Jeff H

Anybody looking for a good $70 rod would be wise to consider the Cabela's XML's. Most are on sale for $70 right now. Nice rods with quality build using Alconite guides. Pretty much a steal at $70. I recently bought the 6'3" spinning rod and it's a nice stick for that price with a 25 yr warranty.

Oy! Either you fish mud or plan on using it solely for nights. Where I fish the water is very clear and flourescents look like a d**n neon tube in the water during the day. I hate that stuff, you buy it up. :

RW nailed it, should have checked his link before I blabbered on. He just threw you a smokin' deal. The Bionic Blade in 5'6" M/F should be a great wade rod.

Some are molded with the rings connected by a thin membrane of plastic, the good ones are not. The good ones, such as the Producto Spring Worm, are extremely flexible. Fragile, yes, but the action is great. I like using them on a 3/32 oz Gopher Mushroom head for jigging above deep vegetation in clear water lakes.

I guess by new I meant it's probably one of their newest lures out. Yeah, it's been out awhile now I guess and bass love 'em. I didn't try them though until 2006. They cast real nice too.

I don't remember what I paid for mine back then but those prices sound about right. If you can score a deal on those 5:1's send me a PM.

I sometimes wonder if I'm not Producto's biggest fan. They don't get much mention here and I don't see there stuff in many tackle stores. I love their plastics and use a lot of their stuff. Their 4" Tournament Worms are my best producing "finesse" worms and their 4" Spring Worm is the BEST ring worm I've ever used. I use their craws on my jigs a LOT. Their new Buzztail Shad is a killer (it's one I don't tell many about). They have excellent worms in many varieties and a color selection that will satisfy anyone. The Tournament Grub is a excellent alternative to tubes. I love the texture of their plastics, nice and soft. Maybe not the most hardy, but I don't care about that, I'd rather have them soft. Producto flat rocks!! Producto accounts for a LOT of the fish I've caught since around 1992. They also have some awesome tackle bags!

I didn't know this. The first braking systems I encountered were magnetic on my Shimano Black Magnums in the early/mid 80's. So, spew the history for me. I thought mag brakes were the first to arrive. Anyway, I don't care which I have really since I learned without any brakes. My thumb seems to work well on most days. I don't even engage any of the pins on my Shimano's and never have but admittedly, my new Castaic has been giving me some fits so it might see a couple pins now. I do sometimes use the mag brakes on my revo's and Daiwa's but they never get set above 30-40% (which happens if I have to throw into a stiff wind).

The ultimate wading rod is a St Croix PS56MF (Premier Spinning 5'6" medium/fast). Definitely out of your price range but it is the perfect build for your job. I have this rod and same model Avid (discontinued now) that I use for the same thing and there is simply nothing better out there. Buy a cheaper rod now but start saving for the Premier, it really is the ultimate sub 6' rod for wade fishing and the most powerful 5'6" I could find. To get the power you need for big smallies you'll likely have to consider a 6' rod as your shortest option. You should be able to find many choices in that length for under $50.

How does the CXX compare to Berkley XT?

No "may be" about it, you are. And.... the farther north you go the more obvious it becomes, BUT....thats what I love about it here. All others can have their walleyes and gators, leave them bass for me!! I fish up around the Mille Lacs area, so you can just imagine how well that plays out for me. ;D

Shimano Castaic is my favorite.

I carry one extra spool for one reel with 10 lb Fireline on it which I prefer for some specific apps.

GM has a house brand line of plastics that include 4" and 5" "Trick Sticks". They are not as good of a deal as *** but they are the same bait. I think they have a slightly different scent too. Bluegill, Watermelon/red flake and Junebug are a few good colors.

It does to me. Any word defined as "extreme subtlety in action" suggests slow to me. To be clear, I'm not saying you are wrong. With no "standards" to any method we are welcome to twist things however we want, and therein lies innovation that is often important to success. For me, finesse means a slow, methodical presentation. Thats how I work my Snagless Slider Pro Series/Producto 4" Tournament Worms when I'm in a pinch to put fish in the boat.

Lunker City Ozmo

My son and I start every spring by fishing for them before bass season opens. Good fun and they are a smarter fish than most people think. I have also found a .410 shotgun loaded with 3" #6's (full choke) works well on them at close range if they are at that invasive stage.

I agree the Shimano Citica is a decent reel (have a D, and hope the E is better) but how do you know it's better than the TD Pro? Do you have both?

Nice toy!

Yep....tubes = line twist. Most of it comes when you crank them in quick for the next toss.

For 3/8-1/2 oz I use a Loomis GL3 CR724. 3/4-1 oz I use a St Croix Premier PC66HF (6'6" hvy/fast).

Well, I don't see the screw on the opposite side that would hold the sideplate, so you might be right about that now too. I suppose it's not a bad price for the reel even if it is a Pinnacle. If it were a Daiwa, then it could be a real bargain.

I forgot about Centriflex, which IS used on the Coastal Inshore. Duh!! Ok, so it is a Daiwa then. That inlaid logo deal still makes me wonder though.

It does now....LOL, was trying to fix that while you posted. Still, I can't get the d**n picture to just show up on here, which I was trying to do. Anyway, my guess is it's made by Pinnacle. Basing that on.... A) the color handle/paddles c) the inlaid logo thingy (which Pinnacle seems to do) It can't be a Daiwa with the centrifugal brakes but it almost looks like a TD-A frame/body.

http://images.cabelas.com/is/image/cabelas/s7_123985_imageset_01?$main-Medium$ Saltwater-tuned eight-bearing system High-speed 6.2:1 gear ratio Unlimited Anti-Reverse for solid hook sets Easy-Dial centrifugal braking system Titanium-shielded Line Guide Multistack Trulon Drag Washers Additional Info Buyer's Guide Lay the steel to hard-hitting snook and surface-swirling reds with the split-second striking power of its ultrasmooth eight-bearing system. Specially designed with anti-corrosion bearings and an easy-to-clean metal frame and gear box to endure the rigors of the marine environment. High speed 6.2:1 gear ratio for working everything in your arsenal, from topwater plugs to live bait. Audible click star drag for easy in-fight drag adjustments. Centrifugal braking system for greater casting distance and fewer backlashes. Trulon drag. Unlimited Anti-Reverse. Quick-access removable side covers. It has seven corrosion-resistant ball bearings and a line capacity of 165 yards with 12 lb. test. Weight: 9 oz. Anyone care to guess who makes (or did make) this reel for Cabela's??