TriCityBassin'

Spotted bass are allowed. VA does not recognize the Alabama due to them being an unwanted invasive. We have both, IDK if the Tennessee has a citation here. I guess I am gonna learn today!

Actually got me out loud laughing at my desk! 🤣 I work part time at a tackle shop. My SOUL leaves my body whenever people grab the top 3rd of the rod to flex the action! ABSOLUTE SAVAGES!!!!!!!!

WOW, I knew none of that information! That is why this is a great place!

BWAHAHAHAHAAHAHA!!! That is Hilarious Steveo-1969! I actually have fished them. I owned 2, then 1, and now 2 again!! I have used a Carrot stix wild black as a frog rod for years now and love it. I think the guy I got this from on Ebay has all the old back stock or something. We will see how it lasts. lol

LMBO!!! I haven't had bad luck with them! LOLOLOLOL

This should be fun for people old enough to rip these comments! LOL A photo worth a thousand words...

That is a BEAUTIFUL Pike photo! I love how you ended the days photos. LOL! NICE

that is a very good point. what would you need to know? I agree. The blank is already damaged beyond repair. The grip/reel seat is all I can save. Therefore, I would consider drilling out the blank to recover the handle assembly if that was my only option. That is perhaps the option I need to pursue.

I was really hoping to use it on another blank. I have considered using a reamer to remove the rod tube and leaving most epoxy intact. IDK, I am gonna try it until I 100% fail I guess.

Found it! Let me know your thoughts. (Forum rules say that I can post this as it is educational, but the dude tags his stuff in it at the end.)

First, this is not about cost. This is about wanting to save a piece of a sentimental rod and rebuilding an old blank no longer available. This would be very special, to me. I have seen that you can remove the butt, reel seat, grip by subjecting it to steam. This would be similiar to using heat on the tip top epoxy to release it I assume. Have any of you had experience removing this seat like this? I am pretty sure I saw a YT video while scrolling and the guy did this exact thing. I could not have made this up.

I know this black rod. I own 3, the blank is FIRE!

I had a customer show me two of the ARK BFS reels at the shop recently. Oh my goodness! I am shimano exclusively, BUT these reels feel sick. This customer has purchased 3 Curado BFS so I trust his evaluation. He raves about these reels and said he can sling baits for miles. the cost is super cheap right now as well if you check the website.

I am going to ask here as I have been searching for a thread to solve a repair wall I hit. I have ONE (sadly) of the green Curado G6's. I have rebuilt the reel and love it, but.... The thumb bar takes a lot of pressure to disengage. The reengage is positive and solid however. I am not sure what is causing the stiffness/sticking. I use synthetic oils which penetrate very well (Clenzoil, Lucas Reel Oil) but that did not correct it. I am very very concerned as the thumb bar on my Bantam seems a bit tougher lately too. Any thoughts? Is there a better thread for this? My reel below (Long Handle 110mm??, aftermarket knobs, custom sanded drag star, ceramic bearings, Carbontex drag washers, New main gear / pinion set)

1st Strike 2nd Strike 3rd jump My stuff gets a LOT of eyes on it. As such I keep it old school and don't share locations. Sorry, I hope you can understand.

Yep, got the whole thing on multiple gopro! There were 3 of us fishing. It hit a Choppo 3 times and waked on the 1st! Got all three hits plus the jump immediately after the hookup! That is a gopro, I mount them into the brim of my hat so I can fish as normal and don't have hands in my shots like you would if it was a chest mount.

I have to chime in on this one LOL. Assuming no maps, no electronics, no phone. Look at your vegitation on the bank. Different vegetation types will help you. more Pine trees generally denotes the area being sandier. Sandier will facilitate better spawning habitat for bream, bass, etc. Gum trees in my area (Va) grow in boggy wet bottoms or lower areas. If these are on the banks that area is more likely to be shallower close to the bank with a soft bottom. Learn to read the vegetation in the water. Thinner areas within an area of vegetation may mean a depth change and that area is deeper. using this method in lilly pad fields help to identify deeper gullies used by beavers or where the old creek or spring is. This works the same in Hydrilla but not as well since it can grow so deep. Vegetation type is also a big thing. Reeds, cattails, hydrilla, lilly pads, etc. all have a preferred bottom substrate. Lilly pads love mud/muck, Hydrilla likes everthing, Cattails like mud as well. I am not super versed on this but the oracle would have that information. Look for different colors in the vegetation or a change in type/mixed types. When reading the topography look for features on the bank, they extend into the water. If you see something (rock, point, etc) extended into the water, look across the lake for a matching feature. If you see it, you just found a saddle or structure element that extends the distance between them. that is all I have right now. I fish a lot with my electronics off on purpose. Keeping the old skills is important.

I have to re size these, sorry if they look wierd.

So close to a VA citation Smallmouth!

Agree on build. Not concerned about the whine. Used Curado DC are hard to find...probably says something about build quality. I was trying to be cheaper, that $200 is the lowest I've seen on the Curado. I found a pawn shop that had one for 175...but then they wanted 15 to ship it. thanks for the input, I will keep looking and seeing if i can squeeze my budget.

HGN, Hagane is cold forged gears and frame that is super rigid and tight. It's a feature on the better Shimano reels. thanks for the insight, I had no idea those reels were bad. That is prob why so many available. Do you know the specific problems?

I want a Shimano DC reel for myself (and mainly for my son to use). I am looking at the SLX DC ($190) or a used 2011 Shimano Scorpion DC7 ($165). Considering that Shimano had to cut cost somewhere on the SLX Models...I've used them and they are good. I know the Scorpion is solid with great bearings, etc but its old and doesn't have the HGN body. I guess part of me just doesn't want the SLX Model but can't afford a new Curado DC LOL. What do you guys think.

No, never been to that site! Thanks I have a shallow spool on a jdm reel that has the same (looks like) frame as the caenan, casitas. But the casts are unstoppable. 4 red brake weights. I'll put a picture up later. This gave me the idea.

Great!!! Has anyone swapped a BFS or MGL spool into a curado or citica? The lower end and really high end Shimanos have that option in JDM.