new2BC4bass

I started with the side arm cast. Now I always suggest using a side arm roll cast. Much less chance of backlashing. Yup. Smooth is the name of the game. OP. Once you get used to the reel you should be able to cast in the 35-45 yard range consistently with most lures. I've made quite a bit longer casts with the right combination of lure/rod, but have never been one of those guys able to empty the spool.

I would hope that Eric bought his rod months ago.

Only thing I would change on them is a bit longer handle. Love them otherwise.

You must love the ET Smallmouth series!

Digitakai has the Scorpion 70/71 for $178.24 with free shipping. I picked up a 71HG on sale before Christmas from JapanTackle but it wound up costing more than that because I had to pay shipping. Nice looking reel. Pretty box, too! Not spooled yet as it will be a while before I get to use it.

Villain 2.0 spinning rod review. http://tackletour.com/reviewabuvillain2spin.html Villain 2.0 casting rod review. http://tackletour.com/reviewabuvillaincasting.html Read smalljaw67's post. https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/155462-fenwick-aetos-or-hmg/ Finding reviews on the Aetos is hard. Go to TW. Check out the reviews left at the bottom of the page after clicking on the Aetos spinning (or casting) models. I have 2 of the original Aetos casting models. Some of my first casting rods were 6'6', but I soon found out that I prefer longer. So the 6'6" rods didn't get used much. I bought the Aetos 6'6" MLM casting rod after smalljaw67 gave me his opinion of the rod. I absolutely love it. Unfortunately it looks like Fenwick dropped this model with the 2nd generation model.

Dats true!

Well....my TW order got shipped yesterday before I could add a few more lures to my order. Sniper casting rod on sale and a bit over $130 in lures and it doesn't seem like I got very many lures. Received a Villain 2.0 casting rod yesterday from a private seller. Which brings up a question. How come many private sellers take no care in packaging a rod? I've got 3 broken (upon arrival) sitting in my basement. Sellers got there money. Not expensive rods, but I still probably ate $200. Tips broken off all three. Was very lucky this rod arrived in one piece. Nothing wrapped around it, no cap on one end. When I tipped the tube up to see which side I should open, the sound of the rod sliding around had me fearing it would be in two or more pieces. Last rod I received like that had about 4 inches broke off the tip. End of rant.

Just turned 71 and I would still wade for one...............but wear compression stockings. One is full leg length and would require me to take my pants off to get the stocking off. If I had to swim for it (at any age), it was a lost lure. i can't swim.

Thanks. A trip to Dick's is in order.

Too bad you missed Pflueger's sale. $60 for a Supreme XT, $40 for a President or $80 for the $200 Patriarch.

Thanks guys. I ordered a few Coolbaits regular and weedless. Didn't realize until after I ordered that the Fish Head Stand Up Underspin on TW is a Sworming Hornet. I plan on calling tomorrow and have a few added to my order. I already have Keitech Swing Fat Impact (maybe even in Silver Flash Minnow color) and Super Fluke Jr. in Pearl White to try.

This is why I don't understand all I know about rods. 3/16-7/16 oz. is not a MH rod in my book. Yet some Medium spinning rods are listed to 3/4 oz. Maybe more. Which isn't a Medium to me, but a MH. If a rod has the backbone power of a MH, then why can't the tip handle more than 716 oz.? Very confusing.

Thanks. I ordered the 6'10" MF. Hope it is as good as my 6'10" MF Elite Tech Smallmouth.

Making a TW order and would like to try some Underspins. Problem is I've never used one. What are a couple good models to try? Thanks.

Like to take advantage of the sale but want to know first if their lure rating is accurate. Thanks.

Is it possible to purchase from that store Online and get the same deal? If so I'm in!!!!

Woohoo! Very nice fish and a very nice looking combo. Way to go! I see you tried to color coordinate the line/lure/rod. BeetleSpins and Rooster Tails were about my only artificial lures back in the day. One of the first things I always did to my BeetleSpins was put a Mister Twister Curly Tail Grub on it. Probably more for my benefit than the fishes. I liked the extra action of the tail to the do nothing that came with the lure. As you no doubt already know they will catch almost anything that swims.

How light are we talking? Reels for very light lures (say 1/8 oz. and below) can get expensive. There are aftermarket spools that can be a big help. Some cost more than many of my reels. There is a cheaper option that many say work fine...DIY spools. In my case the rod becomes very important when trying to cast lures that light. There are several cheaper alternatives if light for you is around 3/16 oz. My older Carbonlite reels do very well with a #5 Shad Rap (3/16 oz.) One of the older Prolites would do even better. Used Pixy prices have come down a lot. My old TD-Z 105Hs have no problem with 3/6 oz. More experienced casters could do a lot better than I with my reels. Guy said he could cast 1/16 oz. with the first 105H I bought. One of the older round Abu reels may also work. I can cast a small fluke and 3/0 hook on my 1600C (weight unknown, but can't be much). Can cast it straight into a pretty good headwind with no problem unless I try to bomb it. Can't really help much with the newer reels. The Daiwa Air Stream was designed to cast 3-5g (.11-.18 oz.) trout baits in short casting distance without fear of backlash. Shimano Aldebaran is supposed to be a good light lure reel. Even better with one of the very expensive aftermarket spools available for it. Daiwa SV spools are said to do well with light lures. Haven't tried light with mine yet.

Rod length is personal preference. I love baitcasting reels, but you definitely would do well to have a Light power spinning rod for all the rock bass, bluegills, sunnies and perch you can catch. Something that can handle down to 1/16 oz. Small Roostertails and BeetleSpins were a favorite of mine. My biggest Smallmouth came on a small Roostertail. I fished south of there. Hide Lake was about as far north as I fished....and where I caught that Smallmouth. A 6'8" M-XF spinning rod is a popular model around here and very versatile. After that my personal preferences run to baitcasters for everything else. A MHF in your preferred length is a good all-around rod. Will you be using a lot of crankbaits? If so a rod dedicated to that should be in your future. I used a MF before getting my first dedicated crankbait rod. Worked okay for me as I fish mostly with a mono or Co-Polymer line. For bottom contact lures and many top water lures, a high gear ratio is preferred by many to pick up slack quicker and to get the lure back faster to the boat for another cast. Longer rods are preferred for frog and bottom contact lures. Shorter rods are preferred for other top water lures. A quick search for will tell you why. If you think you will like fishing frogs, look at something like the ALX Toadface. Has a softer tip for casting lighter frogs and for walking them, but has nice power once into the backbone for getting the fish out of the slop. And welcome back to the sport. I quit for 23 years after moving to my current area. Fishing is that bad here. Only thing that keeps me going out once I got back into it (when I can) is new or new-2-me gear. Good luck and have fun. It always feels good to get out even if the fishing is bad.

Maybe you would like something like the ALX Zolo Trickster. Should have a softer tip.

Not funny, but true. I put 10# Floroclear on a reel I took to Florida last year. Switched the reel out the very first day I used it. Line broke too easily.

Looks like you've got things pretty well covered with that selection for where you fish. I'd pick a rod based on which one of your current arsenal gets used the most. Personally i love baitcast reels so I'd be looking at a MF. But that is just my personal preference. If I were looking for another spinning rod (have more than enough already), I'd like to try a Villain 2.0 or ALX. I like the couple casting rods I have from them.

What type line will you be using? What weight line? For me the 1000 would be my first choice. The 2000 second. Any bigger would be too big for what I'd use the rod for. Not enough difference in gear ratio to matter. The size of the spool will have a much greater effect on IPT. Obviously the bigger the spool, the higher the IPT.