Jeff H

Versatility and options never hurt a darn thing!

Besides being overfilled, 12lb line is kinda heavy for a spinning reel. It will limit your casting distance a little bit.

Get to fishin'! Use them both and have fun!

Most 1/0 worm hooks are going to be around .040 I think. That's pretty light in wire diameter. I just measured some Gamakatsu and Owner 1/0 and 2/0 offsets and EWG and they are all about .040

Meaning just paint or the whole lure?

I'm plenty happy with mine.

I have the same rod in Medium Heavy. Another gem!

Glad that helped. You'll also find a lot of them on ebay but Shur Set may be able to help with custom colors. Hope you can get just what you need.

Oh boy! 25+ yr old Crucial? I didn't know..... I don't have any Crucial that date to the 90's let alone the 80's! All mine were bought after 2007 I believe. I didn't know they existed that far back! I was with Berkley back in the early/mid 90's and used Lightning Rods, Series Ones and The Pulse. But, I did have some Shimano Convergence rods that I used for crankbaits and spinnerbaits some times. That series still exists also, still heavy too! I certainly would like to be learning more of the history of this series. Overall, they are probably the best factory built rods I've bought. The warranty and price were unbeatable and they fished well beyond their price point in my opinion. I was told they were a new model when I bought my first one so I thought ALL mine were gen 1 models. It appears I am way off about that! My first one was the CRS-60MH and then they just kept coming. I stumbled on a guy clearing out his retail tackle shop and bought at least 6 more from him at under $100 ea if I remember right. Anyway, I've got a bunch of them now and really like them. I just ordered a new current model for travel/float tube use. It's a 2 pc spinning 6'8" M/XF. I have not fished the new models yet so I'm looking forward to that to see how it compares.

I have a 98 DT 200 efi on my 98 Champion 191 Elite which I bought in 2010. I was hesitant at first too, but it's been a d**n good engine and I would buy another in a heartbeat. Very dependable and runs great! I wouldn't call it real fast, but it's fast enough for me. I get about 62 mph from my rig on it's best days.

As a guilty party, I too apologize for the sidetracking.

Only 1 X in the model numbers. I have 9 XF Crucials and 1 XF Compre and all have only 1 X in the model number. Thank you for clearing up that "spinnerbait" designation. I didn't know that is where it went. I did not care for those Gen 2 EVA grip models at all.

Might never see that ever again! Wow!

Squirrels and rabbits make for great pot pies! I spent some time sighting in my Savage MK II G w/Vortex 2x7 last spring. Got 'er splittin hairs now with 40gr solids so them criitters are going in the gravy! I'll be getting it out soon again just to confirm and then I'm ready for the leaves to drop. Small game hunting is still a blast!

The X in the model number indicates those rods with Xtra fast action. the 6'10" hasn't been available in X fast since the Gen 1 models....I think.

These threads are, well for me they are just difficult to read. I have seen many instances of plain old idiocy and blatant ignorance from other anglers/competitors and recreational boaters as well as property owners over the years. Common sense and courtesy are at all time lows in todays "Me and Mine" society. It's pretty sickening the mucked up attitudes some people carry with them to public waters these days. It's sad or even sickening to read this kind of stuff but it is reality.

Those are Gen 1 Crucials, the X in the model number gives it away. Those Gen 1's were likely the best value the American rod market has ever seen (my opinion). I have a bunch of those in various models and consider them the equal of St. Croix's Avid in performance and components plus they were cheaper. At the time they also offered a better warranty, but they pulled that plug too. These are still very much desired on the used market today and you gotta be quick if you want one. I stop at every small tackle store I come across hoping to find any of these on the rod racks and buy them if I do. I haven't seen a new one available for the past 2 years though.

I've known it for years and agree with you. All my spinning reels but 1 cost no more than $60 and all are Daiwa. I do have 1 President (30 size) that is on a rod that I keep at the in-laws place and it's decent but I prefer the Daiwa's.

It's probably a trivial difference to most, but the drag star material on the CT-R is Zaion and higher quality than the regular CT drag star. Just anotber of the few differences.

I think St. Croix has Premier 5'6" M/F pistol grip. I had a custom pistol grip built on a 6' MH/F Premier blank. It actually has a split grip design with a fighting butt on it. Was my favorite worm rod for a year but my oldest son got it as a gift after he fell in love with it. I have another 5'6" pistol grip built on an Avid M/F blank as well. If you really like them, consider a custom and get it built exactly how you want it!

Was nothing bad that happened, it was something good....for me at least. Magforce Z, V, and 3D is what happened over the years. I just got along better with Daiwa's braking systems.

I think that's where he was going with this.

It's a good subject. He's making a point based based on recent,personal experience and encouraging others to get out there and make do with what you have. I started my tournament fishing with several original Lightning rods and Shimano Black Magnum and Spirex reels in early 90's. My gear was all budget stuff and I did well with it then and I could still get the job done with it today if I had to!

I think that Zillion TWS would be a smart choice for a frogging reel At $180 (at TW) it's a solid deal.

I have 2 or 3 of these as well. Great rods!!