retiredbosn

The tour grade rods at walmart fall into two categories. Some are the now discontinued tour grad rods, IM8, fuji guides, fuji reel seats, etc. Some are "tour grade" made for walmart,, IM 8, crappy guides, and a graphite or stainless steel seat. Depending on the rod you have you either got a steal or an 40 dollar rod. The reel's info is here http://fish.shimano.com/publish/content/global_fish/en/us/index/products/reels/spinning/Syncopate.html

Was back at it today, the differences were as follows. Both reels re-spooled with 12lb test Yozuri-Hybrid, both on BPS Crankin Sticks, MH/F, both casting 9/16 ounce of weight. The results are still comparable the EXT still out casts the Fritts reel this time by 30 feet. The casting distance on both reels were less today than the other day, by 20 feet, can't really explain why, maybe the switch in line, or the switch in weights, the other day I was using bullet weights and today I was using three 3/16 weights. Long story short the EXT can really fling the line. I have found out that you need less magnet and more spool tension on these reels than what I am used to (thanks for the tip Micro). Once you get it set up you can cast as hard as you want w/o fear of overrun. I also did some testing on the lightest I could go with each reel, 3/8-1/4 is as light as I would want to go. The reel that did the best with the light weights was a Quantum Accurist PT, and not by much. As far as bearing counts, the Fritts has 4, the EXT 7 but two of those are in the handles, so I count it as one less bearing in the inside of the reel.

BassPro still has the 1/4 and 1/8 spools on sale, for 5.88 and 4.88.

I'm definitely planning on switching the reels to the other rod and checking. If my son hadn't of wrecked his bike I would have done it today. He is four and wanted me, the casting experiment had to go on hold.

I decided that since it was a pretty day today I would get outside and play around with my rods and reels. Last July I purchased 2 David Fritts reels, and my wife just got me a Garcia EXT. The advertising for the Fritts reels talk a good game about casting distance, I was so impressed with my new EXT that I decided to do some comparing. Both reels were spooled with the exact same line, the Fritts reel was on a 7ft MH BPS Crankin rod, the EXT was on a Quantum MH Tour PT. Using 1/2ounce bullet weights I wanted to see which reel casted the fartherest. I really expected the Fritts reel to outperform the EXT, due to the advertising and also the pole having more flex and able to load better. Long story short the EXT casted on average 42 feet farther, the EXT casted 188 feet, the Fritts 146, respectable distances for both. I also tried to really fling the weights out a few times, I never exceeded the distances of the average cast and most of the time came up short. BTW the longest cast was just shy of 200 feet and shortest 165. I was going to switch the reels and rods so I could compare the rod's affect on the cast but my son wrecked on his bicycle and put an end to my game. Now my question is pretty simple, I am assuming that the distance difference was due to the Abu being a higher quality reel and not the rod, as the conventional wisdom is that a more limber rod will load better and therefore cast farther. Are these distances pretty standard distances with weights? Thanks

According to all the review I've read about Quantum say the same thing; the last few years Quantum has made quantum leaps in quality. FWIW I like my Quantum Accurist fine, if it wasn't for this fad of round reels I find myself in I would use it a lot more. I purchased it last July for 59 I think, at that time it was the most I had ever paid for a reel. Glad you like your reel.

I ordered two spools of the line, got it in a week or so ago. I spooled a reel today and went out to practice some casting. I will say all those people who think the 12lb is stiff are just wrong. They must of tried it a long time ago. I was casting weights down the drive (paved) burning it back it, the pavement didn't nick the line at all, even the line tied to the bullet weights didn't break, I can't say that about the 15lb mono I was using as it broke where the weights were rubbing. Can't wait til it is warm enough to go fishing.

Two or three years ago BPS terminated all agreements with reel brand names and now they advertise they make their own. Which is a misnomer as no company makes their own reel, maybe shimano and diawa, but their factories make reels for other people too. What I mean by that is the factories are in korea, japan, malaysia, china etc. The factories contract with various tackle names and make the reels to the parent company's specs. So in short BPS design their own reels now, which factory actually produces them I have no idea, the same as most other brand names. here is one story highlighting the Bass Pro conversion to their own reel http://tackletour.com/reviewbasspro2007reelpreview.html and another that specifically spells out the change http://tackletour.com/reviewbassprojohnnymorrisreel.html

You didn't like the Blue Quatum Tour PT reel? As in last years model.

A lot of this is personal preference. For crankbaits I prefer slower reels 5:2 to 4:7. Lipless cranks 6:3 everything else 6:3, I don't have a burner reel and probably never will, like I said a personal preference. I fish topwater, worming, jigs, cbs, a lot of buzz baits, spinner baits, lipless, etc. Good luck

Carolina rig it in cold water, then twitch fish it real slow

FWIW as a result of this thread and the local tackle store I sent Mr. Brown an email and he responded so quickly I couldn't believe it. He apologized profusely that noone ever took care of my problem and said he would take care of it immediately. I am impressed and will be buying strike king again. Thanks fellas and JTM Sporting goods.

All G-Blanks are assembled in the US. So are they made or assembled in America. There is a difference, assembled means the components were made somewhere else and shipped here and put together. Also it doesn't take much to be able to advertised made in ....... , the components for the rods can come from all over the globe final assembly in the USA can be as easy as graphics, and installing a butt cap and you can advertised made in USA. Benelli, Beretta and other gun manufacturers have it down to an art. The wood comes from Turkey or Africa, the action parts from Turkey, the barrel Italy, all are assembled in Italy, but your Benelli or Beretta are all stamped made in Italy. They make car manufacturers put this information on the window sticker but other manufacturers don't have to reveal such information. So in short it is really impossible to know where your rod was actually manufactured only assembled. Companies that admit some of the rods are made in China but others in America, you can bet all the blanks come from the same place, just assembled somewhere else. Think about it, the cork is from another country, the guides another, the seat , etc. Unless the product you purchase has a bonafide factory that is producing the blanks and rods that you can see and verify, chances are the blanks are from overseas and the rods assembled here. A custom rod maker may be able to tell you where the actual blanks come from. I know you can order the blanks and by law the blank should be marked as to where it was manufactured. I wouldn't be suprised that the companies making rod blanks also make golf club shafts, just makes sense economically for the companies.

I really appreciate your offer, before I make my choices I may hit you up for the info, I'm doing a lot of internet research right now. As far as the price I paid for serving my country, I would re-enlist today even if I knew I would be injured again. I do want everyone to know I was injured on the job, not combat wounded or anything like that. Those guys are the real heros, I was doing my job and broke my back, never underestimate the power of heavy seas!!!!

My first baitcaster experience was horrible, I took the reel back after reading the manual and found out it was defective. I still wasn't to smart and purchased a Shakespeare Axiom, it took a while to set the mag brake and the spool tensioner, but after I figured out how to cast it was good. Now I have several baitcasters and from experience I wish I would have started with a decent reel and saved myself a lot of headaches. What kind of reel do you own? From my limited experience bearing counts matter when casting light weight lures.

I understand where you're coming from, but I disagree. That store credit is part of his total financial assets and every dollar that's used on one thing is a dollar less to use on something else, just as if we were talking about his bank account. I took to mean he has store credit from returning items, or gift cards and such. If that is the case that money can not be accessed and is as good as spent. Unless the store is a Department store and not a sporting goods store, might as well get something he will use instead of letting it just sit there. If it is store credit as in like a credit account that will need to be paid off then that is a whole other issue.

Is it possible to run two fishfinders off of one transducer? If so how do you do it? I got two fish finders for Christmas and would like to have both on the boat, didn't know if I would have to put two transducers on the boat. thanks

It is global economics 101, the companies are going to take the factories to the cheapest place they can get the work done. I will look again at the cumaras and other models the clarus and compres were marked China. Did you know that most of the parts for Benellis are made in Turkey and assembled in Italy, Smith and Wesson's factory is now in Turkey. It is just the way things are now, the global market will end up destroying our standard of living and wage base, because if american companies are going to compete the everyone will have to work for less.

I've got a MH crankin stick for that, I'm having a little trouble with hooksets on the lipless, so that is the reason for the M/M, plus small cranks.

A free john boat 14' on a trailer, my bass boat 17' hydra sport bass boat with johnson 110 on a trailer for 800 bucks. My power pole set up a Abu-Garcia EXT on a Quantum Tour Grade PT pole, retail on the set would be around 300 bucks I have less than a 100 bucks and they were new when purchased. I try my best to get the most quality for my money.

Putting together a set up for small cranks, lipless cranks, and maybe some smaller other lures. Anyway I'm thinking a 7ft m/m paired with a 6:2 reel. My other cb setups are on mh crankin sticks and I don't think are ideal for throwing the smaller stuff. So am I on the right track with this or should I be considering a different rod or reel?

So you already have credit at the store correct? So this isn't coming out of your pocket at all? I have a BPS cranking stick and David fritts reel that I use, actually two, and would be willing to let one go. Is the store you shop at a BPS affiliate? If not for 200 bucks you could get a Clarus rod, m/m and still have 140 bucks or so for the reel of your choice, maybe an Accurist CX, which is a decent reel and will serve your purposes. I think I make bassin on a budget a science, I have an Accurist PT that I paid 65 for new, a Garcia EXT that I got 80 new, both of those reels retail for twice what I paid. My rods, I got my Quantum Tour PT rod for 50 bucks, crankin sticks for 47, so in short I don't think I've paid more than 50% of retail for any of my rods reels, all purchased new. Being confined to using the store at which you have credit may prove more of a challenge but I bet you can get a deal. BTW don't be afraid to ask for a discount, many times you will be suprised. My wife (an accountant) once asked for a discount from Wal-Mart for something she wanted, and the manager gave it. Good Luck

Went to the tackle store today to handle a few Shimano rods. Was quite suprised to see the made in China stickers. I had no idea, thought Shimano was made in Japan. Who makes rods somewhere besides China?

I went to the Strike king website and emailed from there, never got any response at all. All I wanted was a skirt for the spinner bait, what I got was nothing.

Lets see the Government just put a cap in place for executives at the companies who have recieved government assistance. But when labor was asked to come in line with the rest of the industry they said no. HMMM. I was a blue collar worker, but when the labor unions insist that their workers are paid 40/hr when the industry avg is 20/hr seems to this average american that not only was it poor management but union greed that has placed the big three in the most trouble. BTW how many people are aware that the union big shots have percs that make the ceo's look like girl scouts. Their union owned resort in MIcigan costs union workers millions of dollars a year. Add to that and they kept 6 million for the upkeep of the resort, this type of attitude will end up running the big three out of business. I think it is better to work for half of your pay and keep a job instead of loosing the job to overseas. Unions suck