jbrew73

I have only used one tp-1 and it was a heavy model, can’t remember the exact one. It felt tip heavy and lacked sensitivity. I had 4-5 of the custom speed sticks and loved everything about them except the reel seat. Really nice rod for the money and they do run a little bit heavier than the rating.

This is how tw measures them.

Falcon cara. I read a lot of positive reviews on them as well but they just didn’t work out for me.

I think you can do better than alx. I was not impressed with the 2 I had. They were heavy and lacked sensitivity to me.

A lot of my line is on 200 yard spools so 65 x’s 3 reels works nicely. I can’t quite get by doing 50 yards on some reels but on others it would be plenty.

Most of my bass reels have 65 yards of main line and whatever amount of backing needed to have a full spool. I don’t think 50 yards is enough for some rigs but 65 seems to do well even if I have a break off . i measure out 65 yards of main line and spool the reel, tie on backing and fill up the spool. Remove all the line and spool up from the backing end first. Time consuming the first time but when it’s time to replace the main line you strip it down the the backing knot , tie on new line and spool back up.

amazon schmamazon! ? even though I do buy some items from them I just don’t have a lot of faith in them.

Amazon Schmamazon........I honestly feel better buying on eBay. Amazon listings often have one model#/upc code and pictures of another item. I’m sure they have a good return policy but I just don’t have confidence in buying from them.

Thanks Tom

Tom at what point of the process do you cut it into the desired shapes?

Surely they will honor the price if it is in an email. You should be fine.

I use and recommend the siebert dock rocker for wood and cover. They skip into tight places and come through cover well. I have not used siebert brush jigs but I never found brush jigs in general to be very good in wood.... go figure....

I guess those big fish could cut rope! We don’t seem to have pike that size so I’ve always wondered why all the talk about leaders and such. Clearly I can see why now.

We pike (chain pickerel) fished all the time when I was a kid. We caught what seemed like large pike but knowing what I know now a assume they were 3 lb max. We used Zebco 33’s with 10lb stren mono and I cant remember ever losing a fish due to cutoff. Are larger pike or other species of pike more likely to cut your line ?

Falcon Cara Amistad

Take your wife’s advise unless money is no object. If that’s the case you’re fine.

Unless they sponsor this site. Then it’s ok to save money.

Looks all worn from catching fish. Maybe you should buy a new one. ?

Yozuri is hard to beat for the money but I’d say drop down 2 sizes. For 20 lb say Trilene or stren I’d use 15lb yz. For 10lb I’d use 6 or 8. Look at the diameter and use that for comparison. i use sunline sniper and super natural??? mono for most of my rods and i have to step up a few lbs to get the strength I need. (15lb big game =20lb sunline for example). Sunline dia vs brand x mono dia seem to cast equally as well for me .

For your typical baitcasting reel I would consider it average weight.

I hear you but for $200 you would think they would be smooth out of the box.

I have had a several new daiwa’s that way. Sent them in for repair and most but not all came back smooth. I stopped using lews because they got geary with age. I switched to Daiwa and some of them are geary right out of the box others are silky smooth. Maybe I do expect too much but I can’t deal with rough feeling reels. I pick up some of my friends reels that they comment how smooth they are and want to thrown them in the water. I guess we all have different expectations. Maybe I’ll get used to it too some day.

I would consider falcon and hammer over ALX. I don’t feel their rods are sensitive enough for the cost.

It must be tough always being the smartest guy in the room.

If you don’t have someone local to fix it you could save the rod until you need another rod or 2 repaired and ship it to DVT. With shipping 2 ways and the repair you’d have about $90 in it. Not worth it. Id probably just stick a tip on it and give it to a local kid.