Recurve1

Thanks guys - going with the Mojo. The weights listed are the total weight as I fish them - weighed them on a digital scale. Thanks again for the advice.

Hi - I use spinning gear for river small mouth most of the time but want a general purpose, all-around casting rod for this year. Will fish small crankbaits, small spinnerbaits, small rapala minnow-type lures, jigheads with paddletail and curly-tail plastics, and occasional in-line spinners. Do you all like either of these rods for that general use? Do you favor one of these models over the other for occasional use? lures are usually on the lighter side from 3/16 - 1/2 oz total weight. Thanks.

I know folks who's medical school tuition was less than that bass boat! Here is my new bass boat I bought when I retired - it gets me places where motor boats can't (go): http://www.hemlockcanoe.com/uploads/5/1/2/5/51256169/kestrel-prem-sage-2_orig.jpg

Patrick McManus wrote a book called "Never Sniff a Gift Fish" - funny stuff.

Thanks folks, good info - where are you getting these spools? I see the Tatula label on KP's photo - I presume that fits the Fuego also?

Hi All, Has anyone put a shallow, lightweight spool in a Daiwa Fuego CT casting reel? If so where did you get the spool and how has that worked out for you? Thanks

Hey folks - follow up - I ended up with a new model Shimano Sahara 2500 with 8 lb p-line and a Daiwa BG 2500, unlined so far, thinking of putting bright colored 10 lb braid with a fluoro leader. I made a 7' 2" spinning rod for 1/8 - 3/8 oz, 6-12lb line, using a North Fork Composite SB 722 blank. I put on a Fuji Vss reel seat with split grip and Fuji KL H alconite guides. Very light and sensitive rod. Got some flukes, tubes and senko lures and they worked well. I fish a fast moving river mostly and it is hard to do ned rigs, drop shots, etc because they get washed downstream so fast and hung up in all the bottom rocks. Thanks to all.

I think if you like to paddle and do some occasional fishing a canoe is good. If you like to fish and occasionally paddle a fishing kayak is good. If you have $120K you don't need for anything else - get a bass boat.

Can you please PM me about where this reel is available at this price. Thanks a ton.

Would you use an Ugly Stick bc rod for buzzbaits, small crankbaits, swimbaits if you only fished these < 5 times/yr?

Appreciate all the help and responses. I just weighed my most used lures and they are in the 3/16 - 3/8 oz range. Includes small buzzbaits and spinnerbaits, rapala minnows and small crankbaits, leadhead jig hooks with twistertails and paddletail plastic lures. Rarely will I use a lighter (0.08 - 0.09 oz) or heavier (1/2 oz) lure but I can use my ultralight spin rod or my old BPS bionic blade casting rod (6.5' MH) for those ends of the spectrum. Given that most lures are 3/16 - 3/8 oz I think the Curado or SLX reels in the BFS version would be the best reel. now for the rod - probably the Feather L over the ML? your thought? thanks

Thanks folks - appreciate the thoughts. I mostly cast 1/8 - 3/8 range. I see the SLX reel also comes in a BFS model. Also just read about the Phenix Feather rod on this forum - it comes in a L and ML model at 7'1" - that may be the rod to get. Keep the thoughts coming. Additionally that rod and SLX would keep my cost to around $300 which is about my max for this.

Hi folks, I fish mainly for river smallmouth with a spinning setup, lures range from 1/16 - 1/2 oz. I have almost zero experience with baitcasters but would like to get a baitcasting setup for retrieval type lures - buzzbaits, spinnerbaits, small crankbaits, and in-line spinners weighing 1/8 - 3/8 oz. The reason for this is to avoid line twist - I do use a swivel with my spinning gear but still have some issues. Looking at a shimano SLX reel (MGL or XT) and a Mojo bass 6'8 MF rod. Do you suggest some other gear better suited to my intended use? What do you guys use and what else should I look at for this purpose? Thanks

Hi folks, It's been a long time since I did any spin fishing for SM - since the early 90s. Recently retired and have time and I would like to update my gear with a new rod and reel. I wade rivers and canoe lakes. I used to use 1/8 - 3/16 oz jig heads with Mr Twisters, Roostertails and Rebel crawdads - just cast them out and reel them in. Sometimes would fish a jig/twister on the bottom drifting with the current. I think something like a 6.5' - 7' MLF or MF would do the trick - seems like the rods today are very stiff relative to my old "bionic blades". Was looking at the $100 - 150 range for a rod, maybe a little higher like the St Croix victory. I plan on getting to presque isle bay this year so fish up to that size range. For reels I'm considering the $100 range including a shimano sahara, Daiwa BG or Okuma epixor with braid and mono/fluoro tippet. Your thoughts are appreciated. Also - any thoughts on current hot lures for SM would also be great.

Hi all, Looking to make my first spinning rod. I have wrapped many fly rods so am familiar with wrapping, gluing, epoxy, etc. Wanting a 6.5 - 7' all purpose rod for lures from 1/8 - 3/8 oz including jig heads/plastic bodies, small crankbaits like rebel crawdads, spinners like rooster tails and small spinnerbaits. To be used when wading rivers and out of my canoe in lakes. I would prefer a reel seat/grip with hidden threads as my store bought rods have this and I like it. Never fished a split grip rod but they do look interesting. Was planning on using Fuji seat and guides and hoping to use a NFC or other quality blank. Thinking that a MLF or MF blank might work best but I read that there is so much variation in these designations it makes it hard to pick a blank. Smallmouth are the target fish but as you know anything is possible some days. your opinions on blank and other components would be greatly appreciated. Thanks