fishballer06

I can't say I know of any value to these reels. A quick FleaBay search should show you what they're going for if there's any out there for sale.

Here is a photo of one while it's molting.

Sniper FC is my go to fluoro. InvisX isn't a bad line either, but it is definitely one of the stretchiest fluorocarbon lines out there. I would highly recommend buying a spool of Sniper to try out for yourself. If you don't see much difference, then go back to your InvisX, but I"m willing to bet you'll really like the Sniper FC.

Yes, the Risto Raps were great lures. The Down Deeps are another discontinued Rapala bait. Below is an old Bassmaster article talking about David Fritts and his cranking (David helps design the Risto Rap and DT, along with a bunch of other crankbaits). http://www.bassmaster.com/lip-service-deep-largemouths

As stated, it's a Risto Rap. They've been discontinued since around the late 90's/early 00's. Probably about the time the DT was released.

How are those Big Z's? Are they a balsa equivalent of the Grenade?

These look great Bill. Let me know if you're selling any.

There are quite a few posts on this website asking this same question if you use the search feature. In a short answer: Dobyns Fury 795 Okuma Guide Select 7'11" Heavy

Well Rick, I'm sure you could always haggle them down in price... I mean, that is how you make your living...

The market is so flooded in the $80-130 range...

It's essentially an Aldebaran, but with a deeper spool for use with cranks and other applications that require longer casting, and it has a clicking drag. They also come stock with a 102mm handle, which is great for cranking applications. Here's a good look at my 101PG Stile:

I'd go to Japan and pre-order the Stile 150PG. I got the 101PG Stile last year and loved it for cranking lighter cranks. The new 150 size will be even better suited for deeper cranks because of the deeper spool.

This is a tough question. Better buy both!

I never did well with them. They have long disappeared into one of my Plano boxes of lures I never use...

I threw my name into the ring. Good luck this year guys!

Although it is ethically (and sometimes legally) frowned upon, ripping a rattle trap through a school of shad can usually snag you one or two. If you are in Northern Michigan and you're seeing "shad" in a pond this time of year, there should be some dead one's floating around. As the two guru's above mentioned (WRB and Francho), shad die off once the water gets cold in the northern states. The only way they can survive is if the body of water they are in is deep enough to maintain some warm enough water for them to survive the winter. Like WRB said, it's very doubtful that they are shad in a pond in your neck of the woods, but it's not totally impossible. I know whenever I was in New York salmon fishing in late October this fall, one of the rivers we were fishing (that was connected to Lake Ontario) had big schools of 3-4" shad swimming up stream and some were dying off as they went. I was shocked to see it, but I saw it with my own eye's.

My tournament partner bought a set 3-4 years ago and they've worked great for him. He's never had any complaints about his.

What am I supposed to do with the 200+ pounds of Rat-L-Traps I have...

I've been looking at this as well for a new swimbait reel. As for the price, they're coming in at $280-299

I own the LTB 7'1" M/F rod and I use mine for keel weighted Keitech's and for smaller Fish Head spins. I haven't really thrown anything over 1/2oz. with mine, but I would say it would work just fine for 1.5 squarebills and 1/4-1/2oz rattle traps.

Do you want a Ferrari or a Viper?

I'm not sure what your budget is, but if you're in the $200 range, the new 70 size Curado should be right up your alley. I was flipping 3/16oz. texas rigs with mine with no problem, and I've flipped 1oz. with it and had no problems as well.

The new "Rapala" wiggle warts fish just fine and are a great crankbait for the $4-5 price tag they carry. Sure, the old, Pre-Rapala one's were great and highly sought after, but that doesn't mean the new one's still aren't a good bait.

It's more geared towards hunting, and specifically outfitters. If you're going hoping to see products, you might be disappointed. Expect to have outfitters and taxadermist's harassing you for your business.

If you're not going to use braid, and the weeds/cover doesn't call for a frog, I'd be throwing some other type of topwater bait, like a buzzbait.