galyonj

Or make embarrassing claims of fact regarding fish weight in front of people that know better.

I haven't used Fins, but I thought about it for this combo, actually. Only reason I didn't go for it was I like bright line for my braid. So the Sufix yellow fit the bill, and I have experience with that line and knew I liked how it handled. For my ML/F setup, a 6'9" Lew's TP-1 Black with a 2500-size Shimano NASCI, I use 15lb Powerpro V2 to a 6lb YZH leader, and I throw everything from 1/32oz ned rigs up to senkos on a 1/4oz wacky jighead on it -- it might be my most used rig some days. The big thing I've found I have to keep in mind with braid on light spinning outfits is that I have to keep the rod tip low if it's windy, lest so much line bow out that I completely lose touch with the lure. Good way to lose fish.

I use 6lb Sufix (to a 4lb leader) on an ultralight with nary a problem. Braid is so much easier to deal with on a spinning reel that it ain't even funny.

Roger was cold.

I've no experience with proper two-stroke engines, but I do have some experience with turbocharged Wankel rotaries (which, to lubricate the rotor seals, use a similar oil-injection system), which are this perfect storm of oil presence during combustion, lots of heat, and boost. Oil in the combustion chamber lowers the octane rating of whatever fuel is being used. Taking timing off, as you noted, is the smart thing to do in lieu of using fuel with a higher resistance to detonation -- either super high test unleaded, adding alcohol injection, or switching completely to alcohol as a fuel source. All the knock sensors in all the world can't save an engine from a determined moron.

I don't know better, but it feels like going fast on a pontoon would be absolutely terrifying.

If you need or are okay with a LH reel, there's a BB1 Pro in the sale forum for a pretty good deal.

I've no idea. I'd be willing to bet that they're the same brake as on the MB, which are the 4-pole type that you just click off of the catch so that they're loose to contact the race when the spool spins fast enough.

That's a shame. Things are tough all over, though. What can you do, you know?

I just put it in the mailbox, bro.

Spend more time fishing and less time asking questions about gear and you just might be able to fix that.

That's true. There are some differences (the drag, the pinion like you mentioned, maybe some other stuff I'm not seeing), but for the most part I think it's a good competitor. ETA: I do like that the Q2's got a 6-pin centrifugal brake instead of a 4-pin like the MP/KVD reels do.

Right? I'll spend anybody's money if they want a hand. ?

Honestly, given the specs, the Q2 is probably right up there. I just never think of BPS.

I have a NASCI and it's a very, very good reel. I just have so much fun spending other people's money that I went straight up the price list.

For real. With a $250 budget you've got your pick of the litter. I think that you reach a point of diminishing returns much more quickly with spinning reels than you do with casting reels. They're just not as complex mechanically (which is a good thing for a lot of reasons). Look first at a Shimano Vanford or maybe a Daiwa Ballistic LT?

What do I think? I think they're a Tournament MP with a different paintjob and a $10 discount built into the price. By that I mean that I think they're probably very good reels that'll do a good job for you. I have the predecessor to the MP, the Tournament MB, and I love everything about that reel. The dual braking is a great feature compared to the magnetic-only braking of the $100 LFS model, (this is probably just me) the tension adjustment seems like it's a little bit easier to move to just where I want it, the aluminum frame is a nice feature I think that KVD's quite a bit of reel for the money. If you want a quiet reel, keep shopping. Every Lew's reel I've ever owned has loud gears.

They claim they're starving and haven't eaten all week, and won't I just give them the smallest crumb of food?

I don't want to presume your capabilities in terms of workspace and tool availability (given the living situation you mentioned), and I 100% understand if you'd rather just buy one and be done with it, but you could pretty easily build a little cart with bunks and all that good stuff for very little. Rather see you spend time on this and coin on a nice PFD. Aw, man. @Darren. beat me to the punch cause I got distracted with a work email. Good lookin' out, dude.

FWIW, Abu doesn't list the Black Max on its combos page or its reels page, so I think it's probably been replaced in the lineup, and any store that does have it is just selling out their existing stock. I suspect the Max-X is its replacement in the ± $75 range. Both the Black Max and the Max-X have pretty comparable specs for gearing, bearing count, etc. Rod options that come with each combo are pretty comparable, too.

Yum.

I catch just about as well on a pulse as a swim jig trailer as I do with a rage swimmer. I wouldn't say one was better so much as they have slightly different actions that are equally good at what they do when you need that kind of action. The pulse is poured with slightly stiffer plastic, you see (but not as stiff as a 6th Sense swimbait). I like the both better than the swing impact.

Right?! When brain's shift is over, you get what you get.

I'm sorry. My brain said "skipjack," my hands typed "shad," and my brain looked at it and thought "that's close enough. Let's close it up for the day."

Doesn't matter one little bit to me what I catch if I'm catching fish. In the past 12 months, I've caught largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, rock bass, white bass, skipjack, crappie, and bluegill. I do keep a couple packs of panfish-size soft plastics to throw on a ned head or something just in case I feel like swinging that way on a particular day, but regardless what I catch or what gear I catch it on, they've all been fun.