Darren.

Happens. Be glad is wasn't a $30 spool of fluorocarbon!

Never heard of the line, but it sounds like it may have kinks-o-plenty from your professional overrun... One reason I use braid for mainline on my casters. At least in my experience it has been easier to pick out, and line kinks are not a problem. On the other hand, it could be a weak, old line you received, but my money would be on blaming the birds nest. Have you tried to take a section of line and break it on your own (not on the reel)? Like wrapping it around your hands (gloves on) and see if it breaks easily?

Fantastic bass! Congrats!

Todd, as a fan of shorter rods, I'd opt for the 6'6" model. I'm a kayak fisherman who prefers the shorter models for the areas I fish. I don't need the length for greater casting distance, etc., and I prefer the accuracy -- in my experience -- of shorter rods. But that's me. If you're bank-bound, those extra inches in the 7' will give you a little more sling to your bait, not sure how much, but physics.... If you're looking for a do-it-all, MH.

Welcome aboard!

Howdy and welcome aboard!

Hi Dredd, welcome aboard!

Gotta love the small fighters. Chiclids and Oscars! Aquarium tanks are where I've seen them. Up here in VA we've not got anything so interesting, but plenty fun in bluegills, perch... Are they considered invasive species down in FL? Yeah, I could look it up, I suppose....

Wow! Awesome catch, and closer to 9 than she is to 8!

x2, and welcome aboard, Britton.

Hmm. Might have to visit tomorrow and pick up a couple bags. Thanks for the head's up. I must've deleted the email flyer (get a lot of DSG emails)...

Welcome aboard Robert! I echo the advice to read up! There are so many helpful articles on the site here that you'll get a lot of what you need there...and here. Many of the articles really helped me out, too.

Great fish, man!

Nice trip + catches!

Hey Travis, welcome aboard!

Hi Sean, welcome aboard!

Hiya Joe, welcome aboard!

It really depends - some days I dead stick it, others I'll give it action as you mention. I'm not sure I have an action I employ every time I'm out. Wacky, TX, and Mojo are the ways I fish them. When TX rigging, sometimes it is a slow drag across the bottom.... So many ways to fish 'em.

Not expensive at all! Thanks for the tip. I'm going to strongly consider doing this. Is the actual gear replacement easy?

I've heard/read of this being done, but Is it expensive? And can you point me to where I could get the gears?

The only thing I miss with my Chronarch 50e reels is that they aren't 7.x:1. I love faster retrieve reels for my style. I'd opt for the 7.3:1 if I were in your shoes. My Lexa is 7.1:1 and it's great. And you are fine to go with braid + leader. I find when I get a backlash, braid is much easier (and more forgiving) to pick out than when I used mono/copoly lines which will kink, resulting in weak spots.

There were a few threads this year on the new models. I was skeptical, but once I tried the new white rods I was (still am) extremely impressed. Returned two of my new black models for the whites. So I have 2 black and 2 white, spinning and casting in each color. The whites are a little thicker than the black, but are as light, if not a hair lighter than the black. I'm thinking they are also a tad more sensitive. Like 'em a lot. I think you will, too.

Welcome aboard, Jim!

Welcome to the forums, first off! Second, that's a beast of a PB you caught! Well done!

Yeah...I'm still working on the Garmin unit I've got on my yak. Don't take it with me much anymore but still want to learn to read the unit better. Use it more for contour. And during the fall when the shad were running under my yak I was able to understand a bit more of what I was physically seeing with what the finder was seeing. Interesting stuff.