offsidewing

Get a St Croix Avid X - 7' Medium Heavy / Fast rod and a Shimano Curado 70 reel, either HG or XG ratio. Rod is $200 sticker price. You can pick up the reel new from a reputable seller on a popular auction site for about $150.

Looks like a Steez 103 and SV103 had an OEM baby.

There is a brand new righty SV105 for sale in the Flea market now ?

If you are already a dedicated fisherman, Buy the best you can afford. Buy once, cry once.

I have a Core 50MG7 and Curado 70. Based on those two, I'm Still wishing for that all Magnesium Curado 70 with a 90MM handle. My Daiwa Steez TW SV is the closest thing to it for now... The new Curado K looks nice though.

That's Weird. Per a Shimano rep on another forum, the Aldebaran doesn't have Micro Module Gearing because of the CI4+ side plates. The new Chronarch has micro module gearing and is not made of CI4+. But the new Curado has a Ci4+ A side plate and Micro module gears. I'm assuming the A-side plate is the handle side plate. Anyways, I'm still holding out of a Magnesium frame and handle side plate Curado 70 with the MGL Spool. A boy can dream.

The 68MXF St Croix is one of the most versitile plastics rods out there. Can't recommend it enough.

Alright, got a big fishing trip coming next week so I put new line on my baitcasters. Here's some pics! Curado 70XG and Daiwa Arachnid 72MHXF Daiwa Steez TW SV XS and St Croix Elite 70MF Curado 70XG and St Croix Avid X 70MHF Daiwa SV103 XS and Daiwa Arachnid 73HXG Not pictured is my Crankbait set up of Curado 200i PG and Tournamant ZX 72MM

I alcohol rinse everything after a degrease. Bearings, carrier groups, chains, etc. Your advice is dripping with hubris and I don't drink coffee.

The alcohol rinse is to make sure the degreaser leaves no residue. Not all degreasers leave a residue.

Define Smooth. I went through something similar the first time I bought a $300+ magnesium baitcasting reel with Aluminum gears. I thought being able to free spin the handle for 15 seconds meant a reel was smooth - like I could with a brass-geared aluminum bodied tank. Then I hooked onto a fish with my Metanium and that's when the smoothness light bulb went off.

Necro thread!

I had two Touney ZX casting rods that I got on sale in March sitting on my rod rack NWT. I Returned them to my local Cabelas today and picked up the equivalent Arachnids for $99. Really nice rods for $99. Too many other good choices at the $200 price point.

I've proudly owned two Lews reels. A BB1 pro and Tournament Pro. I never really appreciated their value until I bought a Shimano (and now Daiwa) baitcaster. There's nothing wrong with Lews. The Chronarch MGL is getting positive feedback from just about every corner of the internet. I own a MET MGL and if the Chronarch is 80% as smooth as the MET you'll be tickled.

Anyone tried an R+ spool in an SV103?

Water isn't a lubricant. Saliva, for many biological reasons, is a lubricant.

Anyone try an SV spool in a Steez A yet? I bought a Steez A on impulse. Its a great reel but I don't know that I like it any more than a Metanium MGL as far as casting distance and retrieve. I really like the SV spools wouldn't mind putting an SV spool in it for a little more versatility.

Do you hear the drag whine in your sleep or are you using a 3000/4000 sized reel with the drag locked down?

I have the Elite Spinning 610MLXF and its my favorite spinning rod. Its awesome for ned rigs, tube jigs, and drop shot. Also good for wacky rigging 3 and 4 inch senkos. I have matched with Shimano Vanquish 2500 HGS.

You ever try to horse a 6 pounder out from under a dock with a spinning set up? 1/10. Would not recommend.

A rod has a rating for line diameter like lure weights (20lb braid is about same diameter as 6 or 8lb mono) so check on that. Also make sure your spool isn't over filled with line. Keep in mind if you're whipping a casting rod like a spinning rod you're gonna have issues, especially with thin diameter line. I will avoid any comments on quality or longevity of the forum sponsor Kast King reels, but about the only non-glowing comment they receive from the mods who tested them are that they require a trained thumb when casting.

I just got into the Daiwa SV reels this spring. Have the Steez SV TW and SV103. The SV103 is one heck of a reel and accepts all kinds of spools. It palms great and doesn't feel like a 7 oz reel. I'm really impressed with the SV103.

Of what you listed, I have the Avid X 70MHF and use it for jigs and bottom contact plastics. Its One of my favorite rods.

Start with a 6'6" Medium Fast spinning rod and a $40 Pflueger Trion reel. I fished that one set up from age 15 to 35.

My favorite all round rods are the casting 7'0" slash 7'1" Medium Heavy St Croix's with a Fast Action. I have them in Avid X, LTB, and the new Elite series. If I throw anything under the 3/8oz (baits smaller than a 5" Senko or Fat Ika) I moved down to a Med Fast casting rod or spinning gear. The Avid X 70MHF rod is probably the "one" I'd choose if I had to choose one casting rod for Bass.