FishTank

Shimano. Each reel I have, has been problem free unless I have damaged it. No reel manufacturer is 100% bullet proof though.

Plano Edge 3700 Deep or regular.

Lucky Craft 1.5 or 2.0 RT or DRS in Golden Shiner.

I like it. The other silicone sets I looked at were over $45, some around $100.

I was at Lowe's today to pick up a few things and came across this silicone tray set (they had just unpacked it). I have on more than one occasion dropped a screw or part and went crazy looking for it. This today was a big help on tearing down my new Chronarch and keeping things organized. If you work on reels, it is well worth the $30 for these things. I can't recommend them enough.

Easy.... St. Croix Avid. They have a rod in this line up to fit all your needs. Another thought, I like the St. Croix Legend Glass better for crankbaits.

I have the Steez SV TW and had been debating on a Steez A when the CT caught my eye. The more I looked at it, the more I was like how would I fit this into my rotation of setups. I had the A in my cart at #@%#$ (it won't let me type it) Japan tackle shop for $360 shipped but ended up getting an old Shimano Metanium Mg7 V2 Limited. It was Shimano's kind of failed attempt at a limited run reel. Since I recently lost a Core (same reel sort of) to the depths, I couldn't resist. If the Steez A is still floating around next year, I will have to check out Digitaka.

Just curious, how do you like the Steez CT SV? What do you use it for? Is it strictly a BFS type reel?

I have 4 (and one on the way). I have yet to have an issue. I have two Antares 12's, an Antares 70A left, and a Vanquish C3000 XG. All are great.

Why was the line guide replaced? And what did you do to replace it?

Most of the ponds I fish, a jig just doesn't get bit. T-rig on the other hand is killer. Out on the water, it may be a different story.

A buddy of mine fishes the EX6 rods and loves them but I'm not a fan of them. On the other hand, he did pick up the new version and he said it was a big improvement over the old one. I think, for me, the fun begins with the IMX. As far as alternatives, St. Croix Avid or the St. Croix Legend Glass for crankbaits.

The Curado K gets my vote.

Not really. Any line can get compromised with a backlash. It just depends on how bad it is. For me, usually the thinner the line is, the harder it is to dig out. I try not to go thinner than 8-10lb depending on the line with casting gear. Also, I have fished Invizx for years and it tends to last me about a whole fishing season but not two. I think you are probably past due on changing it.

I have always liked invizx but not so much in anything below 10lb. You might give Trilene 100% FC a shot or just step up to Tatsu. Both are great.

I own both..... Cork has always been my favorite.

I have couple of Curado K's and love them so far. Smooth, casts well, and brings in fish.

Looks good to me.

Just in case, the fish I hooked into was about a 5lb carp so nothing crazy big. I was just pulling it in, the carp came right at my kayak, I took the slack out of the line, lifted the rod and it popped right out. The reel is pretty new. It had not been dropped as far as I know and I have only caught a few fish with it. It seemed pretty flawless until this happened.

That's asking a lot of one rod but I have used one for all that you have mentioned > St. Croix Avid 7' MH Fast. I use it as my main kayak rod. I don't tend to take but 1 or 2 rods when I go out. I like to keep it simple. This rod though will handle a lot things well but excels at T-rig soft plastic and topwater. It gets by with crankbaits but I prefer a moderate-fast or moderate rod for that technique. I have one Premier and it's OK but not as good as the Avid. It's definitely worth the extra few bucks. Not a fan of the Loomis EX6 rods but love most all other rods from Loomis. I can't speak for the Tatula rods. Good Luck.

I have broken rods, lures, gears in reels but........ Never I have I ever seen this happen to a reel while bringing in a fish and keep in mind, the rod is in perfect shape...... The base of the reel just broke right off when I was bringing in fish. Luckily I got a hold of Quantum and they are sending me a new Smoke S3. Anybody else have this happen?

7' MH Fast St. Croix Avid and a Shimano Curado for Spinnerbaits For Chatterbaits I had what I thought was the perfect combo but it went overboard and would have been impossible to find..... G. Loomis PR844C GLX and a Shimano Core 101MG. The PR844C loaded perfectly and I could cast a chatterbait as far as anything else. I tried several rods for this technique and this rod was the only one that had that magical feel to it.

The DC is a great reel but I tend to use it for those instances when a backlash is more likely to happen. What reel are you currently struggling with? If you are new to baitcasters, I like the Shimano SLX. It won't break the bank, it's easy to use and set up, and it's a reel that can hold its own against some of the more expensive reels on the market. Also, some things to keep in mind...... don't worry about casting distance until you get use to using a baitcaster, the rod and lure choice influence how a backlash can occur, and even the best fisherman still backlash from time to time. The idea is to learn to use your thumb to minimize it.

XL or Sufix Elite. Been years since I have tried either one but both were great. Another as mentioned above that I like is Sunline Natural. I would consider the line diameter when you go with this light of line. You may fine 6lb in some brands an equally as good option.