PhishLI

Pretty good quick review from a BFS hardcore.

IMA Bill Lowen Square Bill This one's a great pond crank. More versatile than a Mann's Baby when you have room to go just a tad deeper in certain spots. Both baits can be a One-Two punch. Sometimes they will, but sometimes won't come up for the Mann's, but will grab the IMA that will run a shade deeper depending on retrieve and line size. https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/search-tackle.html?sort=no&start=0&count=30&searchtext=ima+bill+lowen

When it happens to me it's because the worm gear and level wind freeze up because it gets coated with water from the line coming over and through them. It's more likely to happen if the reel's spooled with braid.

Scroll to minute 7:38. One man's opinion.

Owner Twist Lock Light in both weighted and un-weighted. I tried these and I'm done looking. Great in every way. If you fish 5" and 6" GY senkos your bait will last much longer with this hook, especially if you're bombing them out. Same with 4"-5" flukes and lizards/brush hogs. The 6/0 3/32 oz weighted version is perfect for most slim bodied 4.5"-5" swimmers. The 5/0 3/32 oz is perfect for many 4" swimmers. https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Owner_Twistlock_Light_Hook/descpage-OTLL.html?from=gshop&gclid=Cj0KCQjwutaCBhDfARIsAJHWnHs8iO3ymTVUdbDG5emNK0bMkdWCkZFOpvHG8pQZ69IQqcwr9yKlRIQaAmM-EALw_wcB

Ah, it's all in good fun. Nobody is pessimistic because everyone knows that no one's casting a chatterbait 525 ft or even half of that. If you're miffed, just be grateful this thread didn't morph into a discussion about the best axle grease for ride-on lawn mowers, which it easily could have.

There's a new Steez A TW HLC (Hyper Long Cast) that's tuned for bombing baits above 1/2oz. Salt safe too. https://japantackle.com/casting-reels/daiwa/reg0000302.html

There's not a need for greater line cap which adds more weight. Nobody's bombing a trout magnet or a 2 gram crank bait 150 ft.

A lipless bait is not your average bait where resistance in flight is concerned. They can be cast farther than the majority of baits out there. That guy tends to test reels on 6'8"-6'10" rods, so there's more to be gotten than he gets, but his data is still a reasonable illustration of what's what on average bass tackle fished by a non-sasquatch aka ATA.

From right about now up until the weeds come up I'm burning it in and bumping it off everything between splashdown and myself. Fast reel with straight 40 lb braid on a stout MHF. 1/2-3/4 oz Dark Shad is my best producer in clear water and low light.

Nah, no need to, because absolutely nobody is casting anything remotely close to 300 feet using "average bass tackle", meaning rods and lures and not casting plugs, as stated in the OP's subject line. More like 150 feet at best on a heaving cast when everything's just right.

Plenty of strikes. Zero hookups. The prop/feet get in the way of the hooks.

The pinion in that reel is supported by the spool shaft, therefore only when the spool's installed. Without the spool installed it's pretty much flopping in the yoke. So turning the handle is a bad idea. Forcing it to turn is even worse. Don't do that.

So you're throwing a normal bait like a senko 225 feet? And a bullet weighted Beaver Bait with appendages a flappin' the entire way are sailing 300-375 feet? That's impressive! I'm not doubting you, but are you the Bionic Man? Possibly a sasquatch?

Keep your braid tied on the spool and place a 1/2" x 1/2" square piece of electrical tape over the line. Place another piece 180 degrees on the other side of the spool and yer done. It won't slip no mo.

The Tour is no longer shown on Quantum's site. Looks like it's was discontinued after their sale, so maybe that's why? They may get the same treatment Pflueger got. I'll grab a few more Tours myself from the auction site. Other than a few small details the Smoke S3 and the Tour S3 are identical, so hopefully you'll be good this time around.

What didn't you like about the 70? Provide details.

That was in the Steez LTD vid. I think he controlled himself in the new Zillion vid. Only happy thoughts in this one.

It looks like the Pro SP skipping reel is also true BFS capable, so not a 1 trick pony.

Plastics that are very salty and have rusted my jigs and hooks quickly get pulled at the end of the day. Mend-it makes them new again.

Don't get me wrong. I wasn't suggesting that you shouldn't have asked, or implying that your question was stupid. It's just one that's difficult to get a meaningful answer to. I'll add that for me it's rare when the reel I hope to like on a particular rod beforehand is the one that ends up there. More often than not it's an unexpected combination that I find to be special, or just right.

Asking this question is akin to you asking someone else about how much milk to put into your coffee, but even more complicated and personal. It goes way beyond preference. Strength, size, hand size, limb length, mechanics, etc,... everyone is different.

Not that this would help in a lost C clip situation, but a 1/2" wooden dowel longer than the longest rod would keep them from collapsing the bazooka shorter and snapping off tips like they did with my friend's. I'm doing this going forward and so is he. Not this time for my friend. They passed the buck. Cost him 120$ and $110 through Loomis to get replacements.

BOOM! That's a perfect picture.