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5 walmarts around my area, none of them carry anything other than ugly sticks and lightning rods!

Depended on the reel. On my 4500C's a slight difference in distance. On my Ambassadeur 2500c's, not distance increase. On the modern C3's a tremendous increase in casting distance. Its when I started experimenting with increasing the amount of bearings it gained smoothness.

Ive run 4lb. on old Ambassadeur 1500c's to throw 3/16oz and even 1/8oz. with the wind. My rod is a Loomis Kokonee ultralight. The rod had everything to do with it.

Tarpon are considered so valuable by the madison ave. rich boy anglers that it is vogue to not lift them or handle them excessively thus removing their life giving slime coat. I live 3 minutes from Boca Grande Pass that used to be the tarpon capitol. Its so full of 20ft. + sharks that it isnt prudent to get your hads that close to the water. About half the tarpon caught there get bite in half by marauding hammerheads. FWC also dictates how you cant and how you cannot handle them. They recently were even elevated above game fish status and are now called "sport fish". Jew fish cannot be removed from the water at all and many guys who've posted pics doing so on forums have been cited by FWC monitoring the internet. Saltwater anglers are getting to be like fly fishermen in their elitist mannerisms. They have there own lines of specialty clothing and drive around with huge "Salt Life" decals and Loomis fear no fish decals covering the entire rear windows. Comes in handy for the car burglars to target them, sort of like how burglars target trucks with NRA stickers on them!

Since the OP has clarified that as a beginner he isnt willing to pay over $115, all the Curado, Core and Lews talk is just bandwagon dribble. You can flip and pitch just as good or better with the spinning gear you have now. You really arent missing out on anything. If you gotta fit in look at the Revo S, 4600C4 or Caenan. Stay away from the big box stores in house brands unless they're near by because a regular reel repairman wont touch them or get parts for them.

For the Money. Like best buy. Like worth the money. Like not over done or over priced. I'd say at this date and time, none of them are worth their price. Unless your into brand worship and just must adore something just for its name....or....just have to have that color coordinated reel/rod combo to look like your bass 'pro' idol.

I use 4500C's for bass, channel cats, snook and baby tarpon. Ive never had the narrow spools capacity hamper me. Even the occasional Jack or little spinner shark doesnt spool me. Theres no way I could spend a day chunkin' lures with a 5500. It isnt the weight, its the width's affects on comfort.

Hey Jeff how is it in Jax? We are HOT down here. There isnt any emmrod love on this board. Still want to get one to keep behind the seat of the truck. Welcome to the forum....

Snook tear up a jerk baits finish after just a few catches. I found the generic lure bodies that netcraft sells to be a economic alternative and you can put on your own preference of hook. The cost its low but color choices are limited. On the plus side there colors copy lucky crafts. Mirrorlure Mirrodines and Catch 2000 are good durable cheaper alternatives too as is the original Rebel Minnow.

Yes my hate for all things Shimano has gone that far....

GLX and they didnt even bother to wrap the cork in plastic? Even put the sticker right on the cork.......

Maico1 is that tool holder a popsicle mold? That's an ingenious idea, wish i had thought of that before. Maintaining your reels is both satisfying and prudent. Spinning reels can be though but most baitcasting can be done by its owner. Many tutorials to help you step by step on lots of specific models can be found at alantani.

I pitch alot from the bank with both casting and spinning gear. Often its the only way I can cast due to brush along the bank or behind me. Its worth learning.

Very nice combos hooligan. Welcome to the boards Levimkay, do you fish Lehigh and Golden Gate?

Why 8lb leader with 20lb braid? Where I fish, I'd loose almost every lure.

Ha Ha... thats like the flats wanna be's down here. Ranger flats boats decked out with 20 buck walmart specials!

Im not short but prefer shorter rods for all techniques. Its more about the conditions you fish in. If you fish from a bass boat a long rod may be fine, but in a yak, canoe, little jon boat, its a pain. I pitch with a 5'6" pistol grip rod if thats whats in my hands when the target appears. I think pitching has more to do with the free spool ability or your reel than it does the rod anyway.

Most striper plugs are heavy enough as it is. I wouldnt want to spend any length of time chuckin' heavy bucktails or big topwaters on a heavy or tip heavy rod. I'd see where you'd want to invest in a lighter balanced rod to go with that heavy a reel, for you own enjoyment and comfort.

Pre spawn was very good to me and they have been very fat. Found 2 beds last Sunday, hoping to find a good bite this weekend. You up north guys think its great but we are paying for it. Its been in the upper 80's with humidity as thick a butter. We havent seen a winter now for 2 years. It would be nice to fish and not be drenched in sweat, have to wear a buff, gloves and still get things burned off by the doc every 6 months.

Cabelas Euro style rod called Predator and similar steelhead rods have been highlighted in alot of In-fisherman dvds and magazine articles. Theres lots about using those kind of rods in various Catfish In-sider guides. I'd think the Predator would better balance a 6500 than the rest though I threw a guides that had a 5500 on it and it was perfect.

Ive been using 2 spinning models for well over a year inshore fishing. I prefer them as I feel they are not tip heavy compared to other comparable priced rods. The new version currently on the shelves have better guides but a poorer reel seat. The originals used Fuji seats.They also have metal winding checks, a nice effect St. Croix doesnt even use on the LTB. TFO has a super warranty and service not that Ive needed to use it. I'd say the quality is better than same priced Abu and Daiwa rods.

I go to the BPS at least once a month, usually twice. Ive had a preferred points card since the early 90's. I use my BPS visa when I shop there and still they can never send me a catalog. In Fl. its like no one wants your business if your a freshwater fishing customer. To get a local shop to order bass oriented gear is impossible. Tackle warehouse scares me, I could spend myself into a divorce if I spend any length of time on their site.

Ive tried the Berkely they sell and BPS and it crapped out fast, didnt seem to be made to cope with the weight of even a 1/4lb. spool. If ever I have $ laying around to burn Im gonna try the wooden one most fly fishing catalog's sell. The home made one Ive built imitating it, lasted longer than the Berkely but still suffered from me being the builder!

There are also many worm and senko imitations that work well. Check in Flytyer magazine. There are even jig n pig flies.

You wont find that much talk on using the fly here. I use a 6wt now and dont agree with the 'experts' that a 8wt+ is needed. Ive had much more luck with streamers, e.p. minnows and glass minnows. You'll find many who use strictly the fly at warmfly and thebasspond.