FishTank

Tatsu is great just by itself. No need for leader. Just on a side note, I have used Tatsu as leader material with braid.

I have caught fish well over the line rating. My personal best large mouth (10lb 2oz) was caught on 6lb test line and I caught a 40lb+ blue catfish on 10lb test. I always set the drag properly and when I know it's big, I play the fish to get it in.

I would say none of those but they would be great for bass fishing. From what I can tell on Shimano's website and from memory, most Shimano reels are not saltwater friendly when used on a regular basis. The Tranx and Chronarch G are what is listed from Shimano in their low profile reels for saltwater but they stress light inshore and made for freshwater fishing. Whatever reel you choose will need to be rinsed in freshwater after each use and the proper saltwater type oil and grease reapplied.

Having fished one the old LTB rods and still having several Avids, when you compare sensitivity, it's about the same but the quality of the build on the LTB is better. I have not fished the 6'8'' MF in the LTB or Avid, I do have the Legend Elite version of this rod and find it to be one of my favorites. I do have the 7' M Fast and MH Fast in the Avid and love both of these rods. For me, I too would go with the 6'8'' M Fast LTB unless you intend to fish jigs. From what I recall, it's the ideal jerk bait rod.

St. Croix Avid M or MH 7' Fast. Can't go wrong with either one, just pick the one that best suits the lures you use. My preference for most of the T-Rigged stuff I use is the M.

Very nice.... Love the E Chronarchs. I have the 51e and it has always been a great reel. There's just something about them.

Which reel for pure distance..... Shimano Antares 16 or the Antares 70A (if it had a bigger spool). I have either fished or owned/still own all the reels mentioned by the OP. The Antares out cast them all by a decent amount. Most of the reels I have cast about the same, all things considered. The Antares's stand out from all the rest on pure distance.

How was the line put on and does it have mono backing? If the braid was put on with the line on the ground label side up, especially the power pro, line twists will be inevitable.

Are there specific rods you are interested in? Often times when it comes to high end rods, the reviews are kind of subjective. To maximize some rods potential, you need the right reel, line and often times the specific lure the rod is made for. Also, the more a rod company claims (Favorite for example), the more it is all just fluff and window dressing so an in-depth review can be meaningless.

Good thought but I am not a fan of the Winn Grips. I tend to like the old Shimano septon knobs or something like them. I have tried them and worked on few reels with them. I get the sense that they become slick over time but I can not completely confirm that. I dont mind the flatter knobs that Lews uses. I think they have them on the BB1. Also the ones on BB1 pro might not be bad but have not fished them.

For the $10 I paid for it, it's not worth the effort or the postage. But don't worry, I will get some use out of it. On the other hand...It would be nice for them to send a new reel. I will see how it goes the rest of the year and maybe call them this fall when my fishing slows down. Thanks for the thought....

That is correct sort of and not really meaning to be funny but...... Things are being held at customs due to lack of inspection and delivery options. This has been an ongoing issues with parts we need at my place of employment. It has been easier to get them through Canada and Mexico. International loads, LTL, and even DHL have been questionable when it comes to getting things from China, Taiwan, and Thailand.

After using it about 6 times or so, it's starting to feel rough intermittently and casting slowly decreases the more I use it through out the day. Also, the breaking has become intermittent as well. I can generally use my thumb to avoid this so not a big deal. At first there was no issues with this reel but in a short span of time it has started to go down hill. Don't get me wrong though, it's still a decent reel just seems like it's not made to last. I have also taken this reel apart and re-lubed it. This did improve things but it still has the above issues. For the money though, it still brings in fish.

I have tried both and no mater what, I feel like am a getting taken advantage of. The weird thing is that some RX's are cheaper without my insurance so I always ask just in case. Good example of this is a guy I work with was tested for Covid-19. He was told it would be over $3000 at the emergency room if they used his insurance, $400 without and there was no difference in the test or the lab they used. He did test positive and the treatment was way cheaper with insurance than without. He came back to work after being off for about month and is now fine but he was lucky he got the right person at the hospital to handle his billing. In the end he said none of it makes any sense.

I have seen this done years ago.... An old guy that fished some of the small strip pits my father fished made all his own lures from wood. He would whittle different shapes from a block of wood, put hooks on it and fish the thing. His favorited was a chrome painted peanut he made. That thing was a fish magnet.

My local Cabela's is the same. They have been getting a limited supply of fishing stuff. When I asked they said the stuff is either sitting in California and can't get through customs or there's just a limited supply due to production shortages.

I have been using Mister Twister's and the Berkley Power Grub in any bright color for crappie and GYCB 4' Grub in green pumpkin for bass.

I found one in a clearance bin at DSG for $12 (?) and I had a coupon. Made it about $10 and so far so good. It works just ok but for $10, you can't beat it .

6.3:1 would be my choice. You can use it for just about anything.

I sort break down pricing this way..... 1. Get R Done 2. Fishing Fun 3. Fishing Pleasure Do I catch more fish with high end stuff? Sometimes. It may give me an extra edge here and there but the cost compared to the results are not always justified but the fun is most of time. I feel that once you have a few set ups that are getting fish in, you can grow and expand at your own pace. Save money, look for sales, be in control of the bait monkey (sort of). Most importantly, be patient with your money. For example....If you can save up $200, let's say in a year, for a reel, that means can save up $400 in two years (if life lets you). Fish what you have for a few years, be happy, and get what you want when the time is right.

With Big Game, yes. I use to use it and with the line conditioner, Big Game was much more manageable.

I have about 15+ set ups and a variety of brands but Shimano and Daiwa have been the most consistent and most fun reels I have owned.

I have a guy that is sort of local that will get me Loomis rods at a discount. Not sure how he does it but I think I am getting what he calls the "Professional's Discount". Not a pro for sure but I appreciate the idea and the good prices.

I have a couple Calcutta 251's. They are pretty much bullet proof. I think I could pass them on to my grandkids.

I used this stuff years ago. It was OK until it wasn't. What you are getting seems normal. I am not a fan of this line in general. The best advice I can give is, once you have reached your end with this line go to something else.