FishTank

I like the G Loomis GLX jig and worm rods...

Oh how I miss my Calais. I sold it, needed the cash. I never had an issue with line but I used either 12lb Yozuri hybrid or 12lb Trilene 100% FC. I also used KVD line conditioner every once in a while. Maybe spraying it on the spool was causing the frame to stay slick, causing less wear on the line.

Not a big fan of braid but I like power pro out of what I have used. I would stay away from Spider Wire braid, horrible line After reading your post, I am wondering and just suggesting, that if you are losing lures and fraying line, you may need to find a better knot and a pair of sharp scissors. As far as the knot goes, I find that the a Uni knot works best but most importantly, you wet it before you tie it down.

It is hard to say for sure but it sounds like what I experienced with my old sustain 2500 (can't remember the model). One of the bearings gave out in mine. I would take it apart and check each bearing, especially the spool bearing. I stick mine on the end of a pencil, turn them between your fingers and you should feel if it is bad. Down side to all this, if you go with boca bearings your looking at $100 for a complete set. One other thing, you mentioned you are getting resistance at specific points. If it is the same place every time, you may have something, maybe sand, on the gearing. Bottomline, I would take the reel apart again and check everything.

I have 101 MG and love it. It casts forever. I can almost empty the spool with 12lb line. One of the best things is that it hardly ever backlashes on me. I cast a weightless senko with one break on a country mile. The only down side, in order improve weight on this model shimano reduced the bearing count. The reel still is smooth but at the price it could be smother. This is not to say it is not a great reel, it is my favorite. One thing gear does for me, is it increases my fishing fun and the core paired with a g loomis 803c does it perfectly. I am hoping there is a Core 51 mg in my future....

G loomis pbr 844c

Sure. I would say in general a 6'6" mh rod and medium sized spinning reel will do for just about anything and anybody. If I had to pick from what I own though, I would go with my shimano core and my g loomis 783c glx. I know this is a bait caster but it would suit me just fine.

I am right handed and started out with a left handed baitcaster. It just feels natural know. One other thing I noticed, and it may just be me, I get a lot of bites on the fall. If I had to switch hands, I feel I might miss something.

I have one high speed Zillion and it's great but I still prefer the average speed reels (6.4:1). I don't I could use the exclusively.

Another vote for the Zillion. I will say this about it, I have had it for 7 years and I still say it is not the best reel for light weight baits. The breaking system seems to come on most of the time but not all the time. Big baits are not an issue (1/2 oz and up)

I have tried a couple but none of the super monster swimbaits. I have the tried the storm lures with no luck and a MattLures Swimbait with little success. I have used a couple of the Megabass Limber Lambers with great success.

I have caught a few fish on the chatter baits but it sort of worked it's way out my rotation of lures. One thing I have no faith in is the "blood" or "bleeding" concepts. Red hooks and blood spots on baits have done nothing for me.

I use 15lb Trilene 100% FC for jigs and punching the heavy stuff. I never been fan of braid but it has it's place. Even though I don't tend to fish it much, I would still consider it for your application.

At that price range, I would put my money on a G Loomis 843C IMX. It's an all around great rod that you can use for just about anything.

Never been a big fan of the Ugly Stick but a budy of mine (RIP DAVE) use to use them all the time. He loved them. He had the cash for a better rod but that was what he liked. He paired them with the old Green Curados. At that price point the BPS Tourney Special would be my pick or the old Pro Qualifier.

5 inch Senko or a Zoom Lizard.

5 inch Senko. Any dark color (Dark Pumpkin Amber Laminate is my favorite)

I have top water Megabass prop bait, not sure what the thing is called, but fish kill it. I was scared to throw the it at first. I got it on ebay at the right price. The thing is so pretty I did not want to use and see it lost or torn up. One day it just seemed like the right lure to use. The strikes I get with are not of hunger but from pure meanness and those are the best. Two others for me that gets big hits sometimes, are the Pop Max and a good old fashioned buzz bait.

My local DSG had the old Trilene FC and Seagar Invsix cleared out and BOGO. I also picked up 6 packages of Fat Ikas, also BOGO and some great colors of Zoom lizards, also BOGO. One last thing, i purchased it last week though. I picked up a 201G Curado for $80. It's a good solid reel. All be it, it is not the best reel but is the best $80 reel I have ever fished.....

My two cents.... I have owned 2 Quantum PT Tour Edition Baitcasters, 1 Energy PT Baitcaster and 1 Energy Spinning Reel. Short version, I wasted my time and my money. They may have improved since my purchase but these lasted maybe 3 or 4 months and I am not that hard on my gear. I sent all them back to be repaired and they still did not work well except for the Energy Spinning reel. It worked for awhile and the following year the bail wire broke. They all either ended up on ebay or in the trash. I then told myself that I would not purchase a Quantum reel again. On a side note, I do recall Quantum's service was top notch. They knew what was wrong, worked on the reels, kept me informed of what was going on and sent them back to me quickly. Unfortunately, they never got them working properly. I blame the hot sauce.....

It pored down today in my area and I went out. Let's just say, it was no fun. I caught only one fish in 6 hours. My equipment did not enjoy it either. I have fished in the rain many times and today had to be one of the worst. We had heavy rain for about 3 hours followed by swirling winds. It did eventually slow down but nothing was biting. I tried everything not even a nimble. The one I did catch I could have used for bait. One highlight of the day was I got to use my Marmot Oracle rain jacket and my gortex pants. Both worked like a champ. The Marmot jacket was amazing in the rain, breathable and I did stay bone dry. I did get hot but it was not to bad.

FC would be the worst thing for the job but would work. I would go with Yozuri Hybrid or braid.

5 in Senko> Any dark color with a 4/0 Gami EWG weightless. LC Flat Mini Crankbait Zoom Lizard> Again, any dark color 4/0 Gami EWG with a 3/16 ounce Tungsten bullet weight Fat Ika> It always works when nothing else will. Weightless with a 4/0 G Lock Gami

If you are fishing from a kayak, I would avoid a rod with a split grip. It would be to easy to slip on a hook set. If it where me I would go for the St. Croix Avid or you could save your money and get a G. Loomis IMX. If you go the Loomis route, go for the MH instead. The falcon low rider is also a fine rod but not as sensitive as the Avid or the IMX and it's also heavier but it has good power and hook sets. If you can, talk to one of the guys at BPS and see if they will let you bring your reel in so can get a feel for the whole set up.

I am partial to G. Loomis and St. Croix rods. I use Shimano and Daiwa reels. I mix and match as to what I intend to use them for, But most importantly to me, is the feel and balance they have together. When the rod and reel balances well, my confidence goes up and for what ever reason, I catch more fish. For instance, I use to own a Daiwa Steez and Shimano Calais (sold both unfortunately). I put the Steez on my G loomis 844C Heavy and it was a great combo but it did not balance well. It never quite had that feel I wanted. I put the Calais on this rod and it was a match made in heaven. I then put the Steez on my 803C GLX Jig n Worm rod. It was great set up. After selling both of these reels, I now have a Zillion on my 844C and Core on the 803C> These two set ups have restored my fishing mojo....