FishTank

St. Croix Avid 7' Medium Fast and a Shimano Curado K. This set up should do just about everything. It's not the best for crankbaits but it will get the job done.

I had it several years ago. I woke up in the middle of the night. My eyes started moving back and forth rapidly and the room was spinning. Scared me to death. I couldn't get it to stop for hours but I finally fell back asleep. The next morning I called my doctor's office first thing and made an appointment. He made sure I had my wife drive me in. When I was there I saw a new doctor from China, he did a check for inner ear problems and found nothing. He then did some weird test where he pushed around on my face and skull till I started to have the symptoms again. He then laid me down on a slightly tilted table and turned my head in a few awkward positions and I could feel the fluid in my brain shift. Its sort of like having bugs crawling in side you skull (really creepy feeling). Then the symptoms stopped and have not returned. Unfortunately this doctor was just a temp as my regular doctor was transitioning to a new position. I have since told this tale to multiple doctors and they are just flabbergasted. They don't believe it until they read my medical history. I have no idea what this treatment is called but it worked. I hope you never have to experience it again.

Unforgiven......

I will clean mine the first week of January. Cabin fever will creep in by then. I usually end up doing about 30+ for myself and few friends. Nothing major usually but some reels are a bigger pain than others. It does keep me busy.

First choice for me would be the Curado K and second the Tatula SV TW. Either reel would be great. There really isn't a "Ones better than the other". I think it would be just a personal preference. Both would serve as a sort of frustration free, first time user, and going to last you a long time... baitcaster.

Never heard of Rainshadow. I have a couple GLX rods and they have been fantastic. I would recommend the 783C. Great all purpose rod and super sensitive.

I don't think you can go wrong either way. If going for a light weight set up then I would go with the Chronarch. If a more solid feel is what you are after then the Bantam. I have only held the Chronarch but I do own the Bantam. Having owned a few of the older Chronarch, I decided I wanted the Bantam. I like the sort of round reel feel it has.

For me I like my crankbait rods to be split grip and soft plastic and jerk bait rods to full cork grip. Jig rods can be either one as long as they are sensitive.

One of them was a 7'4'' Heavy X-Fast and the tip is soft but the rest is pretty stiff. I have used it for 1/2oz War Eagles and it will cast them pretty far but the ideal purpose of this rod is for pitching jigs and soft plastic. I like it so far. My only gripe is that if you have fished a St. Croix or G. Loomis you can definitely tell the quality difference.

FishLab is the name brand but it's owned, I think, by Okuma. I found it Dicks Sporting Goods for $10 (regular price). I figured a swimbait of sorts for $10, why not.

I picked up two new Quantum KVD Tour rods for $60 each on eBay. So far for $60, I'm pretty amazed. I bought two different ones thinking if something happens while I'm on my kayak or out beating the bank then I won't be heart broken.

I have the 783GLX and the Curado DC. They are not paired together but I don't see why they wouldn't be great together. I the DC paired with a St. Croix Legend Glass 7'4'' M Mod and the 783GLX has a Shimano Core on it. IMHO, the 783GLX is one the best rods ever made. I have yet to find it's equal.

I have a few crappie color baits and they are hit and miss but this one came on my radar and I will try it out this weekend. It will probably be my last outing this year. Hope it hits on something big.

Not to play devils advocate but Amazon has the Curado K for $155.00.

I live in central Indiana (Indianapolis) and the bite has been slow for me as well but the fish I have caught have been slow to bite and deep. Instead of big hits, they have been slowly gulping lures. The key I think is to get them to hold and set the hook as soon as you feel something. I found the ned rig, senkos and big slow crankbaits have been the most effective but fished really slow, maybe a 2-3 minute cast. Out on the water there has been very little next to the bank. I have been finding fish maybe 40-50 feet away from shore near channels and bridges and maybe 15-20 feet deep. Tubes and deep crankbaits have been working.

Mega Strike and Smelly Jelly is what I have used on occasion.

Awesome deal. If I hadn't already blew my cash on reels this year, I would jump all over it.

I get what you're saying.... I have been using Invizx for awhile and like it but I have been looking for something in a good 15lb mono (I have tried several and I have some favorites). I just never heard of this stuff. I often find that most the off brand stuff is junk. This had so many good reviews and a guy I work with is a believer, I had to ask. I either wanted to confirm my suspensions or get some feed back on how good it was. Besides it comes in orange, it's my lucky fishing color....

I have never heard of RUNCL but found it on Amazon with someone else's recommendation. He said he liked it? Anybody use this stuff? Any good? I am a little skeptical of most of the off brands I find on various websites but this line sort of caught my attention and I was thinking of giving it a try.

It's two separate adds from different years. I found a page that had about 5 old Galyan's adds and I liked these two the most. One had some of the bigger names back in the day attending and the other had prices for some cool old school reels.

I tried it on a Daiwa reel and a couple of Megabass lures and it did not work either one. I guess I will wait for Tackle Warehouse's sale.

I use to hate those things. I tried for years to catch fish with that exact worm. I saw so many guys having great success and it just eluded me. Then one day, I couldn't stop catching fish with it. I think that's just how it goes.

Here you go. I sure do miss the good old days......

I have used my wife's ultra sonic jewelry cleaner with acetone for SS bearings. I only have used it when I have bought a new reel and want to clean the over lubed/greased bearings. If an existing, older reel gets that dirty it's because I have done something stupid. If the bearings appear problematic, I might clean them but really its just easier to replace them. As far as ceramics go, I have cleaned them using dawn soap and de-ionized water. I let them soak for a few hours. Rinse with some de-ionized water. Set them out to dry for a few and then blow them dry with some canned air. If you want you can give them a small drop of oil but too much and it will effect how they perform. If you see wear spots or out of round spots on the balls themselves (if there is no shield), I would replace them. In the end though, I don't think ceramics need a really good cleaning if you keep your reel cleaned, maintained and not over lubed.

I have both the Curado K and the DC. I have fished the SLX but not the DC version. The SLX is a smaller reel not as smooth or as powerful as the K and DC but is a nice reel none the less. It would be a great reel for someone who is just starting out with a bait caster. I don't think the DC version is worth the jump in price when you can get the Curado K for close to the same money. The K by itself is a great reel. It would be a great workhorse that you can get a lot years of use out of. The DC, in my opinion, is slightly smoother, easier to palm, and the DC casting control is fantastic. My only gripe with the DC is that I don't like using braid on it. I have tried it twice and just doesn't cast as well as it does with FC. I am not saying don't use braid on this reel though. I just like FC better. So far, this is how set up the DC..... I setup the cast control knob as usual. Then as far as the 1-4 settings goes.. 1. Wind to your back or heavier baits. 2. Pretty much this what I use 90% of the time. I have had zero backlashes when using a 3/8oz crankbait 3. Wind and lighter baits 4. Heavy wind and pitching There are also instructions in the manual as well. I just ignored them and worked out my own set of guidelines. Also, the DC aspect of this reel seems to improve over time.