LAO162

I've been looking for an alternative to Gamma Clear CoPoly. So, I tried a pony spool of McCoy Xtra Clear. First impressions. It is fairly clear and not milky like some other CoPoly's. However, it may not be as clear as CX Premium. I had no complaints about its handling and had fewer issues than YZ-US. Well, I had a snag and had to work extremly hard to break the line. My first impression: This stuff is plenty strong for my purposes. It also handles well and doesn't look like string in the water. I'd like to hear if anyone else thinks it might be a reasonable alternative to 12lb Gamma. Leon

In terms of appearance, it is perfect for my Kistler LTX He2MH69C. I'm not really a "bling" guy, but the combo looks really nice. I'm assuming that the performance of the Midas is similar to the Pro Qualifer. But, for another $30 the centrifugal brake is externally adjustable and the drag is upgraded. And of course, it has the Buckmark. I know that these reels are produced in Asia and the name is only licensed, but so far it appears to be a reasonable value. Ghost, have you been hangin' out over at the "K" forum Leon O

I've actually tried a couple Kistlers, but that's a different thread . I've only handled Powells briefly, but I think they would give you a different perspective on rods. You'll certainly know how you feel about the split grip etc...

While I'm big into getting rods & reels on sale, it's more important to make sure that your great bargain suits your needs. Make the best of your budget and be patient if you can. If you identify the characteristics that meet your needs, you know if that bargain is really of value to you. I think some of the house brands can be a great value when they are being moved at 30% to 50% off. I'm very pleased with my Cabela's XMLTi. The non-Recoil Guide version (XML) sometimes gets below $70. This year I've been going after closeouts. I've gotten a couple Kistler's for just a few dollars out of your price range. I also won a bid on a used G Loomis IMX for $100.99 + $16 shipping. I'm fortunate in that my situation allows me to be patient.

Rooster, since you are already comfortable with the Compre models, does it make since for you to consider a Crucial? They are about the same price point as the Powell and I assume that the Crucial's should have actions close to your Compres. On the other hand, I'm a new fan of split grips and no foregrips

Even though it has a fast action, at a ML power it might have enough flex to make a good small & shallow crankbait rod.

Disclosure: I've been a Browning fan since I bought my first shotgun (Browning 12 gauge Side-by-Side) at the age of 15. Back in the day, Brown fishing gear also had a great reputation in my area. Thus, this purchasing decision was made against my better judgement I ordered two Browning Midas reels while they were on sale. The Revo size, Dual Brakes that are fully adjustable externally, and a "supposedly" strong drag were features that appealed to me. The 7.1 ratio reel worked fine. However, I had problems with the spool engaging on the 6.4 reel. BPS's outstanding customer service turned it around quickly and even included a check to cover my shipping costs. Like most other reviewers of other Dual Brake systems, I am very impressed with DBS. I also like that both the magnetic and centrifugal brakes of the Midas are adjusted externally. I've have far fewer backlashes, and the few that I had were less severe. At my skill level with baitcasting, this feature is truly a confidence builder. While the spool tension on the Midas does click, it does not seem to make much of a difference and often cannot be felt. It's a non-factor for me. Although drag quality is seldom a consideration for my "dink" style of fishing, I could tell from snags that the Midas reels have stronger drags than my 51MG and Quantum TE (blue). Plenty strong and smooth for my purposes. I did some experimenting with light crankbaits and even a weightless Zoom lizard. I'm pretty sure that I got more distance out of my Chronarch 51MG, but the backlashing was more severe With Senkos there wasn't much of an advantage for the 51MG and for Fat Ikas there was no advantage to the 51MG. Given its flexibility for setting the brakes, I have more confidence throwing Senkos into the wind with the Midas. I also confirmed that I have no business throwing a weightless lizard on casting gear Probably the biggest advantage to the MG51 is that it weighs 3 oz less than the Midas. However, the Midas feels virtually the same as my Revo S, which is quite comfortable. After this limited use, the Midas reels have earned a place on my 2 favorite casting rods. While I'm obviously not in a position to comment on durability or quality yet (see above), the Midas may warrant consideration for anglers investigating "house" brand and DBS reels. Sorry for wasting your time if you would only recommend a Citica or Curado Ending disclosure: it will probably take me all season to get 40 of 50 hours of use with these reels. Also, it is very possible my opinion will change with experience. Leon

There are a lot of variables in the equation, but with 1/4 to 3/8 oz crankbaits I can't cast my baitcasting setups (including Chronarch 51MG) nearly as far as I can with my better spinning combos. When the weight approaches 1/2 oz, such as a Fat Ika, the difference is less significant.

At 5'7" I find that tipdown techniques are definately easier with a shorter rod when trying to work the tip around obstacles at the waters edge

As a new Kistler owner (2 Argons & 1 LTX) after the Baitmonkey found the internet, your post help support my purchases. BTW, I'm very impressed so far

I think it really depends upon the conditions where you fish most frequently. In my situation, 6'6" is the compromise length because I usually cast under, in-between and over brush/trees and other obstacles at the shore's edge. Because I now have quality 5'6" casting and 6'0" spinning rods dedicated for tight spaces, I am beginning to acquire longer rods for the open spaces. However, If I fished primarily from docks and open bank areas, I'd definitely favor the longer rod. Leon

Yep, this year I've been trying to get rid of duplicates while upgrading

I'm assuming that you are already on their mailing list to get advanced notice. Although some folks weren't impressed by the Classic specials, I think I got a smokin' deal on a Kistler LTX. I think it was available for only a couple hours after Day 4 specials were posted. Part of my daily routine is check TW

Based on my limited experience, ACS is a big selling point for me. It fits my hand perfectly and really forces me to make solid contact with the blank through the cutout. I feel as though I have a firm grip on the rod without having to apply as much pressure.

Wrong hand retrieve Congratulations on a sweet combo

In my limited exposure with Platinums, I would say that their sensitivity is competitive with the Techna AV. For a given power, the Platinum blanks are thinner than the Techna AV, but probably weigh about the same (which is quite light). The ones I briefly used handled nicely and had stiffer tips than the Techna AVs. I wasn't impressed by the cork on the Platinums, but it was adequate. I could fish with all Platinums and not feel handicapped by my equipment.

You won't be disappointed.

x2

Dave, congratulations on an awesome rod! Regarding the warranty, I feel it's a business decision on Kistler's part. Instead of pricing in the additional "insurance" cost of a strong warranty, they [probably] believe that they will have better sales and margins by keeping the MSRP lower. Apparently, they believe lower price (and Gary Loomis reputation) are greater sales drivers than a lifetime warranty. I personally like the features of Kistler rods, but I'm not completely comfortable with the business model that at times lacked transparency about the product design and their policies. I also think the constantly changing "vintages" of rods make it difficult to develop specific expectations for a particular model. On the other hand, constantly changing model years means that closeouts are constantly available at extreme discounts. Because I found discounts great enough to offset my skepticism, I purchased 3 rods. So far, I'm very impressed with two and have yet to pass judgement on the third. At this point, I am not ready pay full price for a Z-Bone with a 90 day warranty. (and I can't afford $400 either ) I'd either need to see a discount approaching 50% or an improvement in the warranty to incent me to purchase an expensive product without a track record demonstrating reliability. If my income level was a couple tax brackets higher, I would probably have a couple "custom" Z-Bones already Leon

Thanks, lots of great ideas here. The Dr. Slick Barracudas were about the price and style I was considering. Until this year I had never heard of them. Thanks for the other other brands to check out. Do the Multi-Tools offer enough length and leverage to get hooks that are down deep? I have been using some 8 inch (I think) Rapala pliers. They work fine and due to my casual style of fishing are still in good condition. However, I'd like a pair with a sheath/lanyard so that I have them with me at all times. Fishing from the banks, sometimes my tackle box is a ways off and I'd rather not leave a fish on the shore while I retrieve the pliers.

I'm looking for a decent pair of needle nose pliers with lanyard and sheath. It would also be great if they were corrosion resistant, light weight and had a good line/hook cutter built in. And, of course, I'd rather not spend more on the pliers than I would on a new rod. Thanks Leon

That's another excellent choice ,their light and sensitive T I've got two There are usually some available in the $100 range from reputable sellers on eBay. The bad news about the Techna AV - If you dodn't feel the bite you can't blame the rod (look at the bait placement )

I started last year with two brakes on. Once I changed to 3 brakes on with slightly less spool tension I had fewer backlashes with about the same distance. This year is an all new experiement

From my limited experience there are several types of topwater baits, so it is difficult to select a best lure. In my non-technical speak there are: - Poppers (i.e. Rebel Popper) - Walk-the-Dog (Rapala SkitterWalk, Spook) - Floating Twitch Baits (Rapala Floating Minnow - Gurgling Baits (Jitterbug) - Propeller Baits (Heddon Torpedo) For me Poppers are the easiest to use and I like walking the dog with the SkitterWalk. The Jitterbug is a must have classic for a reason Leon

You decision depends upon several factors such as: - you fishing conditions and environment - your current equipment - techiques that you use or plan to use - future fishing budget For instance, depending upon how thrift you are, there may be a significant difference in the quality of a jig rod that you can get for either $80 or $120. You may also save some by not needing to purchase an extra reel. So, if your situation allows, you might be better off getting a superior jig rod and making it work for crankbaits until the baitmonkey fund get replenished For example I have upgraded and turned over my equipment each of the last 3 years. The quality equipment remains in the rod rack and the starter equipment is deep in the basement.