John G

A famous man once said, my reel should seen and not heard! I agree with that statement and IMHO, you should stick with your cleaned and lightly oiled stock bearings vs loud ceramics.

If you have grass covered Flats where you are, rent a kayak and get off the bank.

But how far can u cast that weight with your heavy spool CT100 and your Crucial? I am getting a little over 20 yards casting an unweighted Trick Worm with a Shimano Scorpion XT-1000 w/a Yumeya BFS spool, a Loomis MBR782 and 10# Power Pro. IMHO, a full spool on a stock 50 Shimano is still too heavy for casting really light lures.

You are right! I didn't even think about the different braking system.

I'm hoping the 32mm Yumeya Spool fits in the new Aldebaran.

Inshore fishing for me has always been Specs, Silver Trout, Spanish Mackeral, Ladyfish, Pompano, Bonnethead and Blacktip Sharks, Baby Grouper, Pinfish etc etc. When I had a boat, I only had one time when a fish was stripping line off of my reel and my line broke because of floating grass. I always used Penn Spinning Reels. I still have the Penns but when I get a boat, and hopefully it's this summer, I will be using a MBR843/Scorpion XT1500-7 for jigs, MBR783/XT1000 for smaller swimbaits and a MBR782/XT1000 for unweighted Flukes and top water. I have recently been casting 10# Power Pro on one of my XT1000's so I don't see where line capacity will be an issue.

Just for you newb!

I figure that if I stick with Loomis rods, I can ALWAYS buy a Shimano reel that matches it perfectly.

I live in Dunedin.

I have always wanted a Loomis FSR904X. It is a 7'6" Flippin Stick w/a telescopic handle and a Moderate Fast Action. They are not made anymore but they are always on eBay.

I have my CU50E mounted on a Loomis SMR 702C-TW. This setup fulfills my top water needs perfectly.

Thanks a lot Hootie....I will be singing Here's the story of a man named Brady all day. LOL

1969 was a great year. This reel his our shores, we landed on the moon and I was born. LOL

If the reel has no scratches, has the box and paperwork and the seller has a good rating, it's good enough for me.

You have done all those great mods to your sweet little 50, you might as well finish up with an aluminum CU201E drag star.I just put that spool in an XT1000 and if you haven't used it yet, you are in for a treat when you throw unweighted plastics. That spool is pure magic!

What weight lures will you be throwing and will you be throwing into cover? I have an older MBR843IMX and I just regretfully sold both of my 844's. If I am using big worms and big Craws with at least a 5/16oz bullet weight, I am using the 844. The 843 gets the nod if it's a 1/4 bullet weight and big worms and Craws or a 5/16oz bullet weight with smaller worms and Craws.

If distance is what you want, a shallow spool is not the answer.

I personally think that people are crazy for mixing kayaks and gators. Sure, I know that compared to Nile and Indo Pacific Crocs, that consider you part of the food chain and they will go out of their way to try and get you out of your boat, gators really are mild mannered reptiles but all it takes is one with a bad attitude and then you are lunch. No thanks!

A Colt Compact Model 1991A1. I have been carrying since 98 and this was my first carry gun. I didn't know a whole lot about pistols but I knew that my dad likes the Government Model 1911 so I bought this. I carried it for a while in an Uncle Mikes nylon holster. Those holsters are junk as they do nothing to support the weight of the weapon. I am sure that holster contributed to my discomfort. My wife got me a Glock 30 for Christmas in 98 and I started carying that. The weight difference was night and day between the Glock and the Colt. I eventually settled on a Glock 19 in a Safariland 5197 as my EDC. Light, thin and to me the most important part about carrying, it's comfortable.

Mostly MH/F

I live in Dunedin and I don't have enough sack to bass fish in fresh water in a kayak because I have too much respect for gators. Now, I am thinking about a 13' or 15'4" Gheenoe with a trolling motor for small water and St. Joseph Sound. Go to youtube and type in alligator vs kayak There is a little bit of bad language so if you are offended, don't watch!

Have you used the rods that you are recommending?