FishTank

Not sure of the price range but.... G. Loomis IMX 844C and a Shimano Chronarch. This will do just about whatever you want... Frogs, jigs, topwater, spinnerbaits, and even bladed jigs. Very versatile set up.

I picked up a 3000 Vanquish at Asian Fishing Portal. Its super light and a pleasure to fish towards the end of the day when my hands get tired. The drag is super smooth but if I need to tighten down, I think it would bring in a good sized grouper. Amazing reel.

Which Symetre do you have?

I would also check out the Shimano Bantam

I have an 803S coming in for a warranty replacement. Can't wait. I am not sure how it it could be better than the original.

@bulldog1935 Can you explain the difference in all of the current Steez reels while we are at it? You made some good points above. I have been wanting to ask this for a while as Daiwa doesn't give you much except new marketing catch words with each new reel. I have the Steez SV and CT and have fished the A. All three feel and fish differently. I know this is a big ask but I have seen different and even incomplete info. It would be nice to have it in one post for reference.

I agree with Catt above. For jigs, 100 size reel would be better if you are wanting to palm the reel. Now what about retreive speed. Is a round reel going to pick up line fast enough? My thoughts on a set up..... Outside of the original budget but a 100 Calcutta B (if you can find one) and a St. Croix Avid 7' MH Fast. This set up should last a lifetime.

My backpack for bank fishing and my kayak contains one Plano 3600 and a double sided Plano worm stowaway box (these can be hard to find). The 3600 contains 3 topwater baits, 3 jerkbaits, 5 crankbaits, a few misc. baits and 3 jigs. The two sided box has spots for terminal tackle on each side and space for about 12 bags of soft plastic total. I also keep sunscreen, a water bottle, pliers, Keitechs and sunglasses in my backpack. About the only thing I don't bring are spinnerbaits and swimbaits.

5in Senko black with Blue Flake or any finesse worm. When the bite gets tough, I can fish slow with patience and confidence if I have a light rig and a finesse presentation. The hard part is finding the fish first. A good example of this is two weeks ago on Saturday, I was fishing with a buddy on a clear lake with no wind. He was fishing chatterbaits and lipless cranks and I was using a wacky rigged senko. He fished fast and I was fishing slow. He caught 2 and I caught 15 > it could have been more.

Is this for both rod and reel? Also, you can do it but a round reel for jigs is usually not ideal and would not be my first choice.

I tear down my reels once a year but I do oil the spool bearings once I see a little difference in casting or when I accidentally dunk a reel on my kayak. As far as what I use on them, I like Shimano's drag grease on gears, bantam oil on a few moving parts, and now TSI 321 for bearings. I use to use the Ardent stuff. There grease wasn't bad but the oil was just not that great. And my thoughts below on Quantum Hot Sauce.......

I have two reels with an MGL spool, an Antares 70A and a Bantam MGL. The MGL spool does make a difference when casting lighter baits but the important part is the rod. The rod needs to be light enough to load the smaller baits you are looking at. I would like at either a M or ML Fast or Mod-Fast. The St. Croix Avid 7' M Fast would be one I would consider.

Might be good to let us know your budget and what you intend to use it for. I don't know of any off the rack combos if that is what you are looking for. My personal favorite is a Shimano Calcutta 101 TE GT and a Megabass P5 Super Destroyer.

Hollow core is good for saltwater. I really don't see the benefit for bass fishing. Also, I might pass on braid for big cranks and swimbaits. I tried it multiple times but I like the stretch of mono for both baits. Currently I have been using 19 and 25lb Sunline Defier Amarillo. Good line, tough, some stretch but not as much as most others. No complaints.

I respool as needed depending on line type and which setups. Usually mono is three times a year or more but I have gotten away from using it as primary line. FC maybe once a year for Invizx and up to four years with Tatsu. With braid, I change it about once every two to three years, again, depending on the usage. Now depending on the application...... Jigs> FC can last a long time if I am using heavier line and I am just pitching/flipping Texas Rigged plastic > FC won't last as long but if use Tatsu, it will last at least two years Crankbaits > regular mono will get beat up here. I have been using Sunline Defier and it has lasted two seasons so far. My previous choices were changed frequently. Topwater> Braid. Changed once a year. It gets torn up in all cabbage I fish. Finnese > Braid to Leader. Last as long as I can keep it on there but usually two to three years

1. Senko (wacky and texas rigged) 2. Jerkbait 3. Jig Honorable mention...... Shallow Crankbait

For me each line type has a specific purpose..... Mono> Crankbaits and some topwater Braid> Topwater and heavy cover FC> Everything else Each line has its pluses and minuses. They just need to be used appropriately to fit your personal needs. If one line does the trick, all the power to you. On a side note, fished Big Game for years and it's good line until it isn't. When I started fishing tournaments, I was changing it too often to fit my needs. I quickly switched to FC for most of my fishing. I haven’t looked back since. I only know a few guys that use Big Game anymore.

The newest one I had seen was the HLC version.

Caught these guys today on a wacky rigged senko.

Another thing that's odd, I have used baits down to 0.25 oz and up to 1.5oz and they all fish well. Also, I have the the 803S not the 803C. Typo on my part.

I have the P5 Super Destroyer and it's just an awesome rod. I have been considering the Windbuster but I have a G. Loomis NRX 803S which seems very similar. The Super Destroyer though sort of a jack of all trades. It's a weird rod in that it sort of has a different feel with each different type of lure I have tried on it. I don't know how Megabass did this but it's mind blowing.

Yes. It's normal. I went all in on this line years ago. To this day, it's still one of the worst lines I have ever used.

How are you fishing? I am still new to this bait. But when I have used it, it has been killer. I have fished it on a small shaky head and on drop shot. Both have been productive. All I do is cast it where I know there are fish and let it set or just bounce it slowly. The one downside, for me, with this bait, is Bluegill love the tails of these things. They bite them clean off. I tried fishing them in one of my favorite lakes for the first time and before I knew it, I had gone through eight of them with only one bass to show for it. All of them had missing tails.

I have yet to find a good substitute that is readily available. However, I do like the Megabass Spark Shad and the Magdraft.

I have two Calcutta 251s and a 101 TE GT. One of the 251s I have had for almost 15 years. The thing takes a beating and still feels like it's new. I updated the drag and the spool bearings and that's it. I get the since it will out live me. In general though, there is something special about how they feel.... slow and smooth.... like me. ?