MN Fisher

I haven't tried P-Line, but two of my reels have Yo-Zuri...4# on the Pres-25, 10# on the Trion. Since I treat all my non-braid with KVD, I've not had the memory issues with Hybrid that others have mentioned. I'm thinking of putting it on my crankbait rod which has Mono right now, but the Avocet I'll keep Mono on .

November 4 for us - sigh

Good fishing can happen at any dollar amount. My most expensive rig is right around $150 - all six of my rigs combined is still under $500 total.

I don't watch MLF precisely because it's a dink fest. I think if it was either a threshold or 5 biggest I'd watch it...but this 'count everything you catch' is for the birds as the guys are going for quantity over quality.

My main brands for years were Abu, Mitchell and Pflueger...mainly because the reels I had from those three lasted-and-lasted. Now I've begun getting Diawa and moving away from Abu. My 'feeling' is that Pflueger and Diawa give a better product at the same price-point as Abu. But that's my gut feeling from testing things out.

Maybe - but my wallet would call it the 'roll over, scream and die' effect.

Both stretch, FC later than Mono for the same stress. But Mono does 'rebound' to an extent, whereas FC doesn't. I had FC on my Trion, but after a couple breakoffs, switched to Hybrid...best of both worlds. I also don't use leaders...ever.

I'll agree here...while my first rod/reel was a Junior BC, for my 8th birthday I got my first 'adult' rig. A Mitchell 320 on a matched rod. So I was spinning when I was 8 - never had a spincaster.

Coleman - I have the 16qt C-Tec Excursion cooler, fits under the 'work table' in the canoe. Bag of ice in the morning, and there's still ice the next day even in 80o weather

Diawa DXSB - comes in four flavors from MH (1-6 oz) to XXH (4-14 oz). Priced at about $110 retail. I was thinking about getting into the larger swimbaits, and this was the rod I'd picked. Right now that's on the back-burner.

If you do go there - skip the Ugly Stick and go to the Diawa Aird-X. I've got three so far and my remaining Ugly Stick is slated to be replaced by an Aird-X this Yule.

The bait-monkey is sneaky. The bait-monkey is insidious. The bait-monkey will NOT be denied in the end. All you can do is postpone the inevitable.

My opinion is that whether it's high-end or budget - they both catch fish...and that's all that's needed. You want to gift me with a high-end St Croix or Dobyns rod...I'd love it. Being on a fixed income, however, means that I'll never be able to afford it myself.

I don't remember the exact rods - but the reels that outlasted the rods are my old Pflueger 640 and Cardinal 562. Both are 40-some years old and I could still use them, but right now they're sitting on a shelf. Never had the money to own a high-end...anything. Also never fished with someone who had one...so I can't say. All I know is that I catch fish with my 'budget' equipment, and that's the name of the game.

I'm with @Cattand @NYWayfarer. While having a great rod can be a plus, it's the reel that's going to last longer. I've retired reels that went through several rods each. So put the money into the reel. For me, as I upgrade my rigs - no matter the budget, be it $100 or $300 - 1/3 is for the rod, 2/3 for the reel. That's my 'rule of thumb' and my Fuego rig follows that to the 'T' - $55 rod, $100 reel at retail.

I second that...though the reel is more important than the rod to begin with. I'd look at the Pflueger President combos. The reels are great and will last years. The rod can be replaced at any time. For a 7 year old - either the 5630 (Pres-30 on a 5'6" Light) or the 6030 (Pres-30 on a 6'0" Medium) http://www.pfluegerfishing.com/pflueger-combos-spinning-combos/pflueger-president-spinning-combo/1447419.html

Joining the party - reel, then rod. I've got three levels of reels on a single line of rods. Even with the 'budget' rods, I can tell the difference between the three reels - the Fuego is much smoother and easier to setup/cast with than the Nitrous. So the reel matters more than the rod. Start there.

I'm liking it just fine for spinner/chatter/buzzbaits - haven't used it for anything else yet. Sensitive enough that I feel the blade vibration of the chatter no matter if I'm slow rolling it or burning it. I know people like more expensive rods, but all my Aird-X rods seem to be well built, sensitive and tough. I'll be replacing the Ugly Stick the Trion is on with an Aird-X spinning rod this Yule.

I just picked up a Aird-X 7' MH/F from Amazon for $48 - https://www.amazon.com/Daiwa-AIRX701MHFB-Aird-X-1pc-Med/dp/B016ORZTV2 You can also get a Fuego CT in 7.3:1 (with a cap) from Amazon for $79 - https://www.amazon.com/Bundle-Daiwa-Fuego-Baitcasting-Fishing/dp/B06ZZLZXXV $127 for the full rig.

I have an Aird-X and it's a good rod. For the reel - up it by $20 and get the CA-80. Aluminum frame instead of a Resin frame.

Unless you're the idiot who did my kitchen sink before I moved in - it's 'backwards' and I haven't gotten around to swapping it.

I don't have any 'technique specific' rods...I have rods that are multipurpose. Stating that - my frog/flipping/pitching/topwater rig is the Fuego on the H/F Aird-X.

Far left in this pic is a President 25 on a Diawa Spinmatic - been a great UL rig for me.

My previous truck had the 4.3 in it. If it hadn't been in an accident that bent the frame, I'd still be driving it - thing just didn't want to die. My current 5.3 seems to be the same.

Pflueger's site has a sale on the Trions right now. $34 for the reel. I'm liking my Trion, it seems to be very well built. http://www.pfluegerfishing.com/pflueger-reels-spinning-reels/pflueger-trion-spinning-reel/1313958.html#start=4