FrnkNsteen

I agree with others above in that I think the rod is more important, but the mechanical side of me gets into the reels more than the rods. Im like Eric said above though, because I buy a new reel,... or a clean old reel, and I've got to tinker with it, then have another rod to put it on. ???

I personally think going up to a 5 power rod would be overkill for 3/16 - 3/8 oz jigs and texas rigs, though truth be told,... When you add the plastic to the jig and TR weights you mentioned, you are probably at more like 5/16 - 1/2 oz. I actually think your 704 is too much rod for that lure weight range, but I like running lighter rods. Isn't the suggested lure range on a 704 3/8 - 1oz? If so, you aren't even at the midpoint of the 704's suggested range. For the range you are talking about, I use my 703c and 733c.

I have mine set up on a Dobyns Champion Fred Roumbanis 803sb rod (same blank as the 806cb recommended for 10xd) with a Revo Winch 5.4 ratio.

I mentioned last week that the local shop was having a few pro fisherman in this weekend and that they were also having a swap meet on Friday. I had been to many classic car swap meets looking for parts for our old cars, but never a fishing swap meet, so thought I'd run up there. Other than a couple guys having a nice variety of old lures in good condituon, there wasn't a lot that caught my eye, but I did come across a pair of clean Calcutta 151's. I like my lefty reels and had never had any Calcuttas, though I remember wanting them back in the day. He had them marked at $70 a piece, but said he'd take $120 if someone wanted both. I looked them over and they looked like they had barely been used so I bought both. Brought them home and opened them up last night to check them out. They were as clean on the inside as they were on the outside, so I strung one up with 10lb Big Game and put it on a Dobyns Fury 705cb I had sitting there. Wow! Cast nice and reels smooth as butter! Thought I might have to replace bearings since I assume thw had the two old original bearings and a bushing on the spool, but don't think I need too. Having never had any of these reels,... I'm wondering what people's thoughts are on them. I think these are old originals based on the straight handles and plastic handle nut covers.

^^This^^ I did the same thing and ordered the Alphas SV 800 because at the time, exchange rates had it even cheaper and in my opinion it seemed to be the better reel with the free floating spool. People were comparing it to the new Zillion in smoothness. I have been very happy with it and have it on. Loomis E6X 6'8" JWR rod pitching and skipping Fat Ikas in and around cover.

I agree that some of the technique specific descriptions can be a little misleading. For instance, I have have a few different rods that are labeled as "Spinnerbait" rods and I don't use any of them for spinnerbaits. In my opinion, most of them have too soft of a tip for me and I end up using them for other things. In the case of Andy Montgomery signature Skipping Rod, he has a few different videos I liked, one was a short youtube vidwo he did with Edwin Evers where they talked about skipping. The other was a 1/2 hour episode for a fishing show where he talked about his skipping jig and Skipn Buzz buzzbaits. In both cases, he described his opinion of a good skipping eod as a 6'10" - 7'1" MH Fast rod that has a soft tip that loads quickly to a good strong backbone. He described that he liked a rod with the soft tip being in the upper 20% of the rod with quick transition to an 80% backbone.

Thanks,... Saw that. That review and NoFroFishing's comments are what have me considering trying it.

I ran and checked our Walmart after originally seeing this and they are all switched over to the new packaging and old stuff gone. May have missed an opportunity! ?

Thanks for the information. I'm considering ordering the BSF rod others have spoken of. I'm going to a swap meet at a special event one of our local shops is doing this weekend. If I'm a good boy and don't spend much there, I may order one. Should be a fun event.... Gerald Swindell, Brent Ehler, and Scott Martin are going to be there this weekend and there is a "Swap Meet" on Friday from 3-7. Never been to a fishing swap meet! Maybe there will be some cool old stuff! As for the Doomsday rod,... There wasn't a special deal. Just one rod in the used rods rack in the store. The color stood out looking like a classic old rod. I picked it up and immediately realized it was a newer rod. Looked at the price and thought, "What the heck.... Let's try it"

Thanks Eric! I may have to cobsider trying that 7' BSF rod based on @NoFroFishing comments. Hmmm Cant figure out how to link someone!

So I wonder if they are still in business? I did some searches on Youtube and don't see them posting anything in 4-6 years.

Thanks NoFro... I was impressed with the looks, feel, and fit/finish. I look forward to getting it out and trying it this spring!

Agreed, but I could have lived with the silver, as I don't care about that as much as how much I dislike EVA foam. Combine the two and the decision was a no for me. I much prefer cork!

Hmmm,... Learn something new every day! I had never heard of that. I guess I could see that in a current maybe. Just watched the video and seems like he is swimming the dropshot like a bottim bouncer in walleye fishing. That makes sense. I was originally thinking of stationary dropshot where you let it sit and just jiggle it when I said I didn't understand it. Another way I have seen people use them is on a Tokyo Rig, which is basically the same as the video, only with a short rigid weight.

Don't know why anyone would use them on a dropshot or slip bobber. The paddletail is there to give it a swimming action when retrieved. Needs to be noving for the tail to swim

Actually,... What was said was that a few of us that have the Champ and the Sierra 734 actually like the Sierra 734 better for those techniques because it is a little more moderate than the Champion. You said you wanted something more like your MHMF Mojo, so that was another reason for the Sierra. If you have your heart set on the Champion 734, then go get it. It will work for those. I just like my Sierra better for those lures

I would have!!

Assuming it's the Zillion SV TW G the OP is asking about, there are of LOADS of threads talking abouy how much people like this reel. I have one and have never had a reel as smooth. I would buy more if I could justify it! The only issue I had with it is bumping the brake knob when palming it, but addressed that issue by putting it on a rod that has a thicker handle thar keeps my finger away from it.

Should have expected that! ?

Cheap too,... Weren't they typically $6 or $7 at most places. Haven't seen Yamamoto baits in the $4 - $5 range in ages!

Hank Parker did an episode where they took the skirt off spinnerbaits and loaded a Berkley "The Deal" on the back that was vertical and simulated a baitfish. I haven't tried it yet, but it looked pretty good.

Agreed! Might be interesting to send the pictures to either the manufacturer or to where you bought it and see if you get a response. Who knows,.. Maybe you can get a replacement spool??

Thanks,.. I only have one of the current SLX, but I have to say I like it.

Anyone know what a SLX A might be. The other two look cool, but I have no need for them.

My guess is they had a break while extruding, then missed it when transferring from the master spool to the smaller saleable spools. We have a braiding department where I work, and this is a common occurrence to keep the equipment running, but just got missed when preparing the final product. In our braiding process they usually mark the area so it is easily visible later. Nothing here may mean someone forgot to mark it and it got missed later.