thehooligan

Spool spacers. Add 1 or 2 if your line isnt laying correctly on the spool.

KTF

First high end jdm rod, i had a majorcraft corkish which i was pretty impressed with for build quality though. The rod came in a few days ago when it was 28 degrees out with 25mph winds but i had to get out there, lol. Was so windy i really couldnt get an accurate feel for the rod. So, i went out shortly today, 44 degrees and no wind. Spooled up some #7 sniper and hit the road. Rod is rated 3/32 - 3/8oz. I wouldnt throw heavier then 1/4oz hardbaits, and 1/16oz plastics. Its ideal for my two go finesse baits, 3-4 inch wacky senkos, and 1/16oz flickshake.

Definitely jigs/plastics. I used to use mine for frogs too.

Completely agree

^ Nice combos

Pretty much what darren said. I only use 10lb braid as well on 1000's. 6lb copoly/mono would be the heaviest line id use on a 1000.

Use it !! Reels are meant to be fished, not just looked at

Agree with this, met xg for that fast gear ratio, bfs xg for lighter baits, and core for just a good in the middle option. Or wait for the new 2015 Aldebaran.

I use the hedgehog tool. Works great on shimano spools, unfortunately with daiwas it can scratch the edge of the spool.

Hedgehog airs

Nice combo

X2

Longest reel i kept was my first highend purchase, Core 51. Kept for a few years and recently sold to fund another reel purchase. A few weeks later i knew i messed up and picked up a new one

Stop shimano, im poor !! http://fishing.shimano.co.jp/product/reel/3828

For the short time i had my td ito, i put in the steez 105 sv shallow spool. Tried 20lb braid and 8lb hybrid and was pretty amazed throwing 1/16oz wacky flickshshakes/shakyheads, and weightless wacky 4 inch senkos. There very versatile, as i could almost turn the mag brakes off and throw 1/2oz topwaters, then turn it back to about 2-3 on the dial and be throwing weightless plastics. Im truly a shimano guy and only sold that ito/sv setup cause i needed the money, but the new alphas sv has me pretty excited. Told myself id save for just the aldebaran but i want that alphas too

Haha, im scouring through my tackle boxes and rods to fund the new aldebaran as we speak

Nice, i was holding out for a new 51 but looks like it might be a new 101hg...

To go back to the original question, heres my recommendations for a $200 budget. For a new reel, completely agree with booty, revo lt. Will cover all finesse fishing in the $170-180 range. Used options, find a rashed up curado 50/51e, drop in an avail spool. Should be able to do that for around $200 and will work great. Other option would be rashed up daiwa sol and drop in the megabass finesse spool. You can also do this around $200 if you shop around. Last sol i picked up for $65 bucks.

The 6'10 & 6'5 Cumulus casting rods are all time favorites of mine

Definitely getting the new Aldebaran. Definitely getting the new Conquest 51 if they release it this year. Maybe on the alphas SV, told myself id never go back to daiwa but this reel might do it !!

Eva is comfortable.

And btw, I wouldn't call it being ocd. When you spend $1000-1500 on a combo I'd prefer them to look good together.

I make my reels look how I want them to, if I have a rod laying around that pairs well then that's an added bonus...