Smallmouth Hunter

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Press the thumb bar down and pull out line out manually by hand to simulate a cast (not very fast though) and see if it catches. Keep your finger on the spool so it doesn't overrun on you while you are doing this test. Does it catch?

Unless you crank with 20 lb mono/fluoro, the standard tatula should be fine for this, no? Has tons of line cap

Have you ever done that "spin test" thing where you spin the handle really fast then slam the thumb bar down to see how long the spool will spin? "That little gold piece" is called the pinion gear, one of the most important pieces to the reel. It isn't secure because the PQ is a pure fishing cookie cutter reel, and like all the lew's/Abu/Pflueger reels, it does not have any bearings on the pinion gear. It isn't secure because it can wobble around loosely in the yoke unless the spool shaft is keeping it inline.

Depends how tightly the bearing sits in the side plate.. In some reels, the bearing will be loose; in others the bearing is so tightly fit that it is hard to get out.

Depends how tightly the bearing sits in the side plate.. In some reels, the bearing will be loose; in others the bearing is so tightly fit that it is hard to get out.

Don't worry about the follow through stuff for now. That makes it more confusing.. In fly fishing, if you follow through when casting, you lose momentum FWIW.

Practice and loosen your tension knob. That is a common mistake that will wreck your accuracy.

Just tie another knot similar to the clinch that doesn't slip. There are tons of options,

I have also heard the story about how it casts Better like that because that is the way the earth rotates and it will cast X yds further... Yea right.

Left hand reels and don't look back

Annndddddd this thread is why I don't like XF action.

It's more than just the pulling the bait away from fish thing. F action has always felt more versatile to me. XF probably has it's place, but F always worked better for me. I am planning on using this rod for all kinds of different stuff so versatility is really important for this set up. I think I might just wait until icast and checkout the new crucials or whatever else there is.

Save your money for when you actually need something or else the bait monkey will lose control and activate protocol Z Type RT9, AKA Operation J2 Candlewick. ***You have been warned. I have gone down that path and it isn't fun for your wallet.***

Anyone have this rod? How soft is the tip? This rod model intrigued me in store, but it was from the mojo line not avid. I am more interested in the avid. XF does not appeal to me much in most brands as I feel it pulls the bait away from the fish, but the mojo 6'8 m xf was nice.

If that was a 3 power rod, I'd jump on it.

A better question is how many fish did you boat flip

A good amount of the reviews I have read state that the top section is very whippy. I would prefer a more crisp rod. I have also read that it is less powerful then it is rated for, and is closer to a ML of other brands. I never held one or used one though so I really don't know. Neither have a rod that fits the bill exactly, though I wish the endurance did. Powell has been on my list for a while now.. I have used (very technique specific) megabass and a few mid-high end croix rods. The St. Croix mediums were not crisp at all and the actions were not accurate IMO.

To be honest I don't use a trailer hook either 99.9999% of the time, but I just threw it out there as a possible solution. I don't see the need for a trailer hook most of the time as bass have no problem engulfing chatterbaits.

Need a 6'6 - 6'10 M power rod for t-rigs, wacky rigs, small spinnerbaits, small cranks, the occasionaly jerkbaits, and maybe some shakey heads too. I have looked into the fenwick HMG, fenwick ETS, and ***. None of them really appeal to me for various reasons. The HMG has mixed reviews, and not very many reviews at that. I would rather not risk it with a new rod. The ETS doesn't have any rod models that appeal to me. I am not a fan of XF action either. The *** M is stiffer (from what I've heard) than most M rods and is close to the 13 MH *** in power. That will not work either. I'm not interested in the veritas or any st. croix rods. Please give me some recommendations! Thanks!

Trailer hook

What reel do you have on yours? How does it balance?

Looking for a review on the new fenwick HMG rods. The Smallmouth ET rods don't have the rod models I am looking for so I am going to just go ahead and get an HMG most likely.

it is very VERY finicky with heavy fluoro and ceramic bearings. Very finicky.

Just don't put heavy fluoro or ceramic bearings in it and you're good to go.