5dollarsplash

Top water presentations? Light swimmers like a money minnow maybe? I've only played with one in store though

160 new is a definite buy, for me at least. My local shop wouldn't budge on price, they know what the reels worth and many are members of forums or tournament fisherman. I'd look at it as 20% off, which is what it is, and its very hard to get a deal on Shimano gear.

I paid a hair more for my 50e Curado I bought earlier this year, I think 189 or so. Curado's resell rather well, the two 50 sized on ebay are starting at 100 and 125 respectively, and your getting it brand new. And, as stated above, you won't regret it.

Smart Phone-Honestly GPS, contact with 911 or assistance. I wouldn't head out without it. I keep mine in one of the Berkley waterproof containers.

For a chunker that can be found easily and relatively cheaply, those kalins are hard to beat. I use them for everything from trailers to T-rigs. For other brands, I really like the RageTail Menace. Very versatile, I rig it backwards and forwards on a T rig, it will hold nail weights, and it works awesome as a trailer on a jig or spinnerbait. If your looking for a fat one, Outkast makes one that looks pretty chubby, but I have no experience with it.

I have an old ambassadeur that I just sent off to Delaware Valley Tackle for a spruce up. It was my dads before he passed back in '97. I don't always use it, but it is usually in the boat to bring good juju.

I really liked the look of that Okuma. I have a EVX from Okuma I like quite a bit and this looks like a step up without the big jump in price. I'm lookin forward to seeing them in person.

I've had really good luck with the power pro slick. I prefer to suffix 832, but not by a large margin. I'm comfortable with either. I'm gradually switching from standard power pro to the slick version on all my setups that use braid, I just wish it had more color variety as that is how I remember what # line is on at a glance.

They do tear up baits a fair bit, but I've come to the conclusion: if I'm catching fish, I don't mind going through plastics. If it starts bothering me that I'm going through a lot of them, I'll use a hard body bait.

Only 7lbs?!?! Nice fish!

It does seem like a lot, but if it works who cares? I tie up most of my "rigs" the night before I go fishing so its not time wasted on the water. I use the following: Stoppered weight,bead, bead, loose weight, swivel. Its more subtle, but it works for me.

Looks good to me, but I'm not familiar with values in your area. Around me that boat would lisst around 9k and I'd hope to get him down to 7.5.

My backpack holds 3 3700 boxes+room for plastics and pliers etc. When I pound the shore I take this and two rods and it keeps the weight down.

I don't always notice/feel a difference when its only 6". When I compare say a 7' to 6' though, casting distance is noticebly longer. As a taller guy though (6'2") using a shorter rod feels like I'm short changing myself on potential distance. I rarely look at rods under 7' for that reason.

This nails it imo. I started on a Zebco 33 25+ years back, to me the baitcaster feels right. It took me awhile to adjust to spinning. To this day though, if I have a bait that could be thrown on either, I'll opt for the baitcaster because thats what I'm more comfortable with.

What Ninja said. I use the swim bait model, works well for me.

Welcome! Your situation sounds very familiar, although I'm finding bass fishing has grown over the last couple years in NW Wisconsin. Having the option of muskie or walleye fishing helps with the fact that we aren't catching 6lb bass on a regular basis not!!!

50lb is great to learn on. I draw the line at 30lb but some go lower on baitcast gear. It's all a learning curve. Just remember if you do get a nest, DON'T YANK! That'll save it digging in on you and ruining the spool.

My Lexa 300 has the capability of 22lbs of drag. I set it around 4-5lbs. If I brought it to 22 it would be a struggle to pull line but I could probably manage it, and most likely would break rod tips if I got hung up on something. For bass fishing most recommend lighter drags unless your fishing complete slop.

Try what Tuckahoe Joe said, tighten up that drag! During that strike period you feel they should be hooking themselves, not pulling drag. If your drag is tight, what I do with my baitcasters while setting the hook is apply some pressure to the spool with my thumb. Not enough to rip lips, but enough to get a firm hookset without cranking up my drag more than I'd like.

I have the Lexa 300, throw everything from muskie baits to frogs with it. Really a versatile piece of kit. I hunted online and found it for 150+ship and had it price matched at a local Scheels. Wouldn't trade it unless someone gave me retail+

Say hello to my little friend......Senior Twister, on whatever jig head necessary for conditions.

Tightened it up and seems to have solved they issue. If nothing else, thanks for the easy fix solution! Apparently we must have fat sloppy hands lol.

This. I wouldn't go with the larger ones unless you really need that line capacity. You can find them at great prices used, and the older models are tanks. Take a look at the Abu C3 if you want new, for muskie folks around me they seem to prefer it to the C4.

I had the same thing happen Saturday on my lexa 300. I'll try your remedy an see if it helps!