Zeeter

Not only is the sv103 $70 more, it also doesn't come in the lower gear ratio I'm looking for. This is why I asked about the ss sv103 rather than the sv103.

The reason im asking about this one is that it's on sale at TW. I'm a shimano guy but they don't make the lower gear ratio reels for lefties. That is, unless I want to spend $350 for it.

Right. But people seem to be glowing over the SV103 but not so much over the SS SV103. I know they're different reels - just wondering about the quality.

The reel that is on sale is the SS SV103. What is the difference? Looks like a lower gear ratio, which is what I am looking for. It's also 2 oz lighter than the SV103.

I am thinking of getting the Daiwa SS SV 103 JDM Casting Reel left handed for cranking. Does anyone have any experience with it? The reason I am considering it is a little silly. It is a $350 reel that I can get for $200. Logic says that a more expensive reel is better, though often it's just marketing. This is why I am asking in here. The reviews I've read online have been in Japanese. One American site gives it a 7.8/10, which isn't bad but isn't great. I like the 5.4:1 ratio on it.

On the Chronarch I was spooling they have a line insert that goes directly out the other end of the spool. No trying to line it up and find the hole on the other end. Looks like it was made for the very purpose of tying the line on.

I think I have at least 75 yards of braid on it. Should be fine for flipping and pitching.

I think I did that on my flipping rod earlier. Didn't seem like I put much braid on after the mono. Well, it's for flipping and pitching so hopefully it won't be too big a deal.

Along these lines, when you guys use braid do you back it with mono? I was thinking of putting maybe 75 yards of it on in order to save the braid. Guess I could do the same with fluorocarbon. Back around ten years ago people were saying to always use a backing because the braid would scratch the spool.

I put mono on already. Mono is pretty cheap. If it doesn't work out or I find that I don't like it then I'll switch to fluoro.

I'm leaning towards mono at this point. Berkley Big Game. So here's my rod setup: Flipping: Straight 40# Braid Jig/Worm: 40# Braid and Fluoro leader Jig/Worm: 12# Fluoro Crankbait: 12# Mono Spinning Multi-Purpose: 12# Mono Spinning Drop-Shot/Shaky Head: 8# Fluoro Hmm....I'm pretty stocked on Big Game, but maybe next time.

Still on the fence between mono and fluoro for crankbaiting. Some say fluoro because it sinks better and is more sensitive. Some say mono because fluoro is TOO sensitive and they tend to try to set the hook before the fish has the lure. Obviously for deeper water I want fluoro. What does everyone use?

It really is frustrating that so many manufacturers have left handed options for everything but the low gear ratio reels. This isn't limited to the Curado. Unless you want to step up the price point the options for left handed crank reels are very few. TW has a sale on a Daiwa SS SV 103 with a 5.4:1 ratio both right and left. This is a $350 reel for around $200. I am considering getting it, however I am such a Shimano guy that I'm worried about having foul-ups every time I switch to it.

I ordered the Cabelas Advanced Angler - magnum size.

Right. I'm looking for one that has the plastic bag envelopes like the President series I have now. Apparently they don't make it anymore.

I have this great tackle bag. It's a BPS Extreme President 360 that I got back in around 2004 or so. What I like about it is that on one side I unzip it and have access to 4 360 boxes. On the other side I unzip it and have access to a "binder" of sealable plastic envelopes to hold my soft baits. Of course there are other compartments for holding various items, and even some of the compartments have compartments. Unfortunately, this is almost 13 years old and went unused for several years while I took a break from fishing. Many of the zippers no longer work, the zipper seams are frayed, the plastic envelop attachments are beginning to rust, and several other issues. So, I want to get a new one, but they don't make the President model anymore. Does anyone have any thoughts on similar models? I really like the plastic envelope feature in this one, but cannot find it in any other tackle bag.

Just got the Stradic CI4+ on Tackle Warehouse for $170 on sale. Pretty good deal if anyone is looking to pick up a great reel at a much lower cost. Also got the G. Loomis Mag Med drop shot rod. Got that over the lighter drop shot rod they have so that I can use it for other purposes.

This is where it came from. This is also one of the statements that prompted the "I'm not a guide" response in my mind initially. I don't think any of the posts so far have indicated that the co-angler is simply along for a boat ride. Yeah, I said entitled in one of my first posts. Poor choice of words on my part. Of course what I meant was that as a rider I shouldn't only be able to fish water that's already been completely fished over. I shouldn't have said entitled. And yes - I am talking about tournaments where the boater and rider each have an equal stake; no splitting of boater and rider rewards - just one pot. I didn't mean to turn this into some p#ss#ing contest. My only thoughts were that all things being equal, the boater should be cognizant of the rider whenever possible. The rider is already at a disadvantage being in the back of the boat, so let's not make it even harder on him. And it's not likely that anyone on here falls under the category of arrogant boater who couldn't care less if his rider caught anything. I'm sure we're all respectful club members who, while competitive, enjoy fishing with someone else.

I'm still stuck on the rod. Looking at the IMX drop shot rods, but for that money I want to be able to do more than drop shotting. There's a mad medium and a mag light. I'm thinking the medium so I can do more with it.

The word entitled has been used twice here. I'm not expecting someone to be my guide on the water. At the same time, I didn't paid my dues, my entree fees, and a fair portion of the expenses to go on a cruise for a day. I know the boater will always have the advantage. I'm not asking him to put me on the best water all day; I'm expecting him to try keeping me off of the bad water all day. Stuff happens and he wants to get into an area where I'm at a disadvantage. No problem - it's his boat. This stuff about not being entitled to anything because I don't have a boat and he does smells more like boater elitism than anything else. It's great that you paid all that money for the boat, but you're fishing in a tournament where you know you have a rider. If you don't want to be considerate of your rider then you should have joined a boat-only club. Fact is, I have a boat. I simply joined a club that has too many boaters and not enough riders. In the clubs I've been in, if the boater put the rider on bad water all day, front ended him, and generally prevented him from catching fish in the most productive manner for the situation then it would be a violation of the club's bylaws and he could face disciplinary action even if it wasn't intentional. You do not have an obligation to tell your rider how to fish or what to fish, but if he's paid his entry fee just like you did then you do owe him a decent chance to catch fish. I never expect my boaters to go out of their way and give me spots first. That is the only entitlement that the boater is granted - he gets to fish the best water. Again, I am not talking about a Pro having an Amateur on his boat. That is far different. And certainly if the rider is a complete jerk that makes things different, too. But this is a club. We're all supposed to be friends while we compete. Someday it may be your day to be a rider because there's too many boats and not enough riders. Do you want your boater to be completely indifferent to your plight? To keep the rider in bad water or not caring if he is in a position to catch anything is just bad sportsmanship.

What size hooks for drop shotting? I'm in the Maryland/Pennsylvania area so I assume they would be smaller than down south. Oh - grandpa just answered that. NM.

I will stay away from them. What is the actual name of these? Just so I don't accidentally pick them up if I see them Oh...duh. That actually is the official name of them. I looked them up so that I would know what not to get.

So for drop shotting, St. Croix Legend Tournament or G. Loomis IMX Drop Shot. St Croix is $35 cheaper. I also don't want to limit myself to drop shotting with this rig.

I guess it probably isn't as important on spinning gear, but with my casting rods if I'm using 10# braid I'm all day picking out birds nests. The baitcasters are usually rated at 10# mono and so I try to match that diameter. I've had far fewer problems with 40# braid. Again, though - less of a factor with spinning gear. Tatsu is the one I had in my cart but wasn't quite certain if I should get it or not, due to the price. I'll pull the trigger!

Ok, so it sounds like you are using a 3-way swivel. I was going to use a swivel hook, instead. This way everything is in-line. Let me ask you this, since I'm not an expert on Fluoro as a line. With braid in think that 40# test matchs 12# mono as far as diameter. Is it the similar for Fluoro? I would probably want 8# mono or its equivalent. I hear what you're saying about braid, but I'm not ready to put that on spinning gear yet. I'm even reluctant to put Fluoro on due to the stiffness, but I'm willing to give it a try if I can find one that is less stiff than others.