FishTank

That's it. I try not to knock reels and stuff too much but I tried a couple of Lew's reels and it didn't work out. I had returned one (second time in a month) and I was going to donate the other and an old setup that was collecting dust> which gave me a hole to fill. I know a few guys that love Lew's so I will just keep my reasons and which ones to myself out respect for those who like them.

Never go to Cabela's or BPS with no intentions of buying something. Always have a plan because the monkey has one for you..... I couldn't pass up the trade in deal so I ended up with 2 Curados (one left and one right), a few odds and ends, and a St. Croix Premier. This will be my first Premier so we will see how it goes.

If you Google fishing tackle in Evansville Indiana you will see it.

Funny a few years ago, I did the opposite. What I have left of YoZuri Hybrid is used for backing. Whatever they changed to the line made it unmanageable. I used 12lb and 6lb. I have been using Invizx and Tatsu ever since but I recently picked up Daiwa's FC and I like it so far. What makes FC worth it for me is that it lasts longer (usually 2-4 times as long as mono) and it tends to stay pretty consistent throughout it's life span. I can go through a mono spool in about 30-60 days. FC will last one to two years. With Tatsu, I had it last about 4 years on one reel.

I look at this rod earlier this year and thought it was pretty light, even for a Medium but was exceptional none the less. It was not what I was hunting for at the time but I just wanted to see how it felt. I was actually considering the 844C but decided to get a Megabass Destroyer. The 844 is still on my radar though. You might also look at A.L.F.'s website. They have the 842C in stock and their shipping tends to be pretty quick but can't say how long it would take to get to CA.

I have a Steez SV TWS and a Antares 70A. Both are fantastic but for casting distance the Antares, hands down, is the best. On the other hand, the Steez is more practical. To put it in other terms, if I was choosing one reel for tournament fishing, the Steez wins but for fishing fun and pleasure, the Antares would be my choice.

I fish it like a jig but I have also had decent luck fishing sort like a jerk bait. I tend to like the 1/2oz size but this bait on the whole is a rock magnet. I generally catch a few fish and then it gets wedged in something on the bottom. I bet I lost 10+ of them last year.

I fished jigs with this same line last weekend (except in 14lb) and had no issues. I caught a few fish but nothing major. It casts well and seems to hold up just as good as other FC. I would put it somewhere around or just slightly above Invizx overall but not as good as Tatsu. One thing though, I did get hung up (bad) using a jig in a large pile of rocks and couldn't hardly break this line. I finally had to thumb the spool and break it while I close to it. I should have just cut the line. I was using an improved clinch knot. In my opinion, this line is pretty tough.

Tatsu followed by Invizx.

I tried it and it was ok. There are other FC that handled better, had less memory and were thinner with the same knot strength. It just didn't make much sense to continue using it.

I used the same bait and trailer last weekend and caught six little ones in about an hour. Definitely a fish catcher. We will see how it goes down the road.

I have an old G. Loomis 783C GLX. It's still the most sensitive rod I own. So I guess shorter for me.

The Shimano Antares 70A is the longest casting reel I have ever used. I can pretty much empty the spool but as stated above the rod and lure make the difference.

I picked up a Tour S3 over Christmas break and it's making the same noise on a cast. I noticed the more I turned the breaks down the less noise it makes so I has to be something in the breaking system> it almost sounds like a Shimano DC reel. It still casts well but it's not a long distance reel by any stretch of the imagination. It is really smooth on the retrieve though and it's fun to fish. One other thing I noticed is that any setting below 5 on breaks seems to deactivate the breaking system all together. Other than that, it's a nice reel. It maybe the best Quantum reel I have picked up. But is it on par with other reels from Shimano and Daiwa at the same regular-price point? I hate to say it no, not really. I almost like the Smoke S3 and the KVD Smoke better. I will need to evaluate them more thoroughly as the year goes on. We will see.

It depends on use. On average, I usually clean my reels twice a year or if it the reel gets dunked in water (happens on my kayak too often). This means I will oil the parts mentioned above once over the summer and then do a complete breakdown over winter if needed.

Here you go...

In my Shimano reels I have tried the ABEC 7 Orange Seal, the ABEC 7 metal shield, and the ABEC 5 Lightning Bearing. I didn't care so much for the Orange Seal bearings. I tried a couple and each rubbed a little, actually decreasing performance. I removed the orange seals and it improved but I was not overwhelmed by them. The ABEC 7 metal shield bearings were amazing. The ABEC 5 was an improvement over the base Shimano bearings but if you are replacing the bearings in a higher end reel, the stock bearings maybe a better choice. Improvements in casting also depend on the reel. For instance, I replaced the bearings in a buddy's Curado B with the Boca ABEC 5's and the casting was amazing. I also replaced the bearings in another Curado B of his with the stock bearings that go into a Antares and the results were just as good if not better. I then tried the ABEC 7's in a Antares and the stock bearings were better.

Yes sir. I have two fingers that are not what they use to be (surgeries) and I think much faster than I type. I will fix it..... Thanks

I had another thought on this since it was asked for the reason of backing a reel to save cost on line...... Some spools that I have on both casting and spinning have a spot on the spool marked. It can be hard to see but it's pretty close to 25% of the spool fill. I back all my spools and this is what I go by. Also, judging casting distance for me is easy. I live on a perfect square acre, about 210 feet on each side. I can stand at the end of the driveway and cast into my neighbor's yard, over 210 feet. On the water, it's a different story.

As stated above, they are very similar to each other. Personal preference would be the Shimano SLX at that price point. All around better reel (not that the others may be bad) but it's the best bang for the buck. Also, I am not fond of BPS's branded reels in general. I have worked on a few for a fishing friend and it was not the best experience.

For me it depends on line, reel, rod and lure but on average about 40-60 yards at the most. Under the right conditions probably longer but to be honest > why? and I really don't want to.

I was referring to the ones at Wal Mart for a $1 or $2. War Eagles are my favorite. I also like Stanley and Terminator. I have one from Molix in white that I have not caught anything on but it is the probably the best made one I have.

Tried one and the wire broke (not the line) on a fish that was 3 feet from the boat. Never again. For a few bucks more you can get one that will last forever.

I use 12lb for Invizx for T-rigged soft plastic and jerkbaits and 15lb and sometimes 20lb for Jigs.

I use to be in the strictly full cork group but over time I have changed my mind. I tend to use both and really don't see much of an issue either way. I like the feel of full cork on hook sets but like the ability to hold the end nub on a split grip when casting> weird. The only thing I have come to dislike is certain EVA grips on the some of the rods I have. When they get wet they're slippery. They collect more dirt and gunk that gets dried in the EVA. Then, over time, some I have had have become brittle and cracked. Not all EVA rods are this way though but I am sort of leery of buying another one.