PGA Dropout

It works fine for me. If you need more drag power, $8 buys a Carbontex upgrade.

Academy site weighs it at 5.8 oz. My question is, where the hell are they saving the weight in a $129.99 reel?

The Shimano Crucial line has a drop shot and reaction (crankbait) rod, I believe.

Boo sales tax, but thanks for the heads up on the Chronarch. $148 shipped. Not bad!

TW just got LH ones in. I am tempted.

A Medium Villain might be overpowered, depending on what you consider to be finesse. Are you saying it came with a spare spool?

And there's always the flea market!

I like your idea. I'm stealing it.

I broke off a Spro frog on 50 lb. PP last Thursday. I'm blaming a Northern. My girlfriend broke 40 lb. PP above the leader knot on a hookset yesterday. I have no idea how that happened on a Medium Ugly Stik. She got dem Bill Dance hooksets, I guess.

Turn down your barbs and try to minimize fish flopping. But yeah, that happens sometimes.

7' M or ML St. Croix is a good place to start.

I feel like the new Pflueger reels are Revos in sheep's clothing. No me gusta. You can get a used Smoke for well under $150. It's a nice light reel that casts well. I have a lefty in the flea market. Why no Shimano? $150 gets you quite the secondhand reel.

I have used them. They work fairly well. I do prefer a green or purple worm though. Related to MT, the girlfriend has been picking up fish on a black/red Poc It Phenom worm. I think that's the name. Nice worm. Cheap, too, compared to my senkos and recon worms.

Yep. Second-hand Stradics are the way to go. Lots of reel for little money.

For frogs or heavy cover with braid, I crank it down. I set it loosely otherwise.

It's not that Quantum spinning reels are bad, it's just that Shimano reels for the same price are so very good. For this reason, I don't see much need to venture into other brands at the $150-$200 pricepoint. I do believe Academy has the Smoke spinning reel on clearance online.

Get the heavy. If you don't like it, return the heavy.

I'm slowly converting to the yellow power pro with a leader cult. It sure beats cutting braid.

You lose versatility. I can get by casting weightless Senkos or 3/8 oz spinnerbaits on my MH *** in a pinch. I don't believe that a Heavy would do that.

They're light for sure, but I have trouble casting lighter baits on mine due to the braking. I feel like the choice is between no brakes and all brakes. Reel bombs a Red Eye Shad or hollow-body though. On topic, BPS Prolite but they are getting hard to find on the secondary market and I believe that parts are becoming an issue.

Three more pincers for the bluegills to nip off!

Fish will tell you what they want. If a plastic isn't getting bit, they may want to chase something. If they won't chase, try finesse. If they're not hitting senkos, lipless cranks, or shakey heads, go play golf.

MH is fine for me. H is also fine if you need more power. In regards to something having to give, sounds like nonsense to me. The fish is going to give. It's not like you're setting the hook on a cinder block.

On a 7.1 M ***, I'd get the 200. I don't feel that the 100 would balance as well. Of course, this is speculation.

Don't worry. It'll be a mess by page 3.