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Anyone try Tuffline Duracast? Its supposed to have slight memory to it to act more like mono to avoid tip wrap. I see FishChris endorses it as one of their prostaff.

JoePhish, dont forget here in Fl. using a rod and reel to catch bream for bait is the law. No sunfish caught by a net can be posessed or used for bait. Ive always tried to stick with smallish bream like just palm sized. Like the 'silver dollars' we catch for snook in salt. Bass viciously attack tiny mayan chiclads and baby tilapia too.

That *** and others have the Stradic FI and Sustains on sale tells you a new one is coming out at ICAST. Ive got the 4000 and 2500 size CI4. The 2500 size is all you'll ever need for bass. Ive gotten reds and snook to 20lbs on it and line capacity was never an issue. The 4000 is a tank solid but as light as anyone elses 2500 reel. Its a no brainer and is my main saltwater reel. Check the 3000 size for a good compromise if you wish. Only bad side with Shimano, I still cant get parts for the CI4's. Well over a year since it came out and still no parts available. That is crap. If you fish for big reds and snook you will eventually need replacement eva grips. Cant even get a new chromed rear body bumper piece for the 4000. Next spinning reel will be a Penn Conquer.

The speculation is the Curado becomes the new Citica in the line and the Chronarch becomes the Curado. Makes sense in a way since the Chronarch and the Core were price wise so close. Surely the Chronarch has suffered in popularity from the Core. Some Dicks stores here in Fl. have the Stradic marked down to $100 so perhaps a new Stradic is coming out to.

Im not sure if being made in Malaysia has much to do with it. My CI4's are made in Malaysia and have handled very big saltwater fish smoothly. I have had issues with the eva grips coming off their spindles, but this year Ive had issues with everything I have thats Shimano. Cant get parts for Curado D's anymore. Cant get parts for CI4's yet. But Ive learned other brands arent the answer either. Maybe I'll just give up conventional fishing for fly fishing.

Saltwater flats anglers like to soak the nose of the fluke in vegetable oil overnight. It toughens up the plastic to last longer. I had trouble gut hooking bass even with the circle hook until I found a non off set hook.

Curious, why did your E series Curado need a new bearing already ?

I hate braid. Im constantly buying it, hating it then removing it and putting mono back on. I put 20# 832 on a Stradic 4000 for saltwater use and finally am happy with braid. Its quieter, rounder and has body. It doesnt sink like I thought it was advertised to but using a 6ft leader anyway, its been fine with topwaters.

That Floogers handle is a hundred times better than the non handle on my Shimano CI4's. I dont understand what the handle fuss is all about, its the same dimensions as a ABU casting reels.

Oh man. Those 4500 CB Ambassadeurs were super smooth. The gears meshed better than anything made these days. But the Curado 100D stands out too, just became a part of your hand and not plasticky feeling like the E's. I'd say I'd have to take a 4500C prepped by hookless with bb cog and old style dual cast control knobs.

I prefer to use light braid with my spinning gear, mostly 5 and 6lb braid. I had the same problem but found if I doubled the braid before making the uni knot cured the problem.

The FI isnt that outdated. Larry Dahlberg just had the FI field testing show as a season opener last year. As far as the Eva grips goes, Pure Fishings idea of a squarish more man sized grip is light years ahead of the nub on my 2500CI4. I treat my reels better than I treat anything else I own and it only lasted 3 trips before a Snook torqued the Eva off its spindle. Its a great bass reel but even with its beefy drag its outgunned by saltwater fish. The FI 2500 size, not so. Im impressed by the Patriarch just toying with it at BPS but even my freshwater is salty here so its a no go. Its full mag. construction is just as solid as any Shimano, so is the Supreme XT.

What a shock that on this board you ask a question about brand a and brand b and everyone wants to talk about brand c. Oddly enough there are brands other than shimano, who'd a thought. Rods are purely a subjective thing. I know for myself,I target species other than just bass. I fish from both shore and kayak/canoe. Typical rods these days are made for just Mr. Bassmaster at the bow of his glittery bassboat. Decide what you need and go from there. Personally I am happier with the TFO rods Ive gotten recently than the Cumara rods Ive been unhappy with for over a year. They have shorter rear grips and shorter lengths available. I dont want a 7'2" rod with a flippin and pitchin rear grip. So find what you like and go from there. I also have Veritas rods and love them ttoo, I would recommend either.

The Snagless Sally from Hildebrandt is a traditional florida bait from way back. The Redfish buzzbaits offered by Strike King and Terminator are found easily in bass pro's saltwater catalog. Ive had alot of luck with them rigged weedless with more appropriate bass colors like black or pumpkinseed.

I use 20# 832 on a Stradic Ci4 4000. It keeps its color a little longer than other braids. Quiet through the guides for sure. I havent noticed it sinking though and thats why I bought it. It floats just like performance braid.

Ive used 5# Power Pro and 6# Sufix braid on my 2500 CI4 with no problems or wind knots. Just in the last couple of fishing trips have I had problems with breakage but I can pin point it to Knots with the leader that I didnt double the braid with. Ive pulled out 8lb. Snook with the Sufix and horsed them alot considering the test of the line.

All you have to do is remove the rotor to access current models like the Stradic.

I dont care what the specs say, in the hand they're lighter. Its all about balance and tip heaviness. Oh I forgot, Im speaking well of a product not made for a technique specific app by a worshipped manufacturer. Careful you'll become a troll like me if you speak highly of something cheaper than Shimano and never......never speak of carp. That'll make you a troll for sure, unless your fishchris.

Well, I on the other hand actually have and use one. No its not a Loomis, thank God. The wonder boy enthusiasts at that other site say its only so so no Steez. Its not supposed to be. What it is, is tough and strong. Lightweight for a $99 rod. Lighter than my Vendetta's. Lighter by far than my Mojo's. Better, they are available in a wide range of lengths being that there are 6ft and 6'6" models. Something rare these days. Better still, the rear grips arent ridiculously long like so popular now. Since not everyone fishes standing at the bow of a million dollar boat, its nice to have a grip length that works well from sitting in a canoe or kayak. So far mine has fought and landed tarpon to 15lbs. snook over 30" and a 18lb redfish. I'll happily keep my no loomis tough rod. Loomis is famous for customer service, the series of rods has been named by Field & Stream as their top pick. TFO has rod series that feature famous anglers names like Kreh and Clouser.

MediumHeavy is right about the quality control from Abu. I examined 6+ Veritas on the rack at Dicks before finding one that didnt have blemishes in the eva. All of them had black scuff marks on the white blanks. Im amazed at the Veritas lightness but you gotta use a magnifying glass. I have 2 Mojo's and they're heavy duty, heavy weight and well made but both were made in USA at the beginning of production. Sadly the cork rear grip is too short on the casting models. I cant get a good grip for a one handed cast.

Ive seen your show. I applaud your involvement with wounded soldiers.

I broke 2 Cumaras this last year, one of them twice. They all had rod jackets on. Theyre great for in a boat locker maybe on a bass boats deck. They didnt save me from rough co anglers feet. Theyre great to avoid lure and line tangles. Everyone will say otherwise but you might think about a travel rod. Theyve come a long way as far as maintaining action is concerned especially for a power fishing rod.

Of those choices, the best feeling and most sensitive is the Veritas. I just got a 6'6" at Dicks last month and its incredible for the price. I cant say I feel its tough enough to be called a beater though. If your rough on a rod like you say the Mojo is tougher. Ive got 2 that get mistreated by my boat partner alot. Still if you want a really tough rod to not worry about Id get a Ugly stick or Volteus and learn to cope with its weight and lack of sensitivity.

Theres some talk about it on that site we are never to mention! Dicks also was clearing out Sufix Performance Braid, it was almost gone at 18 bucks for 300yards! I wonder if they will be doing away with it for 832.

25% off at Dicks now. You'll most likely find it cheaper in the next few months as Shimano disposes of it to clear way for the new Power Pro to come out at Icast. That said, dont buy too much of it now and wait for the new stuff. Hopefully it will be so newly improved that it will surpass 832. Power Pro was like the first, so it isnt odd to expect that it is the least advanced. They did have a reliability problem involving weakspots. There are hundreds of posts about it to read on florida sportsman magazines forum.