Darren.

Fogging up is a problem that I'm not sure even spit can properly solve. I've also got 580G Costas and have had to slide them off my face, or down my nose when they fog up. Pain, but it is inevitable that they'll fog. I'm not sure there is any one solution that will keep the clarity and d**n the fogginess to the netherworld.

Key to all of the responses is that we all have favorites, but our favorite(s) won't necessarily be yours. So bottom line it is best to get the feel of the reel yourself, if you can. If you like the Daiwa, rock and roll! That's important! I'd hate to sell you a Shimano Stradic or Pflueger President and have you regret the purchase later...no matter how much I or others swear by their greatness.

I can appreciate what you want the fish to have weighed. I had a bass on a brand new 10lb Yo Zuri Hybrid leader, fresh off the spool, no nicks or any problem as I ran it through my fingers. Everyone knows YZH breaks well over its stated strength... A "bass" which never decided to reveal itself broke me off seemingly out of nowhere. Right about 1/2 way thru the leader, not on any structure that I know of...my line just snapped when she decided she'd had enough of me. To me it was a big bass, and may very well have been a PB. But I'll never know because I didn't catch and weigh her. Another bass I've estimated at 8 lbs tail danced just out of reach of my net, but I got a good look at her. Thus I use "estimate". But I will never know for sure, though I saw it seemingly in slow motion as she slipped out of reach and danced her way back to freedom. It was big, no doubt, but my eyes aren't to be trusted as scales... Keep after her and prove us all wrong!!

Do you remember the model Daiwa? If you find something you like in-store, and money is an issue, you can look for the model on eBay. I've bought off there and haven't regretted it.

Welcome aboard, Jacob! I fish mostly spinning now and Shimano Stradics are my reels of choice. More specifically, the 1000 series. Yes, for bass fishing. They're more than enough for big bass, and with 10-15lb braided mainline, I get plenty of line on 'em. That said, I started out looking to buy a Pflueger, but after I got my hands on, I preferred the *feel* of Shimano and went that direction. That's not to say Pflueger is bad, no, they're excellent, but just not for me. Doesn't mean I won't change later, either. I gave my Daiwa Lexa (both my spinning and casting) reels to one of my sons. I really can say that I LOVED the feel of the Daiwa bail wire. It was/is smooth and looks good. But even the 2000 was bigger than what I like. So it's up to you and what you like.

Nice PB! Congrats!

LOL, yeah, that's a perfect reference!

Once you figure it out, hang up the rod and don't use it anymore! When I was about 9 years old I got Bob Feller to autograph a baseball for me. When I was 12, my friends and I needed a baseball to play with. The only one I could find was the Bob Feller one on my dresser. Needless to say, His autograph didn't last long.

100% agree. I think he's right that being able to swim can help. If Michael Phelps fell overboard and smacked his head on the gunnel, knocking him out, his phenomenal skills won't save him, but a PFD very well might.

Came across this article this AM. I'm sure @A-Jay can attest to it being in the Coast Guard... A reminder to *please* wear your PFD when you kayak fish! “In the industry we call it the ‘Kmart kayaker,'” Emmons told GrindTV. “As kayak manufacturing processes were developed to make them less expensive, kayak brands found mass merchant places to sell them over the years.” “Now they’re found in Costco and BJ’s and Sam’s Club, and you can go into Costco, get groceries, and walk out with a 12-pack and a kayak,” Emmons continued. “But nobody is telling you about how you need a lifejacket, or that the water temperature might be 50 degrees.” http://www.grindtv.com/paddle-sports/why-are-deaths-in-paddle-sports-increasing

Welcome aboard, Teddy! You likely have some bass in those lakes. Probably ask locals to the lake if they know, or perhaps there is a lake guide you can talk with?

Sigh... So my 3rd son left soccer in favor of mountain biking. Sons 2 and 4 are still in the game. I was quite the MTBer back in the early 90s, with a rigid bike and all that (rigid=no suspension at all). So I set up my old rigid Trek for my boy to mess with (he rides a front suspension racing MTB normally). He's complaining to me that he can't do wheelies on it. Here's where Stupid came in to the picture. I told son it is quite simple as I used to do them all the time on that very same bike. So I go out there, and show him. And I'm pulling an awesome wheelie but I didn't go back down. I kept rotating past the vertical smashing onto my back with the stem smashing into my knee like a hammer driven spike. Right into where my quad meets the knee. That smarts bad. And I have just found blood and gouges on back of my right arm... I get up like I'm OK. I was embarrassed, hoped the neighbors didn't see my wreck. My knee can only bend so many degrees now. I've done plenty of R.I.C.E.. I'm probably 30-35 pounds heavier than when I used to do this... But I need to know from you Guys Of A Certain Age. Am I the only one here who has done something like this only to be smacked with Life's 2x4 of, "no, you can't do that anymore, you moron".... What's your story?

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard, Derek! Thanks for your service!

Welcome aboard, BJ! Nice hawgs!

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard!

My St. Croix Legend Tournament Walleye is a phenomenal rod - 6'3" MLXF. Goes for $250, I believe. I use it for bass fishing, and anything that bites. I traded up from an Avid for that. Worth the money, IMO. Although about 6" broke right before my trip to Lake Gaston last month. Made it a very difficult trip down...So she sits ready to go back to SC for replacement when the $$ becomes available.

Welcome aboard, Bill!

Welcome aboard!

I think that's a pretty sweet setup myself. I've thrown smaller worms on Medium power rods and done fine. With worms, M is fantastic. You could add a MH to that and swap out the reel until you can afford a second one to go with the new rod. I am down to one Chronarch 50e and I use it on two separate rods, one a MH, the other a ML. I have settled more into spinning so I've whittled down my casting setups. This paring is working great. But I'm probably a rarity for doing it that way.

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard, Justin!