Jeff H

Gotta agree with that! Nice list of features for $70!!

Is that the one they were making a big deal out of using a worm as trailer?

For $53 it's a good deal. Probably not a d**n thing wrong with it either. It's the same blank as a Premier, just built in China from what I've read on this board. Big deal. If you like the rod, fish it!!! Not everybody needs a $200 rod to catch fish. Find him a better rod for $53....if you can.

LOL...yeah, what he said. Don't know about the rest of the country, but up north here Pike ain't lazy fighters. "eyes are like dragging in old tube socks (once in awhile they might twitch their head though) but we don't call them Pike "gators" for nothin'. ;D

Tough decision. Really it is. 7.4 oz Shimano vs 8.7 oz Revo. Revo has larger capacity. The Curado is not ideal candidate for heavier lines and I'm talking 17lb and up. 14 and under I'd not have a problem with the capacity for use as a jig or worm reel. So depending on what you intend to do with it....it's a tough decision. To get more capacity from Shimano, as you know, you end up with a "friggin' pig". My vote....Revo SX. I love mine and consider it one of the best values in it's price category. Ain't no way I'd pick a Curado 200 over the Revo SX but the lighter 100 series makes that choice much tougher.

I never use them. Don't want it if I have the choice.

Thats better than being some bootlickin', brand blinded yahoo, as far as I'm concerned. If you never change anything you don't know if it can be better or not. I have tried other lines, but there is a LOT out there I have not even looked at. I need to try something different and even though I'm sure what the end results will be I'm going to try some Flouro next season. Just need to make up my mind on which to try.

True, they look very "pretty" but they also look heavy with those big epoxy ramps. Aside from that, all the "bling" just doesn't appeal to me. They would look good as ornamental decoration in the home office etc, but I didn't see one rod there I would want to fish with. I'm not saying this guys rods suck, I'm sure he'd have no problem with the stealth builds I prefer, I'm just saying the bling ain't my style.

Look at the Producto then, they are a little more bulky then your average worm. It is why I use them too.

I also recommend DG Rod Works. He'll be building my 2nd "custom" rod soon. http://www.rod-crafting.com/index.html

Look at the Producto 9" Tournament Ripple also. Nice worms, very soft and a huge color selection. http://www.productolure.com/index.php

I have one more rod I want built and then I'm done.....sorta. I would still like to have a new TD-A HSTA but I'm going to wait until spring and see how long I can get along without it. My guess is I will end up with one by early June.

Like was mentioned above, the Shimano Convergence is a better rod for the money. Way better in my opinion. Give them a look.

Well, that makes them worth looking into then I'm going to go have a look.

My favorites are Rapala. The old #5 and #7 Fat Raps are my #1, perch color has been my top producer in recent years. I also like the Manns Baby 1- in the spring. I really don't crank much, fish jerk baits WAY more often.

Fishing a nice isolated, bass infested lake without another person on it.

Thanks for sharing you guys! Definitely some better options out there!!

What made you go with the STX over the TD-A HSTA?

Cart7, Do you have those StickJackets"? How do they adjust for different length? Anybody else know of any other brands?

I bought some of these from BPS. I wish I had gotten Cabela's version now instead. If any of you fellow BR members are looking for this item, go with Cabela's. Here is why.... They both claim adjustability but this aspect in the BPS model is a joke. The sleeve remains the same length, which is really only enough for a 5'6" or 6' rod. Too much of the blank ahead of the reel is left exposed on BPS model with rods over 6'. Their adjustbility feature is just a elastic strap to hook behind the reel. The Cabela's model has a velcro adjustment on the sleeve itself which allows you to cover the whole blank, then hook your elastic behind the reel. Should have known better and paid closer attention. My opinion of the BPS sock is that it sucks. I'm going to give mine away to neighborhood kids and get the Cabela's version instead.

There are no rules, fish it however you want. I say dragging it with a slow tide sounds "right" or as right as any other method.

I think the Cabela's Prodigy is a good buy right now at $65. I do know you don't care to deal with them anymore, but if you could get one in your hands I think you'd agree. I bought one for a gift, liked it so much I stopped and bought myself one tonight. I think it's a great bargain. They had plenty of leftys on the shelf but there was only one more righty there when I left. I also bought one of the Prodigy 1500A spinning reels for the same price.

I agree!!

Shimano Crucial CRCX66MH/Revo SX GMAN Poison Tail jig 1/2 oz w/Producto Junebug-blue claw Craws Berkley 7" Original Powerworm Blue Fleck Lunker City 5 3/4" Fin S Fish rainbow trout Rapala Rattlin' Rap 3/8oz chrome blue back 1/2oz Stanley Wedge tandem willow custom skirt

Man, that just sucks. Really. Spend that kind of money and get flogged by poor service etc. I hope all works out in your favor in t he end.