kstephes033

This is a lot to due with how you learned, not sure if there is a true advantage one way or another other than pitching. I am right handed, reel lefty with spinning and reel righty with casting. Just the way i learned. I think a big reason for the right hand casting retrieve is that there just were not a lot of left handed reels out there up until recently. You could find them, but just not even close to as plentiful as they have become. I have just learned to cast, pitch, and skip with both hands so i can do it in any situation that comes up. Sometimes it benefits me to skip or cast lefty as i can get a better angle going down some rip rap for instance on a river, other times right cast is better. Just personal preference and how you learned to do it. I know many people that do it every way that has been described in this thread, and whatever is comfortable and makes you fish the bait correctly to catch fish is the correct answer and way to do it for that individual.

Usually if you are working the bait faster, post spawn through mid fall probably, then floro tends to work best as it gets you better action and helps to get the bait deeper for the shorter pauses during that time frame. Late fall, winter, early spring, when the water temps are colder and you are wanting to pause for long periods, that is when you want to go mono. Reasoning is as stated, long pauses with floro can cause the line to sink too much, then when you go to twitch you are not imparting much if any action due to the line being below the bait. Mono in this case sits correctly in the water column and allows you to pause without the line causing action issues. Usually you arent ripping the bait as much in cold water either as when you are using it in warmer water. As for braid... not my choice, it will for sure give you more action due to the diameter and the no stretch, but the no stretch is also the reason you will lose more fish on treble baits. And in cold water when these are used most, you again arent going for a ton of action, more subtle twitching.

Big thing to keep in mind between these two reels are that the casitas is a carbon frame composite, and the tatula is aluminum. This is going to equate generally to a longer lasting reel. I have had both, sold both of my casitas reels, as well as all of my other shimanos, and now own all daiwas ranging from the steez down to the tatula ct, and as said, i believe the tat ct is currently the best value reel on the market. You can get it in any speed, strong drag, casts a mile, and fits in hand very well. Plus you can generally find them around the $100 range.

Megabass Orochi XX Jerkbait Special with Daiwa PX Type R 12lb Sunline Sniper. Amazing setup. I am a jerkbait junkie and i have tried many rods, finally bit on this one after thinking about it many times and it does not disappoint. Best rod i have found by far for jerkbaits.

Floro is great for basically any technique other than topwater as it sinks. Stick with it and learn how to use it. Big things that would be good to know are what reel you are using, also what lb test floro are you currently using. For baitcasters i rarely use under 12lb as the diameter gets too small (unless its a BFS setup), especially since 12 is generally equivalent to 10lb mono meaning you get more strength but for cranks/jerkbaits you still get the same depth if not more due to the sinking properties of floro. As mentioned using line conditioner does help, pull some line out, put a spray every 10 handle turns or so, and try to do it overnight so it can "soak". The biggest thing is going to be a trained thumb and how you have the settings on the reel though. Generally speaking start at the highest setting for brake system, and on the spool tension try to have it set to where there is no play with in the spool side to side, this puts enough tension on it to keep it from overrunning itself, yet allows you to still get a good amount of distance. Keeping the spool tension there you can then gradually turn the brake system down as you get more comfortable casting it.

Megabass Destroyer Hein 6'10" Medium XF w/ Shimano Metanium 7:1 (core body style) 15lb Shooter Defier usually is my popper/prop setup, then Megabass X4 Super Mirage 7' M Fast w/ Daiwa Tatula CT 8:1 30lb power pro for walk the dog.

Agree with the PP, although i use the Levante for my frogs and the Orochi XX PP for jigs, not really needing the sensitivity for frogging.

I have both, and the Orochi XX's are for sure the nicer rod and well worth the $100 extra if using for bottom contact. I use all of my levante's for moving baits and they do work well for that. I have the Perfect Pitch, Diablo spec R, and the Flat Side Special in the levante series. They are a little more tip heavy than the orochi's as well.

If you are looking at the tatula lineup which it sounds like you are, the 72H, or 7'2" Heavy is probably the best bet for the 1/2oz jigs and such. For sure the Tatula reels feel best on them, and you can find the Tat Type R around the $125 range, awesome reel and has the 8:1 ratio which is perfect for throwing the bottom contact baits, should be able to get the combo for around $240ish more than likely, and really for that price i would say hands down the best value. If not wanting the Heavy action, you could go with the 7'2" MHR, it actually felt a little more tip heavy to me vs the heavy, but it is a little lighter in action, and will work for a variety of presentations with the regular taper. It really isnt like a crank rod at all on that model, it easily will handle bottom contact, but 1/2oz jig or plastic may be pushing the limits on that rod IMHO.

What are you looking to use the setup for? What species are you fishing for? What is the size of the reel you are putting on the rod? With the rod you are looking at what is the length? Also what are you looking to spend? All this would help in recommendations or if that is a rod that would work well for the intended use.

Honestly, its worth just learning to use the baitcast outfit. Spinning gear is less than ideal no matter the combo. Line wise i throw the whopper plopper 90 a lot and i have found 20LB mono is the best by far for the lure. Braid tends to drag it down a little at the beginning of a long cast as it is thinner in diameter and can eventually soak up a little water that drags it down a little more. 20LB mono will help to keep that nose up and gets better action. I throw my whopper ploppers with a 7'2" MH rod which works well for the 90 size, probably under powered for the larger 130. Also i did have the KVD spinning rod, way way too lite for anything of that size. 1oz is kind of a joke of a rating for that rod.

Awesome reel in general. I have two of the 8:1 ct's and use one with 15lb and 5/16oz finesse jigs, and the other with 20lb and use for 1/2oz plastics, both reels are awesome and obviously can handle a pretty wide range of weights, i would not hesitate on getting another one, which i may actually do for some moving baits since that reel can flat out cast a mile as well from what i have found so far.

Just like every other st croix i have ever owned or used (Legend xtreme, LTB, Avid, Rage, Mojo, Premier) they are tip heavy. Fine for tip down techniques as said before like jerkbaits, topwater, spinnerbaits, swim jigs, cranks, etc... But anything you would be doing bottom contact with i wouldnt waste the $. They are sensitive for sure, but st croix needs to get their act together on the balancing of their rods.