Shimano_1

I've heard horror stories about optimas. My fishing partner has ran them for years and swears by them. I've ran those Duracells with good results but if i were considering optimas it would be for weight savings and those Duracells are heavy. Guess it's all preference and what aspects are most important

Wonderful boats from everyone I know that has skeeters from any year. That boat actually looks pretty dirty to me. Unless its wet the carpet is stained up and the seats and inside that center compartment. If I personally were spending that much coin on a boat it would have to be detailed and all that good stuff first. As far as the build of the boat or motor goes I'm sure it would exceed most expectations assuming everything on both check out ok. Good luck

I'm with most of these guys, no glass rods for me throwing chatterbaits. I like a med hvy rod with a little bit of a softer tip. My old man throws a chatterbait 90 percent of the time and he fishes em on a 7'3 heavy

Not sure what the post is referring to. In store? Doesnt show anything like that online

Frogs have been the only thing I've ever had any problems with. Certain frogs just didn't seem to be able to hook up for me. Learned to bend the hooks up a little and stick to a cple that have done better for me

I'm sure any reel oil from a reputable manufacturer will work. I used hot sauce for years with no problems. I'm now using lucas reel oil because I won a bottle of it. Can't say that it's any better tho

It all seems so petty. First thing I think is....how the heck did he even end up there when scott Martin, David Dudley, Bryan thrift weren't? All 3 of those guys have tour level wins etc. What does he have on his resume? Honestly just makes me think he's an arrogant kid who can't win at any level and that's the only way he can get attention. If I were bass....when he comes crying wanting to fish elites again...I'd tell him hes not welcome with the sheep anymore. Also if you're gonna throw shade like that, learn to spell the 4 letter words first. Even your phone has spellcheck bro.

I'd say take your pick. Either one will likely give u more than your money's worth. The president is tried and true and if the lews last a cple years its given u ur money's worth

Yes I would pay that for a mint one right now! As stated if u dont like it I'm sure it wont be hard to get ur money back

A 24 volt higher thrust trolling motor will absolutely push your boat faster. Maybe not twice as fast but fast enough that you likely wouldn't need the outboard. If I fished the lakes u suggested and they had speed limits I wouldn't want the expense or hassle of the outboard. Of course they can come in handy if you like to do a lotta moving around etc. The budget you gave should be plenty to find a small 5 to 9.9 hp motor. It's all gonna be personal preference. If you think itll be worth it knowing how u fish then go for it! Good luck

Most on here are gonna say chronarch obviously. I personally would go with the lews. My buddy has a cple of the hyper mags and they're slick reels. Whichever reel feels better to "you" and offers what you're looking for is the way to go. Dont base your opinion on everyone else's. Most people on here would tell you if it's not shimano or daiwa its junk. I obviously disagree as I've had great success and have been super impressed with lews offerings.

I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree. I in no way believe shimano or daiwa are superior no matter what price range. I've fished a ton of all of them over the years and the lews have held up and been just as good if not better than comparable shimano or daiwas. I do agree on the aluminum gear thing but when shimano and daiwa put them in some of their high end reels it's still a slippery slope. I just believe the guy wanted suggestions on how to get his reel back to feeling like it did...not the usual go buy shimano or daiwa. I get it...people are fans. I also know the more someone tries to brag it up the more it likely turns people away from them. In my experience daiwa had the worst customer service I've ever dealt with and lews has been the best. I'm sure a lot of guys can't afford to trash a 200 reel and replace it with a 400 reel. He likely needs to send it in and have it serviced. I would try the drag grease first and see if that helps. Seems to be what shimano recommends for their aluminum and micro gears. I'm sure the thicker grease helps make it quiter.

And it's also a 200 reel that can be had for 140. I would hope that 350 dollar reels would be smoother.

I can see how this would definitely change your opinion. However, dont you need to know they're home before you spend all that time slowing down? I have an older buddy who will soak a zoom worm around every piece of cover he comes to. Painstakingly slow. Does he catch fish? Absolutely and some good ones. I've consistently out fished him on most any water we fish by covering a lot more water than he does. Like I said...once I catch a cple I'll do exactly like you're saying and dissect it from every angle. I dont think it's as simple as either slow way down and pick it apart or burn through it with trolling motor on high. There are other factors that help me determine how I approach it.

I'll work the cover pretty quickly til I catch a cple fish and get the confidence that they're in the cover. Once I know they're there and eating what I'm throwing I'll slow way down and pick it apart. I do believe you will catch more fish consistently by covering more water than slowing way down

I dont think I'd call a tournament pro a lower end doyo. In my experience they are some of the smoothest quietest reels I own. A lot smoother than any daiwa or shimano I've owned in that price range. If it's just a little noise its probably where you've cleaned all the bunked up grease out of it do naturally it's a little louder. If its something that is a big deal to you send it to DVT and let them figure it out.

Exactly! I threw it on braid for a long time with no issues and caught plenty. I've started throwing it on 20 lb fluoro simply because I also throw bigger swimbaits on the same reel. If the wire and hooks dont scare em away I seriously doubt the braid will

Triton Basscat Skeeter

I'd mix it up with a jerkbait, spinnerbait, med tight wobble crankbaits, and an underspin with a keitech

I think you definitely made good choices. All those are fine rods. As for favorite...I'm not a big supporter but also not a hater. Their budget rods are decent for the money. I wouldn't quit using them because of others opinions...but if you feel the need to for personal reasons that's a different story. Try those that u bought and you'll likely find a new line of rods that will satisfy your needs.

I've thrown them on 50lb braid for years. I used to be bad about swinging too soon. I eventually made myself start stomping my foot when a fish bit it and it drastically increased my hookups. Still do it to this day. Reeling in buzzbait, fish blows up on it, stomp my foot then swing lol. Sounds goofy but it's worked for me.

We rarely have water much colder than 45 and I can assure you they work just as good in water above that. We've caught em all summer on jerkbaits. Most people quit throwing them once the water heats up

I think if u weren't a fan of the ct u wont like the 100. Of course u may have had a bad ct I've owned several of both and the quality is all over the place. I've had a 100 that was one of the smoothest I've owned and I ordered 2 a Cole months ago and both were so geary and loud I sent em back. I've quit fooling with daiwa for this reason. I like my reels smooth and quiet and in my experience u have to wade through a few to get the good ones. Maybe their higher end reels are better. I've had a cple of the tatula sv reels everyone loves and absolutely couldn't stand them, loud and geary. Apparently others have had better experiences than I have

I certainly hope it's not everywhere. I love me some rage baits but I promise I'm not ever going to spend much if anymore than 5.99 for a pack of plastics. Zoom still offers some good baits at affordable prices, as does missile which is quickly becoming my favorite plastics company. I can walk away from strike king same as I did Yamamoto years ago

Absolutely missing out. 4 years ago I decided that spring to really get into fishing em and it has opened my eyes. I have one tied on now year round anywhere I go unless it's super muddy water. In the spring I've seen days when nothing else even compared. Give em a shot and be patient and I'm sure your experiences will be similar.