Jeff H

I agree! I have bought 2 of the 07 models on clearance and will buy 2 of the 08 models when/if they clear those late this year. Good buy at $99.99 but a great buy on clearance! The spinning reel versions are nice too!!

Avid's are well over $100. St.Croix Premier PC60MH/F is a decent choice.

I prefer mono. I like the type of lines others hate. Memory doesn't bother me on baitcasters and I prefer extreme abrasion resistance and I get this in the new Berkley XT. I may try P-Line CXX sometime too. XT doesn't feel as stretchy to me and I like that vs XL. I'm just not a braid fan, never have been really but I do keep one rig spooled with 12/50 Power Pro that I might use now and then if I'm having trouble feeling something out in deep water. I also use that same rig for pitching pads on occasion. I am going to try the new Berkley 100% flouro on my finesse rig and see how I lie it.

Thats the problem I'm having with one of mine, apparently.... but have found that with regular cleaning the reel seems to function just fine. I would rather have the tight tolerance and responsibility of cleaning. LOL....is that what they are calling it now?

I like more power than most for pitchin' I guess. I prefer 6'6" Heavy fast. Reel Mech built me the perfect pitchin rod on a new model Avid 66HF blank. It's got the perfect tip blended into the perfect power for this kind of work. Since I fish clear water most of the time I never do any real flippin'.

Never heard of Don, only of Dan Gapen. They also make that nifty little Ugly Bug jig that has been a killer bait for river smallies.

I have a 3 yr old male tri color Llewellin Setter and a 5 yr old female Large Munsterlander. If you don't like hair, steer clear. I love 'em though, ain't never had a dog that don't shed. My Llewellin (Tucker) is a d**n hair factory.

I've heard it will be $5/gal by the end of the year. $2/gal sure would be a relief.

Yup, this sucker is going to sell. Beautiful.... and about time!!

Nice rods! Those are very light, gotta love that. ;D

That is exactly where it's gonna get fished!

Great stuff! Straight-forward, honest and a lot of brand depth. Discovered Crucial/Compre last year, end of my hunt right there. They seem to offer everything I want/need in those 2 lines and prices are good.

You missed. It has 5 more bearings and different frame material than Premier, plus the longer throw handle AND it's only slightly (.4 oz) heavier than the Premier. I don't like the yellow, but I like the build. I'm prefering the Winch right now myself.

3 things turned me away from the 200 D's. Weight, price and size in that order. Shimano is going to bounce back with authority....typical Shimano, expect a lot.

Possibly, but you might be surprised how common arthritis is and it isn't just an "old man" thing. I'm 45 (soon to be 46) and this crap started to rear it's ugly head on me 10 yrs ago! Started with my knees, and it's now in my wrists and shoulders. Doc said I had it long before I knew it and it just creeps up on you. I figure by 60 ( if I live that long) I'm really gonna be in trouble. I bet there are a lot of guys on this site that have it in their future (to some degree) if they don't have it already. My wrists really started to bother me quite bad last year and I know lighter stuff helps but that balance thing is really a great quality, as well as Ibuprofen. I feel your pain Ronnie

It is a concern for me but to a lesser degree than a well balanced combo. Still, ain't never going to own a beefy Curado/Citica when I can fish a Castaic, Revo, TD-A HSTA etc. 1 oz can easily be felt in a reel, if that mass was spread out over 6' it's little different but when it's in the palm of your hand you can feel it, at least I can.

I wade a 300 yd stretch of shoreline from our dock regularly, sometimes up to my chest in depth. I have fished with rods from 5'6" to 6'6" doing this and my favorites are the 5'6" rods. I think shorter is better but I never have to cast more than 40' and usually a lot closer than that. It's just easier to handle and get the fish closer to me with the shorter rod. Also, I have a couple Revo SC's, I would not recommend a 7:1 reel for spinnerbaits and cranks. Absolutely not saying it cannot be used but for myself and most guys I know, we find that Higher speed a nuisance for those baits. I like it for traps, jigs and worms though. You might want to switch them around for your intended uses one day and see how that works out for you.

Read the original post. His question was very simple and to the point. If the Crucial is a basic rod, so are 95% of the rods on the market.... being that it is comprised of a graphite blank, 10 guides, a reel seat and cork handle, either split grip or full. So right on, it IS a basic rod. I just thought it was a dumb "blanket" statement.

Can you elaborate on that a little bit? What are they, a glass blank with 5 guides on them and a cork handle? Is an Avid "pretty basic"? Do you own one? List out your better options and their price. One could probably do better if willing to shell out another $100 too?

Thats funny! Anybody who hides behind THAT is deluded.

I have a GL3 CR724. This is a nice looking rod. It's light and well balanced. In fact, it's the best balanced "factory built" rod that I own. Thats the good about this rod. Nothing more good can be said about it. The bad is....sensitivity. Because it is as sensitive as a $40 rod the price for these GL3's is WAY off and that makes them a poor buy. Bottomline on the GL3....if you don't mind paying a lot of money for a rod that looks good, balances well and is fairly light with sensitivity level of a Berkley Lightning Rod, then it's your baby. Otherwise the Croix Avid is a WAY WAY better deal.

Well, that should about settle it huh? Have we seen such a positive Shimano thread here in awhile? ;D

Wasn't quiet either. If you clicked the anti reverse lever up it felt/sounded like a tiny ratchet spinning when you reeled. It wasn't polished, but d**n that reel could take a beating. The biggest problem I had was weak bail springs. They never seemed to last more than a year or 2. I have a brand new 300x I bought 2 years ago and still haven't used yet. I paid about $5 more for this new one than my original cost all those years ago. This new one is a plastic piece of junk. I bet one good day of catching 6+lb carp will ruin this thing but thats what you buy $20 reels for. Nostalgia is a good thing. Everybody has their own way with it.

Oy! $300-$500? WOW! Loved my 300, but...ah hell, never mind. :-/

I have 3 Crucial and I think they represent an excellent performance level for their price. They are light, very sensitive and use good components. Great rods!!