stk44

What makes Shimano better? I've never taken apart a higher end Shimano spinning reel before to know.

Pressure plate I would assume? What part of Afghanistan is that?

Thanks. I just ordered my curado 200. I'm anxious to see how it stacks up against my STX.

This is my favorite emoji in situations like this.

@j bab Thanks.I would consider the Chronarch, but I wanted the lower gear ratio curado for some 10-16 foot diving cranks (with the option to crank down some DD22's on occasion.) And it kills me to not pick up a metanium for 300 bucks too...I just don't need one right now....

When is the next TW sale? Do they do New years or valentines day or anything like that? I bought a gift card @ 10% off for a Curado 200 I 5.5:1 (this will be my first Shimano) and I was trying to see if I could hold out til the next sale. I wont be using the reel til late february/early march.

Gundog, you've gotta wait on that. After the army beats the living S#!$ out of their SAW's, they then go to the Marine Corps. After that I'm sure they are available...

My peak was 5'10 195 @6 percent body fat. When I would bulk, I would have to eat around 4500 to 5000 calories per day. Then I got injured and I'm back down to 175. Ive found I'm much happier exercising to be in shape, not so much just to look in shape anymore. To each his own though.

Very good point. I switch up from palming, between 2nd and 3rd finger w/ thumb over reel, and between 3rd and 4th finger w/ thumb over reel. I will say that using the latter is not very comfortable on the LTB, especially while wearing a ring.

They are both great rods. I have a 6'8 MF LTB, it is really sensitive and I love the rod. IMO, the LTB seems a bit more sensitive, but that is just my opinion. The reel seat leaves something to be desired though.. I often find myself trying to grip the seat differently or palming the reel if I fish with the LTB all day. The champ XP is now upgraded with the Fuji guides which are phenomenal. And it is really comfortable.

@wdp It's nice that I'm forced to relax on the weekends now, but I'm in the same boat as you. I can't wait til March.. Hopefully this year I can time it right where I can catch river smallmouth in prespawn and spawn, while also being able to hit largemouth during there prespawn and spawn. I have a fly rod that I still need to build. I bought it just before I got hooked on bass. It's a 7 weight too, so that would be perfect for bass flies. Fly fishing is cool and all, but it's usually never the most effective way to target bass most of the year. I was talking to my wife about heading south to do some fishing. I don't know if I can make it without fishing until March...

@iabass8 is right. Don't get me wrong, I love my LTB, but the reel seat is not the best. I have the Champ in 705 and I can comfortably pitch and winch bass out of cover comfortably for extended periods of time. I will say that's the only downside of the LTB. The XP's also have the upgraded guides which I wish I would have waited for on my pitching rod. If I had to pick one over the other I would go with the Champ XP but not by much.

I can't this year, but I see that's a yearly trip. That would be a lot of fun. I would have to arrange for the Wife and little one to have some activities to do as well, since I'm sure they would want to tag along. Definitely something I'm gonna do sooner or later.

I would love to fish there someday.

@Yeajray231 I found your off-season kit while browsing TW.

That would probably work. Still not the same thing but that's probably the easiest method thus far.

The next PA state record is going to be caught on the dangle berry rig.

Thanks. I will definitely check this out. Do you find that you save money by making your own or is it more just for the fun of it? I know with reloading, everyone starts out to save money, then you start buying premium bullets, brass, experimenting with powers, etc and then you start spending more money than just buying the manufactured product. Not that there's anything wrong with either option. Just curious.

Now that's something I might get into in the future. Do you pour your own plastics too?

I thought about ice fishing. My dad used to all the time. I just don't know much about it. I'm sure I'd like it, but between bass fishing 9 months out of the year, shooting, and guitar I probably won't be heading out on the ice anytime soon.

That'll take care of em

I'd be interested to see a tank test

I guess the only difference would be that the free sliding weight would wobble a bit during the fall. Would this make a difference? I'm guessing not, but who am I to say? I've never tried it.

I was thinking the same thing...

Someday I'd like to try that... Must be nice. My sister lives in SoCal, I need to get out that way sometime to visit her and do some fishing.