SenkoGuru

The Duckett Ghost is a fantastic rod at $99

Sunline super sniper is very good but I also like Sea-Guar InvizX , those two take care of my Fluorocarbon Power Pro is the best braided line I've used Sunline Defier for Copoly Those have never let me down. I'm happy with them and better yet I have faith that they will hold. IMO, you are off to a good start with what you are using, very few are better than Power Pro Braid and Sea-Guar Fluorocarbon. Again, that is only my own opinion.

Do not feel down about it. It is your money and you worked hard to make it, you can spend it on what you want. I can tell you from XP there is a big difference in quality gear and it may not make you a better fisherman but it will make you enjoy fishing a heck of a lot more. You should buy some things you like and enjoy them, you can't take all of that money with you when you go.

There are a great deal of good baitcaster out right now to choose from. The Daiwa Tatula is fantastic, Shimano Curado I is great, A bunch of Lew's reels like the BB1 Pro reels are good too.

Good advice. Thanks.

Good post, I was excited to use the reel but was quickly disappointed. I'll condition the line and clean the reel and bearings and give it another shot. It is a smooth reel but the casting is very bad. Do you have any Idea's on why the reel screams every time it is cast? It is like the brake's are rubbing or something every cast from the first cast on, it will make a loud squeal.

Tough Question, the Curado I and the Chronarch E are both so good. I think I like the E better but would be happy with either.

On one of the threads a few days ago I read where some one had posted that the Quantum Smoke 150 was on sale for $112 so I decided to buy one even though I do not like Quantum reels, I had heard that the Smoke 150 was very good for Quantum. On my way to the lake today I decided to stop by the post office and check for the reel and to my surprise it was there. When I got to the lake I spooled the reel with 14# Fluorocarbon, mounted it to one of my Megabass rods and lauched the boat, excited to try out the new reel. What I found was a massive disappointment and that I wasted a $112 that could have went toward another Tatula. The reel is simply BAD, one cast is perfect and the next is a massive over run, no two cast are the same and the reel will SCREAM every time you cast it. The reel was just more of the same with Quantum and they said this was one of their best reels. If it really is, IMO, Quantum needs to go back to the drawing board.

WoW, A thread may get locked that I was not a part of.....I can't have that so I will just say....um,......Hi. EDIT...................Dobyn's still suck's.

I have both of those reels and they are both great reel's. I had wondered the same thing and wanted to know which was better. I took them and spooled 12# fluorocarbon on both and mounbted them nt my pair of 7'1 medium heavy White ice rods. The Tatula weight a little more than the BB1 Pro, the tatula is 7.9 while the bb1 pro is 6.5, while their on the rod you reallt can't tell much weight difference though. The one thing you can tell is that the BB1 Pro will palm better than the Tatula, so if that is important the BB1 Pro wins on that. On casting with the same line and same rod and same cast plug, The Tatula would out cast the BB1 Pro by around 8 yards. Not much but it did win every time. On pitching the Tatula shined again, it took much less effert to pitch with the tatula that it did with the BB1 Pro and I believe that is where the TWS comes in at. Reeling baits back in the tatula won again as it was much smoother than the BB1 Pro was, it felt more connected, while the BB1 pro felt a little hollow. The drag system was pretty close too, the BB1 pro is rated at 14# while the Tatula is rated at 13.2#, Both drags were butter smooth. The BB1 Pro has a 95mm handle while the tautla has a 90mm handle also. The Tatula has a aluminum frame and side plates while the BB1 pro has an aluminum frame and Graphite Side Plates. The Daiwa Tatula can be bought for a lot less money also. I feel that after all of my testing and the things I did, that the Daiwa Tatula was the winner and the better reel. It is the one I would buy.

You are looking at two fantastic reel's. You will be very happy with either one. If I was to buy one I would most likely buy the Lew's because that is one of the only models I do not own yet. I already have the shimano and it is a great baitcaster. I know this doesn't help much but what I am trying to say is they are both top notch reels and either would be good, so just pick the one you like the looks of better or if you can hold them, get the one that feels best to you. There is no wrong choice in this one.

The only problem I've ever had with micro guides is the fact that I can not use a leader on those rod's. I have some regular guide rods I use braid and a leader on but my favorite rod's can't do that with the small micro's. I truly believe the micro guides are better in every other way though, they are lighter, more sensitive and I even feel I am able to cast a little better with them. I have never had a guide pop out or never lost a micro guide so that fact helps.

All total I own 14 Lew's and only two Quantum's. I've just never really liked Quantum reels but that sale that smalljaw67 was talking about had me interested so I ordered a Smoke 150. Should be here in a few days and I'll let everyone know what I think about it. I don't think you should go to a different reel though if you are really happy with the Quantum's you already have, then I would just stay with them.

I agree the smoke line was done right, IMO it is the best Quantum has ever made.

I have always been of the mindset that if I had say $250 to spend on a combo I would spent $200 on the rod and $50 on the reel. the rod just seems to be VERY important in my book. I will also add that the only thing between you and the fish is the line, so use quality line too. Rod & Line are more important. I may be the only guy here who would buy a Megabass rod and stick an H2o Mettle on it until I could buy a better reel.

I must say that I agree with this very much and I believe it to be well said but I'll also add I am a Daiwa fan.

It is just another rod bashing post.

Congrats, those are very nice rod's. One of the things Quantum got very right. You will love it. I think the others have covered what to fish on it but I'll throw out it will make a great open water Senko rod too.

This is the first I've heard of something like this too but all reel companies can have a defective reel from time to time. Daiwa has top tier CS though and they would have fixed that for you in a heart beat. Both Shimano and Diawa are top notch reels.

100% correct

They are pretty nice, I think you will be happy with them. I do not own one but my son in law bought one and I fished with it for the day yesterday and I was impressed and a little surprised. I think they are nice rod's.

I fish a great deal of thick grass and stumps in Toledo Bend so I go with a little bigger line. I use 12# for Jerkbaits and I use 15# to 17# on Senko's. If I was forced to use the same line for both I would try to settle on maybe 12# to 14# if the 14# would work the jerkbait the way I wanted. The other guys have given you very good info.

The Daiwa Tatula line of rod's is what I would recommend because they are going for around $100 on the interweb and the rods are very much worth that price. Good stuff. If not those I would say go with the Duckett line of rods, The Ghost is $100 and they are very nice rods also, for a little more you can go up to the micro magic pro line and they are fantastic. good luck and let us know what you decide to buy and how you like it.

I would say the best $100 rod is the Duckett Ghost. They are very nice for the price.

I am in the boat that says micro guides ARE more sensitive. Mileage varies between fishermen.