new2BC4bass

I've read good things about the BG. I bought an RG as a birthday gift for a brother-in-law. He has been using it for almost a year now and likes it a lot. Seems to me Diawa has really been stepping up to the plate in recent years with both baitcasting and spinning reels in the range most of us can afford.

Wow! I am waiting with bated breath for some answers. Megabass, GLoomis, St. Croix, Phenix, Dobyns, ALX, Falcon, Hammer, iRod, etc. will be among the candidates.

I am a fan of Diawas. Looks like that is what you would prefer to stick with. You might want to consider the Steez so you won't feel the need to upgrade from the Zillion at a later date. Unless you would like to have both. I know I am in the minority here, but 2 other reels to consider are the Primmus and Helios Air. The Primmus is "hand-tuned" from the factory....whatever that is. All I know is it is great out-of-the-box. Both reels are light at 5.8 and 5.6 oz. respectively. I can't comment on longevity, but I can say both reels cast extremely well. Excellent distance. The Primmus is also almost backlash free with 3/8-1/2 oz. lures...for me. Actually I don't think I have backlashed it yet with those weights. I have with 1/4 oz. I have over-run the Air a couple times, but can't remember a backlash with it. The Air comes with ABEC5 bearings. No need to upgrade them.

Congratulations. I like mine and am a fan of dual brake reels. Quite a few have claimed their Lew's outcasts (for distance) any other reel they have. I have not found that to be true for me. An awful lot depends on the rod and lure being used. I consider 45 yards to be a good distance for me and have several reels that will do that consistently. Have done quite a bit more than that a few times. For sure a 3/4 oz. spoon will fly a long ways.

Congratulations! Nice. Hopefully your temps are higher than ours. Been in the single digits several days. Warmest (except for one day) in the past few weeks has been in the low 20s. A day or two of warm weather isn't going to do much for me. I took advantage of TW's 25 Days of Christmas and spent way more than I should have on myself. Got a Procyon EX, SV103 and two ALX rods...Deputy and Toadface. Sucks not being able to use your new toys for a few months.

I like Daiwas. Another possibility is the Supreme XT. About $120 on ebay.

I don't think so. At least not since I've been back into fishing ('09). Pflueger baitcast reels have never received much attention on the forums I read. Back in '05 TT gave the President a Best Value Award. They seldom test a Pflueger. The others tested only received a Good rating. I still have one of the older Trions (gave one to a deserving young man). These have aluminum frames. Not light, not pretty, but cast heavier weights extremely well. Have the older blue colored President XT. It casts an unweighted 10" ribbontail worm with brakes set lower than any other reel I own.

That doesn't tell me which model. Thanks to a wonderful member I have one Orochi XX....the Diablo Spec-R.

Like a rock.

I don't throw big cranks, but what I read is that a lower ratio gear works better for lures requiring more torque for pulling them. Which rod did you buy?

smalljaw67 recommended this line to me a couple years ago. I bought 3000 yard spools of 8# and 12# for my Medium and MH baitcast reels. Currently running both on several reels. I like it. Never needs a line conditioner to stay pliable.

Original PowerPro is good, but I like Sufix Performance better. It is quieter thru the guides. Cost is a couple dollars more than KastKing...of which I have no experience with.

It is. AFAIK you have the wrong reason. My understanding is they were banned because the company had guys on here spamming their products. No doubt that would have been allowed if they were a sponsor. I doubt they would have been banned if their products had been mentioned occasionally instead of constantly by the same people. Lots of products get mentioned on here without the parent company being a sponsor. I know nothing about owning websites or maintaining them, but seriously doubt it can be done for free. I don't think it is fair to the owner(s) for people to come on here hawking their products without paying for that right. If you want to advertise, then pay for it like everyone else. Otherwise let word of mouth by those with no ties to the company spread the word. I don't know about you, but this is one site I try to visit every day. I imagine sponsors help make that possible. Hopefully I have not overstepped any bounds with my post. If I have, there will be no hard feelings on my side if my post gets deleted. (And hopefully no hard feelings by the powers that be. )

As others have said, 50# braid is fine. When I first got into baitcast reels, the suggestion was not to go below 40# because of the line digging in. I bought a used reel that came with 30# Sufix 832. I haven't had any trouble with it digging in, BUT when I first went out with it I spent a good 15 minutes casting and pulling tight spots out from it digging in with the previous owner. Tons of good lines for the other rod. I am partial to 12# and use a lot of Siege and AN40. Currently trying out Mean Green and so far it has been very good. If you go with 17# make sure it is a soft line such as Sufix Elite or Trilene XL. My personal experience with Big Game is that it takes a few casts to eliminate the worst of the memory. Once wet it is fine. First cast with 12# Big Game can result in loose line on the spool (for me). Siege outside the spool can look like a slinky, but I don't wind up with loose coils ON the spool. I would say Big Game is more abrasion resistant. I personally wouldn't suggest 17# Big Game to learn on. BTW, I would say that any 10# braid is more than you need for bass. You use heavier braid for other reasons.

Dan, I picked up an HMG 7'2" M CB on closeout. 1/4-1 oz. Think I have only been out with it once so far. No idea what lures it will handle best. Nice looking rod....especially for the money.

Thanks, Mike.

How much further south? And where could we launch a 14' dinghy?

Thanks!!!!

I fish in the DeLand area when visiting. If I remember correctly, I've had better success bass fishing in March, but the wife would like to go in February. If March is better for bass fishing, I may be able to talk her into waiting until then to visit. What say you Floridians?

Thanks, guys. I have noticed a little excessive oil on them. Don't know if it affects the baits ability to lure fish.

I don't fish deep. Once I got into baitcast rods I found I preferred 7' or longer although I do have a couple 6'8" to 6'10" I like. However, I bought an Aetos 6'6" MLM based on smalljaw67's opinion of the rod and it has become a favorite. Reel is a PXL Type R. Another favorite cranking rod is the 704CB Glass. Have tried a couple reels on it. Going to try a TD-Z 103ML on it next. The ML is supposed to be a fine cranking reel. It may stay on the rod if I agree.

Agree.

I don't know what lures you will be using for panfish, but I doubt a rod that will handle 1.5 oz. ish will also handle a panfish size lure if those panfish include bluegills and sunfish types.

Deleted original post. EDIT: Oops. Just saw that you are going to be using a baitcast reel. I'm guessing you won't be throwing many 1/16-1/8 oz. lures. What weights do you plan on fishing?

I know nothing about the Scorpion DC. I picked up a used Exsence DC just as the weather was turning cold. Got out once with it. This I can tell you....F, BB, PE, SP and Max are thumb free with no backlash. If I go below Max I can backlash the reel. Reel came spooled with fluorocarbon. I believe the Scorpion has an upgraded DC system. (Mine is an older model.) Someone else would have to confirm that, tho. I have to think your reel could only be better. I think you will love it.