new2BC4bass

I assume you mean the Cashion 7' 3" MH-MF. It is a company that seldom gets mentioned. How about a review of the rod after you get to spend a little more time with it?

It is a company in Indonesia. Very good prices. Looking at the Pinnacle DHC5-701CAMCB at less than $95 before shipping. My main concern is that shipping will negate the stellar price. Anyone with experience buying from them? Could always add another rod if they would ship it without adding more to the shipping cost. Lots of places want to charge shipping for each item ordered even though they ship in the same box. (Not talking just fishing here.) Bigger profit for them. Price of the Pinnacle Optimus Xi is about 50% of what it normally sells for. Would love to have one after using my Primmus. Similar prices on other reels such as the President and Supreme XT spinning reels. Thanks.

Which Izorline?

I have never used Yo-Zuri or Izorline. My comments are based on what I have read. First Yo-Zuri has a big following on this forum. Izorline doesn't. My thought is Yo-Zuri must be pretty good to have such a following. Second is Izorline Platinum may very well be the most abrasion resistant line made today. At least one poster who has tried many lines has settled on Platinum as the best for an abrasion resistant line. You have to realize that this property comes with a price. The line has more memory than many other lines. I had spooled some on my daughter's baitcast set up since she fishes the bottom almost exclusively. She complained of too many backlashes. I replaced it with Siege, and haven't heard a complaint from her since. I've got some Izorline 8# XXX to try, but nothing in the Platinum. Doubtful I will be buying any more line for awhile with 3000 yd spools of 12# and 8# Silver Thread AN40 on hand. Well, I do plan on buying another spool or two of braid. I've only got 2 reels set up with fluorocarbon. Tests done by TT proved it doesn't have the knot strength of monofilaments or co-polymers. I've only had to break fluoro one time. Knot strength seemed pretty darn good to me. What I didn't like about fluoro was the condition the line was in after it broke. It frayed for several feet and had to be cut off. I've also read that once fluoro stretches it stays in that condition which I doubt is a good thing.

I don't mind micro guides on a casting rod, but hated them on a spinning rod. So my vote for "When not to use micros guides." is any time you are buying a spinning rod. Let it be known that I may be the only guy on here with that opinion. I love fishing, but at my age I am long past where I will fish when it is cold enough for the water to freeze in my rod's guides. Nor do I have to worry about cotton seeds.

Break 12# on a hook set? Something else is wrong. It isn't the line. I think you would break the rod before breaking the line if the knot and line were good.

In that case the special color must be a used older model as new standard models sell for $100.........or $80 when on sale.

Only you can answer that, and it appears you already have. I am not good enough to notice a difference in their casting ability. As stated, only the Type R has the 8.1:1 ratio. Handles appear to be the same. The Type R star drag has holes in it. The Type R has a red spool and red spool tension cap. The brake adjustment dial of the Type R has a red face. Color of the standard is kind of blah IMO while the Type R has a beautiful deep gloss black. So although performance is the same for both (in my hands) the higher ratio and finish were worth the extra money....to me. Actually the finish alone is worth the extra money to me. In the long run $21 is nothing. I plan on willing them to my daughter and/or grandsons.

I thought I got a great deal on my Type R at $131 a couple years ago. $119 is a smokin' deal. Haven't checked the price of a TP lately, but bet that is another great deal. Got my 'like new' one for a little less than that 2-3 years ago, and figured I had made out like a bandit.

Wow. It has been awful slow around here lately. Surprised no one has answered you yet. First I've heard of this reel. I have never used a PQ. However, they are well thought of around here as one of the best reels in their price range. There is a thread with a 5 year test of a PQ. Search and ye shall find. I'd buy it if the price is about the same as a standard. Kind of doubt the function will be any better than a standard. You probably will have to pay a little extra for the special paint job. I've got a couple Purple Alphas reels. Purple or off brown depending on how the light hits it. Pretty.

This, of course, is the correct answer. I have a Tournament Pro, Tatula and Tatula Type R. As stated, the Lews is a little smaller and lighter and a bit easier to palm. Guess there is something wrong with me because the Tat's extra size, weight and how it sits on the reel seat doesn't bother me. But then I will palm my Black Max 1600C round reels, and my Pflueger Trion and Daiwa Procaster......not exactly small reels by today's standards. I guess I have large hands, but they aren't extra large. Nor have I fished for several years with nothing but sub 7 oz. reels like Dan. I try to rotate my equipment so it all sees some use. Personally the finish on the Type R is enough for me to be willing to pay the extra bucks. I also like the 8.1:1 gear ratio. Both brands are good casting reels, but the Tats are a little easier for me. Probably for 2 reasons. 1) I learned on a Daiwa reel, and 2) a grandson considers the TP his reel so I haven't used it nearly as much as the others. Where are you finding those prices? Not that I am going to run out and buy one right now. I've got at least 2 other reels I want first. Undoubtedly this is another case of "Pick the reel that interests you the most because you can't go wrong with any of them."

Thanks for helping me.

Wow. Super deal. Got a couple, but not the 7'1" MH-XF. Hopefully they sell out before I break down and order one.

I've only had one spinning rod with micro guides. Hated it and took it back. Best I can recall the guides were still big enough for a knot to pass through. It was a Cabela's Prodigy rod. Tie a nice clean Alberto or Albright Knot and you should be fine. Personally I'm not a fan of knots going through my guides. Personal preference. Doesn't bother plenty of others.

Yeah, craigslist isn't Google when it comes to searches. One letter off won't find the ad. Thanks for the searching advice.

Wow! What a deal. Guess I'll have to keep an eye on CL for fishing gear. Normally I am only checking CL for good deals on acoustic guitars. You got two great buys. Congrats.

St. Croix and Abu or 2 brands you can pretty much figure will be heavier than their rating. I agree with Darren.

Less money: Berkley Lightning (Josh likes his Cherrywoods for even less), H2O on sale.

I don't own one because I was waiting for it to get down to the $100 point and so missed out, but the original Tatula 7'4" Heavy is suppose to be a very versatile rod. I picked up a Quantum Tour Edition and Superlite 6' 10" HF that I like a lot. For a little more power, I go with my Zillion 7' 6" HF. I don't really need them in my area, but enjoy fishing with them anyway. Probably the first question you will be asked is what kind of money are you willing to spend. Will make a huge difference in suggestions. EDIT: Oh boy! I see you are from Easton. I live in Bethlehem out near Allentown. I only know one other guy from our area. We fished together a few times, but his wife is an avid fisherwoman (often catching bigger fish than him ) so we haven't gotten together in some time. Where do you fish that you need heavy rods? Never heard of Chemo Pond. I'm always looking for a decent place to fish. Haven't found such a place locally. EDIT2: I'd try the Delaware River if I could afford a jet boat and the rig to haul it around. Have read of guys having 100 fish days on the Delaware (smallmouths).

Mono, co-polymer or fluorocarbon for me. I don't use a leader on braid. I find braid has a greater tendency to foul the hooks. Also I have a tendency to keep drag settings higher than suggested.

I find this to be true for the lines I use. I'll hold the rod tip in the water for the first few casts to help more of it get wet faster. Many people swear by Big Game. I find it to have more memory than Siege. Both coil after setting awhile, but Big Game causes me more loose line on the spool after casting at first. Getting it wet like I mentioned quickly resolves the problem.

Great minds think alike.

X1000

Pike are rather toothy critters so a heavier line is advised. In which case a reel capable of spooling a decent amount of line is preferable. However, you could always go with a smaller reel, lighter line and simply use a heavy leader. Your choice. I have no experience with the BB2 or new Curados so can't give any advice there. I imagine it will come down to personal preference. I like my Curados.....especially the 201E7. My Lews TP is a fine little reel. Thankfully I don't have to choose between the two.

I've done a fair amount of research on lines. I had also read good things about Platinum so I put some 12# on my daughter's casting rod. A little too much memory for her. It was her first...and only...casting rod, so maybe with more experience she could have handled it. She is quite sure the line floats. Platinum is very abrasion resistant. It is the only line one guy uses today after on the water experience with several lines looking for the most abrasive resistant line. I should have marked his review. I personally don't have to worry about abrasion resistance where I fish, so Siege is one of my favorite lines. Presently I am trying out some Silver Thread AN40 and Excaliber. Not much time spent fishing them yet, but so far I am liking them. I also have some XXX to try.