new2BC4bass

Way to break it in! How are you liking the Procyon? I bought my brother-in-law one and he gave it to a kid. It was the nicest rod he had (and nicer than any he has). Talk about bass thumb....you should try pickerel thumb. I had quit fishing for 23 years. Without thinking I lipped a pickerel caught on a Smithwick with 3 sets of treble hooks. They have a tendency to flop a lot more than bass. Got a treble in my thumb. No one around to help. Got the hook out by putting one side of the treble over my rod and pulling. Finally got the hooks out of the pickerel so I could release it. My thumb looked like it had been caught in a meat grinder. So......I am not the only one that gets calls (and emails) from work while on vacation...or off sick? BTW, nice pictures. Thanks.

Enjoy.

A couple threads on the TCS. I believe the rod you are looking at is also known as the Mat Daddy. A bassresource article on the rod. https://www.bassresource.com/fishing_lures/mat-daddy-helios-review.html I've wanted to try a TCS, but haven't managed to pull the trigger on one.

Yup. See below quote. Wish you had known and severely disliked me back then. I own 10 brands of reels, but Daiwas far outnumber all other brands. From TD-S to Steez SV.

It's good. Better be because that is how I fill all my reels.

I have a ML spinning rod that is around 45 years old. Have a Penn 430SS on it. I seldom use a spinning rod anymore, but when I do it is this one I usually grab even though all my other spinning rods are more expensive. Has caught everything from sunnies to bass to pickerel to bullheads, etc. A 6' MH casting rod is my dedicated short range spinnerbait rod. I have a ML spinning rod that is around 45 years old. Have a Penn 430SS on it. I seldom use a spinning rod anymore, but when I do it is this one I usually grab even though all my other spinning rods are more expensive. Has caught everything from sunnies to bass to pickerel to bullheads, etc. A 6' MH casting rod is my dedicated short range spinnerbait rod.

Can say the same. Also can't understand the current trend of a reel needing to weigh less than 6 oz. in order to be able to fish it all day. I will say that my grandsons don't seem to have near the strength I did at their age. Maybe people are spending too much time playing games on their cell phones instead of being outside doing something? Also let me say I like a light reel as well as the next guy. I just don't feel I need one in order to survive a 12-14 hour day on the water. OP. I don't often notice how a reel feels, but did the first time I mounted an original Concept A on a rod. I'd also suggest trying a Pixy or Alphas.

Very versatile. Yes, you can. It does take time to learn a baitcast reel. Some of us longer than others.

Read all the reviews you can find. Here are a few to get started. Hopefully new to you. Also search this site. The SLX and SLX are revieed here. https://outdoorsinformed.com/shimano-baitcasting-reels/ https://reelgame.com/shimano-slx-review/ SLX vsSLX XT SLX vs SLX XT vs SLX DC https://saltedangler.com/baitcasting-reels/shimano-slx-baitcasting-reel-reviews/

I have one of those Daiwas, and it is a really nice casting reel even though mine looks like it went through WW!. Was a gift from someone that did a fair amount of internal work on it. That reel will stay a part of my arsenal. DVT is a sponsor and can clean them and check for worn parts. (And replace worn parts if he has...or can get...the part.) However, you will have to pay for shipping both ways. Local is good (I don't have anyone), but hopefully they will do a good job and not do halfazzed work. Mike is good. He gives a 10% discount to bassresource members. I do as Fishes in Trees does......both as to not selling old reels and buying new ones.

Yeah. Change topic to baitcast bug, and you should get more people reading, and commenting. Can't help you. I only have one Dobyns rod and it is the 704CB Glass. Have a few Shimano reels, but none in the SLX series...so again I am worthless as far as having a valid opinion. **FIXED**

I've looked and looked for ***, but can't find them.

Not from Florida, but when I visit there I always have at least one reel with braid. My brother-in-law uses straight 40# Original PowerPro. He has caught double digit bass....on his cheap, cheap spinning rods/reels. The shame of it all! His favorite rod is an unknown yard sale special. I'd guess at least 90% of our casts are into or at the edge of lily pads and other fine flora using mostly weightless 10" ribbontails. I always use straight braid (30# or 40#) for this as well.

That is why the few high end reels I have were all used with the exception of my PXL Type R which was purchased new on closeout for $200 less than normal price. Even then it was the most I had (and have) ever spent on a reel. What a pleasure it is to use on the Aetos 6'6" MLM.

No. You are not "special". Bet I have backlashed my Daiwas worse than you ever have. My Magforce 3D reels are the only Daiwas that I can't say I backlashed bad. Normally only a little overrun when I get carried away. Haven't backlashed my DC yet. Other than those two exceptions, I can truthfully say I am a master at backlashing on occasion.

My older used Trion ($45 purchased price) has no problem landing fish. However, I enjoy using my used OG Steez 100 more. Just knowing I am using quality brings me extra enjoyment. I don't get out often and catching fish in my area isn't a given. Every little bit of extra enjoyment I get out of my gear is a plus. Often more expensive reels are lighter and definitely should have tighter tolerances. More expensive reels can be more versatile. My Trion is a casting machine on the 6'10" HF I have in on. It came with light braid when I got it. Disengage the spool and is spun pretty good. So I tried it on a Medium power rod with lighter lures...although not too light. It was a backlashing machine with that set up....for me. Needless to say the same lure range for the Steez is no problem. I must admit that my high end reel experience is very limited. I am sure there are many, many others here that can give you better and more detailed reasons for going high end. I don't worry about wind (or its direction) when using my DC or Magforce 3D reels. Haven't really used my SV spooled reel in bad winds yet, but many say they handle it very well. My thumb isn't as educated as many other users. In the end it is up to the individual what he or she is comfortable spending and whether or not they derive the extra enjoyment high end reels can bring to some people. Some people here have stated that an Ugly Stick is plenty sensitive enough. Would you agree with that assessment? Pretty sure you could land any bass with one.

Plenty of threads (some with videos included) on setting up Magforce Z reels. Shouldn't take you long at all to be bombing that baby.

The Siebert 3/8 oz. Grassn Swim Jig I weighed was .53 oz. without a trailer. If I felt any kind of ambition, I could weigh a couple bare 1/4 oz. jigs (meaning no trailer). Too bad I don't.

Well I'd suggest sending it to DVT for new guides, but the cost of shipping both ways would pay for a NEW rod.

Just a guess here, but I'd say "Yes" you are using the wrong rod. What size hook are you using? Is it a superline hook? My guess is you don't have the power needed even with braid. Swing for the fences.

Always wanted to have a Core. My 50th Anniversary Zillion is one of my favorite reels. I don't care that it weighs more than 6 oz. My budget isn't unlimited either, but I have often worked a second part time job over the years and have purchased a lot more reels than I should have. BUT...I just had to have them. It isn't like I have 200 reels.

Thanks.

I assume this is the Glass model referred to as the crankbait/vibrating jig rod? What weights do you feel are best with this rod? I've purchased a few 3/8 and 1/2 oz. chatterbaits and wouldn't mind having a dedicated rod for them. I see the Heavy is rated for 1/2- 2 oz. Would the 7' MH Glass be a better option for me? I had been considering the Dobyns 736 CB Glass rod, but didn't want to go quite that high even though it is highly rated for chatterbaits. The Evergreen is a better price.

As previously stated....it depends on the rod. The only way to know about your rod is to carefully try the desired lure. TT tests a lot of rods. Lure weight range tried is often given. Okuma Helios 7' M is rated 1/4-5/8 oz. They felt a weighted paddle tail that probably weighed about 1 oz. felt acceptable. I tried a 1-1/2 oz. saltwater jig picked up at DSG strictly for the test I did on my Gen1 Villain 7'6" MHF which is rated 3/8-1 1/4 oz. I had to lob it. Definitely too much for that rod. Yet a 3/8 oz. spinnerbait (which we all know ways more than that) wasn't enough weight to achieve any kind of decent fishing distance. A 1/2 oz. spinnerbait is the lowest I would ever use on this rod. Also I would consider picking up a scale to check lure weights. Here are a few I weighed recently. ½ oz. Strike King Thunder Cricket = .62 oz. ½ oz. War Eagle Spinnerbait = .82 oz. 5/8 oz. Storm Wildeye Swim Shad = 1 oz. 4.3” Keitech Swing Impact = .36 oz. Siebert 3/8 oz. Grassn Swim Jig = .53 oz. That is a fair difference between two half ounce spinnerbaits. I was also surprised to see the 3/8 oz. difference between what was on the package and actual weight of the Storm Shad.