new2BC4bass

My dad never fished for trout which means I never did either growing up. Recently picked up a couple 3 & 4 weight fly rods for panfish, but discovered I have 3 'blue lines' closer to me than the nearest lake. Would like to give them (the streams) a shot, but my balance and leg strength is not very good ATM. Always felt the money spent on put-and-take trout would be better used on maintaining good populations of native fish such as smallmouth, largemouth, pike, muskellunge, walleye, etc. Maybe extend their range where viable. Normal fishing (non-trout) sucks big time in my area. Well, except for the Delaware River...if you are able to fish it. Trout fishing might suck as well (except for when trout are unloaded), but as I said...I haven't fished for them yet.

I have a 'blem' Tatula Elite I bought figuring that meant cosmetic issues. Turns out it is internal mechanical issue(s). I don't plan on sending it to Daiwa. I'd rather send it out to a professional to repair and clean it while they have it. Don't know if Daiwa would just replace the bad part(s), or if they would also clean it. I'm considering possible upgrades while the professional has it. Pretty sure Daiwa wouldn't do that.

I only fish freshwater, but I know Abu made a Revo 3 & 4 Inshore model. You can still find new ones on that flea bay site. A Revo 3 new for $105.50 + $10.15 shipping. The 4's are more expensive

If you read the article, then you saw maximum tested drag was 3 pounds. That is why I planned on using mine on a ML rod. I paid almost 3 times that amount several years ago for a used specimen. Second time out the drag started stuttering. Had plans (and still do) of sending it out for cleaning, but with so many other reels on hand that hasn't happen yet. I like the looks of the reel, and as I remember it cast just fine. It is a Shimano, so longevity should be excellent. No idea about part availability.

This one? http://www.tackletour.com/reviewshimanoscorpion.html

I have to agree with the others. You don't have near enough rods yet. I don't know how often you fish for trout or panfish, but in my case I could get rid of 3 of the 4 spinning rods on the bottom. One of those and a ML spinning rod is all I'd keep if downsizing. I much prefer a baitcaster if the lure is heavy enough (for me) to use one. I wanted to try baitcasting when I got back into fishing in '09. Bought a few 6'6" baitcast rods, but soon discovered I preferred 7' or longer....especially in MH. I do have a few less than 7' that I like, but they are Medium power or less. Listing MHF and MF doesn't tell us much. I have 6 crankbait rods that say 'Fast' on them. Not rods I'd fish a jig with. It's all relative. There are no hard and fast rules for rods. Which is why you were asked for make and model. BUT I have no idea how you fish or what lures you like. None of us can decide what YOU like best. All we can do is offer advice based on how we fish unless you get a lot more into the specifics of how you fish.

Zero experience with a Black Max LP or the combo. Several on here have mentioned it is a good reel for the price and will last several seasons. Walmart has the 7'1" MH combo for $87.56, or the reel by itself for $46. Personally I'd get the reel and an AirdX based on the opinions of fellow members. Several members here have mentioned that Lew's Carbon fire found at Dick's Sporting Goods fishes above its price. Right now it is $10 off, but that rod and a Black Max reel will put you at about $123 with tax...provided you can get free shipping. Maybe more than you want to pay.

Truth be told, I did just fine with one spinning rod before the Internet. Didn't know a thing about baitcast rods/reels. Now they make up the vast majority of my gear.

28 brands of rods, 11 reel brands, so I guess the answer is 'No'.

Keep at it and you will start to catch up with me. I've been a good boy. Haven't bought a rod or reel in 9 months. I'm thinking the Bait Monkey has forgotten all about me.

The Bait Money is like Santa Claus. He's everywhere all the time. Hiding is futile. He sees all, knows all.

I've weighed very few lures. Two were frogs. A 1/2 oz. Jackall Kaera weighed .411 oz. A 5/8 oz. Live Target Koppers weighed .462 oz. This is the opposite of how most lures weigh in. However, water in the lure after a cast or two, and I'm sure they will weigh more than listed.

Right there is your problem. You should be using a Zillion on an iRod Magic Stick. Sorry. Couldn't help myself. It is possible you got a bad reel. The only advice I can give is not to loosen the braid. Keep it snug on the reel. I do have a question. When you say straight braid, do you have anything on the spool to keep the braid from slipping? I am not familiar with that reel so I don't know if it has any holes to tie the braid to. Not something I would personally do, but some people feel otherwise.

I suppose customer service could have changed over the past 10 years. I fell and broke 2 pieces off the tip of an original Expert. Obviously not a manufacturing defect. I called Falcon customer service and explained exactly what happened. I bought the rod new, but not from a store. Bought 3 as a package deal from a guy on another forum. Customer service did not ask for a receipt. As far as I am concerned, Falcon went above and beyond. The girl that answered the phone asked me to send them the part of the rod where its specs were located. I sent that and $80 and they sent me a comparable Cara (a $200 rod at that time) as Experts were no longer in production. I suppose there are some that would feel Falcon should have sent me a free rod. I am not one of them. (There's no explaining some peoples attitudes.) Technically Falcon owed me nothing so needless to say I was very thrilled with the results.

That may be, but I never heard of it in my youth. I may have heard of Dacron. Did a quick search, and it seems Dacron is a type of braid. Just never heard it called 'braid'. Resurrected. Hallelujah!

Can't afford high-end rods. A rod that I feel is one of my most sensitive rods (especially given what I paid for it used) is a 7' MHF Rainshadow RX7. It is also a great looking rod and very versatile. I like a MHF for a do everything rod as it will handle most of the lures I use quite well. I also have a few other rods purchased used that may qualify for "best", but they were purchased over the last few years, and I haven't gotten out much over that period. I couldn't have afforded them new.

There are a few (very few) on here that have used Quantum and like them. At least very few willing to admit it. I have a few due to PhishLI's and A-Jay's (and a couple others) posted opinions of them. I've only had the Tour S3 and an Icon 101HPT out once. Not because I don't like them, but because (for some of us) life takes a turn for the worse as we get older. I got a KVD Smoke S3 for $80 off normal price. Nice looking reel that hasn't been out of the box but once to look at and spin the handle. I picked up a 6'10" HF Tour Edition and SuperLite and a 7' MF Tour Edition for next to nothing when they got closed out. Haven't used the SuperLite (no idea why I chose to try the Tour Edition over it...plus I seldom use a Heavy), but have to say I've enjoyed using both the Tour Edition rods. Of course, these were the more expensive rods in Quantum's lineup. Also have a Smoke Inshore 7' MF. The only problem I have with the Inshore is the same one I have with my Fenwick Smallmouth rods. Short handles. I prefer 2-handed casts. Both are excellent rods, so I make the necessary adaptations. Was impressed how light the Quantum Escalades felt when I picked one up in store (available DSG only). So when I decided to gift a brother and his wife baitcasting setups, the Escalade is one I picked up. Naturally I had to take the combo out once to try. Wound up going back to DSG and picked up another for myself. Closeouts (again). $50 for $100 rod.

Looking forward to a review.

Welcome to the forum. I see you are about an hour-and-a-half drive from me. A quick look showed more lakes near you than I have near me. Any good fishing in them? Sucks here mainly due to pressure and the fact I fish from shore. I'd enjoy it more here if I had a boat capable of using on the Delaware River. Excellent Smallmouth fishing there. Or so I've read. Have read of 100 fish plus days. Shore access is very limited to the best of my knowledge.

Double Geez. I see my Daiwa collection is sorely lacking. And I've already got more than I can use.

I originally used a RH baitcast reel when I found an Alphas ito 103-Ai at a good price years ago. I've since learned the value of being able to switch hands so I can give an arm a rest. Still have more LH than RH, tho. Haven't fished at night since my younger years. Back then it was all spinning. My first set of ceramic bearings were purchased when a guy sold his because he didn't like the noise they made. I actually like the sound as it gives me a good idea of spool speed and when to thumb.

I gave up fishing my spinning gear, but not because I hate it, but because I like baitcast reels that much more. However, I do want to start making use of them. I've got 4 that have never been used and 4 others that have only been out a couple times. However, I did pick up a couple finesse spools and have 2 Light powered rods to try them on. Just don't have the skill yet for such light lures on a baitcast reel. No problem with #5 Shad Raps, but have a much harder time when I go lower.

My local Walmarts quit carrying rods of even this caliber several years ago. Last rod I bought of decent quality at a Walmart was years ago....$17 (on sale and the only one) for a 6' MH Berkley Lightning casting rod. At least my local DSG still carries St. Croix. OP, I have zero experience with combos of $100 or less. I hear Academy Sports has a number of such combos with the H2O Xpress being pretty nice for the price.

I remember you! back. Right at the top of your budget...Tatula 6'10" MHF, $20 less Lowrider 6'10" HF or the one mentioned above.

I'm always interested in reviews and opinions of fellow members.