EvanT123

I would suggest going to your nearest sporting goods retailer and picking the one that feels best to you.

Got my blanks in today. Took about 3 weeks. I called a few weeks ago to confirm my shipping address and the gentleman said they were swamped. No big deal I'm not in a rush. I was more worried about the trip clear across the country but they made it in one piece. First impressions they seem very nice. I like the unfinished look. I purchased sj706 and mb708 im models. They both seem pretty darn fast and the mb has quite a big butt lol but that's what I was after. Sensativity seems there but it's always hard for me to tell until the hardware is on there. For what I paid I'm very happy.

There might be value in fishing gear....I think you really have toknow what you after though. I can't see myself buying and restoring garage sale rods for a living or extra bucks.

I hear ya man. Wasn't doubting you just hadn't read or heard it was metal from any of the usual sources. I'm excited for the new daiwa bg. All metal and direct drive handle for $100 due out September.

Check this out...some of the descriptions look like they were converted from Japanese to English but it's a good start. http://www.luckycraft.com/luckycrafthome/default.htm some of the links have videos too

Interesting because on the detailed specs page on the shimano website it doesn't mention anything about that. Where the sustain, stradic fk and stella it says hagane body.

X2; usually if they don't tell you it's graphite. Also anyone know f the handle is direct drive?

Bid your time and look for sales all my pointers were purchased at dicks sporting goods for $7.50 a piece. Cabelas had some cranks on sale at one point for about $5-6 a piece.

What a company calls it's blank is marketing. There really isn't a definitive standard that makes one blank superior to another it terms of sensitivity. Guides, reel seats, and grips play just as impotant role in my opinion. If the rods looked good to you and you got a good deal on them. Then you did good.

Huskey jerk hj08 blue silver and orange one.

Yea man can't beat practice. Lots of great posts in this thread. I fish a lot of nasty chunk river rock and it can be very frustrating and rewarding. Check out this thread. @Catt his second post in the thread has really helped me in my rocky river jigs fishing. Thanks Catt!

I buy what I like and brands I have faith in. That way I don't have to buy this years or next's best $100 rod.

St croix mojo bass

Marketing at its finest...looks like a few reels with a high mark up and reels where they will make a profit selling in quantity.

With a company like shimano I believe the mechanics of their spinning reels stradic and above are very similar. I think you are paying for more bearings and "enhanced" parts and materials. Sure these improve the feel of the reel but do they improve in it's function? Maybe in tuna fishing or gt popping but probably not bass fishing. The power of the stradic has already been proved in many environments harsher than bass fishing. Is the cost of the higher end reels worth it? I think that's up to the individual and/or their intended applications if you want to see a crazy spinning reel there is or was a video on YouTube where a guy replaced all the bearings on a stella with full ceramics. Pretty cool.

I apologize that post was not in good taste. I would much rather see your awesome reel collection or you smiling holding a fish!

4590 posts and the first pic is a broken rod. Disappointing to say the least.

7'0 medium light fast st croix rod. I do alittle bit of everything with it. It might not be the best for any of the applications I use it for but it's the most fun. Nothing like have the rod bent in half and a angry smallmouth pulling some drag under the boat.

That's a tough one. I would say, no it's not. The avid x maybe....I'd recommend you watch some YouTube videos ask some questions in the rodbuilding forum and learn to put one together yourself!!

Get a spool of 300 yards of 10lb test mono and spool that bad boy up.

Yes....I worry every time but it's a risk I accept taking.

OnePostWonder

It will go on but the drag won't bite and the spool won't go up and down;making the handle hard to turn. So that's a no go. They sell shallow 2500 spools but they are not cheap. Like $100 or so I think.

You should whack a bunch of your rods agaisnt trees while riding in a golf cart and report back to us on the status of your rods.

Don't believe the bc hype! I do most of my fishing with a medium light spinning rod. What most would consider a "finesse" rod. I don't consider throwing top waters and crank baits on it finesse though. Tell us where and how you like I fish and you will probably get better recommendations on different type of lures from The members here than you would the mail order services.