new2BC4bass

I'd recommend a Daiwa as well, but the Elite. Have read here that it handles light lures quite well, and distance is great.

I am going to assume since you fish mostly from ponds that any crankbait you would use would be either a shallow or medium depth crankbait. In that case I would suggest a reel in the low 6 gear ratio and save the 5.4 for a deep crankbait rod. The 5.4 will work fine, but you may need to crank a bit faster than you think. I started out the first few years fishing with worms and the few crabs or small leeches we could find under stones wading the shore line. Started at five. Also your children most likely will catch more fish on worms or nightcrawlers. Most kids won't stick with it if they don't have the excitement of catching fish on a regular basis. The Cadence CR5 for light crankbaits and worms, night crawlers, etc. with light wire hooks should you want to fish live bait. Know that is blasphemy on here. I'm guessing the Ugly Stik is a Medium power. Normally such rods will list the power but not the action. So if it only says 'Medium Action' on the rod, I feel confident that is the rod's power rating. It's action is probably Moderate. A guess on my part as I've never handled one. The Daiwa Aird X is said to be a fantastic rod for the money. About $55 normal price. Several on here have said Dick's exclusive Lew's Carbon Fire rod is another that fishes above its price point. Currently on sale $20 off (now $60). If you want to spend $100 per rod, I like my Fenwick HMGs. Definitely check out the Falcon BuCoo. Ark has 2 models at that price and are getting a good reputation for quality. I'd also take a serious look at the Daiwa Procyon at the $80 mark. A nice rod that almost never gets mentioned. I don't have any new Berkley Lightning rods, but love the old 6' ML spinning model I have. As already stated a MHF is very versatile. I probably have more of those than any other power. I agree with a M-Moderate for crankbaits bigger than you'd use on the spinning rod. A Heavy power may come in handy depending on the cover you fish and the weight of the lure. I seldom use one even in slop. I normally use a MHF with 40# braid. I haven't been using lures requiring a Heavy power either. BUT I now have a couple Heavy rods that I plan on using this season. And continues to read and watch videos. A great way to spend time when there isn't enough of it for actually going fishing.

Elite review. http://tackletour.com/reviewsufixelite.html Big Game review. http://tackletour.com/reviewtrilenebg.html According to this reviewer Sufix Siege has good abrasion resistance, and casts further than Big Game. https://www.tackletest.com/sufix-siege-fishing-line-review/ I can't comment on abrasion resistance as I don't need to worry about it as a general rule where I fish. However, many on here say Big Game is excellent for mono and many fell the same way about Siege. Hardly anyone ever comments about Elite or AN40, but I did read somewhere that AN40 is pretty good in that category. Memory low to high: Elite, AN40, Siege, Big Game. This is after sitting awhile. I hold rod tip in water on the first few retrieves and then they all handle well. Elite handles very well from the get-go. I don't recall any problems with AN40 either. Siege coils like a slinky, but only off the reel. I don't get loose line on the spool like I often do with Big Game for the first couple casts. Maybe it is me and how I cast, but it has happened that way more than once. I don't know about stretch. I try not to get snagged.

Nope, I'm not. You have almost 50% more colors.

AN 40, Siege, Big Game, Elite Trying McCoy Mean Green, XXX, CXX and Sufix Advance

Pink, camo, white, blue, green, hi-vis yellow, neon tangerine, clear, orange neon florescent, solar collector (very bright green) and gray. Think that is it.

Thanks guys. Clicked on the links. Maybe they will have the bearings back in stock.......................in a couple years.

Not that I am aware of in the Fury. The Ark Tharp Hammer is a 7' MH Ex-Fast. Go to the Tacklewarehouse site and click on "show information". I don't have this particular rod, but do have a couple others. Since you are using a Fury, I am not going to mention rods that cost twice as much.....or more. However, the Spec R is a very nice rod. Or for less the ALX Deputy. Sorry. Couldn't help myself. I've never touched an Elite. I only have the OG Tatulas. I thought maybe you might want something with a little less powerful tip (but still with some power). I've always used a Fast action rod, but am coming to like the Daiwa Regular action rods. I have no idea how the base Tatula compares to the Elite. Hopefully someone with actual on the water experience will be along to offer an opinion.

733C is a MHF. 703SF is a MF. I would only use the 703SF for light wire spinnerbaits. Personally I feel a 1/2 oz. spinnerbait requires a MH at the least. A 1/2 oz. War Eagle I weighed was .82 oz. Add a trailer and you can easily be over 1 oz. A 1/2 oz. Strike King Thunder Cricket weighed .62 oz. MH would be fine, but that 703SF would be pushing it. Born 2 fish, what didn't you like about the Elite? Maybe a 7'2" MHR Tatula? OP I would suggest looking for a MH spinning rod if spinning is what you want to use.

Went to their site. I'm confused. Which bearings should I be looking at?

I don't like 6'6"- 6'9" MH rods, but had no problem buying a 6'10" MH Tatula. Probably shouldn't admit this, but I think it is all in my head. When I went to baitcasting gear, several of my first rods were 6'6". I soon came to prefer 7' or longer. The 6'6" rods pretty much sat. Then I picked up a 6'6" MLM Aetos based on the opinion of a fellow bassresourcer. Love that rod! Now I plan on taking those 6'6" rods out more often. I have two 6'10" HF rods that I really enjoy fishing with plus a couple others of the same length. Two of my Smallmouth rods are that length and a pleasure to use. OP: Your rod is in no way inferior. Enjoy it.

As luck would have it my first attempt at finesse was putting a Presso spool in a Sol. I no longer need that spool in the Sol since I now have 4 Pixy reels. So I will put the original back in and try the Presso in a Pixy. Had forgotten about that. Thanks for the reminder. I will also look into the Hedgehog bearings for my other Airy Red or the PX68. Thanks.

No ALX. Thanks a whole lot. Very generous offer, but I'd rather not use someone else's equipment. How about an aftermarket spool in the Steez SV103? I assume a spool for the regular Steez would fit the SV reel. Will they? I see there is a BFS spool for the T3, but am assuming the 3D braking would be a bit much for this light of a lure even at the lowest brake settings.

I have the Airy Red, PX68L and PXL Type R, but if the upgraded Airy won't work, then none will. The Airy has ZPI SiC spool bearings: I also have Curado 51E and Scorpion 1001 4X4 SVS. Maybe the Scorpion with a different spool? Was hoping to use a reel I already have. Didn't expect to need another reel for $300-$450 to use on this $38 rod. I may have to seriously consider an Air Stream Custom. Just what I need....another reel.

This is a 3-piece casting rod with 2 tips. They included a lure with it. OMG!!! I have a 7'2" River Runner spinning rod rated 1/32-5/16 oz. and I doubt I will be able to cast this lure with that rod (using 10# Sufix 832). The UL tip is very thin and thus very flexible, but....OMG. I thought it would be a fun rod for learning how to cast some very light lures, but what reel to use? I figure my best bet is to start with my tuned and upgraded Airy Red. BUT I know I will need an aftermarket spool. I am just not a good enough caster to stick with the factory spool. Haven't researched spools yet, but maybe a few of you guys already have experience with this type of self inflicted craziness/pain. Maybe point me in the right direction for a cheap spool. DIY? It looked very nice in the pictures. Looks just as good in real life. Guides are all straight. Wraps all look great. What looks and feels like a plastic reel seat. Comes with a bag. Sweet looking rod for just under $38. Will have to handle with care considering how thin the tips are. Any other reel suggestions? I can't phantom casting something as light as the lure they sent me. Can I say OMG again? OMG!!!! EDIT: Light tip is Fast with lure rating 2-6g (.07-.21 oz.), UL tip is MF with lure rating .5-2g (.018-.14 oz.). Rod blank IM8. Will add lure weight they sent after my scale warms up to room temperature. Lure weight 1.41g = .05 oz.

Hey...................I have that rod and reel, but not that lure. No wonder I am not catching many bass. Am using 12# AN40. I need to invest in some fluorocarbon for a couple reels. I prefer mono/co-polymer most of the time, but I do realize fluoro has its uses..

Here's a 4.9: Zillion. However, I have no idea what IPT it has. http://www.johnnyspond.com/daiwa-s-team-daiwa-zillion-4-9-high-power-baitcast-reel.html According to this thread the Zillion Crazy Cranker is 22 IPT.

You should try and find a Helios Air in good condition.

I thought from the title that you were trying to start WWIII. I agree with JJ. Any reel I pay $200-$350 for better be smooth and last. I lean towards Daiwas, but own about 10 different brands of reels. Like Russ E, my Daiwas are in the vast majority. I've not used any of my reels enough to wear one out. I'd say the smoothest reel I own is an old Alphas ito Ai. Feels like snot on ice. Slick. EDIT: Added 'Slick' because some of you may never have seen ice.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I disagree with your assessment. The reason the Tatula doesn't load isn't because the tip is too soft, but because it is too stiff. Too soft would have it loading further down the blank. I believe Daiwa rods have a tendency to fish a bit heavy. I wouldn't know even though I have several. Rather than use a lure at the end of a rod's rating, I use a rod that puts the weight towards the middle of the rating where performance should theoretically be at its best. All things being equal a longer rod will give greater casting distance.

No experience with one, but it is a rod I'd like to try. Feather 7'1" MF rated 1/8-3/4 oz. Normally not a range I would prefer for 3/16 oz. total weight, but everyone says they fish light so I wouldn't hesitate using 3/16 oz. on it. Even tho it fishes light, a 3/4 oz. top end should give it plenty of power for your use. From what I read the ALX Zolo is a nice rod. Towards the high end of your budget. I've got a couple casting models, but extremely little time with them. Or an Ikos. I'm a fan of Falcon rods. Don't have any of the new models, but would love an Expert or two.

I learned to cast #5 Shad Raps on 3 combos. An older HMG 7' MLF and TD-Z 105 OG Falcon Expert 6'9" LF and gold colored Carbonlite Older Crankin' Stick 7' MLF and gold colored Carbonlite Although the HMG is rated down to 1/8 oz. versus the 1/16 oz. of the other 2 rods, distance was just as good as far as I could tell. Spinning I hardly ever use, but wouldn't mind trying on an older model Fuego 6’10” M-EF which has a very soft tip.

Expride runs $260-$300. Megabass $200-$500 depending on line. So a very nice budget. OP, Witch Doctor makes some nice rods. Maybe an Oracle? Rated 1/2-2 oz. I expect the Hydrilla Gorilla would be too heavy. 1-6oz. Have never thrown that heavy of weight. Plus rods you are looking at are out of my budget unless a good used deal comes along. Which is how I got my Shaman. Little less that 50% of original price. Th Orochi XX Launcher is rated 3/8-2 oz. I expect a rod rated to 2 oz. would be better than one rated to 1-1/2 oz. However, I know there are rods that can easily handle over their rating just like there are rods that don't handle maximum rating well at all. I own both cases. That is why reviews and opinions from users on here (and other dedicated fishing forums) is a huge help in deciding on which rod to get. I'm not one that can help in this particular instance.

Great. Should skip like a champ...if the snow has blown off the ice. I am usually fishing 7' rods with my brother-in-law in a 14' dinghy (in Florida). Two years ago I shipped an OG Tatula 7'4" HF down for use as a frog rod. A 5' rod would be too long if I had to cast it pointed towards his end of the boat.