RiskKid.

YIKES......a new posse member.........next thing you know we'll have a new Yankee fan

A couple folks on the Fork trip were impressed with this. Very simple and effective (a large paper clip embedded in a weight). I started using it after seeing it at a fishing show this winter. It has not failed me yet. I promised I would post the link to the mfg website. See below link to the website....they can be ordered here. http://www.surethinglures.com/page6.html

This is a very nice combo in this price range. Jig Man has given some good advice for a quality set up at a reasonable price.

Arrived home last night......What a great trip!!!! The food was excellent...Thanks to Muddy, Alpster and Roadwarrior. Special Kudos to Mrs TBENDTEX for doing desert at each and every meal....YUM! Flechero fixed my rod tip.....LongMike and NBoucher were great fishing buddies! I just have to thank everyone for their tips and help. I learned an awful lot this week......this is a great group of folks. I can't wait for next year!!!!! Even though it was not near any record I did catch my PB which was exciting for me.

Great photos Mike.....Thanks, first pic I've seen with my new PB. Enjoyed fishin with you!

Agree....got two in my box on the way to the Fork (along with a couple X Raps and LC Pointers)

I have no idea how that got in my house There were reports of an escaped monkey loose in my neighborhood a while back Maybe my ex wife put it there Yeah.....thats it....thats what happened Had a great time with the 3 mooks in the bass bus......we even tested out the secret weapon and projectiles.... My gear is on the bus.......clothes are now packed......gonna hit the sack soon so I'll get up for for my morning flight....YEEEEEHAWWW.....safe travels all, see ya tomorrow!!!!!

Bass Bus is in Tennessee.....1/2 hour away from the house.....gonna grill some steaks and send em off to RW for dinner......we're almost there guys YEEEEEEHAWWWW!!!!!

Thanks GMAN....wish you could be with us!

Just spoke to the Mooks....they are out of the snowstorm somewhere near Roanoke. Muddy said he was in Oklahoma......good thing Alpster knows the way ;D Hope you got the boat squared away craigaria! YEEEEHAWWWW........the weekend is almost here and it's off to TEXAS for the Bass Roundup!!!!

Now there's an offer that's right up your alley LBH! With all your capabilities on computers and videos maybe you could do some freelance work with that stuff to fill the downtime. My son is a school teacher and is great with computers.....he gets alot of work fixing computers and it seems like he can turn the work off and on at will.

Heh Heh!!!! Safe travels all!!!!! Lookin forward to sharin a good cigar, bendin an elbow, tellin a few lies, catchin some fish and just havin a big time with everyone!

UH OH!!!!! :o

Hey Bighead, My flight gets into Dallas at 12:45 so I'm sure I'll be at Fishermans Cove by 5:00. I'm sure others will be there also. Imagine we'll all be ready for a brew by then. C'mon by!

As we say in Tennessee: YEEEEE HAWWWWW!!!

Matt, Touche'.......Are you going to get to make it to the Fork at any point while we're there? Hope so, it's always a good thing when a couple of UT fans get together . Risk

Keep that bus under control......looking forward to seeing you guys on Saturday! Safe Travels

Glad you are over 1,000.....your posts are informative and helpful....Thanks!

For under $150 I would go with the Citica 100. You may be able to find a Curado on e-bay for around $150. There is no doubt that I would go with one of these models in your price range. Either would serve both purposes. The rod will have to be the biggest compromise. I would look for a medium fast rod with a bit of a soft tip to compensate for crankin.

No need to worry RW......I've notified the THP, TWRA and the TN Nat'l Guard.....told em the Travelin Mooks are on the way for some good old TENNESSEE hospitality and that they would probably behave. We better get some pics of the TN cookouts for LBH! YEEEEHAWWWW.....only two days for the Mooks to arrive and Three to take off for the Great State of Texas.....watch out Longhorns......the Volunteers are on the way!!!! ;D

Very nice stick......worthy of a Sharelunker.....LBH, the pressure is on!!! ;D RW...no worry about the Mooks in our great state of Tennessee.....I've notified THP, TWRA and TN Nat'l Guard....they are on red alert We better get LBH some photos of the Nashville & Memphis cookouts with the Traveling Mooks...... YEEEEE HAWWWWWW only 2 more days til the Mooks stop by the house and 3 more til TAKE OFF to THE GREAT STATE of TEXAS.......Hey Longhorns.........the Volunteers are coming from the real UT and we'll be wearing the proper shade of orange ;D ;D

I have both a stradic and symetre 2500 and I must say there is not alot of difference that I can feel in normal use. The stradic may be a tad smoother but not real noticeably so. I don't think you can go wrong either way as they are both fine reels. In the future I will probably go with the symetre when the baitmonkey says I need a new setup. By the way the handle on the symetre 2500 is similar to the one on the stradic 2500, its the same shape but the plastic is a little different (I do like the stradic better in this regard). I also have a symetre 750 and that knob is indeed different as Burley said.

Bummer Muddy.....maybe you and the Lil Lady could think about FL instead of NC. Don't let it keep you off the lake though....I fish alone most of the time...from reading his posts sounds like Avid does alot of fishing by himself too. I find it very peaceful and enjoyable. Know you'll miss him but HEY....you got Elaine and the rest of us BR MOOKS and the Posse too!

BPS has a deal in Nashville for last years model Pro Qualifier Baitcast Reel along with an XPS IM8 Rod (MH) for $70. I'm thinking about picking up a couple of these for my 2 sons to learn baitcasting on. It doesn't have the feel of a Curado etc.. but on the other hand they seem pretty decent. The guys will only fish occasionally with me so this seems like it would be good beginner setup. Just seeking opinions or experiences of those that have owned these.

I have both a Shimano Stradic and Symetre, IMO either will serve you very well depending on how much you want to spend.