JackstrawIII

Someone recommended the Lews Speed Spool. If that’s what you decide on, I have a one I’d sell you for a great price, that way you can step up to a nicer rod, if you want. If you only had 1 rod, go for a 7’ MH/F.

Yeah, I'm very interested in the 70 and 80 size reels, but I'd be a bit concerned about durability fishing frogs all the time with heavy rods and heavy braid. What do you think? Think it could handle it?

I played with it A BIT last year and caught NOTHING blind casting.

St Croix Premier.

Check out the St. Croix Triumph series. They make a 6'6 MH. It's a great rod, and under your price point.

The advice given so far is really good. I have both of these reels and here's my take: - Tatula CT is very strong, but a bit heavy/bulky feeling to me. I use it for heavier rods/baits. - Curado K feels lighter/smoother to me (fits me better). I use it for lighter moving baits. - I also have quite a few Daiwas with SV spools. They're really great for anything where you don't need a lot of casting distance. The recommendations for 70 size Shimanos is spot on. I have a Curado 70 and LOVE it.

That was my first thought as well. At least give it a shot to see what you think.

As has been said, we need more information. These things all factor whether I use braid or some form of fluoro/mono/hybrid: - Technique (moving vs stationary bait) - Cover (weeds vs rocks vs wood vs open water) - Rod action (XF, F, MF, M, etc.)

This is a big question, but I'll do my best to answer it. Here are the 5 setups I'd use if I had your gear, with the line I'd use in parenthesis at the end. Line choices are very subjective, but I'll try to help at least get you started and will keep it really simple for you, so you only have to buy 3 types of line. I also have never used 13 brand reels and will just choose them based on speed: 1. Lews Skipping Rod 6'10 H/F with Lews Skipping Reel (15 pound hybrid line for skipping soft plastics and jigs) 2. 7'4 H/F rod with Concept A2 8.3:1 reel (50 pound braid for throwing frogs & toads & some punching) 3. 13 6'7 M/F rod with 6.6:1 reel (10 pound hybrid line for crankbaits, topwaters, and jerkbaits) 4. 7'4 MH/XF rod with 8.8:1 reel (15 pound hybrid for jigs, heavy t-rig worms) 5. Abu 6'6 HM/F with 8.3:1 reel (15 pound hybrid line for spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, and smaller swimbaits) This covers a majority of bass fishing. Are there more specialized rods that would be "better" choices for certain techniques? Sure, but this covers all the bases you mentioned in your post moderately well.

I watch the Flea Market religiously haha… but those are right hand retrieve reels. There’s another listing with some lefty reels, but they’re 6.3:1… and I’d like faster for this use. Thanks for looking out for me tho 👍🏻

The first time I went fishing as a kid, my older cousin handed me a spinning rod with a left hand reel. I asked why I had to work the reel with my left hand. He said “you fight the fish with the rod, not the reel, so you want to hold the rod with your strong hand.” 30 years later, that still makes sense to me so I use left handed reels for casting and spinning.

I noticed that! But unfortunately I throw left handed and am looking for something with at least a 7.3:1 ratio. 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 I must admit I go that way #lefthandreels

This is a very good point haha.

It’s certainly a good option. And for someone who shoots traditional lead-core hunting bullets (like SST, ELDX, etc) it’s a VERY good option… But, I shoot monolithic copper bullets at anything I want to eat and copper bullets perform better at higher impact velocities. The reason I prefer the PRC is simply that it gives like 300 fps more, approx, while still being very easy to shoot.

So much love for the Bantam on this thread. I’m going to have to keep my eyes open for a deal on one, as they’re a bit on the pricey side. Does anyone have experience with the Lews BB1 Pro for this use? The clicking drag seems like a useful feature, but I’ve read they’re a bit on the bulky side?

Super helpful, thanks! I have quite a few Tatulas, so seeing how they compare to the Bantam is great.

Many of my friends would think me a heretic for saying this, but yes, I also enjoy fishing more than hunting. So, if I ever move somewhere that winter fishing is enjoyable (and not freezing cold misery), I might just do the same thing. Oh come on, commenting on stuff you know nothing about is like 80% of what the internet is all about haha

I see that you served in the Coast Guard. My cousin just graduated from Coast Guard basic training. When I saw him last night, his voice was still scratchy from all the screaming. And thanks for the recommendation of the tatula elite. I have quite a few tatulas of various types and find most of them to be pretty bulky in hand. I wonder if the elites are a better size.

Very cool. Do you hunt with a single shot?

Archery is definitely super popular up here in NY, but it's funny how the stereotype is that everyone in "east" only hunts in thick timber. Lot's of hunting guys on youtube and such say things like "If you're in the northeast (where I live) the 30-30 is perfect." And, honestly, I could have killed almost every deer I've ever killed if I had used a 30-30... but most of my rifle hunting is over large agricultural fields where you could shoot 400 yards easily. I try to position myself in the right places so I can get closer to where the deer will emerge, but (for me) having a rifle with longer reach allows me to capitalize on the opportunities that I have. It's not all woods in the east haha.

I wondered what the heck this was too. Maybe its slang for something in his neck of the woods. It's an African barbary sheep. I agree that it's a super random animal to be on this list for sure, but this is the list that Ron and Jim used in the video. If I'd made my own list, I'd have taken off aoudad and elephant and replaced them with moose and grizzly.

Hey, this might be a simple question, but I'm looking for some recommendations for small, palmable, low profile reels that would hold up to consistent use for throwing frogs and such. My favorite reels are smaller size Shimanos and I used an SLX XT to throw frogs and toads this year, but I don't think the drag is strong enough and I'd love a bit more leverage with a longer handle or something like that. I also worry about durability, though that might not actually be a problem. Basically, I'm looking for: - Small size - Strong drag - Good leverage - Durability What smaller-size reels do you guys use for chucking frogs and toads? Thanks.

This is the kind of response I was picturing when I started this thread haha. Thanks! Great answers, especially the Whelen. Unorthodox, but awesome choice. 308 is widely available up to 180 grains in factory loads. How heavy do you like to go for bear? 30-06 comes from the factory up to 220, but that’s a lot of bullet for a black bear.

Same here, which is why so many of them are shot with no recourse. Even though it’s legal to harvest them, I think most hunters try to avoid them if possible.

It also doesn’t help that button bucks are the dumbest deer and always seem to be the first easily shootable deer in any group.