2 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

 

Question.  Wouldn't a HF rod be a little too much for a #5 Shad Rap?  I thought lures this small required rods with a little less power and a little slower action to keep the hooks from tearing out  If not, then I am going to start using a 6'10" HF rod for a wider range of lures than what I have been using it for.  I've always read that crankbaits deserve a dedicated rod with a Moderate or Med-Fast action although I must admit to using a MF or ML-F most of the time as I personally feel if a rod will load with a lure less than 1/4 oz. then its tip should be flexible enough not to rip treble hooks out of a fish.  Especially if the drag is set right.

Nope, it's not too much. Only once in my lifetime I have owned a bait specific rod, Kistler Mag TS 6'6" MM Crankbait rod, had it for 6 months and then sold it, the reason: if it ain't broke don't fix it; you see ? I have fished with "general purpose" graphite Fast action rods for decades in which the only thing I change depending is the power, in this case, I set the drag very light since the rod is too stiff.

  I have an LTX and have it mounted on a LTB MLXF rod.  And I can throw 1/8   just as far as 3/8 on my other rigs.  In fact I used it last year on a trout fishing trip.  The shallow spool on the LTX does make a difference over my other reels that I have tried on this rod.   It casts about the same as my ML spinning rod. I have found that it is best to set the mag brake high and back off as needed.  I use it for small spinners plugs and weightless worms craws Exc.  The only drawback is that I have a tendency to try and horse a fish in and on six pound test not the best idea.  I also have a  gtx 853 and I would not put this reel on that rod.  I have a lews teamlite on that one.  I have been fishing left hand baitcasters since the shimano bantum mag 251,s came out in  about 84.

For the Shimano JDM Aldebaran BFS XG Limited Japan model, and Daiwa SS AIR Japan version, does anyone know approx. how much line they'd hold of 10lb braid?

5 minutes ago, Fishinthefish said:

For the Shimano JDM Aldebaran BFS XG Limited Japan model, and Daiwa SS AIR Japan version, does anyone know approx. how much line they'd hold of 10lb braid?

It is not recommended to use braid on the spool for the SS AIR. 

There will be an Alphas Air coming out sometime 2016, I imagine it will be cheaper than the other Air spool Daiwas.  Not sure exactly when it will be released though.