roadwarrior

Nope, I think you will find it handles pretty well for heavy line. I fished it for a little while on the Tennessee River striper fishing, but there is one MAJOR problem: You CANNOT break the line even in a boat. #20 is rated 26 lb test, but I promise you...you CANNOT break it! It has to be cut if you get hung up and cannot recover your lure.

(unless you count the one that stung me in the throat after he found his way into my pepsi can and got swallowed,lol) I was looking for another reason to drink beer.

Welcome aboard! Some of our members have been fishing for awhile, decades not just years. If you post a question BEFORE you buy, I think the response will be more helpful. There are issues with low end baitcasters, they are simply more difficult to master. Good luck.

That's a beauty, I'll bet you were surprised!

That's a great story. I have never caught a Muskie, but it sure sounds like fun!

Welcome aboard! The suggestion LBH made will cure your problems and you can still use the XT on your spining tackle, no need to change if that's what you like.

Wow! That's really something.

Welcome aboard! Look back through this section. There is a thread currently running on "Pond Fishing" and a number of recent posts with many suggestions.

Well, I'm not sure why you asked for advice. So you bought an $80 reel and a $20 rod? Next time you might want to do a little more research on the Forum. Good luck.

Woo-hoo! Great pic, too!

Little George Silver Buddy Original Floating Rapala White or silver Rat-L-Trap Any jerkbait in white or silver

Welcome aboard! The problem, I suspect, is with your rod. It is too heavy and does not load up with lighter lures. A Medium Power/ Moderate Action rod will resolve your problem. Personally, I fish baitcasting equipment with heavier line and lures; spinning equipment for lighter applications.

Illegal, unethical and unsportsmanlike. "No Trespassing" means you have been warned: STAY OUT, YOU ARE NOT WELCOME HERE AND YOU WILL BE PROSECUTED

No. A lesser reel might wear or break, the Curado will hold up just fine. Set your drag properly and service the reel annually. Unless you go out of your way to abuse this equipment, bass fishing just doesn't put that much stress on a high quality reel. BTW, Several years ago when I was fishing "another brand" of reel, I went through two reels in less than six months fishing for striper. I was fishing braid at the time and floating the Tennessee River. These reels locked up (broke) when I got hung up and could not break the line. This had nothing to do with stress from the fight with big stripers, but hanging up and then working against maximum drag destroyed the reels. That is an example of what I would consider abuse.

It's really all about pirce or the "marginal value" versus the extra cost. Is the G. Loomis IMX or GLX a better rod? I think so. Is the difference worth the additional cost? Maybe, maybe not. Choices, preferences and trade-offs make the world go round. "Value" much like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.

The picture tells it all. Congratulations to you and your son!

...and the streak continues. Great fish, great pics, great post.

Dude! Back it down a notch, please...it's all about being helpful and constructive. I don't think we need "stupid fisherman" comments.

Welcome aboard! Some guys tie a blood knot: http://www.steelheader.net/knots/blood_knot.htm http://www.netknots.com/html/fishing_knots.html

Welcome aboard! I have a completely different take on the hook-set. I simply raise the tip of my rod (forcefully) to move the fish forward and reel like a madman. Treble hooks embed themselves and continue to penetrate during the fight. Maintaining pressure on the fish throughout the battle is what I think is important. Too often a "Bill Dance" hook-set simply pulls the lure out of the fish.

Largemouth bass cannot stress a Shimano Curado. 50 lb braid, 10 ton boulders and a locked down drag might be another story: something's gotta give. You have a great reel, don't worry about it, fish can't hurt that equipment.

If you paid by credit card, contact the card company. If you used Paypal you can contact them. If you paid with a money order or by check, there is nothing you can do but stay on top of the company. BTW, Welcome aboard!

There are no rules, you will gravitate to certain rigs for various techniques over time. I prefer spinning tackle for soft plastics, but I suspect most guys that fish baitcasters at all use them with worms and Senkos. I prefer a baitcaster for all "moving" lures, but I fish some of the same plugs with a spinning combination at night. The only "general rule" I have is light line (finesse) = spinning gear; heavy line (power fishing) = baitcasting equipment. You might find this thread interesting: http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1141187546

You guys have suwannee smallmouth bass (micropterus notius) in northern Florida. http://floridafisheries.com/Fishes/bass.html

Man, that's a lot of line!