After nearly 60 years of fishing in many different environments I have a real good idea of I want .  I do respect the opinions of some and find the reading interesting, but take them with a grain of salt.  My best recommendations are from the people I see and fish with on a daily basis, also the local tackle(repair & service) shop.

Personally I'm not going to give a review of a reel or rod I've had for 2 days but only after months of use.

Well let's see now.

Before I took my fishing hiatus, I used a Shakespeare Wonder Rod and a Pfleuger Freespeed spinning reel that my mom got with S&H green stamps.

I thought it was great............................until I started fishing again last year and bought some new equipment.

I figured the old rod, with some eyes being held on by adhesive tape and others by band aids, needed to stay in retirement.

In its day, I thought it was just great.  Caught a seven fourteen largemouth, a thirty six inch pickerel and many, many smallmouth, some over five pounds on that rod.

It has as much inherent stiffness as a piece of angel hair pasta, cooked past al dente.  But it worked just fine to catch many nice fish.

Back in the day, I used two and four pound test mono.  Initially, I used six pound test.

How I ever set a hook with that rig will forever remain a mystery.

I have many fond memories of those days, but would not want to go back to that piece of equipment.  I may get it refurbished, just for old time's sake, and take it for an occasional spin, just for shucks and giggles.

Most of my stuff is medium or medium heavy.  I do have one finesse, one heavy and one extra heavy rod, that I rarely use.

The others, I use interchangably, and cannot tell the differences between the actions.  Then again, maybe it's because the rods are all BPS stuff.

No matter, I have no problem catching plenty of fish on them.

It's more of a case of the hands that hold the gear than it is the gear that is in the hands that counts.

To repeat what I've posted elsewhwere, a great fisherman with lesser gear would still be a great fisherman.  A poor fisherman with the best gear would still be a poor fisherman.

It all about fun for most of us.  In that regard, the guy, or gal, having the most fun is the best fisherman or fisherwoman.  

It's not measured in numbers or weights.  It's measured by the joy and satisfaction we get from it.

Well let's see now.

Before I took my fishing hiatus, I used a Shakespeare Wonder Rod and a Pfleuger Freespeed spinning reel that my mom got with S&H green stamps.

I thought it was great............................until I started fishing again last year and bought some new equipment.

I figured the old rod, with some eyes being held on by adhesive tape and others by band aids, needed to stay in retirement.

In its day, I thought it was just great. Caught a seven fourteen largemouth, a thirty six inch pickerel and many, many smallmouth, some over five pounds on that rod.

It has as much inherent stiffness as a piece of angel hair pasta, cooked past al dente. But it worked just fine to catch many nice fish.

Back in the day, I used two and four pound test mono. Initially, I used six pound test.

How I ever set a hook with that rig will forever remain a mystery.

I have many fond memories of those days, but would not want to go back to that piece of equipment. I may get it refurbished, just for old time's sake, and take it for an occasional spin, just for shucks and giggles.

Most of my stuff is medium or medium heavy. I do have one finesse, one heavy and one extra heavy rod, that I rarely use.

The others, I use interchangably, and cannot tell the differences between the actions. Then again, maybe it's because the rods are all BPS stuff.

No matter, I have no problem catching plenty of fish on them.

It's more of a case of the hands that hold the gear than it is the gear that is in the hands that counts.

To repeat what I've posted elsewhwere, a great fisherman with lesser gear would still be a great fisherman. A poor fisherman with the best gear would still be a poor fisherman.

It all about fun for most of us. In that regard, the guy, or gal, having the most fun is the best fisherman or fisherwoman.

It's not measured in numbers or weights. It's measured by the joy and satisfaction we get from it.

On that, the thread should just be closed. Well said.

i am rather embarrassed to admit that the :-[ bass pro shops prolite finesse rod (6'9" ML) is one of my absolute favorite rods

I have the same rod, and while it's not my absolute favorite, it has a permanent place in my limited rod portfolio.

A majority of individual state record fish go back decades, the most notorious being Mr. Perry's in 1932.

Chalk one up for out of date crap gear.

Berkley Big Game 15# Mean Green

¼ oz Lead Bullet Weight Black

Mustad 3/0 Straight Shank Denny Brauer Flipping Hook

Gene Larew 7 ½ Salty Ring Worm

Oldham's Lures Trailer Hitch Jig

Bill Lewis's Rat-L-Traps

Original RB1200 Smithwick Rattlin' Rogue, Gold, Black Back, Orange Belly

Rebel Pop-R, Bone

This is the middle of July and I've only boated around 650 bass total with a pair of 7s for kickers; so yea I'm managing.