roadwarrior

St. Croix Avid AVS68MXF I prefer spinning tackle for weightless soft plastics, but if you are looking for a baitcaster, this is the comp: AVC68MXF

Good point...I had DVT supertune my Curados (50 & 100). The performance is very close to that of the Cores.

I have the 50mg7, it's a great reel. Lew's Tournament Pro has been getting a lot of promps from some knowledgeable guys who have been long time Shimano fans. The comparisons however have been against the Curado or sometimes, the new Chronarch. I have not fished a LTP, but would like to. That said, I am really surprised that this reel is now being compared to the Core.

My new favorite: NorthStar Swim Jig (Sexy Shad)/ Rage Tail Eeliminator (Blue Glimmer)

Well...I still like the Big O in black, too!

Nice fish, great pics!

I fish minnows for smallmouth on the Tennessee Rive, yellowtail for stripers. Live bait outfishes artificials 10:1. If you don't like it, don't fish it. I use artificial lures exclusively for largemouth, but I am not opposed to live bait for them either.

I carry a trash sack to my ponds...They are MY PONDS!

Yes...Thin wire #4/0 Gamakatsue EWG Offset Worm Hook

That's not a test. You played with a Shimano that was either abused on display or defective. Almost every reel feels good when it's brand new, but tells you nothing about performance over time. Most reels will perform best with a cleaning and lube before you even fish them. The Lew's reviews have been outstanding. Perhaps they have taken a giant step forward. I look forward to reports after they have been fished for a year or two. I recall the same amount of enthusiasm when the Revo was first introduced.

The two lures at the bottom look like a Slender Pointer and a Pointer.

The simplest solution is to look for points, just small outcroppings along the bank will do.

Keitech Swing Impact Fat, Shadalicious, Hollow Belly and GYCB Swimming Senko

Hooked up with another BR member this morning. I only had one bite, but it was early...5-6 lbs. An hour and a half later, I'm talking with my new friend about BR and go to the car to get a card, but I'm done fishing. We chat for a few minutes and then a casual cast gets NAILED! Man, my new friend's fish looks to be ~8lbs. Pretty cool way to finish a morning trip.

G. Loomis PR844C

Absolutely!

Black/ Blue Fleck

It's a HUGE consideration for me. Although most of my reels are 200 series or round, I prefer the 50 series.

1 oz, Big O (wire tied), Falcon Lake color. Match this up with the Rage Tail Lobster (Falcon Lake).

Woo-Hoo!

Great job!

Nice fish!

Mine is over 10 years old. I had a washer and brake pads replaced by JFrancho a couple of years ago. Otherwise, standard maintenance. The reel is better today than the day I took it out of its box!

Too cool!

Interdisciplinary Studies? LSU is not alone, but such a "degree" certainly diminishes the status of the overall program.