John G

1000 or 1500?

X2 on Japan Lure Shop. I have bought 3 reels from them with no problems!

Conquest 50 comes with yellow and blue

The cast control cap on a baitcaster is making contact with the end of the spool and it's not touching the bearing.

Size, weight, gear ratio, color, braking systems and the XT1000 is Made in Japan vs Malaysia. Go to Japan Tackle's website and read the specs on both. I will warn you ahead of time, if you go there, you may find something that you want besides the Scorpions!

There are plenty of used right handed Shimano's on eBay right now that were used by Japanese anglers so to answer your question, No, a right handed baitcaster is not just an American thing.

I don't worry about hanging up with braid because I grab a stick that is laying on the ground and I wrap the braid around the stick and pull. Usually the hook straightens out or pulls free.

Antares HG

The price difference in the 12 Antares, 14 Conquest and the Metanium is that you can buy the same reel much cheaper in Japan. I bought my Antares HG for under $500.00 from Japan and it goes for $600.00 here.

With the 2014 Conquest and the 12 Antares, as far as I know, there is no difference between what is available here or from Japan. I personally would like to see Shimano not release JDM reels to the USDM. If you are also asking why would one buy a JDM Shimano vs a USDM Shimano, for me it's because the Conquest and Antares was not available here and I like to be different as in I would rather have a Scorpion vs a Curado.

Not trying to take sales away from Hedgehog Studios but I am pretty unhappy with the color of the Champagne Gold Avail Handle and Star Drag. It matches perfect in the pics on their website but not in person.

The Core 100 star drag is a perfect fit for the XT1000.

Conquest 100 with an 85mm handle and Power Grip II Knobs is a spinnerbait machine!

Have you given the Shimano Scorpion XT1000 any consideration? It is a 50 size, 6.4:1 and sweeeeeeeeeeeet! It comes with one bearing in each knob and a bushing so adding a bearing to each knob in no big deal. You can get it for around $200.00 tyd from Japan Lure Shop. Tackle Tour thinks it's a better caster than it's Shimano JDM brother, the Aldebaran. http://www.tackletour.com/reviewscorpion1001xt.html This is my XT1000 with an Avail Handle, Star Drag and Power Grip II Knobs.

Come up with a little over $200.00 and you have a real nice combo. Yo can get one of the *** rods that are getting rave reviews and I can tell you where to get a excellent condition, barely used Shimano Scorpion XT1500 -7 for around $125.00 tyd.

To the OP, Just curious what kind of reel you have.

By your kid a Shimano Scorpion XT1000! It's great looking, performs great, easy to cast and your kid is sure to be the only kid on the block with a JDM Shimano!

I bought a M/XF casting rod with a 1/8 to 3/8oz rating for dropshotting if I ever get a boat. If it works out, that's fine. If not, I will get a spinning outfit.

You kinda mentioned price when you mentioned bells and whistles and high quality so my recommendation is the Shimano Antares HG. I have no idea how it stacks up size wise to a Curado 300 but I do know that in my hands, it's feels considerably larger than a 200 size Curado. It also has all of the bells and whistles that one could possibly want in a low profile bass reel.

If you are using braid from shore and you hang up, there is no reason to cut your line, break a rod or pull on braid with your bare hands. You can either carry a wooden dowel or procure a broken tree limb that is on the ground. Just wrap your braid around the limb or the dowel and pull. You will wither bend the hook, bring in the object that you are hung up on, free your lure or maybe break the braid at the knot.

After you make a cast when using braid, it doesn't hurt to look at your spool just to make sure that you haven't got a little bit of an overrun that might cause the jerky kinda backlash that you are talking about. It also doesn't hurt to pull 2 or 3 feet of line out after a cast just to be sure.

Buy a Black on Gold Rapala minnow around a 1/4oz and just cast and retrieve.

With everything that you posted, if you use any lead at all when you fish, no matter what it is or how much, then you are a hypocrite!