PBBrandon

The Carbonlite 2.0 combo is a good value. Nice rod and the reel is comparable to similar priced Lews reels. Feels a lot like a Lews KVD, just 6 pin centrifugal instead of 4. the Platinum rods are good as well, I got the 7’1” MF for weightless t-rigs and shakeyheads and it performs really well the Patriot rods are imo the best rods BPS makes. Super lightweight, and I really like the action on them. A noodle tip with a strong backbone. overall the rods are good and the reels are comparable to similar price Doyos. Can’t go wrong with any of the JM stuff

I snapped an H2O Xpress Ethos a while back and took it back out of warranty, no questions asked they let me replace it and I picked up a tac-40. Carbon monocoque handle, SiC guides, really nice rod for the price. Academy is really good on exchanges. Maybe see if they will take it back

+1 one of the biggest performance jumps in reels is the jump to the 100 dollar msrp price point. If you can snag an SLX, Fuego, Lews LFS, or Abu Revo X used for 50-60 then that’s the best way to go. I’ve seen a few Fuegos on eBay for 70-80

Well I’ve used the new line on my Zodias/Curado K combo for tossing a jig around and I have to say I am very very impressed with it. My big concern with cheap fluoro is line memory. I found that the Basix line is better than PLine 100% when it comes to memory, and for half the cost. As for the stretch of it, I didn’t feel like I lost any sensitivity with it, felt bottom structure pretty easily. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to test it fighting a fish, but I am overall super impressed with Basix and I think it might be my go to fluoro now. I can’t keep spending twice as much for line that isn’t twice as good lol

DC reels have a computer in them that measures spool speed and adjusts braking accordingly. If you are good with a baitcaster the DC tech ain’t worth the price. It’s cool and all but not necessarily “better” per se than SVS infinity. I’d get the Chronarch if I were you, it is an amazing reel and a step above the Curado, (USA Scorpion). Plus it’s almost as user friendly as the DC braking thanks to the MGL spool. Up to you though, neither reel is a bad choice. They will both be very very good reels

Just tried out my new Basix line today, it is amazing. Not just for the price but in general

The 4 I would bring if I were you would be Med/fast spinning rod med hvy/fast casting rod hvy/fast casting rod crankbait rod of your choice

I’ve never heard of a crackbait before, sounds interesting though ?. A crankbait specific rod is a nice tool to have. A mod-mod fast rod with a 6 speed reel is perfect. Since sensitivity isn’t as important with crankbaits you don’t need to spend an arm and a leg on a setup. I use a Dobyns Fury 705cb with a 6.3:1 SLX XT and it is an amazing setup for 250 bucks. Also the Fury has a relatively short butt section which is nice for kayak fishing

Okay I’ll give it a review when I test it out ?

Walked through my neighborhood Walmart and saw a bunch of Seaguar Basix. $9.78 for 200 yards of FC makes me think it must be low quality, but I know how respected Seagur is so I picked up a roll of 15lb. Is it any good?

Curado K 8.5 Curado K 7.4 Chronarch MGL 7.1 SLX XT 6.3 Tatula 150 7.3 Tatula SV 7.3 Lews Custom SLP 7.5 BPS Carbonlite 2.0 7.5 Fuego LT 2500 Exceler LT 3000 Regal LT 2000 Nasci 1000 Pretty much got it all covered lol

I’ve only used my Chronarch MGL a couple of times and it is the best reel I’ve laid my hands on. I really think the SLX XT is the best value one I’ve tried. Almost on par with my Curados and it’s 60 dollars cheaper. I love them all though

Yeah I hear a lot of Chronarchs get geary which scares me a bit. Just gonna use it for open water bass fishing so hopefully it can handle that at least lol

Well I took advantage of the trade in event at Cabela’s and traded in my old Revo SX for a Chronarch MGL HG. Got 50 bucks knocked off and so far it’s been worth every penny. A Champion XP 734c is the rod that I stuck it on and they are perfect for each other. The Chronarch feels really good in hand. Light but not cheap feeling despite the fact that it’s not a metal framed reel. Side by side with my Curado K the Chronarch definitely is smoother, especially after it’s been broken in a bit. Not a knock on the Curado, it’s an amazingly smooth reel as well but the Chronarch just feels “different”. I mainly just threw a Texas rig with a 1/4oz bullet on it so I couldn’t test the bomb cast capabilities. However, it did launch the T-rig far and was very controlled as far as backlash is concerned, thanks to the MGL spool. The spool also makes it more forgiving with skipping lures, something I have trouble with using the Curado K. Overall the Chronarch is an amazing reel. It has the bomb cast capability of the Curado K, but the skipping and light bait capabilities of a Tatula SV. (I think the Tatula is a little better in those areas, but the Chronarch is definitely an easy caster). I’ve caught 1, 2 pounder with it so far, and I’m sure there will be plenty more where that came from. A wonderful reel ?

Never used it until I just bought some 20lb Sniper a couple weeks ago and it’s great. You probably got a bad batch, and if so, sorry to hear that. 660 yards of it ain’t cheap I imagine. Is the whole spool like that?

I don’t think anything has surpassed the Curado as the king of that price point, however if you have the extra cash, the Tatula Elite is a top flight reel and can be found for around 220. Noticeably better than the Curado IMO. But if that’s your max budget the Curado is probably still the best option

I can’t speak for the MGL but I have a few K’s and I love them. They’ll launch heavier baits a mile and cast lures down to 1/4 oz very well. Plus the larger spool capacity is good for those thicker fluoro lines. The K is a 200 size while the MGL is a 70 or 150 depending on what you get. If you do go with the MGL, the 150 would better fit your needs and be a more do it all reel

I sometimes fish open areas and sometimes with trees around so I guess I just bring it to the open spots. And lucky I drive a Suburban so transportation shouldn’t be one lol

Well Dobyns is selling the Fred Roumbanis (Champions with a different paint job pretty much) series rods for 140 on their website, and while I don’t necessarily need a rod right now, it looks just too good to pass up. The only rods left in stock however are the 766 flip and the 803 swimbait models. I fish almost exclusively from the bank and have never used a rod longer than 7’3”. I already have a 7’0” HXF Abu Veracity for my frogging/flipping needs, but I could use the 803 for deeper cranks and swimbaits. I’m just worried that an 8ft rod would be too cumbersome from the bank. I have no trouble at all with the 7’3” rods I use but would 8ft be too long? Thank you

I currently have a 2000 size Regal LT on it which weighs 6.7oz I believe and balances really well. A 1000 Stradic is about 6.5-6.6oz so should be about the same

They have the Premier in a 6’6” light 2 piece. I have one and it is an amazing rod for trout if the extra 6 inches isn’t a problem. Can easily break it down and walk along a creek

I doubt it, I make sure I don’t try to free snags I know I won’t be able to, and I don’t try to muscle them out lol. Only had 15lb fluoro on it as well. I’m not sure how it happened but at least it’s fixed

Well I fixed it somehow. I think it was a bent worm gear. Bent it back a little and that helped. Not a fan of the plastic worm gear but I guess Curados already weigh almost 8oz, so weight had to be cut somewhere lol. Thanks y’all for the help ?

Well I went to Scheels and they didn’t have the zillion. Coupled with missing 3 days of work, thanks to the weather, my budget shrunk a bit and I picked up a Tatula Elite. holding it in the store it was super nice, absolutely amazing. Feels like a beefier Tat 100 and is the smoothest reel I own

I did take the worm gear apart, cleaned it off and then greased it. Might have not done it correctly though. Has only seen open water use too and wasn’t dirty or anything. I’ll tear it apart one more time and if that doesn’t work I’ll get it professionally lubed lol