JustJames

C mean compact, typically bigger spool on smaller frame, 3000C may be the same body as 2500. D deep spool arbor S shallow spool SS super shallow spool M? Medium shallow spool? SP/PG super low speed gear low speed HG/XG/XH high speed If no letter at all mean stardard. For exsample I have Ballistic FW 2500S-C meaning I have 2500 shallow spool (compact) on smaller body than 2500 which is 1000 body. No letter on speed mean I have standards 5.2 gear reel.

Like other have said a few wraps of mono should be enough but if you use some kind of tape, you need none. I use plumber silicone tape (bought 10 packs), I also use this tape to cover connection knot if needed.

I told myself not to buy any more bass lure but I might have to try this one. I like baby brush hog, caught a lot of fish but like @Bluebasser86mentioned, the baby got very thin body and tear off pretty easily.

Congrat on your PB, that is a nice 5lb bass for sure. The longer you fish you will like “bass thumb”. Those bloody tail might be post spawn bass.

If you can wait Shimano might come out with new Stradic ci4+, like x-protect, long stroke spool, one piece handle, etc.. that why deep discount from BPS and out of stock everywhere. Otherwise check out digitaka, you can op for shallow spool, difference gear ratio or even compact size 2000, and 2500. The USDM selection is really suck.

Nice collection man.

Congrat man, you and your son did good.

I’ve had some success along with 6” roboworm but still like Zman either Finesse worm on ZinkerZ better. For Zoom trick worm I found that if I clip the air tail part I got more bites, imho.

check this out Magseal on Fuego. I do think that all reels using in saltwater environment need to be maintained every use no matter how much the seal it get. I’m not really a fan of Magseal itself since it would be harder to maintain the reel by ourself without that special magnetic oil. Don’t get me wrong I love Daiwa LT series, have a few myself but if I’m gonna buy one for saltwater I’d rather put my money on shimano Stradic ci4+ or Stradic FL and rinse every use, clean inside every month or quarter. The more seal the reel get the more saltwater/moisture can trap inside. The anti reverse switch is also a weak spot that water can get in.

This is just me, if I order a brand name reel especially the one very popular, I would consider Japan first even it slightly more expensive. China is well known to be a very good knock off source and if even it is not, there is chance that the reel has been gutted and replaced with something else. There are plenty of main gear being sell from China now. The Stradic for 190 that must be ci4+ FB, I think you can find it elsewhere cheaper or not much more expensive. BPS just put ci4+ on sale for 160.

Ballistic FW and new 2019 LT (JDM) come with 2000SS (Super Shallow). You can order one now at very good price from Tackle Warehouse. The Kage LT is just Tatula LT with 3 xtra bearing and a little bit of cosmetic change. If you are in Stella and exist crowd, you wouldn’t like the Kage. To me Tatula/Kage is smooth and less effort to spin comepare to my old shimano Stradic ci4 or Sahara, but Ballistic FW even has lower inertia. I can feel the difference right away, thanks to Zaion Rotor. My friend use Stella 500 and he just recently ordered Soare ci4+ 500. He likes it a lot smooth and light. BTW he can cast the same 1/16oz jig on Stella 500 further than me. I’m suck at spinning lol.

I use 2000 size on my UL. Actually the 1000 and 2000 are the same frame only different in spool size (2mm bigger on 2000). I choose 2000 for that bigger spool would benefit a little bit of distance and prolonged line twisted. If you think 2000 is a little too big, you might have to go down 500 or 750 size which available in Shimano line up. I wish someday Daiwa will bring back 750 size in those middle end reel. compare Tatula LT 1000 with Ballistic FW 2500S-C (compare same body as 1000) Tatula 1000, Kage 2000 and Ballistic 2500 all on 1000 frame. compare with shimano 750

I use when first spooling braid to help prolong fading in color. It willeventually faded anyway lol. I use in some copolymer line especially the one that been sitting for a long time and developed heavy coil. It help for a few trips and eventually become heavy coil again.

After saltwater fishing trip, I would bring in rods and reels into shower with me. If I’m out and about I rinse with fresh drinking water from bottle. When I fish with old line where a lot of coil happen, I use lake water drip onto spool to make it soaking wet and stretch it a little. Im not saying if it is safe to do so, but I don’t have problem with it.

Nice, too bad I’m in CA and have to pay shipping plus tax.

It is actually work wonder. It saved me a couple time especially at night with this method. I don’t put too much pressure and only reel in a couple cranks and pull, replete a few times and bam backlash is gone. But with the bad backlash nail clippers is your best bet lol.

On side note never ever use that popular reel in with thumb pressure to remove backlash on FC or any light line. It will definitely damage the line more than it help.

You might have to get from eBay but the best price and fast shipping gotta be digitaka. I’m not really good with spinning, less experience compare to others, but for dropshot and Ned rig I love my crucial dropshot specific 1/8-3/8oz. Speedstyle is another MC series that is very sensitive and Super light. I have S632UL, being a solid tip rod lure rate on this rod is down to 1/64oz but backbone is still there. This is my favorite bluegill rod for 1/64oz trout magnet but have caught quite a bit of 1-2lb bass with it. For you I really think ML 1/8-3/8oz would be fun. Check the backbone of this rod and why you don’t really need more than ML. on side note, I went into local store yesterday to buy MC Don Iovino spinning 6’9 M to replace my broken crucial as @WRBrecommended. Too bad the store out of this rod and only have MSX.

Are you looking for spinning or casting? Are you looking for true finesse or all around rod? Which series of MC is in your interest? Are you going with JDM or USDM? I use casting Benkei Light 6’7 lure weight 1/16-1/4 for anything from 1/16 crappie jig all the way to ned and Neko rig for bass. If you want dropshot for 1/16-1/4 oz and a true finesse, I think ML is the way to go (and that is my next rod is gonna be, Benkei to be exact). If you gonna dropshot plus light Texas rig or senko type then go M. MC bass rod is pretty stiff with backbone, I checked 6’9 MXS M/XF yesterday (300 bucks) This rod is super light but stiffer from bank all the way to tip more than my Tatula 7’ M/F. I’m not sure which model @evilcatfishgot but to me Benkei fish higher than they stated. Even my MC go emotion L/BF which have softer tip and kind of MF fish above that rated. Here Benkei L on action, you will see the rod bend when I tried to pull that d**n catfish. The Rig 1/16oz Neko rig with cut off Zman and 6” roboworm.

If it is a good expensive line and you sure to have 50-60yds, I would reuse the line by adding cheap backing. 50 yds is plenty and might last you a few more trips before needing new line. If you tie a good backing knot, and set drag properly, you should be able to play the fish even with knot out in open. Bass doesn’t pull the line as much anyway. BTW I would consider changing line if you cast pass backing knot. This can also be indicator if you need more or less backing.

The only thing I don’t like about Fuego is Magseal, since I pretty much work on my own reels now. But at 50 bucks I will buy it any time. Most of the flexing problem, I’ve heard coming from using bigger size for saltwater. The graphite frame on Fuego is not as rigid as Zaion frame(start from Procyon). Once I started using Daiwa LT series (Legalis) I now have 3 (Tatula LT, Ballistic FW and Kage LT) I also have Exceler LT coming in a few days.

I have 3 MC rod, 2 L/BF casting and UL spinning. They all work as they should. Benkei series is best bang for buck, not too expensive but light and sensitive. The speedstyle impress me the most S632UL, with solid soft tip that I can cast 1/64oz trout magnet the furthest 40-50’ while backbone can handle 2lb bass easily.

I agreed it rarely happen compare to other weightless like fluke and senko, but happen to me once or twice. The problem is long line casting and fall on slack.

I’m in the camp off if I feel the bite I set the hook. Yes many times it come back with missing worm tail but better than gutted hook fish. I might be p.i.s.s.e.d but I told myself those are 80-90% small fish. Many 4-5lb I caught the tab is not quite obvious as small fish, and often time they bite and not moving at all. BTW, I gutted hook fish once with 3/8oz Jig waiting exactly 4 second before setting hook and another one on Texas rig when bite was on the drop and I had no idea. I have seen a video showing bass can hold the lure longer than you expected but also can split out treble hook lure in a split second. this video @9:00 min mark.

Congrat,