LAO162

I had a chance to handle the Elite Tech Smallmouths this weekend. I can really see the appeal. They are light & seem very sensitive. With a Stradic 2500 FI, the only weight I felt was the reel. One of the nice things about the unique reel seat was that I could still put my finger on the blank if I wanted to. Both the 6'9" MXF and 6'3" MF spinning rods look as though they would be a lot of fun. Tips soft enough to toss really light baits, but enough backbone to control a big one.

As your first reel, you may find that the Dual Brakes of the PQ act like training wheels while you are learning to use BC reels. If you have to pick out a birds nest for 5 of you first 10 casts, you may get discouraged pretty quickly:) You will also want to consider whether you want LH or RH retrieve. I almost gave up on BC reels because my first one had a RH retrieve and I found it too distracting.

Many anglers spend more than $70 on a used rod that does not have the warranty transfer to the new owner. These folks are taking that risk to get better performance. If the Diesel offers the performance of a rod that costs twice as much, I might take a chance. However, it the Diesel is not all that special, I would not buy it to save $20. From my perspective, I would like to have seen at least a 30 day warranty in the event that a lemon makes it through qualitiy control. I'm interested to see how the Diesel compares to the Max & Endurance rods.

Have you guys had the chance to compare the 6'9" MXF spinning rod to the 6'3" MF version? I like the idea of a shorter rod for fishing from shore around trees and brush, but I suspect I would get greater casting distance from the longer rod. It looks as though the 6'9" is only 4 inches longer from the reel seat. I have the MH power covered but, I'd like something that will cast 1/8 oz spinners & weightless finess worms, but still be able to drive a the hook through a T-rigged Senko. It would be a bonus if it worked well it 1/2 oz baits. Thanks! Leon

CI4 comparisons to the Stella, quite an endorsement and its only a few more dollars than the closeout Fuegos

Thanks guy's, I'm leaning towards the Cabela's model because it's available in the 2500 size. All my other reels are 2500 and I like the size. Shaving more than 1.5 oz off should make it feel very light to me. Of the few reviews I've found, only great things were said about the Fuego, other than 1 or 2 lemons.

How does the Daiwa Fuego spinning reel compare to the newer models that are coming out. As a fan of the Tierra, Exceler, etc. its current pricing looks very attractive. I particularly like the line management and casting distance of Daiwa spinning reels. Should I be looking at the newer reels such as the Ballistic, Stradic Ci4, Quantum Exo/Smoke, or Pflueger Patriarch/Supreme? Have they evolved much in the last 2 years? I’d be looking for a 2500 size, most likely to go on ML/M rod for baits in the 1/8 to ½ oz range. My dilemma is whether I should jump on a closeout Fuego or wait for the new reels to go on sale this spring. Thanks Leon

Longer rods can definately help with longer casts. I can never cast far enough from the bank. However, I fish around a lot of brush, trees and tall grass. Shorter rods are easier to work with in these tight spaces. I usually have both long & short rods with me so that I can adjust to the environment.

Magic Eraser sounds great. I recently found that the work well on my truck interior. I had been using denatured alcohol to clean my grips. I put U40 on all of my cork grips. I do find, however, that U40 will darken the grain and fill of the cork.

The Albrights look interesting at that price. For about $150 Cabela's has the 4-piece XML. I have a couple and they feel really good with lots of sensitivity. Occassionally they go on sale for a great price. I would be very comfortable using only the XML's on a trip.

I have a couple Argons in lighter weights. If I had a need for a flipping stick, I'd probably own the 7'1" Argon if I wasn't spending the money on a Helium. Give they guys at Kistler a call and ask them about the action and performance. They love to talk and can help you to set your expectations. They also have an Argon section in their forum. Leon

I fish the shallow part of a quarry that has has a rocky, bait eating bottom. Baits constantly get wedged inbetween rocks and there is too much brush on the banks for me to change my angle to try and pull free. I use 10lb copoly on spinning gear and 12/14lb line on casting gear. Having extra strenth allows me to pull hard and pull a few baits free. Even so, I plan on losing at least a couple baits per hour. I use mostly: shallow cranks: 1 foot, 1-3 ft, waking topwaters weightless, t-rigged plastics floating worms Occassionally, the bow and arrow technique will free a bait from inbetween the rocks. Leon

Besides the recommendations about gear, it is also important to consider your technique. Closing the bail manually after each cast definately helps. Also, you need to be aware of the condition of your line before and after EACH cast. All it takes is a slight glance down. If you see a slight tangle or twist, fix it right away. It will get much worse if you cast it out or if you reel line over the small tangle.

Even though I still have at least a 1 to 2 year supply of Copoly, it's great to hear that it will be available in the future.

Spring through Fall, it's usually Saturday morning - dawn to 9:00. The rest of the weekend is family time. If we have plans for the weekend I'll miss my fishing day, but sometimes I can sneak in some time if we visit the in-laws who have a cabin near the lake.

I was very happy with my Techna AV's. I sold them primarily because I was looking for different rod features. I am very comfortable recommending them.

Since I've been known to troll the Bargain Cave, I'll be very tempted when it is closed out at 60% to 70% off. Otherwise, I'll make due with my Tournament ZX (I use it interchangeably with my Tierra).

DBS systems have their merits. Because I am limited in the amount of time I get at the water, I appreciate the forgiving attributes of DBS reels. Since I throw a lot of lighter baits, I especially enjoy the ability to adjust the brakes without pulling off the side plates. That said, when I'm "on" I get fantastic performance from my Chronarch MG51 and Quantum TE reels. However, when I mess up I either spend 10 minutes pulling out tangles, or I put aside the combo and pick up another one in its place. DBS backlashes occur less often and are usually less severe. Since you have a background with spinning gear, you may want to consider left hand models. Leon

Going the closeout route for rods, - Fenwick Techna AV - All Star Platinum - Kistler Argon (or Magnesium) all should be near the $100 price point Hard to beat BPS ProQualifier casting reels and Cabela's Prodigy/Tournament ZX spinning reels when they are discounted. Obviously, when going the closeout route you have to do a lot of searching and be patient. It may also be difficult to find rods to fit a specific technique.

2 LTX's & 2 Argons here. I like the way they fish. I prefer my LTX's to my IMX. Consider me a fan

For $100 to $150 there are a lot of nice rods available, especially if you look for discounts & sales. Rather than focusing upon a brand or line of rods, you should first consider what techniques you will use most often. Make sure the model you get is well suited for your intended techniques. For example, a $200 medium power crankbait rod that is ideal for 1/4 oz baits will not be suitable for 8" swimbaits. On the other hand, a heavy swimbait rod will not perform well will light crankbaits.

I think you've answered your own question. You probably will not be satisfied with the 2-piece rod. There's no sense wondering if you should have traded.. The Avid is a fine rod. Enjoy it and share your thoughts about it :) :)

That's an important piece of information. In my case, my confidence rods are 1 piece. However, it's not because I distrust 2 piece rods (I grew up with them). My confidence rods have designs and components that are not typically found on 2 piece rods.

Now that I have a decent collection of 1 piece rods, I'm beginning to look at two piece rods again. I find that a two-piece rod that fits in the car with the family catches more and bigger fish that a bunch of one-piece rods left in the basement Personally, I'd love to have 2-piece Avid. It would be nice to know that I have a quality rod that can go any place. In my experience, I've found that my 4 piece Cabela's XML pack rods were as fishable as my All Star Platinums and Fenwick Techna AV's. Although I never compared them head-to-head, I do not feel that the pack rods were a handicap by being perceived as heavier or less sensitive.

I have two LTX's. To me they are extremely sensitive. I haven't used a lot of high end rods, but they are definately in a different class than Techna AV's and All Star Platinums, which I still consider to be very sensitive and relatively light rods.