new2BC4bass

I'm surprised a modern day carbon frame reel weighs 7.7 oz. A 6.3:1 ratio really couldn't be described as blazing fast today either.

Ton of nice rods in that price range. You've picked some nice ones. I can't help you, tho. Would love an H3 and Dream. I'd find something to use them for after I had them in hand.

Berkley Lightning Shock was ww2farmer's number one budget rod before the Daiwa Aird X came out. He is a guy whose opinion you can trust. Haven't used an Aird X...yet. I have an old Berkley Lightning spinning rod (not the Shock) that has caught more fish than all my new rods put together. I have no experience with those Abu products. Be aware that Abu rods fish a bit heavy. I've been reading some good things about the new Gen 4 reels. Mine are either Gen 1 of Gen 2 STX and Premiers.

back. Set spool tension to have just a little bit of side play. Set brakes around 8-10 to start. Tie on that 1/2 oz. jig. Guarantee you will be dropping it on dry land on the other side of the pond.

X2 OP, pretty sure you won't find a Curado 200E that would allow you to buy a rod and stay within your $120 budget. Ones I have seen for sale have been going for more than $120. Don't know about the Citica. RH or LH? There are 5 LH Patriarchs for sale on another forum for $80 each. These are $200 reels when new. My last Patriarch XT (older blue model) cost me $65 and was $250 new. This is why a lot of my reels are used. The Patriarch and Lightning would put you right at $120 unless you can find a Lightning on sale. Another choice is a Daiwa Aird X rod with the Fuego CT. Shopping ebay would put you around $110 or slightly less for the combo.

What kind of budget are we talking about? Spinning, casting or both? It is much easier to get a quality spinning combo on a tight budget.

As you know there are no standards. The rating is 1/4-5/8 oz. This makes it more a Medium in my mind. (My Medium Falcons are all 1/4-1/2 oz.) I feel a ML should handle 1/8 oz. I have only used 5/16 and 3/8 oz. on it so far. I went crazy last winter. The few times I got out this year was spent trying out new rods I had purchased. A custom finesse casting rod didn't get tried. Then I bought a couple more this past summer that haven't had a reel put on them yet. I don't have any of the glass models. I really like my Tatulas and feel you can't get a better rod for the money. (Haven't tried a Fury yet.) I'd have to put the Smallmouth Elite Techs right there too....if they were still available.

I'd suggest a little professional help with your casting if possible. Many years ago I bought an 8 wt. Had to pay on time. I'd take down some money and the store owner would spend some time helping me whenever he had time. By the time I had the rod paid off I could about unload the full 90 feet. Lucky for me the owner didn't charge me a dime for his time. I will say that fly fishing can get quite expensive. And I'm not just talking about the cost of the rods, reels and line. Fly tying can become addictive. Some fly fish just to have a reason for tying flies.

Several of my reels have aftermarket bearings. I do it so I know the only the only thing keeping them from being their best is me. I have 2 Curado 51Es. One cleaned only, one tuned and with upgraded bearings. Both done by DVT. I really have a hard time noticing any difference. One thing I do notice is that with my tuned and upgraded reels I can usually run lower brakes on them. I've read a post or two where the poster stated he got a much longer cast with different bearings. I don't see that although I've never measured casting distance before and after. I do think it is easier to get the same distance with a bit less effort. Which should also help with accuracy. Personally I think a longer rod with the proper taper can make a bigger difference in casting distance.

Digitaka has the Scorpion 70 for $173.56 with free shipping. I didn't discover this until I had already ordered one from Japan Tackle....which was about a buck fifty less but shipping was $22.00 Only if you need the benefits of the SV spool. I do think the finish on the SV is better than on the standard Tatula. I also think the finish on the standard Tatula Type R is better than the standard Tatula. Never handled a CT model.

Hey! I have those 3 Tatula rods. You should add the 7' MLR to your collection. 1/4-5/8 oz. rating.

Like I said...I like your choices. You said "new" so that means current production rods and reels. I haven't used my Deputy ($175 sale price) enough to say so, but would put this rod with my make believe $300 combo. That and a Tatula CT would leave me with enough money left over for line and a couple lures. An alternate combo would be a Villain 2.0 (can be found under $160) combined with a Supreme XT (Walmart had for $115 plus tax (LH...I bought last one ) and ebay has a RH for $90...new in 6.4 ratio). So still enough $$$ for line and a couple lures.

Must be too cold to fish. Lot of "what if" threads. I like your choices. Sound good to me.

Thanks. I am a fan of the Alphas reels.

Anyone besides roadwarrior using this reel. Picked up one over the holiday. Won't see any use for several months. What are you using it for if you have one? No idea yet what rod to put it on. BTW, roadwarrior how about a little review?

Birdman, I don't think you are done shopping yet. Japantackle has the Shimano Scorpion 70/71 on sale for $172 (from $245). And, yes, I have one on the way. Surely you could find another rod on sale. Me and the Bait Monkey are pals. I help him when I can. EDIT: I gave in to the Bait Monkey after promising myself I wouldn't be such an easy mark. I just received an Okuma Helios SX and have a Supreme XT (BC reel) on the way. Also a Lew's 7'6" MF Custom Pro Stick (casting) on the way. My first Lew's rod.

So you are saying I should use something like an original Ugly Stik that I'll be missing bites on instead of a GLX that I could feel bites on because it is dangerous to my health? Sounds un....reason...able to me. I could see where the GLX might spoil me for other sticks. Of course it could be dangerous to my health if my wife found out how much I was spending on rods.

OP, I am like you. I will need all the help I can get. That means starting with as sensitive rod as I can afford. Why handicap yourself with an Ugly Stik? I read good things about the ALX rods and have a Deputy that I want to try with jigs. I HAVE also read that the new Villain 2.0 rods are very sensitive.

I have a 7' MF and MHF Techna AV and the new 7' MF Regista. However, by the time I will be able to make comparisons on the water I will have forgotten this post. Not really an apple to apple comparison because the 7' MF Regista is 1/4-5/8 oz. while the 7' MF AV is 1/4-1 oz. which puts in in MH territory AFAIC. What I can tell you from pressing the tips against the floor is that the Regista definitely has a faster action. The AV bends quite a bit further into the blank.

Should be. I read a recent post that said the MB fit better, but a Tatula backlashed less for the poster. I don't see why as a dual brake reel should be able to be set up to run pretty good. I am not nearly as good with a baitcast reel as many, but by the time I got my MB I was to the point I could pick up any BC reel and cast well (for me) with it in no time. The MB has not been any more likely to backlash for me than any of my other reels....and less than a couple. Haven't used my MB (or any reel) much lately. Working two jobs for over a year now. My Carbonlites are dual brake reels, and I can cast a #5 Shad Rap as far with them as I can a tuned TD-Z 105H (magnetic only). Neither backlash as long as I do my part.

Many of my Medium power rods have 8# mono or co-polymer on them. No problem. I have a Falcon Expert 6'9" Light that I may drop down to 6# on just for giggles. Currently using 8# in Big Game, AN40, Siege and XL on several BC rods.

For a mere $10 more you should buy it and give us an opinion.

I agree with this although I have to admit I've never used one of the other reels the OP mentioned. Both of them are Magnetic only reels. The MB is a dual brake reel. I don't have any Magnetic only Lew's reels so I don't know how well their braking system works.

I think if you aren't getting the distance you think you should be getting, then you should be looking elsewhere. Highly doubt it is the line. Lucky you. Mine sucks although it does carry some cheap line. Don't remember what brands, but Trilene may be one. I used nothing but XL on my spinning rods (only kind I had at the time) for a good many years.

I've waited too long. I know what pound test is on most of them, but not what brand....and whether or not it is mono or co-polymer. (Unless it is Neon Tangerine. ) Not positive on a couple with braid. I originally planned on putting it all in a notebook as I'm not concerned when on the water. Sometimes I forgot. Sometimes I couldn't find the notebook.