rangerjockey

Pretty common knowledge that they moved production over seas last year and dropped the Cara line. I do think the Cara will eventually come back as a higher priced model. It wouldn't make much sense to have 2 models within a few bucks of each other like the Expert and Cara would have been. The price of the Lowrider actually went down some after production was moved. If they ever actually produced rods in Broken Arrow it was before my time. Gary Loomis runs NFC. How well is open to argument but I'm not sure he even has a brother in the buisness....maybe. The NFC is a great blank with zero customer service and lots of folks are pizzed about delievery times of the Edge rods.. shame.

Not anymore, Ark Rod in Harrison Arkansas used to make Falcon but they sourced overseas and last I heard Ark Rod was closing or was closed. The Cara has been discontinued. There is a new American made rod on the way. Made here in the Ozarks . I hope to have one in a couple weeks to try.

Net Bait Paca slim and chunk

Jewel and Pig Sticker.

I wouldn't take his word for gospel, typical you tube pro. I've never had one break. Years ago there was some with some pretty weak bills but I haven't seen that in awhile. The Provoke is a good bait. I'm a fan of the Ozark juice color.

Chompers or Yamamoto.

20lb. braid, no leader.

Yes , He was killed in the late 70's maybe 77 or 78 I'm not positive. My Dad fished the rods, they were pretty light for glass back in the day. I believe they were made by Fuji. I still have one of the Tennessee handle spinning rods and a spinning reel.. It looks like a cross between a old Abu Cardinal and a Shimano.. I'm guessing made by Shimano. If you ever get down this way Lew's headquarters has a really good tackle shop and a Museum in the same building that has a lot of bass fishing history in it.

Lew's never made rods or reels. As was said the reels were made by Shimano and Ryobi and I believe there was a third. After Lew Childre was killed in a plane crash and the company was sold and I think Zebco also used the name for awhile. The Lew's were a lower profile back in the day but I don't think they were ever as popular as the Abu's. Guys liked them for cranking because as I recall they didn't have anti reverse so there was some slack in them when a fish would take the bait. How much difference that really made is open to argument. The stuff today is Lew's in name only.

Tranx 300

Dave's, Brian's B'S , WEC , Black label in Balsa. Another great one that doesn't get talked about is the OSP Blitz.

The Black labels are great baits. That one in the pic looks like it bounced off a rock or dock. I understand Cliff bought Ed Chambers equipment after he passed and the BL wreck is the same as The WEC squarebill. Balsa baits will chip.

I wonder if St.Croix knows the Tackle Trap is selling discounted rods and calling them rep samples. I understand Loomis/Shimano wasn't too happy about that strategy. They are a outstanding rod however and it is a great buy.

Of those 2 Halo without question. The Guy who used to own Halo is now running ARK.

10 for me. 15 would be as heavy as I would go.

Maybe 30 bucks or so. I had one as a kid. Hard to believe they were marketed as low profile compared to today's reels but next to a Abu they were.

I believe SC sells their blanks under the Rod Geeks banner.

Don't sweat the small stuff..

It's easy once you get the hang of it. It takes no longer than closing the bail by hand.. The old Cardinal's still bring a pretty good price... Don't wanna use one ? don't

For me, the red colors are about water clarity not temps. Spring rains equal muddy water.

The spinning reels of 40 years ago didn't work as well as todays but the old Abu Cardinal was a good one.. Even they would still loop with the bail on.. If you look at the new Caymas boats webpage there are some laying on the deck in one of the pics with the bails cut.

Back in the day the first thing the Cardinals got was the ol saw. They are still a great reel even by todays standards

I get it, You don't like Shimano whatever....It's operator error. Unless he's throwing a crankbait around it not going to tighten up, If its puffed up further into the reel than he's casting that's not even going to work.

Adam doesn't sound right but I can't remember the owners first name for sure, But yes they are in Florida. Great build quality. The surman 50g is just a outstanding moving bait rod.

I'm sure the Shimano rep would say spool the reel properly. Strip it off, turn the spool tension up and put some pressure between the line and the rod with your thumb and crank it on . you should feel some resistance in the handle. You should be coming off the top of the filler spool.