Silas

I've been using the 7'2" Diesel M/H and 65# braid with Yozuri Hybrid 12# leader. Works well! I'm not fond of the Diesel but it works well for frogging and pitching jigs. Another rod that works surprisingly well for frogging (for me) is the Powell Max 702C.....Medium action.......it seems a tad heavier than medium and casts really well when I want accuracy, as well as distance.

Thanks for the review, Goose, and you have confirmed my thoughts exactly. I tried this out at the store and found the rear of the grip absurdidly short.. That's why it was a deal breaker for me. I looked around to find a new discontinued Cumulus and bought it instead ($249j) and the part behind the reel is 3 1/16 inches......much longer and FAR more comfortable than the 1 3/4 on the new Cumara. I also have 2 old Cumara spinning rods in 7'2" and love the grip on those also. Like you, I have a St. Croix LTB with the short truncated grip and have NEVER gotten used to it.....in fact, I'm going to SELL the rod. I tried it with maybe 6 different reels. It simply doesn't work. Same goes for the well touted *** 13 Black. Short, truncated section behind the reel seat. Too short for me.....sold it. Your assessment is right on. When RETREIVING a bait, it is no problem since you are PALMING the reel and don't need much grip, but when you are CASTING, it's a different matter. And as you said.....you'd better cast very LIGHT baits or else you will feel the TORQUEING of the rod in your hand and will fatigue rapidly. You mentioned you COULD get used to it.......for a rod of that caliber and price, I don't feel I have to compromise in ANY way. The Cumara is a fantastic bottom contact rod......I love the old models, and will continue to buy them. Instead of the new Cumaras, I bought a Megabass......absolutely NO compromises.

I cast a Caffeine Shad today on a spinning reel. But I found that the combination of Suniine SX-1 Twelve pound braid, fluoro leader and a tiny Danielson swivel about 8 inches about the fluke was a great set up.....NO twist at all. I think with a spinning reel, a quality swivel will be a good idea, whatever line you decide to use, if you are casting a fluke. I also cast a fluke with a Steez 103, but the wind was blowing 20mph today and the spinner saved the day!! Casting into the wind with a Steez and 7# Fluoro is NOT a good idea!

I fished a Dobyns Champion Extreme 702C Finesse Rod today alongside a new Megabass Orochi X4 Rattle Viper and it compared very well. Have a Steez on both of them. I like BOTH of them equally......I think there is room for both in a fisherman's arsenal. In MY case, I picked up the Dobyns just about brand new for $190. A bargain. the Rattle Viper at $360. I wouldn't say the Viper is worth almost twice as my Dobyns. (But I'm not giving up my Viper!!)

Shimano 1000, 2000, and 2500 are great and feel balanced on many rods. I have a Vintage Sustain 2500 on a Dobyns Champion 703 Vintage Sustain 2000 on a Cumara 7'2"M Daiwa Sol 2000 on another Cumara 7'2"M 2011 Twinpower 2500 on a 6'10" Megabass Aaron Marten Dropshot Vintage Twinpower 2500 on a Shimano Cumulus 6'5" And a Stradic 1000FE that is presently not on a rod.....had it on a Bass Pro Extreme ML. All of these balance very well. I do think the Stradic 1000 worked very well for crappie and bluegill and little Beetle Spins and Sliders, but would also have been fine for regular bass fishing. I like the 2000 and 2500 size as they feel better on the rods I have chosen. I had considered the 3000 model but did not need the extra line for any reason. I have 3 spooled with 12# Sunline SX-1 plus Biwako Guide 7# fluoro and the Sol filled with 6# Yozuri Hybrid backing and topped off with Sunline Finesse FC in 6#. All work well so far, but I don't have much time on any of them. Time will tell. You won't go wrong with any of these sizes for bass.

X2 on a USED Cumara! Should be able to find one on the forum soon.

Jay Ell, Nice looking YAK, buddy! Congrats on the sweet set up!! I'll be throwing frogs soon....Ribbits in Watermelon Red Pearl!

I'm really impressed with them. I broke 2 rods, sent them back and got full price on an upgraded rod. Great service. My UPS guy knows when it says Tackle Warehouse on the box, it must be for ME!. Also got a couple of free T shirts.....yep, I buy LOTS of stuff at TW.

Just bought a couple of Scrounger heads and haven't really fished them. I'm going to have to try this method. Got some flukes and put them on and cast them to see how they worked. Looked pretty good coming thru the water. Nice wobble. I don't see anyone fishing them down here. We have lots of shallow water with a lot of wood....I'm worried they would hang up a lot, but the bill seems like it might let the bait come thru lots of stuff. Will try them on points and flats on the bayou soon.

I've got some 3" Yum dingers that I'm hoarding. Send me your address and I'll send you a pack......free of charge!

Yep! I don't watch golf. And I don't WATCH people fish. I actually like to fish, myself. I agree about the A-rig. Something about it seems "unsavory." And to think, all those years I was catching fish WITHOUT electronics.....I must have been a "genius!"

Wow! That looks like a dead ringer for the Vision 110. Have you caught any fish with it? What color? I don't like to bang up my Visions (and I can loan this one to my brother in the back of the boat so he won't break MINE!)

Worden's Timber Tiger D-4. Crawfish color. Marty Burns Custom cranks.....in Sexy Shad

Good to know, Marty! So, other reels don't have line rollers that actually spin? I'm only familiar with Shimano and Daiwa spinning reels. I assumed that all reels did that.

Very strange how people use this method today assuming it is the "best" way. I'm wondering: I have 2 Shimano Twinpowers and 2 Shimano Sustains. The SHIMANO DIRECTIONS, included in EACH box plainly show spooling the line by putting a pencil or rod through the middle, and spooling it so that the spool rotates. One would tend to think that the manufacturer would tend to suggest the "best" way to spool line onto their reel. That's the way I put line on all 4 reels and find I have NO issues. I'm quite sure there are MANY other ways. But I'm not sure that the side method with line uncoiling off the reel is necessarily better. For one, I can let the wife hold the pencil and spool and put just the right amount of tension on the spool that the reel spools with perfect tension without me running it through my fingers. And for BRAID, I find it does an excellent job. Just another man's opinion.

I've tried a lot of rods in the past few years. I've come to the conclusion that many times you DO get what you pay for. So therefore, in my opinion: Shimano CUMULUS, in both casting and spinning: I can see why they discontinued these......too darn good for the price! Strangely, MEGABASS: I only have 2.....the Orochi Destroyer X4 Rattle Viper, and the Aaron Marten's Limited Drop Shot. What exquisite pieces! Lastly, the Dobyns Champion Extreme: A beautiful rod that performs as well as it looks. And yes, those are expensive rods. And I can definitely NOW see why!! One has to actually fish with them in order to fully understand.

I have the 7'2" Med Heavy. I am not impressed. It's a stout rod.....good for frogs, perhaps heavy jigs. I do not find it that sensitive. After all the hoopla that everyone was raving about it, I feel it is a good $50 rod......period. It sits in the closet as I speak. I have admit: I have about 20 rods......so I am aware of the good and bad points of each. It is not a bad rod at all.. It's just not a good enough rod......for me. Other opinions will certainly vary and I do realize I'm in the minority. I will use it as the rod I loan to a guy that fishes in my boat. The reason I bought it was of the cheap price. I definitely got what I paid for.

Heavy rains here today and yesterday. Rivers rising. Tomorrow record cold for this time of year. Bass fishing has been on "hold" for about a month!!

Well, I don't know about the fish, but I become less active when the temps reach about 95 degrees here in South Louisiana. And, living here all my life, I've grown "gills" because it's so humid also. On the other hand, I fish from 6 AM till 10AM. Thats about it. If you wait till late in the evening, the water is too hot. Mostly shallow bayous where I am.....2-12 feet. That's one of the reasons I chose to LIVE on the water! Makes it easy to just walk to the boat and get in.....fishing in 5 minutes.

I like the 100D and the Curado 50E equally well. The 100D is a "solid" feeling reel, like you could abuse it and be ok. Casts like a dream. I WAS going to upgrade it with new bearings just to see what would happen, and then I thought, "Naw!" don't mess with it. Had it on a Dobyns 702C finesse. then I bought the Curado 50E, and it was a delight! Smaller and lighter. But a little "fragile" feeling, although it really wasn't. Casts very smoothly. I think the main difference is that I like the 50E for the very light baits.....1/16-1/8-3/16 shakey heads and wacky worms. I like the 100D for a little larger bait....a 1/4oz medium crank, a Rage Rig, a small jig. Both can be used interchangeably. I find that I cannot give up either one in favor of the other.

Am waiting on some Sunline FC Finesse......supposed to be developed for spinning reels, therefore nice and castable. I've been very pleased with Sunline's Biwako Guide special.......excellent.

I've been using it for a couple of weeks on 2 spinning reels: Shimano Twinpower 2500 and Shimano Sustain 2000.....both filled from the same spool of 12# test. I use the Alberto knot and it goes thru guides easily on Shimano Cumara and Megabass Aaron Martens. I put about 5-6 feet of Sunline Biwako 7# fluoro tied to the SX-1. (leader not long enough to reach spool) Never had a problem with the knot. I'm thinking that the SX-1 Braid is perfect for spinning reels. No problems whatever. And, I think I have just enough braid for one more spinning reel......that will make 3. 250 yards for $34.95 wasn't bad for 3 reels (about 80 yards per reel)

I've been doing that for years!! Works well. I never could figure out why so many wanted really long leaders. No real advantage....at least to ME. I suppose if you broke off or retied several times a day you might need a longer leader because you shorten it so much. I don't have that issue. I never want the knot going into my reel......and this was the easiest way. Some things take years to come to light, don't they?

Bought both Vintage Sustains off the bay a couple of weeks ago. The 2000FB was $186 NIB and the 2500FD was $125, in mint condition. I love both of them. They were well worth the money. New Sustains are about $329 and can be had for about $275. I also bought a Twinpower 2500 almost new for $150. The Japanese version of the Sustain (but in my opinion, much smoother) I feel that the Sustains are definetely worh the money.....check out for used Shimano Twinpowers too. The 2500 is an excellent size. I have the Stradic 1000 and it's a tad small for the rods I use. More suited to an ultralight or finesse rod.

1/8 oz Red Tungsten.