Dangerfield

PowerPro Spectra is good braid and I would run it on my frogging rod but I'm testing out the 50lb x4 J-Braid which is holding up nice and didn't lose any colour. I've tried the PP Super Slick, it's silky, strong, and it works but loses colour quick and frays way too easy. I just started using PP Maxcurato for my cranking rod, it's like Spectra but with a coating and it's 25% thinner than Spectra but same strength. The 40lb is equal to 8lb mono in diameter. I really like it so far no break offs. I forgot to mention it's a bit noisy through the guides but nothing like heavy FC. Haven't tried any either brands, I've got confidence in PP.

d**n, corporate Bait Monkey haha

No 5.3.1 in the Fuego CT, slowest retrieve is 6.3.1. http://www.daiwa.com/us/contents/reels/fuego_ct/index.html I picked up a Tatula CT 100P which is 5.5.1 but a bit more expensive. I'm on the fence about the T-Wing but I do appreciate the bearings in the knobs.

Used the same hooks to replace the trebles on a jackall dowzvido. Very similar size but narrower profile to the shadow rap shad deep.

These baits crack easy, half of mine are have it but they do catch fish. Hooks bending has more to do with your rig than the lure. Too heavy line and rod while bend em out. While they might be light hooks, if you're using the right set up you shouldn't be bending out hooks unless you're winching in 13lb pigs.

Same here, it's meant to be my pitching/jig/frog rod, but it can handle my swimbaits so why not? This was my first time on the water with only baitcasters and I had maybe 4 bad backlashes from strong-arming my cast or not paying attention. The heavy rod gave me a lot of confidence putting a little extra whip in my cast. My wife thinks I should be good with a two rig set up haha. I would have gone this route too (heavy mono/FC line) if I didn't plan on frogging with this set up too.

Great rod, I put in about 15-18 hours on the water this weekend and my 735 Fury got roughly 1/3 of the use. I don't regret getting the Ike rod but after getting out and using the Fury, I wish I selected the 705CB instead. The blank is ultra crisp, I feel way more confident casting it with force over the Ike rod, it probably has to do with the action and power TBH. The reel seat on the Ike has a black gloss finish instead of matte, I'm pretty sure it's made by Fuji, where the Dobyn's isn't. Didn't seem to matter, every time I had the Ike rig in my hands, I was longing to get back to the Fury. The cork isn't spongy or soft like the new HMG or StC Premier, it's more of a hard cork but with a smooth texture. The guides are nice and durable, my dbl uni knot from 50lb braid to 18lb FC was bigger than I desired. It would make a zipping song sound on the retrieve and the feeling was quite noticeable. I inspected my rod after the wknd, no knicks, or chips in the guides. Then again, I keep my rigs in G-MAN sleeves because I value my gear. Hope that helps, the 734 is next on my list but I'm going to save for a Champ XP.

not only that, a nick in the line on the loop could weaken the knot. Also, pulling too tight on fluoro/mono could weaken the line as well. It ain't just tying knots but doing it properly and being mindful. I wasn't once, and I lost a $20 glidebait not paying close enough attention. It only needs to happen once. I'm scuba diving in a couple of weeks when the water warms up to get that lure back lol

with lighter like 12lb you can easily pass a loop through the eye but up your line to 18lb and you're going to have trouble. The safest Palomar knot is to avoid the loop, unless you're careful enough not to cross the lines over.

Picked up a Fuego CT 8.1.1 at Cabela's for their big May long weekend sale (Canada) for my Fury 735. Spooled it up with 50lb j-braid with a long 18lb FC Sniper leader for swimbaits. Caught a 4lb SMB on a dark sleeper fishing for pike. My brother caught a 40" (~20lb) pike on the exact same lure, 2nd biggest fish we've caught on Deep Bay. d**n thing was a crocodile.

I forgot to mention in my post, I also own a Fury735 for this specific technique. It's light, balanced perfectly with a Daiwa Tatula and hella powerful.

I think I would send this to someone to get done. I might do the bearing upgrade after this season ends.

How can you connect the Elite Ti 7 to an HDS7 unit? MY FIL just bough a Tracker V20 and it came with 2 Elite Ti 7 but we already have a HDS7 unit from the previous boat. The TotalScan transducer was added but from what I've read you can 'sync/connect' these 2 units. I'm pretty new to this stuff, if you have a link or another thread, please send em my way.

there's no bearing in the levelwind? As you said, easier to slow yourself down then to try and speed up. I'm gonna go with the 8.1.1, pick up slack quickly is top of mind. Slow burn.. I do that before I get on the boat

eBay all day. I'm about to giveaway my preferred shop, you need to check out Departure Outdoors. Last 2 orders snuck by customs. Yes, I paid $10 CAD shipping, NO CUSTOMS. They're the only ebay acct to do this, not sure how they manage it. There's a few other decent ones that charge you custom/shipping/purchase at once which saves surprise at the front door. TW is worth it, if you can't find things local to you or on ebay. I'm spoiled, I live in Barrie that has a Cabela's and a well stocked Crappy Tire. Sail and Bass Pro are 40 minutes away.

Like a car, buy what you can afford and won't regret after purchase or in this case a day on the water. Never compromise on hobbies IMO, enjoy life, and make sure you spend enough to keep your hobby enjoyable. I max out on $250 rods and reels combo including line because I think this is a good quality threshold and keeps my wife happy. She still doesn't get why I need multiple set ups lol. The bait monkey is another story.

How many of the Fuego owners on here selected the 8.1.1? and what made you go with it over the 7.3.1? I'll be using it got frogging/pitching/jigs/swimbaits. The high speed retrieve isn't ideal for swimbaits, so I'll be slow rolling my glides but burning my spro bbz-1 shads. Hopefully that technique will get it's own rig by next season

Would you happen to know if the spool from a Tatula ct is the same as the fuego CT?

It worked great in certain situations, and I think that's a big part of the convo. It has it's moments. Works really well with glide baits, swimbaits (hard) and most topwater like a WP or a spook style. I certainly can't go straight braid on my cranking rig or throwing ultra light lures. I'm on the fence, if I want to pitch/swimjig without a leader or not...yet.

sounds pretty good to me. Most will say 12lb Yozuri Hybrid, 12lb Big Game Trilene or Sunline FC Sniper or FC Crank. I'll add similar diameter braid to 12lb FC leader like Maxima.

This topic drives me bonkers, for the simple fact that I don't know which way to go. Last year, I went straight braid and the 2 previous were braid to a metal leader. This year, on my cranking set up, 40lb braid to 12lb FC leader and now I'm thinking of going straight FC. My frog/pitch/swimbait rod was going to get 60lb braid to 20 FC leader for pitch/swimbait(jigs). Now I'm thinking, I'll move the 40lb braid to my frog set up and w/ 20lb FC leader (double uni or alberto knot for me, whichever is more cooperative that day.

Dobyns's doesn't make a 735 Colt but they do in the Fury, the 705 is 5 powered but made for cranking. Colt 704 might do the trick too. The AG Vendetta is budget friendly and hella stout. I would look at Fenwick and Okuma as they both have great warranties. I think the same goes for St. Croix.

I've got a 7' M at home. I'll hand measure it compared to my Dobyns Fury and report back. Overall, it feels pretty light to me and the reel seat although is a fingerprint magnet is BEEEE-UUU-T-FUL.

I tried skipping with the brakes on 10 and put too much force in my cast. it wasn't pretty but still got it out okay. Thanks for the input gents, I think I'll got with the Tat CT, unless I find a wicked deal on a Fuego.

this. it's a Tat HD in the CT frame. I'd get one for my frog/swimbait rod for the longer handle but no discounts as it's a brand new offering.