The Next KVD

Its not often that I actually buy new reels mainly because I've learned how to clean and service my reels, soo if I buy something used and it has a few parts needing repair I'll jump on it for the right price.

St.Croix Mojo, Shimano Compre, Shimano Clarus, and Abu Garcia Veritas and Vendetta2 are all tried and true in that price range. Best thing is this setup is EXTREMELY versitle. You ca use that rod length and power for just about everything, with the exception of finesse tactics.

I bought a Vendetta2 7'MH for a gift for someone and it is in no shape or form the same as the previous generation. The blank seems much more "crisp" but still nowhere near that of a $200+ rod. Reel seat is much more comfy. Only thing that has remained the same are the stiffness and cool looking rear eva foam butt. Personally, I like it over the Veritas however, I did not get to take it to the lake as they are frozen over right now.

This may sound like a stupid ? but what did you use for a finish coat? Couple coats of clear or some type of polyurethane or something of that nature. Kinda intrested in trying it out on a few of my reels but want it to last. Got a couple of "practice" reels to try it out on b4 trying it out on the first string reels.

I just bought my mom a new 7ft MH Gen2 Vendetta and a Black Max to go with it for xmas and I must say I'm extremely impressed by how it looks, feels, and balances. Kinda wish I bought it for myself and this is coming from a St.Croix/Shimano fan.

PowerTeam Lures 4.5" Texas-Rig Jig. Slowest possible falling jig imatator out there. Got the skirt and "chunk" all in one soft package. Add a 5/0 Gammie and skip it under docks and trees and load the boat!

I would think that all reels made today should be able to handle braid, all rods today do. With that in mind my vote is get a Citica! Mine handles it well.

x2. Think of this, if you take two rocks and bang them against each other the vibration is very apparent in your hands whereas if you take two clumps of mud and bang them against each other you obviously don't feel very much. Anyways never had a problem with the reel seat although I'm using Shimano reels on mine. Yes the rods are somewhat stiff compared to most companies other than St.Croix, however their rods are what i compare other rods to and feel something like a G.Loomis Heavy is compareable to a Croix MedHeavy.

The only one I can think of is Spiderwire Fluorobraid. I have used it and not fond of it. It does sink but nothing like pure fluorocarbon. Also it seems to unravel every now and and than when trying to tie knots.

Atleast they are still Made in the USA! That and Shimano is a great parent company to be partnered with. Anyways, I got a few of both and I have a hard time telling which is more sensative. The Loomis NRX on the other hand gets a nod over both, although I don't own one, just first hand experience from fishing with my partner's.

x2 although I do like to buy reels new when I can get a good discount.

I just recently had a Citica E supertuned. I'll tell you what it is like night and day next to my stock Citica E. With everything the same: same rod, line, brake settings, spool tension setting, drag, ect. the Supertuned Citica E outcasted the stock version by 10 feet and with ALOT LESS EFFORT!! 10 feet does not sound like much, but if your fishing large flats all day that 10 extra feet per cast equates to ALOT more water I'm able to cover. Definately worth the cost, just got to find the extra $ to do ther other 15 baitcasters I got.

Can't say I got any go-to specialty. I have 20+ rods rigged with 20+ different lures and pull out the ones I think will work best for the given weather, water, and season. I can flip and hawg tie bass out of inches of mud and dropshot em' down deep if need be and everything in-between. Heck I've done both of those things on the same lake on the same day.

I think its a little to early to be asking that as it hasn't been on the market for very long. However, I will say Sunline makes some excellent product and their lines are worth the price they command. I'd say if you can afford the line and justify the cost by using finesse gear ALOT go for it, however, if your in doubt or don't use finesse gear much I'd say stick to something that is tried and true for you.

x2, when braid first came out there where issues, but the last 10 years or so this has not been an issue. If the braid is cutting through your guides, I would highly suggest going to a different brand but again I haven't seen or heard any issues even with cheap zebco rods.

My issue with braid for any type of typical "Deep" water fishing is the line floats whereas the flouro sinks and has less of bow in the water from the surface of the water to the lure itself. This easily means I'll feel more subtle bites. Braid may be the king of sensititivy but not when there is a bow or any slack in the line. As far as a setup, I'd go with something atleast midgrade wise in that $80-100 rod range and just about any spinning reel over $50 if you don't plan on fishing finesse stuff alot. A spool of 8lb P-Line 100% fluoro and your ready to go.

Just curious, where do you plan on fishing the squarebills? Heavy cover or open water over submerged vegetation? Very sensitive are two words that do not belong in the same sentance as glass crankbait rod. I personaly don't use glass mainly because when I do get a bite on a squarebill its usualy around heavy cover and I want to hawg tie them to the boat. I would also up the line to 14-15lbs. I use a 7' MH Garcia Veritas rod that has a pretty stout tip. I use this rod for all my squarebills. If your deadset on glass, the only manufacture that I know of that still does make em' is St.Croix in their Mojo and Premier lineups.

I have a big mixture of rods mainly because I like the actions better or the power from one manufacture to the next. The only thing I really buy from the same manufacture is my reels mainly because in my opinion Shimano reels are just built right. I do have different models within Shimano but thats because of great deals I could not pass up.

I have YET to find a rod in ANY price range that balances PERFECTLY in the middle of the reel seat. You can not honestly tell me that the balance of the rod is not going to change when you put two different reels that weigh different on the same rod and have it balance at the exact same spot. Yes a rod over $200 should balance CLOSE to the reel seat but you will NEVER find one that balances right in the middle of it where your hand is when palming the reel. I don't own a rod that did not need some weight added to achieve this. I got plenty of G Loomis GLX's, St. Croix LTB, St. Croix Legend Extremes, a few Shimano Crucials, a Duckett and a couple of Garcia Veritas all with wieght added. The only rods that I own that don't have this modification is ones that have been custom made for myself but those have lead shoved up and epoxied in the butt end of the blank. All I can say is don't knock it till you try it. Its a quick and cheap experiment to try on one of your rods. Try it and than come back and tell me if your rods don't feel better/lighter after doing this. I have yet to have anyone not pick up a rod on the deck of my boat and not be impressed enough to go do it to all of their rods. Caulfield722 sorry for kinda hyjacking your post. All ment with good intentions and was kinda related to some of the stuff being discussed.

You guys do know there is a way to get past the tip heavyness right?? I buy those rubber folding chair tips in the diameter that I need to fit over the rear grip and insert quarters in it until the rod balances at the middle of the reel seat with the reel attached. Not only do you not feel the added wieght, it will actually feel lighter, but the sensitivity of the rod increases because its balanced. Plus its cheap ($1-2 for the chair tips plus quarters) and actually does not look too bad on the rod.

Storm Lightning Shad crankbaits. Got about 10 left.

Cumara on sale no matter what! However if for the fact that the Cumara was not on sale and you do not do alot of deep cranking than the BPS would be the way to go.

I own both but I have more Citicas than Curados. Mainly because the Citica in my mind is just a better overall value. It performs really close to the Curado but I will admit the Curado is just a bit more refine. The biggest noticable jump in refinement is going from either of these reels to the Chronarch. The Chronach just blows those two reels out of the water in refinement and performance. If your going to spend the money to go from the Citica to a Curado you may as well save up an extra $40 to get the Chronarch instead.

There is no way in this lifetime I would EVER pay $475 for a frog rod. I use a 7'3" MH Veritas ($99) an found it to be the perferct frog rod. The most important attributes I look for in a frog rod is something that is extremely light yet has guts with a soft tip. Its all marketing, guys who like Diawa and want everything they own to be Diawa will pay any amount of money Diawa or any other company puts on a rod. To me any topwater rod just needs to be light wieght, have the correct tip action with the right amount of guts without paying a premium.

5.1:1 for medium to deep diving cranks, 6.2:1 for spinnerbaits,lipless cranks,and jerkbaits.