The Maestro

I use a pair of velcro wraps that I got from Bass Pro years ago. They can wrap 7 baitcasting combos without any issues.

I wear contacts but I try to wear them as little as possible to give my eyes a break and more exposure to air. For fishing I wear prescription polarized sunglasses - Maui Jim's. I bring my regular glasses in case I need them when it starts to get dark.

The Bantam MGL is a fantastic reel. It's very compact in size as well.

Hard to say. There have always been fishing shows and magazines. It's just that now you can pull up exactly the information you're looking for instantly. I think advances in equipment like rods and line have made it easier to detect bites. Senkos might be the single biggest advantage that an angler starting out today has vs. back then. They're so easy to catch bass with that they'll help you're confidence and bite detection when you move to other baits.

Does anyone know the logic behind the shorter handle and smaller knobs on the Bantam models below the XG? The longer handle and bigger knobs on the XG are so much better imo.

There's a big price difference between the SLX and those reels. I would hope there's a noticeable difference in feel and quality.

We all have our preferred techniques. Personally, I really like to catch them on heavy gear fishing in the weeds. However that can be a lot of work. Sometimes drowning senkos on a lighter outfit is a nice change of pace. Besides, my 4 biggest fish this year were all caught on senkos.

My experience with cheaper reels has been that it's not so much about how long they'll last until they don't work at all but rather how long they last until they start to feel rough and clunky. Sure you could still use them like that but when you fish them side by side with higher end reels you probably won't want to use them that much.

I agree that brand loyalty with fishing gear can start from the first stuff you buy. I know back in the 80's when I was a teenager,my friend and I went out and bought Shimano Beastmaster rods and reels (top of the line stuff back then) after seeing Bob Izumi (Canadian fishing show host) use them on a pike episode. I've basically stuck with Shimano ever since.

Never been into looking like a walking billboard. Not just with fishing. I don't really like any clothes with big gaudy logos and brand names.

I like mine a lot. I have an XG which I use on my senko setup. I plan on buying 2 HG's for my best jig rods during the off season. They're just great reels that feel like refined quality through and through.

I've never heard of pros using non-sponsor rods and reels but I've heard of them using non-sponsor baits and then just saying they were using their sponsor's baits in the tourney. Specifically those high-end jerkbaits that start with a 1 and end with a 0 and those famous original stick baits that everyone loves to whacky rig.

Once you start to use your Bantam I really doubt you'll regret buying it. I have one and the only equipment purchases I plan on making during this off season are 2 more Bantams to go on my best/favorite jig rods.

I have the Abu Garcia Ike Delay jerkbait rod. It's 6'4". It's really nice for jerkbaits and topwaters.

I could probably live with a cheap(ish) spinning reel but fishing with a bunk baitcaster sucks. These days even lower end rods are decently crisp compared to 20 years ago.

Have any of you guys fished the gen 1 (black) Cumaras and the Exprides in the same power and action? How do they compare?

Good? Bad? Doesn't matter? I've got some tungsten weights where the paint has mostly chipped off. I still want to use them as they're too expensive to just throw away. Do you guys think it really makes any difference? Edit: Looks like I posted in the wrong sub. Please move to the tackle sub. Thanks

I have 5 of them that have been mostly used for heavy applications. Drag locked right down and hard hooksets with 80lb braid in thick/matted weeds and they're still going strong with just a yearly servicing that I do myself. It was the last generation of Curado to be made in Japan. I don't know how much that really matters but I have no regrets about buying them at the time. Any new reels at this point will be Bantam MGL's but my Curado E's will have a place in my arsenal until they give up the ghost.

I keep a glove on the front deck. Wrap the line around your hand a few times and you can break off pretty much anything. 80lb braid can be a bit tough but she'll go if you pull hard enough.

I'll run a flouro leader on a drop shot and an extremely thin wire leader for jerkbaits to prevent bite offs of $25 baits. For any applications that involve heavy line and a stout rod I go straight braid. I've broken off at the leader on the hookset too many times and I don't think it makes any difference.

I haven't tried that many brands but of the ones I have tried I like my Shimanos. I have a 7'2 mh Expride coming. It will be my first rod of Shimano's current lineup. Really curious to see how the action and power compares to their older rods.

Let us know what you think of the Poison Adrena. There's practically no user reviews on them even though they've been out for a while. They look killer though.

I don't really get frustrated with anything when I'm fishing anymore. Really windy days can be a pain but if I feel myself actually starting to get angry or frustrated that's the point when I know my fishing day is over and I'll make a bee line to the docks and not even think twice. I think it's part of the evolution you go through as an angler over time. I've had way too many days where it feels like I can't buy a bite and then catch a giant after hours of skunkage.

What rods has your buddy been using up to this point? If he's already been using decent quality rods ($200+ price range) he may end up seriously disappointed when he steps up to $600+ rods only to find the difference is nowhere near what he was expecting. Now if he's fished with Ugly Sticks his whole life he'll be blown away and will probably be one of those "OMG I can feel a fish fart on my bait!" type guys. I bought a used NRX and sold it after using it twice. Honestly, it was a good rod but it was nothing special at all. But then I've been fishing pretty good quality rods for quite some time. There isn't a rod out there with some magical powers of sensitivity that's leagues above every other rod. Bite detection and determining what your bait is coming into contact with comes mainly from experience. Braided line also helps but in the end it's time spent with a rod in your hands that really matters most.

I LOVE fishing largemouth in the weeds. That moment when you detect the bite and then set the hook on a heavy one, the braid squeals and the heavy rod buckles is a visceral feeling that needs to be experienced to understand it. With that said. I have NEVER had a big largemouth send my adrenaline through the roof the way a giant smallmouth jumping and thrashing like crazy to throw the hook(s) has. It's truly unbelievable to me how adept they are at throwing a mouth full of hooks seemingly at will. The short answer: Big smallmouth are just gnarly fish. They WILL break your heart and haunt you with feelings of being "that close" to landing a trophy which makes it all the more special when you finally do get one in the boat.