CrashVector

My grandpa and yours had a lot in common. I have his old zebco 33. I don't even know what ride it's on anymore because the name has long since worn off, but it's red lol! I make sure it's maintained so it doesn't rust or anything, but I'm almost afraid to use it because I would be heartbroken if something happened to it.

Lol! I know what you mean....look at all the heat I catch practically every time I post an opinion lol! I'm not going anywhere either. Most of the people here are really cool with a lot of good things to say, and I won't let the naysayers ruin it for me....you shouldn't either.

I miss it before bps and Cabela's became the same store with different layouts. Cabela's was always THE place to go for hardcore outdoors equipment. I loaded up there before my trips to mountain bike through Denali park in AK. Now, it's just another bps.

My dad had all of Jack O'Connor's books LOL

Obviously you don't know me that well then, as I have bashed several Garcia products because they didn't live up to the hype. If it had worked as well as everyone was making it sound like it should, I absolutely would have come back and been totally thrilled to say hey this line is awesome I'm going to leave it on my reels I'm even going to buy another spool and put it on another setup for a finesse work because it's great. The same way I changed my opinion on Hercules braid after reading several reviews here of it, I thought it would be just the same as any other eight carrier braid and so no reason to try it until I went out and bought a spool of it and ate my words. Im absolutely a science guy, when it comes to my career and when it comes to my hobbies. I follow the actual data regardless of whether or not it matches my initial opinion, and yes, I have been wrong before and am more than happy to say so when I am because I don't see being wrong as some sort of weakness or failing, I see it as being willing to follow the actual empirical data. My attitude here is no different than my attitude while I'm at work in the emergency room, if I'm doing something a certain way, and you come along and tell me no do it this way it's better, my answer as well as the answer of everyone else in the room will be "Prove it and explain to me why it's better and will produce better results." And you better have the data to back it up. That is not seen as having a poor attitude, that is seen as responsible duty.

No doubt it is a great deal, I just don't like throwing away hooks and such just because of they get dull.

As I said I only used it for about 3 hours, and perhaps with using it more it'll soften up a bit, sorry if my initial impressions didn't match your confirmation bias, but the truth is that it's no better than I thought it would be...at least so far. I'm sure you would be much less of a smart-ass if I came back and said hey man it's great. That seems to be the problem with you and a lot of people on this site, you disagree with them and they automatically write you off as being incorrect or not knowing what you're talking about despite the fact that I've been fishing for 40 years and I catch more fish in a week than most people catch in a month. Everyone has their opinions, Im no different. My initial impression was that it was absolutely garbage line, but I went out spent the money on it and am willing to keep using it to see if my opinion changes. But, because my opinion does not match yours based on the fact that fluorocarbon is fluorocarbon and has certain physical properties of fluoro carbon, you made a snide comment attempting to write my opinion off as invalid because it doesn't match yours.

I did exactly what I said, and went out and bought a spool of Tatsu 12lb AND a spool of assassin FC. I'll post pics as proof if you require it. Used both for about 3 hours. I'm going to use them more obviously bc I don't think it's fair to write something off after a couple hours, BUT...some observations I have ARE valid. Tatsu absolutely, positively has lots of line memory compared to mono and all copolymers I've tried. Not debatable. It's nearly as wirey as any other fluorocarbon with the same diameter. It's barely more limp than the trilene FC, mostly bc the trilene FC is thicker diameter per stated lb/test, as Berkeley likes to do. Diameter to diameter, they feel the same. ANYONE saying tatsu has about the same memory as mono is outright lying. It's much worse. I figured this would be the result, as fluorocarbon is made of fluorocarbon, and it's physical properties are that of 100% fluorocarbon. Saying 100% fluoro isn't stiff or doesn't have lots of memory is like saying you invented a new type of lead that isn't dense or heavy. Not gonna happen. Did it cast well? Sure. About as well as premium mono. Maybe a tad better. Is it more sensitive? Yes. It's more sensitive than nylon, about on par with trilene sensation. Is is less wirey than invizx? Barely. Certainly not more than double the price less wirey. My first (early) impression is that for $50 dollars, seaguar is making one hell of a profit margin for a line that is only marginally "better" than other fluorocarbon lines that cost $10.

I'm okay with that for a light duty reel,as I feel carbon reels aren't as "weak" as some make them out to be. I've caught 50+lb channel catfish on carbon-framed Abu Garcia silver max combos with no problems except for some *slight* flex. I'm sure doing so repeatedly would prematurely wear out the real, but then again I wasn't intentionally trying to catch huge fish on it either LOL!

Never fished Toledo or Lacassine. Guess I'm gonna have to rectify this soon. Lol

Lol..hipsters They're not junk for sure. I use mine for shallow finesse fishing or sight fishing. Plus, I like natural cork grips a lot. For deeper water where bottom contact lures like tr worms, etc require more sensitivity though, I'd reach for the TE every time.

In the case of the tatula vs veritas TE, I am absolutely right. The TE is the better rod. I spent money on both. You haven't. You're the guy who who never drove a Toyota telling me why a Hyundai is better. I get it though. You're one of the regular **** posters here, and I shoulda just ignored you.

When I was in college, I was all about Shakespeare/Pfleuger. I still have a few of my old combos from back then. I have a few jitterbugs lol! Heddon, arbogast, and smithwick. All of my plugs are made by one of these three lol

The fact that I own both and have used both recently, and you don't and haven't, means my opinion is more valid than yours. The Garcia is lighter and more sensitive. Have you even held one of the te rods...or are you just being obtuse because you want the tatula rod to be better than it is? Why would you think the tatula is a better rod considering you've never used a tournament edition? Sounds to me like you're the one with nothing to back up your claim.

Lol...the same way a st croix out performs a Walmart zebco rod.

I'm not patient enough for that lol...I'd rather pay for it.

I grew up fishing with my dad. We never had much money growing up (he was a history teacher, mom was a nurse), but my dad took a LOT of pride in his hunting and fishing gear. His ultimate pride and joy though was a 1960 Winchester model 70 featherweight in 270 Win. That he bought brand new for something like $280 lol! He had numerous rods and reels by all kinds of brands. I remember him showing me these all-metal Shakespeare and Pfleuger (and other brands also all metal) casting reels from the 50's, etc. You know...back when they actually had lifetime warranties on fishing reels. He had a lot of em. Then...he'd slowly open the tackle box that was full of other boxes...original boxes that contained his Abu Garcias. All of them made in Sweden. He'd open them carefully, slowly, and the look on his face I'll never forget...like a kid on Christmas all over again. The bright reds and blues and silvers on the reels...all spotless and looked like the day they were made. Then, he'd tell me the story again of how Abu Garcia started as a watch maker, etc. I'd sit and listen and pretend I hadn't heard that story a hundred times already. He always said "Abu Garcia is the Cadillac. You might find ones that are just as good, or more expensive, but you WON'T find ones that are better." It always used to make me laugh. Abu was Cadillac...the best. Pfleuger was a Buick...almost as good as a caddy but not quite. Shakespeare was an Oldsmobile...it wasn't refined or pretty, but it got the job done for less money. The spincast reels he loved the most were his Diawa Gold Cast and a Diawa Silver Cast. He used the HELL out of those throwing Johnson beetlespins for bluegill. He would say the same thing about fishing lines. Trilene was the Cadillac of mono (there was no such thing as braid or fluorocarbon then when I was 6 or 7 years old), but he'd buy others if they were on sale at the local TG&Y, hardware store, or K&B. When braid came out he said "Yeah, it's supposed to be more sensitive, but I don't have problems catching them now, so I'm gonna stick with what works.". It must have, because my dad and his friends would catch PILES of fish. Ironically or not, he loved Shimano spinning reels...the ones with the "trigger" for casting when they first came out. He said "They're smooth as oiled glass, plus you can get em at wal mart for $30. The new ones aren't as good though." He was super excited about that. My hometown didn't get a Walmart nearby until about 1986 or 87...so the fact they had a huge sporting goods section back then that actually had QUALITY stuff was like heaven for him. They'd even special order guns for you...any gun you wanted out of a huge catalog of all the manufacturers, including specialty firearms. Those days were great. I'd get a new Abu and immediately drive the 1.5hrs back home to let my dad take a took at it. He'd go "Oh that's niiice! You sure take after your old man." Today, I still get that little "twinge" when I get a new Abu because of my dad. He loved boron rods with pistol grips (which I hate), and his favorites were Shakespeare. For the most part, I agree with him about Abu. You can find ones just as good, or more expensive.. but you won't find one better for the same money. He and I disagreed on Shakespeare rods though. I had a bunch because they were inexpensive, and I DID catch a lot of fish on them, but looking back, the quality was.. well...1980's lol. But hey...you could buy em at Wal Mart for $20.

Some would say that about me and Abu Garcia since I mostly use their rods and reels, even though I own many others by Shimano, Shakespeare, and Diawa.

Tell you what I'm gonna do: tomorrow morning, I'm going buy a 200 yd spool of tatsu in 12lb and put it on my Revo S combo and go catch a bunch of fish. IF it's better than the other fluorocarbon lines I've used, I'll come back and admit I was wrong..because hey...at least id have very expensive abrasion resistant line, plus clear line looks badass on my all-white Revo S/Veritas combo, so there's that too. If not though...then my opinion remains. Invizx was terrible. The amount of memory was like spooling copper wire on my reel. Because I'm honest, I'll add this somewhat off-topic quip about Trilene sensation:. It had worse line memory than Trilene Big Game...enough that I took it off all the spinning reels I had it on, and now, despite having two full spools of it, I can't see me really using it again.

Awesome! Thanks for the advice! I can't stand not having sharp hooks, knives, and axes lol

I'm a fan of Abu, Shimano, and diawa, but I want to get some equipment that is actually made HERE. Love my reels, but I want a few that have a "Made in the USA" sticker on em. Not just the brand from here, but reels and rods actually MADE here. Looking for: high modulus graphite casting and spinning rods, likewise for reels...casting and spinning. Let her rip with recommendations and opinions as I'm gonna spend time actually going out and seeing them in person.

I'm always worried in taking off too much though, even at low speed and using 5000 grit. What diamond board are you using...manual might be the way to go...

I clamp em in a fly vice with a magnifying glass on a swingarm, and use the ultra-fine polishing wheel to sharpen em razor sharp. Figure the glass doubles as a shield for tiny metal shards as well lol I guess I'll just have to keep telling myself that it's a part of the process that is worthwhile in the end lol

Until about 3 months ago, I admit I didn't really pay much attention to the type of point on my hooks. Sharp was all I cared about, until I started getting a rather large "dull" pile. That's when I realize....the cutting points are infinitely easier to resharpen than the rounded tipped chemically sharpened hooks. Tro-kar and Owner now occupy all of my hook slots. One problem: it takes forever to sharpen them even with a rotary tool...shaping the facets that lead to the point, etc. Anyone use a faster method that still results in a durable and sharp hook point?

Haven't used tatsu. I HAVE used at least a dozen other brands of fluoro.