FishTank

St. Croix and G. Loomis is where I would start. Depending on your budget, the St. Croix Avid is probably the best value of the bunch from both manufactures.

I can't personally speak for quality of these rods but I have seen good reviews on other forums. There is an X-fast BFS version that seems to fit the bill. http://fish.shimano.com.sg/content/fish/asia/sg/en/homepage/ProductPage.P-BANTAM.html

I recently bought a Shimano Vanquish and I was considering many different reels at that time. The BG was on the list. It was the only one I could find that I could put in hand that I was looking at. Oddly, a local shop had some. It is a fine reel though. It is one of the few that when you put in hand, you just know it's good.

The Penn Battle use to be a good reel for salt but I have not used one in a few years and can not speak for the new versions.

Amazon has Seaguar Invizx 8lb 1000 yard spool for $70. It's $100 on Tackle Warehouse. If you have prime, you can get in two days (usually). No store in my area carries 1000 yard spool of any line, unless I drive 45min to Cabelas and they only have BPS mono. I use to find it weird to get 150, 200, and 300 yard spools but I decided on lighter lines and heavier lines for that matter, to put a good amount of cheap backing on the spool. That way, I can fill two spools. I just have to keep track from memory (trial and error) how much backing to put on. Below is an example of a 200 yard spool of 6lb going on two spools and I still had some left over.

So I have the NRX 853C and the GLX 803C. The sensitivity of the 853 is fantastic and for 1/2oz jigs, it's pretty much perfect but the 803C also great> It's just a fuzz less sensitive. I can't say for sure what it is but I sort of like the 803c better for jigs and the 853C for spinnerbaits, swim jigs and especially for the Dark Sleeper. I have put the NRX 854C in hand and it seemed a little to stout for lighter jigs I wanted to use (mainly 1/2oz or smaller).

Last year, crankbaits and jerkbaits. This year, T-rigged soft plastic and spinnerbaits. No reason for the change. Just trying something different.

I also had a Helios Air that started to grind. I contacted Okuma and unfortunately, after two repairs, three reels, and a few months of trying to get them to work, I had to finally return them. I am not for sure of the cause but I don't think it was the spool bearings. I think the problem was with the main gear and the pinion. It was a shame because new out of the box, this reel was amazing.

So far I have upgraded the following reels with Boca bearings..... Shimano Citica G > ABEC 5 Ceramics Shimano Core 101> ABEC 7 Ceramic Metal Shield Shimano Chronarch 51E> ABEC 7 Orange Seal Ceramic Shimano Calcutta 251 X 2 > ABEC 5 Ceramic Shimano Curado G > ABEC 7 Ceramic Metal Shield Shimano Antares 16 > ABEC 7 Ceramic Metal Shield I have also upgraded a few friends reels from various manufactures at their request with new boca bearings.... So my thoughts....... They are great bearings but depending on which reel you buy the stock part bearings may be the best replacement for the reel. How you fish and far you want to cast may influence your choice of bearing as well. I found that the stock bearings that go in the Antares worked better than the Boca's but the Boca bearings I put in a few Curados (including my own) made a big difference and were better than the stock ones. I did not care for the orange seal bearings from Boca. The ceramics will be loader if left unlubed. Another thing I did was put a set of stock Shimano Antares bearing in a Shimano Curado B, just for fun at first, and the results were just mind blowing. I tried these same bearing in other reels and same result. They are far cheaper than the Boca's but work almost as well, if not better. I get the impression (not any real proof though) that the bearings when they are new in the reel are not as good as the part bearings you can order from the manufacture. I think if you are questioning whether or not to replace a bearing, do as stated above first... Soak them in cleaner and re-lube. I have found several bearings that are just fine after this is done. Keeping the reel properly lubed and cleaned in some cases will be a better upgrade/choice than just a set of spool bearings.

It has a heavy bottom but a softer tip and it's not quite as stout overall as other heavier rods. It has worked perfectly for topwater frogs, spooks, buzz baits, heavier jerkbaits, and especially whopper ploppers. I have also used it for heavy t-rigged soft plastic and a jigs on occasion. I have used this rod for years and it is one the most versatile rods I own. I will try to pick up the Conquest version of it next year.

G. Loomis 844C GLX and a Shimano Antares A.

I have an FJ 2500 and it needs some TLC but it's still going. I don't know about valuable though. The condition will definitely effect the value and the fact that they are 4000's makes them a little big for bass fishing but not unusable.

Last year I fished it on a 7'2'' St. Croix Legend Glass Med Mod and really like how it felt but this year I have been using it on a 7'1'' MH X-fast St. Croix Legend Elite. I use this set up for heavier t-rigged soft plastic and some bigger spinner baits. I have probably tried it on at least 6 rods but these two have been my favorite and really any of the rods I have put it on has worked well. Same rules apply for pretty much any rod and reel when it comes to setting them up. The DC reel is more forgiving in that respect so getting it ball park close makes it easy to deal with as conditions change.

That is what has worked for me. I usually set it to 2 and leave it there. I didn't care for braid on this reel. It seemed like the more the line got soaked the more it had a hard time figuring out when to apply the proper braking. It wasn't bad though, just something I didn't want to have to deal with.

I have the Shimano DC and have had no issues with it. I have used it on a M. Mod rod, a MH Fast, and a Heavy fast rod. I have also used both FC and braid on this reel. I have found that I prefer FC over braid and it didn't really matter which rod I used. I have casted lures down to 1/4oz and as heavy as 1.5 oz. Is this reel backlash proof?> Nope but it does perform outstandingly well in windy conditions and can cast a 3/8oz crankbait a mile. Also, when set up properly, the breaking system out performs pretty much everything. The key is to setup the reel correctly. I would start with a 1/2oz lure>use FC (either 10, 12, or 15lb), set the tension knob so the lure falls slowly, set the reel to setting 2 and you should be good for anything between 3/8oz and 5/8oz. If its windy, use setting number 4. I would leave 1 and 3 alone until you get the hang of it. 1 will cast a lure a long way with a trained thumb and 3 works better for braid but can be unpredictable (at least for me it is). I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one.

If you can swing it, the Bantam has been amazing for me. The JDM version can be had for about $300 or less.

I don't think they have an updated or newer model on the CuradoDC reel. The schematics and parts are all the same and unchanged. Shimano will usually note the parts on their parts website by giving an updated part number in their charts. As far as finding one on eBay.... you might look at Asian Portal in Japan. I have ordered a couple of reels from them and have had great service. The will not have the Curado though but they will have the Scorpion DC. You can google it and find all sorts of info on it.

I think it's time for a new reel and maybe some TLC on the rod and reel when transported and used. It looks like it's been beat up in a boats rod locker. From a post above... I would also pass on the Nanofill. I would look into Invizx or Trilene XL 100% FC.

Pretty much everything except topwater. Jigs and soft plastic, spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, and on occasion, crankbaits.

Just my personal preference..... I wouldn't use that ratio for any of the techniques you mentioned but you could just reel faster, of course. I would use a 7.x:1 for the ones you mentioned. All of those I fish quicker and want the line to have a fast pick up. As far as which techniques I would use it for.... crankbaits.

Fluorocarbon. I have fished tons of different lines over the years and Fluorocarbon has worked the best for me so far.

Those are pretty cool. I often find I get treble hooks caught on random stuff. As far as how transport my rods> most things stayed tied on until I decide to change.

I called them earlier in the year and had no issues. They were great. It would be good to see the pictures of this rod though. They are supper picky about the quality of their rods especially the ones made in the US, like the Avid X. I am surprised one like that made it into circulation as it would be something that is checked when made, when inspected and when shipped. I have seen seconds with this issue but not a first quality rod. I am also curious as to whom you purchased it from and why it would could not just be returned.

I have been using the clinch knot for years with FC and have had great luck. I tend to use the palomar knot for braided line.