Capt.Bob

That would make a big difference. I don't shop at BPS! I just thought it was a gimmick to pull you in, as they don't give much fot the reels they take in, but for the cause you stated,,,,,,,that makes a difference for sure, HATS OFF!!!

My response comes from one of my favorite movies,,,,,,,,,HANG EM HIGH!!!!

If you have a rod or real in good working order, you would probably be better off, selling it in the flea market here. It would give a member a good buy on good working equipment and probably bring you a better price than the trade in, of course this only applies to good working!

Well A-Jay this is for you as I know you will understand, and many won't, for those who have never lived it have no idea where I am coming from and will consider this drivel! It sure is, the rivers and streams are like magic mirrors casting back the beauty of the fall forest and bluffs above their water back at you as you cast and pluck giant fish out of their crystal clear depths, although shallow they are teaming with life as their surroundings abound with colorful leaves falling onto their surface as they prepare for their winters rest. Then after a brief rest in the white powder that cleanses this great place, they will spring to life before the eyes of those willing to explore their fresh terrain giving new life to everything that lives in the spring, I will then return for the allusive mushrooms that are the fruit of my pursuits when I make my next visit, to prepare me once again for the next five months I will have to survive before I can return for another blessed experience!! Their are so many who have no idea how sweet this part of our country is from Oct. to May, and lust for the hot swety dingy corners that most turn to this time of year, hard water and clean crisp air and everything so clean it will turn white, while the waters turn hard and create a new place to explore their depths and become the cherished fishing and hunting destinations for us who crave tranquility!!! You truly live in Gods Country and are the *** of those like me who kick off this time of year with trips like this to get away from the dog eat dog environment we are forced to live in (I am happily married and will remain that way as long as I live where she wants) But I will be spending many many days for the next 7 months going into areas like this recharging my appreciation for the true outdoors!!!

I have great luck with the St. Croix Avid 7' MM for smaller cranks in Rivers or on Lakes, it's a sweet rod for the money.

I just traded up to a Legend Elite in June, I am not sure what you were trading up or if it was just recently, the rod I traded up I had broken, and was warranted also?? They supposedly will start the trade up for rods without warranty issues after the first of the year again???

All the time, and the reel is the most important thing, it needs a light spool that will start up quick, cleaned and very lightly lubed bearings or ceramics dri, and some special technique to get good distance and accuracy. The rod helps but but with factory lubed reels and heavy spools, the results will never be stellar! Here is a good read on things to help with standard bass gear,,,,,,,,,http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/cast-light-lures.html

The Team Lew's Pro Supertuned with jerked over drag and ceramic bearings, on my Custom St Croix Extreme 6'10" MXF, the rear outfit,The It is a very light fast and sensitive setup which excels at casting weightless soft plastics, as well as as heavier Carolina rigs, with the power to land larger fish. Not the lightest outfit, but at just under 11 oz. makes it easy for an old man to fish without fatigue for hours!! Here it is in the rear with it's bigger sibling, the Team Gold and 7'2" MHM Extreme, both reels have the 7.1:1 gears. This is my newest one.

With so many different companies this will be a hard decision,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,or well,,,,, with the quality of their blanks,,,,,, world class customer service,,,,,,,, and lifetime warranties and upgrade programs only they have,,,,,,, I would have to say I am leaning towards St. Croix, I am always looking for better though, but in the past 15 or so years I just can't seem to find one that meets my demands???? I have found a couple manufacturers that do this or that as good, but have not been able to satisfy myself with one that offers the total package that St. Croix does! Everything in fishing should be this good!!!

You won't beat the quality or customer service from Boca, they are the company all other bearing companies are judged by!! As DVC suggests it is what I install and recamend, as most in this industry. There may be other companies that offer a good product but none that offer better or more variety, and no one has better customer service.

BIO,,,,,,,,,,never would I have tried this, like Francho said good intentions but if eagle claw is trying to make anyone think mono will take 600 years to decay, they are delirious. I have taken 20# test Trilene big game and laid it outside in the open for one winter and by mid summer you could grind it into powder in your bare hands!! I am all for keeping our environment clean, braid is not affected by air, UV, Water, you name it, the stuff is there for years and years if you loose it or leave it lay (I wont get started), why I always use a mono or fluorocarbon leader the same weight or lighter, the only way I loose my braid is when I trim the end, and then I dispose of it properly when I get home!! I hope everyone keeps the environment on top priority, but I doubt there is much future in biodegradable fishing line,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

The St. Croix Premier 7'MF with a Shimano Sedona could be had right around your $150.00 budget, and itno way is a cheapo outfit, quite good quality for that matter, and would be hard to beat without spending 250 bucks or more, that is a great setup for a ridiculously low price!

Camo is the hardest to see of the three, and in low light and overcast days, really hard to find. Ghost is pretty good for visibility, and have never used the other. 832 is my favorite line!

Sufix 832 is all I use the benefit's well outweigh the noise, I would never recommend another braid,,,,,probably why you don't have any of the hassles others complain about with braid! Keep it, you'll be glad you did!

Just one reason I no longer buy Loomis rods,,,,,,,some things are better left alone.

The BB1 W/5:1 gear is the only one with multi-step anti-reverse, the two faster reels both have instant anti-reverse. As for the hybrid 6 pin centrifugal brake, it is not like the Shimano! It is a 4 pin auto like other Lew's but has an adition of two manual brakes like the Shimano!! the two blue pins stay out and are slowly adding less braking as the spool slows,,,,,,the four whit pins are retracted with pre set springs when the reel slows, and have no braking at lower spool speed's. The BB1 is capable of longer cast with heavier lures, (3/8 and up) because of the longer distance between the line guide and the spool, this creates less friction because of less extreme angle of the line feeding from the spool at the far right and left edge of the spool during cast, as well as the slightly heavier spool fully loaded. The later makes it less efficient with lighter lures as it takes more to get the spool started up, but when a heavier spool gets going (with 3/8 and heavier lures) it has more momentum to keep spinning. The way I set my reel up is to use 2 (white - automatic) pins for normal casting, witch stop's braking as the spool slows, and when the wind picks up I turn 1 automatic pin off and turn 1 (blue manual) pin on this lets breaking continue thru the entire cast to control the spool as it slows, but still allows heavier braking on the beginning of the cast. After some time with the reel I have finally went to one automatic pin for all fishing. Great reel, I like mine!

No he meant X2,,,,,I mean X3,,,,,, but I do grease mine and recamend it,,,,,,,,only use Cal's or Shimano DRAG GREASE!!! I have never noticed a loss in drag pressure, but I have never had to lock one down anyway when I properly apply pressure to the drag using my rod, even the lighter drags on Shimano baitcasters are plenty.

Because I can now afford to fish with whatever I like today, I would recommend what I use, the models of each get better the more you can afford, I can now afford to spend what I want without limit, but buy what I consider the best bang for the buck! SPINNING REEL'S - Shimano BAITCASTING REEL'S - Lew's BAITCASTING AND SPINNING RODS - St. Croix After over 50 years fishing this is what has worked best for me today! But in fishing, it seems one is never satisfied when the new models come out??????

40 Lbs. Sufix 832 for everything! For me I use multiple setups w/ 20 lbs. for finesse 30 for c riggs and t- riggs, cranks, and spinners. With 50 reserved for wood and heavy vegetation.

That is impossible to pick, but if I had to have only one it would be a St. Croix _ __ and a Lew's Team __ w/ ____ gear ratio

We hit the Manistee National Forrest for some Kings this weekend and had a ball! We had a wet night Saturday but both days stayed pretty rain free, and produced some good fish. This was also a good test for the Lew's Super Duty, it got the job done was great to fight these hogs on, but was as small a reel as I would want for this duty. Now it's time to get to smoke'n em for hunting season snacks and the holidays with the family,,,,,,this is my time of year for the next 7 months, hunt'n till we get the hard water, then throw in fish'n to fill the freezer, what more could a man ask for!!! Thank God for the life he has blessed me with!!! LIFE IS GOOD!!!

It is a bi+<& fishing when you have to, so much higher percentage catching more and better fish when the conditions are better. Being retired I now have improved the hookup ratio myself by fishing when I see everything lineup right, fronts (hi - low), wind's (speed and direction), temps (rise fall), and the barometer, but very little in the charts from others published weeks ahead!! But when all I mentioned above are right,,,,,,,,,there charts will be!!

That wouldn't be hard for me,,,,St. Croix all the way, Avid or if you can afford it, one of the LEGEND models!! No one offers a better warranty program, NO ONE,,,,,,

Yep $144.00 and if you are patient they can be had for less NEW not SECONDS,,,, I have 5 Team Gold and $170.00 is the most I have paid for one, patience, patience, patience,,,,,,

I don't use filler, I use 12' of big game to attach to the spool then fill full with 30 to 50Lbs test Sufix 832 on baitcast reels, 8 to 20 lbs test on spinning, in a couple years I always turn it around on the spool and use a little more mono to make up for the line I have trimmed from time to time to make a full spool again, do this before you turn the line around and you will have a perfectly spooled reel again with brand new unused line, 4 BUCK'S a year,,,,,,,,, 4 years for about $16.00, for top shelf line!!!! I always Use a leader 4' to 12" mono or fluoro. best of all worlds,,,,,,