legend Elite 7)NRX/Megabass

If you take a sharpie and color over the technique on the old rods, they're just fishing rods. Doing away with that will improve sales, because some naive people seem to think you can't throw a senko on a spinnerbait rod.

If you can't cast accurately with a spinning reel, it's not the reel. You can feather the line coming off the spool just like your thumb on a baitcaster. It's not difficult to place 10 casts within a few inches of eachother.

Too strong of a hookset. Braid is very strong when pulling, but has very little shock resistance. Have to use a leader to absorb the blow, or lighten up on hooksets.

Agreed. Just wish the Supreme xt and Patriarch continued the progression. They feel like the $70 reels.

New from St Croix. Triumph X: http://www.tackledirect.com/st-croix-triumph-x-rods.html Avid X Spinning: http://www.tackledirect.com/st-croix-avid-x-spinning-rods.html Avid X Casting: http://www.tackledirect.com/st-croix-avid-x-casting-rods.html Legend Trek Travel Rods: http://www.tackledirect.com/st-croix-legend-trek-rods.html

Defect. Probably a small nick in the blank during transit.

Not during ICast. Just the Terez, Adrena, Expride, Crucial, Clarus, a few saltwater spinning reels, and Calcutta Conquest; from what I was told.

I didn't even think to ask.

Spiral wrapped rods alleviate this issue. I agree though, I don't find any loss of power with a spinning reel. The key is finding spinning reels with a low gear ratio, like 4.8:1. The higher speed spinners do have a little less nuts when it comes to dragging heavy fish or baits.