EvanT123

I'm not tryin to beat a dead horse or claim to be a knot tyin pro but here's how mine usually look. Thats 7 loops up and 4 back and I have had quite a but of success using that format. I would also also agree with angry john that you might be burning the leader. In fact id ditch the fluoro an go with a mono leader. That's all I use, I don't think you are getting any of the flouro 'benefits' with 6 feet of it as leader but that might be a debate for another day

What knot is that? It doesn't look like any Alberto knot I've tied. I'd suggest sitting on the couch and practicing instead of the lake. Remember with the Alberto you have to have the tag end go out the same way it went in.

Just ordered the MB703 and MB705 in the delta series. For less than a C note clear across the country to my door I figured what the heck.

Not an exposed reel seat but I would recommend a tennesse grip. Very comfortable plenty sensitive and installation doesn't get much easier. Just my two cents.

A couple winter purchases Common spring!

Sort of....9350 is closest to a shimano 2500 which is basically the same as a 3000 except 3000 has a deep spool. I found 9335 to be probably like 4000 shimano. 9340 you might be able to reel in some tunas.

You forgot rx7, rx8, sc2345, and c2/c4. None of it means bubkiss. The sum of the parts is greater than any designation.

The smaller guides on the avid x will make the rod lighter and more responsive. Some may have had problems running braid with a leader threw them but this has not been my experience with micro guide spinning rods.

Calcutta Conquest 100 older model, a beast for throwing spinnerbaits. I have a certate and it's super nice but my 2500 fj has takin a beating and kept on ticking.

Zoom super fluke

I don't know. I posted a thread on the topic and it got zero responses. All I can assume is the newer style brakes are what they are going to use going forward.

It seems to me that the brake system on the curado I was a rush job. The issues with the pipe and constant oiling have been well documented. Interesting to see all the new models coming out with the new systems. Time will tell if they are as reliable as the vbs.

Tip tops are measure in 64's of an inch generally. You need a pair of calibers to measure the tip and figure your measurement in 64's of an inch. Take that number and purchase a tip top that size , one size larger and smaller. Use the calibers and measure the inner diameter of the guide ring and buy the same size. That's how you start purchasing guides close to what you had.

Well I misspoke it wasn't the pline cx it was pline c21. C21 is a copolymer and for some reason I found it very stretchy and hard to break off. I have been using it for two years as leader material and found it to be great; I've had this spool for 3 years and for the $4 it cost me has been a heck of a deal.

I've use all of those for both mainline and leader. Its a toss up to me however I did not like the pline as a mainline.

I looked and looked and couldn't find it. There was a post a longtime back by a former member .rm that answered many of the questions you posted. I think the gist was those designations mean little. How the graphite is rolled, the mandrel and what I think is called prepeg play a large role in the quality of the blank. I wouldnt get to hung up on the terms; if the rod feels good to you fish it.

Had the orra (first generation) very nice reel was actually my first baitcast reel. Have all shimanos but just got a tatula. One gripe; I'm not a big fan of the drag star. It's kind of big and cheap but at the same time I'm comparing it to reels that cost twice as much. I've read many of the reviews and watched a bunch of videos on the tatula. After getting to make some casts with mine I think for the dough it's going to be tough to beat and I can't wait to beat this thing up

Great Report! Awesome Fish!

I've fished since I can remember then put it down for many years; picked it back up on a whim. For me I can't think of a better hobby or pass time. I do enjoy the scenery, clearing my mind and the challenge but.....like I said to my coworker last week....I got that itch....I need to hook into a big smallmouth.

Welcome to bass resource. A 2500 size shimano is a good size for most 7 foot plus rods. I just checked out a 2500 at the local store and it looked and felt pretty good.

My gloomis rods are imx's I have no experience with the gl3 but the few e6x rods I have handled left me impressed. If I were looking at a gloomis rods I would look at the e6x.

Sounds like a well rounded arsenal. Like mentioned above many of those combos could easily pull double or triple duty. I had had a college professor break things down real simple many years ago. Do you like the same things you did at 16 as you do at 20? (He posed the question in reference to tattoos) As far as fishing goes YES! However my tastes in fishing have changed. It's nice to dream up a boat load of combos; but I think it's better to learn and understand how and were you like to fish and build from there. Plus the return on $100 rods is crap especially when the best $100 rod will be out next week.

If I were looking for a Sammie replacement. I would look at the academy brand knock off.

Can anyone compare the shimano svs brake system that is in the curado 200i compared to the curado 70i? it seems well documented that to get peak performance the 200i brakes need some oil now and then. Is that the same with the 70i type. It seems weird to me they used vbs for so long then came out with the 200i type then the 70i type only *** years later.

That's a tough one; based on fitting between your two other rods I'd go 722. Based on where your fishing I might go 723. I spent a majority of the fall throwing a 3/8 spinnerbait on a 783 and a 3/8 buzz bait on a 782 both with trailers. Both rods did a great job. I used the 782 more bc I was catching more fish on the buzz bait and love that bite.