Capt.Bob

If what you say is true take it back and try another, like others have said, even the best manufacturers let out a lemon once in a while, you know "__it happens". But if it happens again with the next one, take it back and buy a Lew's!!

Hey Jeff, sorry but I have owned every size and model Stradic ever made, I rotate them every 3 or 4 years. This year I have already got rid of 2 2500MgFB's, 1 FI 4000, MgF 2500 and a 2500FH , I have also sold 2 FD Sustains, a 2500 and a 4000, all after buying the 1000FJ, then the 4000FJ, and after the proof I bought a 3000. Now by the end of the year I will get rid of a 3000 Sustain FI and replace it with another 3000 FJ. There is no doubt the new FJ Stradic is smoother stronger better finished and more fishable than all the ones I have ever used out of every model made. I am sure the Sustain is even better, but I will buy 2 Stradics for the price of one Sustain, and have a better reel than any previous model Sustain made. As far as weight I understand your love for the Ci4, but I place a lot more value in smooth power than weight, and there is no way to upgrade a Ci4 by tuning to make it smoother and more powerful than the new FJ. I currently have a 1000 stradic on a 6'3MXF SC Legend Elite, the whole outfit weights 10.5 oz, I had a Ci4 on this rod 2 years ago and sold it in favor of the MgFB 1000, in my opinion a better reel. I have serviced reels for 30 years along with running a Lake Erie Charter Service. Twenty years ago I started buying and supplying my customers with Shimano spinning reels, because they all new how to use them, and it was the only reels I could find that would hold up without servicing all season. I am sorry the Ci4 is old tecnology, the new Saros has the new lightweight carbon body and better mechanics with all the new features Shimano offers over the old Ci4, for less money! It is and has always been this way with Shimano, if you jump up to a Sustain in a couple models the Stradic will offer everything the older Sustain had with upgraded technology. I have an old Saros, and it is as smooth as the current Ci4. I would imagine since the new reels came out at I cast there will be a phase out of the Ci4 or it will become an upgraded Saros next year with a few features the Saros didn't have?? Either way, its old technology that is being surpassed with many of the new model Shimanos, and right now, unless you want to spend the money for a Stella or a Sustain THE STRADIC FJ IS KING OF THE HILL! By the way street price of the new FJ is under $135.00 for any model made up to the 4000 size. I paid more for the 3000 than the rest by giving $135.00 delivered. Very affordable!

the Shimano Stradic FJ has much more upgrades than the Ci4, it's smoother, has more cranking power, and is less money, a better reel but if you want a Ci4 fore the carbon frame, I would go with the new Saros, it has the new Xship again more upgrades and you get the carbon frame. I think nyou are looking at 3 year old technoligy in the StradicCi4. The new Stradic FJ is the best Buy out of the top 3 (my opinion) Stella, Sustain, Stradic, in that order the best spinning reels made, My opinion! I recently sold all my low profile Shimano's, curado's and Castaic's, and went with the new Lew's, but I didn't abandon all my Shimano bait casters, I kept all my Calcutta's, in my opinion the toughest smoothest and best reels ever made, even if you want the smaller low profile reels you owe it to yourself to own one Calcutta, I'm sure that will lead to more!! On a budget the CT200GTB is a nice reel and can be found new around 2 bills, used $150.00 or so in mint cond. if you have a little more to spend get the CTE200GTB, for the money these are great buy's and perform with the best. If you are going to go with Low profiles buy the Chronarch, I was very disappointed in the new Curado G.

The 5500 C3 has two centrifugal rollers on the pinion side of the spool, if it has Mag's, it aint a 5500 C3. As far as lube goes I stripped mine of grease, as the level wind runs 100 % free spool or not, and if not upgraded is pretty crude. Every thing that spins in grease acts as a brake, I use Mobil 1 for everything except the spool bearings, on them I use yellow rocket fuel. My 5500's don't thow good with lighter than 1/4 oz but 3/8 and over it comes close to other reels, the trade of is noise, the grease not only slows the reel down but helps quiet it also. I say let her howl!! I still have 3 over 20 years old, all I use with the grand kids for Cat's and Carp in the rivers

There aint nobody gettin muskie where those pictures are taken, if they are there rare! that is the Maumme River, the largest tributary to the Great Lakes. Known as the largest Walleye run in the world. I've seen a lot of different fish taken from Coho to Crappie, but in over 40 years, almost every day in March and April, I have never seen a Muskie. If you want to take a mess of the finest eating fish in the Northern States, I recamend going. Let me know when your ready and I'll guide you to great day and hit a few honey holes with you.

I prefer the XF action personally, for jigs and plastics, there is a plus on the weight also, the same power rods are a little lighter with the XF actions, and feel are a little better for the hook set as there a little stiffer in the tip.

My favorite jig, live bait weight forward spinner, and live crawler harness outfit on Lake Erie is that same setup, almost, I use LES63MXF and a 2500 stradic, that rig is also killer for workin tubes for Smallies ! The 6'8" mxf is excellent also but I love that smaller combat tactic feel the 6'3" gives you, I have landed 6 lbs Smallies and over 8lbs Walleye on mine and love the battle, I have never had a problem throwing as heavy as 3/4 oz lures with mine, as the XF action handle a little heavier lure well also, d**n I love that outfit! I think it is the most versatile for the fineness fisherman, which I enjoy more than horsing them! That setup is a stellar choice in my book!! I wish you many years of memorable battles, enjoy!!

I don't know what you meant by touching the drag star, that could be an issue, you can back the tension control off to far! If you back the tension cap off just far enough to alow the spool to run free on a 1/4 oz weight that is about where you want it, any farther and it will allow end play in the spool shaft (side to side movement), that will cost casting efficiency. oil in bearings, not grease, same on the level wind mechanism, make sure it is running free, as my ambassador's don't disengage on free spool. Mine are rough as a cob but will cast 50 or 60 yards with 1/2 oz, I only use them these days for catfishing and carp in the river with the grandkids. hope some of this stuff works for you, everyone has been giving pretty good advice. good luck---- PS FILL THOSE SPOOLS FULL!!!

Wow "ks" That is a great deal on a rod, and most like the new half cork rods. I definitely like the XF action over the Fast for Jigs and Plastics team that up with a Lews Tournament Pro and you have a setup with a total weight of less than 11 oz. with excellent sensativity and plenty of backbone for Bass or Walleye, that would be a sweet setup and keep you around $20.00 over your target budget!! Even I could talk Jeannine into understanding that move!!! And that is a steel, for that rod at that price,

The Lew's 7.1 Tournament Pro is a top choice for your setup, I love mine, hell I love all my Lew's. But I am rather fond of the St. Croix line, for this price range, I'd spend about $30.00 more and for $330.00 total, join the Lew's T.P. with an Avid, 7' in a MF covers your jig's and soft plastics, its the AVC70MF 1/4 to 3/4 oz. rigs, I use this setup more than all my other setups, great balance and good feel, with enough backbone for bigger fish.

If you are trying to cast with the SPINNING reels you displayed in the picture, it is very obvious why you can't get any distance. In the first place the spinning reels are empty, any reel has to be full to get any kind of decent cast, accuracy or distance. The next thing is your choice of line, 14lbs. or 15lbs. mono is good for the baitcast reels but those size spinning reels even full aren't going to cast satisfactory!! you will double anything your capable of now with 6lbs. mono if you want to use mono on the spinning reels. But if you switch to braid you will get as good or better with 15lbs test braid, as you will with 6lbs. mono, on the same spinning reel. But the spool has to be full to begin with. "14LBS TEST MONO ON THOSE SPINNING REELS IS NOT GOOD" those reels are not known for casting efficiency anyway, and then your killing yourself by fishing with empty spools, and believe me, there empty.

Lew's Tournament Pro, This guy is a great sellar and Smokin fast shipper, FREE SHIPPING! just another 10 bucks and any speed you want from 5.4:1 6.4:1 7.1:1 That would be my choice, you don't hear the owners complain'n. http://www.ebay.com/...=item460532f19e

Lew's Speed Spool, Lew's Tournament MG, Lew's Tournament, all from $79.99 to $119.99 heck you can find the Tournament Pro for $149.99, The first year it might a been hype, these are serious reels for serious hard core fishin. I'm over wondering, they are, I think, gettin better the more I use em. Each there own but there all available cheaper than their retail.

Accuracy is the important thing when casting, but distance is to, many because they don't fish from a boat. I do both but would have to say the blow hard that is making 100 yard cast needs to invest in a better range finder!! he might be the same guy that is casting All his line off his Revo that I seen another forums post. these guys are preying on those that don't know no better and tryin to boost there egos with B.S.! I fish with 100's of other fisherman in the spring, wading in the Maumee river and am one of the guy's that get's the distance when needed over most others, and right with the best. 60 or a little more yards is a good cast and 50 is more common, with 5/8 to 3/4 oz weights, in a head wind drop that drastically. Not all of em but a lot of good fisherman, the banks are lined like this for 5 or so miles on both sides for the most part, they must be some sorry casters?? Spinning and casting. With my 400 Calcuttas with 65 braid and an 8' rod tossin 1 1/2 or more weight on a rod designed for it, on a good day with a little wind at my back 75 to 80 yards is a d**n good cast, and even when I was yonger all day firing like that would take it's toll, plus that aint bass or Walleye gear! regaurdless what you do you need top end equipment to do accuracy distance, thats when the money spent pays off. A lot also has to do with matching your rod to what your trying to throw. A light action wont get it with 3/4 and 1 oz lures, and a heavy action ain't gonna impress anyony throwin 1/8 to 3/8 oz. I say worry about matching your gear and hitting the spot your aiming at, don't worry about what someone says they do, you will be a lot happier with your gear, and catch more fish!

The 2 on 2 off and use the tension is great for guys new to bait casting, or any new reel. But by all means the more you learn to control your casting mechanics, the looser you will be able to run the reel, as someone said, the only time tension being to loose will cause casting efficiency is if the spool has side play. But I prefer 1 brake no spool tension and no mag, but when I started using bait cast equipment, I would quit trying with the respools that would have caused. I relied on spool tension to alow me to learn the mechanics in them days, there was no brakes, the spool tension was the brake, or your thumb. As for KVD,-------I'm pretty sure he's runnin on FFFFRRRRRREEEEEE spool!

Gotta believe it now, this company is on the move, in the low profile arena anyway. I might try the new Team Pro, and a BB1, I love my Team aluminum side plates (7.1oz.), but till now thought the Tournament Pro was the best bang for the Buck (both 11 bearings), same reel with graphite side plates and about a half oz. lighter(6.7 oz.), all other specs the same, what really sounds like an improvement is moving the line guide forward for less friction on the line when casting. I just wonder how did they do away with the 1.2oz of weight??? and yes it looked sick with the red ascents on the Team, but the gold look is KILLER! ILews Team, Tournament Pro, and Tournament, already cost me my addiction to Curados, could the new BB1 be the death of my CalcuttaGTB's, what I use still for deep crankin. Are you smellin the roses yet LMG???

6 months ago I would have said yes, baitcasters were either Calcuttas for round reels, or Curados for low profile, then I bought a G series and was not happy, sold it and bought a Lews, that was the end of the reel consolidation by brand, replaced all the Curados with Lews. still Stradics Sustains and Saros, Calcuttas and don't see that changing. "BUT" everyone of em's on a Croix! Avids and Legends, even my fly rods are Avids and Ultra's. So I suppose some day the Croix's could be replaced, but for now, thats how I fish, just proves all thing can change -------Well------ maybe one thing won't, but time will tell, what you think LMG????

Don't let it get to you LGM, it just takes some longer than others, you'll get it. when you do, you'll love it!!

AWESOME!! I'd throw both and expect great results!

As has been said by all, it defiantly softens up, it may even start to look frayed, but maintains its strength while looking like a limp thread. I run it for one year on spinning reels with heavy use and then take it off and turn it around, I have brand new line and good to go for another year, some reels that don't get very heavy use I run two or three years before turning around. As others, I prefer braid on other rods, and before this year used power pro as my preferred line. This year I tried Fireline Braid, and will never again spool my baitcasters with Power pro super8slick or regular. I think the new Fireline Braid is the best line I have ever run, after 3 months of use. I would also suggest the Tracer Brade color as I have found it doesn't "seem" to bleed like the Moss green, time will tell but for now it's Fireline Braid on every reel I re-spool.

To me a good rod would be one that is sensitive durable and light, and warranted for LIFE. For a general purpose rod I would agree, with RW, something 6'6" or 7', in the MH category, or med. for a one rod arsenal. I myself feel for an affordable premium rod, with good bang for the buck, hard to beat a St. Croix Avid, ether length in med. fast, or med. heavy fast. all depends on where and what you mainly fish. Ask RW about there upgrade policy if you ever want to trade up to the very best, you can trade it in on the Legend Elite! and not loose your initial investment.

in the last 15 years I have been real hapy with a Leatherman Micra, no pliers but the scissors are very good and have lasted well. Compact at 2 1/2" long closed, and a split ring to fit a key chain or in a fisherman's case, a utility tool lanyard. Tools Included: Scissors Clip-Point Knife Tweezers Nail File / Cleaner Flat Phillips Screwdriver Extra Small Screwdriver Medium Screwdriver Bottle Opener Ruler (Inch / Metric) Lanyard Attachment It has other useful fisherman tools and very compact smaller than the boomerang, and as all Leatherman tools it is high quality, and we will see if the (snip-it) Boomerang will last as long as the Micra from Leatherman, I just got one and so far a very handy braid cutter. So far both cut the line super short with no fray, as long as you keep the line pulled tight while cutting it. Boomerang is lighter, the Leatherman has more uses??? I will say it has been my experience, that the last thing I would recommend are nail clippers, when I started using braid over 15 years ago after a year or two, I got tiered of replacing them, they work great for a week or so but they won't last, they mash the line more than cut it and leave it frayed. The small braid scissors would be my third choice, but haven't lasted as long as the Micra.

all are good reels but I like the Tournament Pro, my preference, the Curado would be my second choice as long as it was the E series. I bought a new G series and sold it and bought the lews because I couldn't find a like new Curado E for less than $150.00, but got the Lews shipped for $145.00 and change. If you can find a like new Curado E for under $150.00 jump on it, they are excellent reels. As far as rods go the Avid AVC70MHM is an excellent rod for crankbaits, the money. The Legend Elite runs around $350.00 and is worth every penny, but for the $60.00 more you are talking about, you must be refering to the Legend Tournament, which is not near the rod the Legend Elite is, and I agree I would say the Avid is more bang for the buck than the Legend Tournament. My opinion and I have had more than one of each.

You made a pretty big statement, "the very best." I would suggest as a best, the Legend Elite form St. Croix, in a LEC68MXF, increadibly light and sensative, with decent backbone, most others prefer LEC70MHF. For light weeds and open water I love the LEC68MXF I've said it before, it's awful hard to buy a better rod than a St. Croix Avid for the money, 1/2 the price of the Legend Elite, and you can get same power and action in that line, and they will warranty either one for life! You won't get better customer service than St. Croix!

I have the St. Croix Avid AVC70MHM and AVC70MM, if using one rod I would go with the MH in whatever brand you choose. I think at $180.00 new the Avid is hard to beat, and comes with a life time warranty. A good crankbait rod wont make a good topwater rod. you need a little faster action. But would stay with the moderate crankbait action if throwing mainly cranks! I would recommend for your budget, take a good look at the Lews Tournament Pro, they can be had for about $150.00 and a lot a reel for the buck. With just one, I would go with a 6.4:1 gear ratio, works for everything. decent speed and decent power, good all round gear ratio.