Eric 26

I’m very sorry for your loss. Although I can’t know for certain I like to believe she’s in a better place and wants you to keep moving forward and enjoying yourself because as you said “Tomorrow is not promised”.

After the Chicago Bears 85 Super Bowl win I was a sophomore in high school and went with 2 female friends to the parade. Much like @TnRiver46 it was wall to wall people only we were freezing in Chicago. We stood for a few hours to watch the buses roll by with a few players hanging there drunk or hungover heads out the windows as they slow crawled by. I vowed then and there I’ll never attend another victory parade again.

@F14A-B & @Jig Man I personally enjoyed the alternative half time show. Also although not related to this game, did anyone see Bill Belicheck’s girlfriend’s latest stunt? As George Takei said…..

Suns in my eyes 😃

Try to find the “alternative” half time show being shown on Turning Point channel and a few alternative channels.

@Glenn Im with a few others with no horse in the race but tonight I’m a Seahawks fan👊🏻

If I’m not mistaken didn’t BASS founder Ray Scott design a ultralight rod & reel that may have been used🤔

@Swamp Girl I can’t wait to hear all about this 👍🏻

I see that there are zero shenanigans going on tonight as you’ve picked up a proper Ale🤣😆😂

I have both the medium light and medium powered BPS Crankin Sticks last version and I personally find the med light to be a bit soft. I really like them both and cast both KVD 1.0 & 1.5 square bills on the medium power but I don’t go above the 1.0 on the medium light. I have 10 pound monofilament on both. If you go this route you may want to check them out in person or if not possible BPS has a generous return/ exchange policy. If you offer up a budget you may find more specific options as well.

@new2BC4bass First off I’m with you on the second generation Tatula CT Type R, I’m not the biggest fan of the two tone color scheme. Mine is a first generation and I have a matching Cabelas Arachnid as well. As far as the Dream Tackle reels the company Dream Tackle manufactured or at least designed the spool for the Okuma Hakai. They also used the same “mold” for their reels they named “Formula D” Reels that are magnesium framed with short shaft spools that came in both 7 & 8 speeds and at least the 8 speed was offered in a bfs version as well. As far as marketing went I found out about them through YouTube searching for Okuma Hakai reel reviews. They were sold on Amazon and also through Nako Tackle who sold tungsten weights. I have both the 8 speed I bought first and also a 7 speed. All in all I’m glad I bought them and I believe both were around $130.00 apiece but I would have to search to be sure. The biggest downside is the company has zero customer service support but as I’ve said before I’m pretty sure the parts would swap with the Okuma Hakai parts if I really needed work done as long as parts are available for them as well. I hope that answers most of your questions but I’ll happily answer any others if you need me to.

I’m going plus 1 on @new2BC4bass’s recommendations. I have 2 Dream Tackle reels which are pretty much Okuma Hakai reels and feel they’re great reels all around. I’ll also echo the many recommendations for anything Daiwa and have zero issues from my CA-80 to my Alphas 800, the nice thing about going with Daiwa or Shimano is the parts should be more readily available as far as servicing or even upgrading if that’s something you’re considering. Although I don’t have the current Tatula CT I have the previous generation and love it, it’s clear they are being blown out for the newest generation Tatula X and at $100.00 it’s worth it imho.

I do and have been for quite a few seasons. I’ll agree with @MN Fisher with the fact that you’re limited in the amount you’re going to receive for your trade-ins. But if you’re trading in an old ugly stick combo or something similar the value may be worth it but only you can decide that. I will be trading in a cheap Shakespeare rod and reel that I snagged from my local pond this past season that nobody wanted to claim. I’ll also add I’ve been able to purchase 2 rods that weren’t available in store but they were a brand they carried and they allowed my trade in even though it was considered a special order. The rods and reels that are traded-in are sent out to be given a general once over and are then donated to several organizations if that’s something that matters to you also. While standing in line I’ve seen people trade in everything from old plastic push button reels to older white Stradics and everything in between.

I’m going to put my .02 in this thread. As the proud and extremely thankful recipient of @bulldog1935’s Tica Cetus it arrived with not just 1 but 2 spools both spooled with line I would probably never get my hands on. The first is 4lb kamikaze salt copolymer (pink) and I have yet to use it but I’m thinking this season. The second is 4lb Toray ExThread which I’ve been using since receiving the reel back in 2023 on a ultralight setup with a slip bobber rig. I will add as I said to bulldog the line has surprisingly near zero memory especially given the tiny spool that is on the Cetus which I believe is categorized as a 500 sized reel which bulldog can correct me if I misspoke. I will also add as I’ve said in the past I’ve only fished this setup in a weed infested pond which has minimal to nonexistent rocks or wood that the line would be rubbing against but I’ve dragged some decent fish tangled in a 1/2-1 pound mess of weeds without problems and cast right back as I was on a hot bite without any issues. I welcome @bulldog1935 to comment further with any feedback he may offer regarding the reel and what he used it for prior to my receiving it.

I use the Trilene knot quite a bit and I’m in the camp of 6 wraps as well.

@rboat I hope I’m not mistaken when I think you can take a bit of ribbing🤔 I agree with @12poundbass on this one that something that big couldn’t be contained. I personally think the amount of cameras and all of the angles that come with them are showing us fans things that we just didn’t see in the past. I’m certainly not saying I like it and I for one feel if the NFL is going to continue showing us the referees misses that they need to come up with something to rectify it, but hey that’s just my opinion.

I’ll start with @rboat you are definitely passionate to say the least and one thing I agree with you on is the Seahawks not utilizing Marshawn Lynch effectively in that moment of Super Bowl 49. Me personally I think that Pete Carroll had way too much belief in Russell Wilson and was trying to get him the dang MVP trophy but hey that’s just me. At @12poundbass & @casts_by_fly I appreciate both of your guys insight and I don’t follow closely enough to know what’s going on In Buffalo as an organization but I do agree that it appears to be rather messy. But hey you can always take comfort in my and @Mike L’s misery we had to endure for the last 20 years as Bears fans😉

Although I don’t know if my 2 reels were “old” when I bought them I know 1 my Cabelas Arachnid was being discontinued and my Tatula Type R was a leftover supposedly found on a warehouse shelf while doing inventory. I can’t remember exactly what I paid for the Arachnid but I believe it was $129.99 and the Tatula was for sure $99.00 which thrilled me at the time.

If I may ask, why? I feel like it’s a good move as it’s my understanding he was calling the plays to start with and he’s respected in the locker room but I may be mistaken. I truly feel they need a couple wide receivers and I really feel they don’t need to shop for a super star but more of a couple of cost controlled decent young guys which I know is more difficult than I’m making it sound.

@dgkasper58 I wish I could give you a better answer but we just bought them last year in June. Also our backyard faces North and they are tucked up close to my house as well. As far as putting them away that was a big selling point for me in the fact I knew they are staying outside all season with zero maintenance on my end as far as refinishing every couple of years.

@dwtaylor I agree about the vendors and although I didn’t go to the Tinley Park show last year when I did go 2 years ago there were more “independent” shops along with a handful of guys and gals selling hand made baits. Mind you nothing like it was 15 or more years ago when the show was held in the high school.

Much like @Motoboss I was raised with the philosophy of save to buy the best you can afford. With that said sometimes that’s just not possible or practical. As for me fishing is a hobby and not a job and although I would like to own higher end gear I’m not upset or jealous that I don’t. I’ve always bought the best I could afford for my job even if that means saving a wee bit longer or putting off some other non essential item/pleasure such as going out to dinner and a movie. My work boots are an essential item I will not skimp on currently. Back when Titanium hammers first came out I paid $85.00 for mine and the crew I worked with thought I lost my mind, within 3 months 2/3rds of the crew were swinging titanium hammers and wearing Occidental leather tool pouches. I must mention thanks to everyone on here I was introduced to the Japanese Domestic Market at the best time possible and picked up a few reels I couldn’t have afforded otherwise.

Although I’m not trying to sway you for either, the Lews is currently on sale for $183.99 at Tackle Warehouse if you do decide on it. I don’t own any Lews reels but I do have a 1000 sized Stradic and I understand why it’s so highly recommended.

So I just received my 2026 BPS fishing catalog and they are showing the new Panfish rods only they are called XML PTC rods. They also changed colors on the Micro Lite series as well.

@ATA With your tenacity you’re going to be posting a 200 pounder I would like to think.