links_man2

Best way to fish them would be to stop by Anglers Lodge for breakfast burrito and ask Carl or JC when and where to fish them.

Sorry Reelmech wasn't trying to cut you out. Was mainly pointing him to Jim's test with the bearings.

I have had mine for over a year and wouldn't be without it. Watch Academy/Wal-mart have the on sale every now and then. They have a new model out that is smaller in size but bigger in price. When you want to spool a Spinning Reel with it, you take the metal arm out and rotate it 90 degrees so it is in the middle and pointing at the reel. That way the line will come off the side of the spool rather than the spool rotating. The reason you may have trouble with the metal arm coming out, is there is a rubber "grommet" that slips over the end of the rod when inserted in the spooling station. Doesn't hold reel good, but better than nothing. For the person that couldn't figure out the line stripper: 1. Be sure bottom cap is screwed on tight so battery is making contact. 2. Insert the line in the smaller of the 2 holes in the top cap. 3. Be sure reel is in free spool if casting, bail is open if spinning. 4. Press the button. 5. When finished, unscrew the bottom battery cap until batteries are not making contact i.e. won't run when button pressed. This will keep it from draining batteries.

Here is a good test Jim at Heartland Tackle did showing how much the bearings help. Primarily the gain wasn't too great after the spool bearings. He also has good selection/prices on bearings. http://heartlandtackleservice.com/ceramictest.stm

Not sure if this was addressed at me, but I was only informing people what happened in my case and that the shipping may not be free. But I will moan and groan about people that tend to jump out a little quick.

Avid---Thanks for the link. Haven't fished it, but tied some Fluoro on braid and was a fairly straight forward know and could be tied even by a fat fingered old man without getting my fingers tied in the knot. Gave it a few pretty good tugs and seems to hold very good. Was looking for something else since I have had some problems with a double uni between braid and fluoro.

Shimano also has a pretty good overview for different types of reels on thgeir website: http://fish.shimano.com/publish/content/fish/sac/us/en/customer_service/reel_maintenance_instractions.html

$300 and you don't even get a spare spool. If it had a spare spool I would probably order a dozen or zero! Plus it weighs nearly as much as a real reel.

???? Standard minimum shipping charge is $4.95. When you look at your cart, it shows the purchase total, then shipping charges, then the bill total. I don't know what the exact scale is, but the more you spend, the higher the shipping charge, until you reach $12.95 in charges. From there, it remains $12.95 shipping, unless there are other charges like $6 for longer rods, or truck charges for heavy items, ect.... Those are seperate charges though, if you bought a $30 7 foot rod, it would have the $6 charge just like a $200 rod. With this lure special, all you have to do is buy the $5 worth of lures, and your whole basic order is shipped free. I'm sure they still tack on the charges for oversized items and over weight items. Sorry, but you will be charged shipping if you order other items with the 5 for $5 baits. It will not show up in you cart at checkout or on the order form you can print at the end of the order. But there is a note at the bottom of the order form printed "Additional funds may be required if additional shipping charges apply. You will be notified if charges exceed $10.". In my case I was paying with Reward Points and when I looked the next day, I saw they had added the additional shipping to the points they withdrew. As always, there ain't no free lunch or free shipping!

Got some Bass Magic 4.5 (longest they had) at our local Academy. Haven't caught anything on them yet but really like the action. Liked it well enough to order a variety of colors in the 6.5" size from BPS. As far as rigging, I like the hooks with the screw/spring attached to the eye. I can find them weighted up to about 1/8 oz locally. For heavier weighting, I take a Torpedo Weight (long round with home through center length wise) and use a hack saw to cut down to the hole/center. I then crimp that around a hook that weighs 1/4 oz. Have also used the longer weights that have the rubber core and remove the rubber and crimp that on the hook. I have tried crimping slit shot and the longer weights with the tabs, but they seem to leave too many rough edges to hang on grass/weeds.

I use a 3/0 Gamakatsu Finesse Wide Gap (red cause that is only color I found locally). But since I use a weight 1/4 to 3/8 and my local lake is heavy with salt cedar brush I tie a loop of cheap 50LB mono for a weedguard. I tried the Gamakasu Finesse Wide Gaps that come with a weedguard, but they pop open so easy the weedguard is a waste. I also use small o-rings I get at Lowes in the Plumbing dept rather than bury the hook in the worm. Doesn't tear the worm up every fish.

Been using the Vicious Fluoro for couple of months and really like it so far. Especially like the price, much better than many of the Fluoro's out there even less than the BPS XPS which I used before this and liked it.

I have been using it a couple of months and so far really like it. I do use the KVD Line & Lure on all my Mono and Fluoro and it really helps tame the memory, much better than my experiences with Reel Magic.

Mid-MO - This is not a rumor/conjecture, after seeing your comment, I emailed Falcon Cust Svc and they sent me a fax of the announcement. Basically, it says Plano entered into an agreement with Falcon Rods to: "...manufacture and market the Falcon FTO line of tackle organizers formerly distributed by Falcon Rods. This agreement does not pertain to any Falcon Rods SKU's or other Falcon branded products that will continue to be fistributed exclusively by Falcon Rods." This was effective 1/1/2008.

I have had the Falcon Terminal tackle box for little over a year and really like it. Only problem is that the small stuff, small hooks, swivels, toothpicks acn change compartments due to the gap between the top of the dividers and the lid. Someone mentioned putting masking tape along the top edge of dividers. I went to Lowes and got some thin foam shelf liner and glued it inside the top of the lid. Just thick enough to seal between lid and top of dividers. Plus if I add/change dividers no need to retape.

Bought 1 spool of Cajun line and it was so stiff & wirey that I now only use it as backing for good line.

Had used BPS XPS with no problems. Recently went to the Vicious Fluoro and so far really like it. I also like that I can get it locally rather than having to order it, plus at $7.96 for 250 yds it is cheaper than most all other Fluoro's including the BLS XPS.

I like 50# Power Pro braid for jigs. I like Vicious Fluoro especially the price, I can get it for $8 for 250 yd of 15#. In the 3-4 months I have been using the Vicious, I have had no problems.

Haven't clean a Revo, but if like my Shimano's, I just take the top of a small screw driver handle and push it out from inside the cover. It is tight, but just slides in and out.

Give Vicious Flouro a try, I really like it for diving/sinking baits. For top water I like the the Gamma Copoly. I also use the P-Line Premium for some baits. I know of no line that doesn't have memory after setting up for a few days, especially in the cold. What I have found that really helps on the memory is the KVD Line & Lure. Tried Reel Magic and got no where near the results I do with the KVD.

I have had some good luck with 3/0 Gamakatsu Finesse Widegaps that I tie my own weedguard on. I fish heavy salt cedar cover mostly and the regular weedguards will come open when they touch anything. Here is what I use: I just tie a loop of cheap 50# mono to protect the point. Have no problems with hookups and it is pretty weedless even in heavy cover.

I had used BPS XPS Fuoro for about a year with no problems. Recently I got the Vicious Fluoro and like it as well or better than the XPS, PLUS it is cheaper. I also really like the KVD Line & Lure on mono and fluoro lines. Really takes out the memory much better than Reel Magic. Found that if I order 4 bottles direct from RMR Industries I can get it cheaper than Bass Pro and as cheap as Reel Magic. Here is the RMR website: http://www.rmrindustries.com/store/results.php?category=3

Low_Budget---Is there a way to get GPS Coordinates from Mapquest?

Might want to take a look at the Garcia Black Max at Walmart and other online tackle suppliers. It has 5 Ball Bearings (4+roller) and is $49.96 at Walmart. Good name and would probably be able to get parts for it in contrast to many of the BPS branded reels.

Well as the case last year I got loads of fishing tackle, all of which I wanted. Wife and I have no children at home so we started last year setting a $ limit on gifts from each other. The catch is that I buy mine from her and she buys hers from me. The surprise is what you got the other one and we are never disappointed. Works great.