new2BC4bass

Read PhishLI posts. Quote from GReb, "The Icon PT at $45 on eBay is best deal going in fishing." and "It’s just a solid reel for the money. Aluminum frame, quality drag, good brakes, smooth, powerful, and comfortable. Only downside is it weighs almost 8 ounces out of the box. But it fishes great"

Good luck getting a reply. I couldn't recall ever seeing Evergreen rods mentioned. So I did a search. Two or three times an Evergreen rod got mentioned, but I never saw an opinion on them. Only a casual reference to them.

to the forum. If you've been following threads for the past week or so, then you know the Quantum Icon ($120 reel) has been discontinued and can be found at great prices. You would also have read that this reel has features not found on more popular reels until reaching the $200-$250 price. Check for PhishLI posts. RH 7.0:1 (HPT) can be had for $50 and the 6.3:1 (SPT) for $45. I don't know how you can beat that deal. I am fond of 12# mono or co-polymer. Many good choices.

I got my BG for less than $100. Love it. No experience with the others. I did get a Revros for a brother-in-law about 3 years ago. He is my fishing buddy when I visit. He is still using it without any complaints. The BGs aren't the lightest on the market, but my little 1500 feels like a little tank.

Phenix X9 ($200) and Quantum Icon IC100SPT ($45 on Amazon-4 left). Maybe only 3 left if I think about it much more. Plenty of rods that would make your budget with the Icon. Maybe the Okuma EVX 7' M ($100) or Lew's TP-1 Black 7' M ($130). Or one of the $150 crankbait rods. I assume the Vendetta is rated 1/4-1 oz. If so, I personally would want a rod with a lower rating.....but I use shallow to medium depth crankbaits.

WRB (Tom) knows a little about the Iovino rods. Hopefully he will be along sometime today to give you a little help.

Magforce and Magforce Z are two different braking systems. I got started late with baitcasters (2009). I know the Magforce Z has been around since at least 2004. There are many more knowledgeable guys on here than me. Maybe one will come along to tell you exactly when Magforce Z came into being.

Good find. Past this old man's bed time so I will let you youngsters go at it now.

Nice write up Trey. I've always read good things about the Ethos rods. I am a big fan of Daiwa reels...both spinning and casting. However, I am not a fan of P-Line Fluoroclear. Put some 10# on a baitcast reel that I took with me to Florida last year. Broke way too easy. I had an extra reel or two with me so that reel got pulled the first day of fishing. Wish I had an Academy close by.

Buy LH, but learn to use a RH reel. You can thank me later. Cranking certain lures on a tip heavy rod can wear out your rod arm. Having the ability to crank with both hands can be a blessing. I always carry both LH & RH reels when I know I will be out all day. Although an all day excursion is not required for me to carry both. A side benefit is you can purchase any reel that interests you regardless of which side the handle is on. Not all reels come in either hand. Remember....the Bait Monkey is your friend. Learn to work with him.

I don't like white rods and have never used a Veritas, but TW has 2 left of the 6'10" MLF. 13 Fishing has a few below $100, but I have zero experience with them. Lew's has several models. I've read good things about the TP1. Or you could be the first to own a KVD IM8.

Love my Daiwa BG. Brother-in-law (lives in FL and fishes a lot) has been using the Revros I got him for over 3 years with no problem. OP, don't believe all you read about Fluorocarbon lines having no or little stretch. Look in TackleTour review archives and read their tests on Fluorocarbon showdowns. I know the Fluorocarbon line I tried stretched like a rubber band. Then when it broke I had to cut off several more feet to get rid of the line that had frayed. Lots of bull gets passed along on the web that isn't true. I get a chuckle every time I read this one.

Just checked. Sold out of all models. You any relation to my wife? She would also say the price was $69 even tho it is only a penny below $70. And, yes, I realize you didn't say it cost $69, but then I wouldn't have been able to make my comment if I didn't ignore what you actually said. In my mind $69.99 is $70.

I have a few Falcons, but not those models. Don't recall ever reading a bad word about either.

Excellent question, but one with many possible answers. What type of water are you fishing? Deep clear waters or shallow murky waters? Cover? Favorite lures you fish? Do you fish from shore or a boat? Etc. Gear ratios are flexible. Maybe even more so than rod selection. Ratios have gotten faster and many like faster. What was fast 10 years ago is in the middle speeds now. Personally I would like a 7'2" MHF with a ratio in the 7s and a 7' MF with a ratio in the 6s...preferably low 6s.

Love Siege Neon Tangerine! Very easy to see.

Haven't hunted since around 1998. I have reels that cost more than every gun I have except for an Ithaca 12 ga. over and under skeet gun. However, now most would sell used for more than my most expensive reel. EDIT: Agree with MN Fisher. Crankbait rods are my only technique specific rods. I have delegated a few other rods for specific techniques.....but they also will work for other techniques. I just have enough rods that I can dedicate a rod or two for specific techniques. Most rods are very capable of fishing several techniques satisfactorily. Probably could even find something else for a crankbait rod if I tried hard enough.

$110 at Sportsman's Outfitters.

Nice choices. I keep an original Tatula 7' 4" HF in Florida for my dedicated frog rod. For locally I picked up a Toadface about 2 years ago when ALX had a great sale on rods. Wish I could have afforded a few more rods during that sale. However, the Toadface won't be used strictly for frogs. A very versatile rod. Don't need another reel, but may have to get a Tatula Elite anyway.

I am trying some Fins. Good so far. I am not a big fan of PowerPro Original. Quite noisy through the guides.

I keep an Olympic GraphiteLeader 6’9” MHF 2-pc 1/4-1 oz. 10-20 lb. 3.5 oz. in my trunk for unexpected fishing opportunities.

$220 for both?

Pflueger had a nice sale about a year-and-a-half ago. I believe it was $60 Supreme XT, $80 Patriarch and $100 Patriarch XT. Basically 60% off list.

Sorry I wasn't very clear. The Icon lists for $120, but can be found for $50 because it is being discontinued. A quick search turned up a best price of $45 for the President. Personally I'd opt for the $120 reel for the extra 5 bucks. I love closeouts. Got a Curado 51E for $98 shipped (list $200). My Daiwa reels outnumber every other brand I have so you won't get any flack from me for recommending one.

List: $60 reel vs $120 reel. Carbon frame vs aluminum frame. Don't get me wrong. I have a few Pflueger reels and think you get very good value for your money. Mostly due to a family situation I have not been out with my Icon yet. I have had a few conversations with PhishLI and that is why I got my Icon. A review I read commented on how non-temperamental the reel is, and that he had treated it hard and was impressed with how well it held up. Both mechanically and cosmetically. You can get a right hand 7.0:1 for $50 from Walmart Online. Even with tax this is a tad cheaper than what I paid.