LAO162

smcentee, great comments. Since the Carrot Stix and L&T are closer to my preferred price range, do you find the Cumara offers enough added sensitivity or other benefits to up my budget? Thanks!

Thanks for all the input I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who appreciates foam grips. Cheers

Burley, quick question... When you said the Carrot Stix foam was "very soft," did you mean too soft or nice & soft . Thanks!

Thanks for the comments Matt & Speedbead, the LTX is on my list of "contenders." Unfortunately, I do not have a dealer in my area, so I've been watching for posts and reviews of the LTX. Hope you keep sharing experiences. Cheers Leon

Although I will probably end up with a Shimano Crucial MHF Spinning rod for worms & jigs, I'm tempted by the Cumara, in part due to its use of EVA type handles. I have an old Fenwick ultralite with EVA grips and I found them to be very comfortable. Are there any quality rods in the ~$150 price range that offer EVA type handles? Thanks!

Last year was my first experience with a bait caster. After a few weeks I was quite pleased with myself because I could hit the LAKE at least 2 out of 3 casts

I have a 6'6" MF Browning Midas that I used late last year. I didn't have the opportunity to catch a lot on it, but it is a huge jump up in quality over entry level like BPS Extreme. Much lighter and more sensitive. MF is great for finess and cranks, but it felt a bit soft for 1/2 oz spinner baits and as worm/jig rod. I'd consider at least MHF. Unfortunately, I can't compare it to the other rods you are considering. I'm currently looking for MH in the same range as you. Good Luck!

I have the Stadic 2500FH (old) and an Exceler 2500. For purposes of this question, I'm debating the merits of spending less on the reel and being able to allocate more $$ to the rod. If my bonus is weak this year, I'll probably move the Stradic to a new worm rod and the Exceler from the BPS Extreme to the Browning Midas MF which I would use from crankbaits, topwater etc. Of course, if my bonus is good, the options become a lot more fun ;D Thanks

So far the Crucial / Stradic combo seems to be the favorite. Is it because the Stradic is so much better than the Symetre, or because the Crucial is proven and the Cumara might still be unproven? Thanks!

Although there are many different combinations in the under $300 range, I thought I'd ask about these two Shimano combos since they show two different sides of the rod/reel equation without adding too many other factors. - Shimano Crucial CRS66MH 6'6" MHF with Stradic 2500 - Shimano Cumara CUS68MH 6'8" MHF with Symetre 2500 Which combo would you pick if you were to spend an afternoon of casual fishing with plastics & jigs. It's not fair to take the combos apart. Thanks, Leon

Thanks

Bought an Exceler 2500 late last season. I found it as enjoyable to use as my Stradic. I did not find that any performance or feel was sacrified. The bail did trip a few times on the cast, about twice as often as on Stradic. But, it cast as well and pehaps better than the Stradic 2500. Cheers.

There are a lot of great reels available in that range. Last year I enjoyed my $60 Daiwa Exceler as much as my $130 Shimano Stradic FH. I can't say one had more twist than the other. Don't forget to your fishing habits and the type of line you use as factors that contribute to line twist. For instance, last year I finally developed the habit of tripping the bail manually, rather than cranking it closed. I believe that suggestion saved me a lot of aggrevation in the long run. Cheers!

RW, wish I had been thinking like you

FishTank, I know where you're coming from. I just spent the savings that WERE going towards my new worm/jig combo.

The Daiwa Tierra, Daiwa TD-Pro (BPS), & Cabelas Prodigy all appear to be based upon the Daiwa TD Advantage. Are there any significant differences, and how would these reels be for B/C a novice? Thanks

Thanks for the info. I'm a big fan of direct to consumer products, but without unbiased reviews it can be difficult to tell when claims are too good to be true. I've been hoping to get a Crucial MH this year. If finances don't work out, maybe I'll consider Acadia as a temporary fix until next year. Cheers

Great folks It sounds as though Spinning may be appropriate for me THIS year. I realize that Baitcasters ultimately may be more accurate and flexible in use. But with only a few hours of casual fishing per month, I'd rather spend time fishing with a spinning reel, than practicing and untangling birds nests with the B/C :) I actually did ok with the B/C last year, but my fishing was more productive with my spinning outfits. So, I guess if I stick with spinning gear I might be able to concentrate more on finding bass and learning to use new types of tackle. Thanks! Leon

Thanks everyone, sounds as though spinning may be the way to go since I am more comfortable with them. Does it make any since to step up from the 2500 size to 3000 or larger? My fishing will be pretty casual and from shore. I've never used line over 8lb test.

Are there any significant advantages of Bait Casting reels over Spinning reels for jigging techniques? I've used spinning gear for nearly 40 years, but started with a bait caster last year. Since I will only get a couple hour a fishing in per week (if lucky ), I'm thinking that I might want to stick with spinning gear so I don't use valuable fishing time practicing my casting. I hope to get a worm/jig together this year, but that's a new topic Thanks lEON

I can't speak to durability, but last year I used both a Daiwa Exceler and Stradic in 2500 sizes. Functionnally and enjoyment wise, I found them to be about the same. The Stradic may have felt a bit more solid. The Exceler had the bail trip on the cast a few times. But, I subjectively feel that I got slightly more distance out of the Exceler. I got my father-in-law an Symetry last year. Sweet reel for the $$. Leon

If you are used to cranking a spinning reel with your left hand, you may want to consider LH casting models. I started with a Curado 200B. Casting with it is fun, but I still prefer to hold the rod in my right hand. I'm still debating a LH model instead. Leon

How is the action on the MF Rods. MF, F, XF? In my case I would be thinking about using it for a worm rod. Thanks. Leon

A timely thread for me. I've been thinking the Crucial is a safe bet, but been wondering what else is competitive in the $150 range. I've seen mixed reviews on the GL2. Leon

I finally had a chance to use my new Midas this weekend. After using the Midas for about an hour, I switched by to the BPS Extreme. The Extreme felt like a broomstick in comparison (They are both 6'6" MF, the Browning is a 2-piece.) Now I understand the pleasure of fishing with a balanced, lighter rod I think that the Midas has a softer tip. Regarding sensitivity, I do not have experience with "high-end" rods, so I probably have not developed "fishing hands" yet. However, with crankbaits and spinnerbaits I could feel more vibration. However, with 1/2 oz spinnerbaits the Midas had more bend to it. I tried fishing a 4" weightless Senko for a while. I did not actually feel it crawling over the bottom, but when my mind drifted and I took my eyes of the line I felt a couple ticks that I would have missed with the Extreme. I didn't cast that well this weekend, but I don't think there was any substantial difference in accuracy between the Midas and Extreme. The Midas may have gotten a few more feet in distance. In terms of backbone, the Midas handled a fat 18 incher with no problems. (I'm a new fan of the X-Rap ;D) It was probably the 2nd largest I've caught. I was surprised to see it come out of our town pond. I was using 6 lb Floroclear on a Stradic 2500. Overall, I'm very please with the Midas. While I can't compare it to higher end rods, so far I believe it to be well work the $30 to $40 over the BPS Extreme. Definately worth the $99.99 when it was on sale. Leon