new2BC4bass

Picked up a 7'2" Medium Mod-Fast HMG at the suggestion of smalljaw67. Currently has a Zillion 7.1 with 12 mono on it. Reel might get changed out, but line will probably stay the same.

Only way to know for sure is to try it. I've got a rod with a 3/8 oz. rating on the low end that will cast a 3/8 oz. popper the proverbial country mile, and another rod with the same 3/8 oz. low end rating that will barely cast 1/2 oz. a decent fishing distance. The rods do have different high end ratings, tho.

I would hope it is some good stuff. Costs more than the braid I use.

Wish Sirsnookalot would chime in. As I recall he uses Shimanos and Pfluegers. Spinning reels only. Fishes about 365 days a year. Fresh and saltwater. I also think he has mentioned that the Shimanos all had to go back for work while none of the Pfluegers needed any repairs. The Daiwa SS reels are known for having one of the best drags in the business, yet 2 of the 3 used ones I picked up needed work done on the drag. One to the point it couldn't be used until fixed. Obviously I have no idea of the care they received before coming to me.

I used XL for many years. Still do, but another soft line I like is Sufix Elite. Keep saying I want to try Mean Green, but haven't found any locally and trying every line you would like to takes some time....and $$$$.

President has been at the top of the list in its price range for a long time. The Daiwa REVROS and RG have been getting mentioned as decent alternatives. I sent my brother-in-law an RG. He lives in Florida and loves to bass fish. He should have it broken in nicely by the time I get there at the end of next month. I probably can give some feedback on it then. Out of the box he said it was very smooth.

I researched about 3 years ago for a spincast for my daughter's fiance. The reel I got him was the Zebco Z03PRO. It is about $60 plus tax from Walmart Online. Free shipping to a store near you.

Your buddy will like the reel once you get it straightened out. The MagForce 3D reels are the only ones I can cast with brakes set at minimum.

Sell them off. Bought my 6.2:1 Scorpion SVS 4 x4 off a gentleman looking to upgrade all his reels to 7s. Maybe you will get lucky like the seller did with me and get about $50 more than they are worth. It did teach me to double check new prices before buying.

An STX Gen 1 was my 3rd or 4th baitcast reel. It has been good to me. Never a problem with it and have made some of my longest casts with this reel. Gen 2 reels seem to be the most popular. Gen 3 reels not as popular with some folks. I don't know if that is across the board or just some models. I've only used Gen 1, but have a Gen 2 Premier that hasn't seen any use by me yet. Op, no experience with the models you mentioned. I have some E-series Curados, but no Chronarch Es. If I had those choices I'd go with the Chronarch. (I do have other model Chronarchs.) As for "Others?"....wow...lots of choices. An older Zillion should fit the bill nicely. Can't comment on longevity, but I love my Primmus Xi HS reels. Same for the Helios Air. Tatula and Tatula CT (and Type R from both lines) are low cost alternatives. Pflueger is the Rodney Dangerfield of baitcast reels. A Supreme XT or...for a bit more...the Patriarch are also options. I like my Con A and of course we can't leave out Lew's. You have so many good choices today it is hard to choose just one. Let us know what you decide.

I'm like many of these guys and use mostly mono or co-polymer. For those unfamiliar with Raul's posts, his was a tongue in cheek comment because he has mention many times that Big Game is a favorite line of his. I like braid for fishing in lily pads or heavy weeds. I've got braid on a few spinning reels because of how often it gets praised for spinning reel use. However, I've found I still prefer mono even on my spinning reels, but the braid will stay there due to its high initial cost. Fluorocarbon lines are on only 2 of my baitcast reels for the reasons Tom mentioned....poor knot strength and it stretches as bad (or worse) than many monos. I take TT's results as the truth since I've never tested lines for either scenario. I do know the one fluorocarbon line I am using has plenty of stretch after getting snagged with it.

I have zero experience with those rods. The new Mojo rods are getting high praise, and I'd like to try one. I like my original Tatula rods a lot. Excellent rods for the money, and can be found for $110. I've always felt I got good value from Fenwick, but smalljaw67 says the ET Bass rods are heavier than the Smallmouth and Aetos series...which I think is going in the wrong direction.......but I have never handled one much less fished one. Weight isn't everything. They could still be an excellent value for the money. I have several Fenwick models, and Fenwick is a company I have a lot of faith in. Excellent customer service as well. I missed an eye when stringing 12# mono and it created a groove in the finish before I noticed it. Fenwick offered me any rod I wanted at a 45% discount which I felt was pretty nice since it was 100% my fault.

Most of my reels are it in the 6 range, but new ones are almost all 7 or higher. I find I like the higher ratios and seldom have a problem cranking slow if needed. I almost never throw a deep running crankbait, but do have a few Daiwas in the 5.7-5.8 range should I need a reel with a lower ratio. I keep a 5.7:1 on a shallow to medium depth crankbait rod and just wind faster instead of switching the reel out because it has some serious upgrades in it.

Looks like if I want to use a round reel for finesse I will have to stick with my Black Max 1600C as I know Shimano will be charging more than I can pay.

Ugly Sticks are pretty tough. Most high end rods are going to be made out of stiffer (and I guess more brittle) materials which is why they are more sensitive. Buy a rod made from IM7 or IM6 material and it should give you a little of both...sensitivity and strength. Course I could be wrong as I've never made it a habit to study rod materials. I've got a Redbone Hurricane that I feel would qualify for the type of rod you are looking for.

I've used all 3 on baitcast reels. 12# CX is what went on my first reel. Line broke down in the spool, but I've come to realize that was more than likely because of the backlashes I had while learning. Need to try it again. I have a fair amount of both Siege and Big Game in 8# and 12#. What I've found is that both coil after sitting awhile. Siege looks like a slinky, but doesn't leave loops on the spool for those first few casts. Bag Game usually does. However, once wet I have no problems with either. Nor have i had Siege breaking like Basshunter experienced. I like Siege Neon Tangerine because it makes it so much easier for me to see the line.

Casting reel?

Tatula all the way, and yes, I had one and still have a Type R. Got rid of the Tatula only to help a young man get started with baitcast reels.

There is a used Curado I 200HG for $110 on another site. I kind of like Daiwas and would also suggest one of the Tatula models. I don't have a Pflueger Supreme XT, but some on here do and are very happy with the reel. I've got cheaper and more expensive Pflueger models. Pflueger baitcast reels seldom get mentioned here, but I've always felt they were under-rated and ignored for the more popular names. See if you can locate one of the older blue Patriarch XTs. Fine reels. Were $250 new...I think. Picked up my last one for $90. A steal. The Daiwa T3 1016s can be found for less than $200. Nice reels that cost a lot more new.

I'd like to live those days over again. 20# catfish and 35# carp on 8# XL. A 10# carp on 4# with the drag locked down. I'd be embarrassed to say how many fish (mostly nice sized panfish) the four of us would take home some days back then. They didn't get wasted with three growing boys to feed. Great times to spend with Dad.

If you decide to send it to DVT for cleaning and a little extra upgrading, I don't think I would upgrade the bearings unless Mike said they were inferior. I've upgraded bearings in several reels only because I wanted the reels to be as good as they could possibly be. It isn't often...in my limited experience....that bearings make much difference. Except maybe with a reel that is going to be used for light lures. Whenever I have bearings upgraded it is at the same time I am having a reel tuned. Don't know if it is the tune or the bearings, but I do notice that it usually requires less effort to achieve the same distance as before. A Carbontex drag kit is cheap and a good upgrade. Sometimes a good cleaning makes a big difference. Sometimes not. You won't know until it has been done. Sounds to me like you would be happier with a different reel even if Mike gets the reel to work up to par. For most of us our time on the water is limited. Better to use what brings you the most pleasure.

4# and 8# Trilene XL was all I ever used umpteen years ago. A fishing buddy's choice was Stren. Today about half my spinning reels have braid on them. I am aware of its attributes on a spinning reel, but still prefer mono. Guess I am still stuck in the 50s.

See if they will let you upgrade to a Tournament MB for a little extra money. Let them know this is the second reel in a row with the same problem. Who knows.....maybe they will give you an upgrade for no charge. Otherwise switch to the Tatulas if you want to stay in the $95-$100 price range.

Do not respool. I'm sure you have discovered a backlash (or even an over-run) can cause the line to be loose all the way down to the spool. Tape keeps the line from loosening any further than where you put it on. Makes a backlash about impossible to get. There are still times I have to pull all the line off to get rid of loops. I know people use 20# braid (and sometimes lighter) on a baitcast reel, but you risk the possibility of it digging in. That stops a cast like "right now". A side effect is the possibility of losing your lure. I have snapped a new 1/2 oz. jig off using 30# braid on a spinning reel when the line wrapped around the tip and I failed to notice. When I first looked into using braid a few years ago the consensus was 40# minimum. That is what I put on my baitcast reel the first time I used braid. Never had a problem with it.