new2BC4bass

Not what I was wanting to hear. I chased reels for lighter baits a few years ago. Couldn't afford a Pixy. First attempt was a Presso spool in a Sol. Wasn't that great for me, but I was just getting into casting lighter lures so my casting ability wasn't all that great with light lures either....and still isn't. So not really a fair test. I do need to spool some lighter line on it and give it another shot. I made the mistake of spooling some 10# Super Natural on it that I wanted to try out. Too heavy a line for the spool AFAIC. I have purchased a few Pixys now that the price on them has come way down. I also have an SV105HSL. Was a disappointment at first. Overran and backlashed more than any other reel I had up to that time. And, yes, I set up per videos and recommendations from people on here. A trip to a pro tuner cured those problems. However, I haven't tried to see how light it will go. I am waiting for the Elites to go on sale for around $170. Definitely will buy one then.

I am a fan of Siege Neon Tangerine. OP. I got a spool of Fins Windtamer 5# Hi-Vis Yellow. Had it out once so far and quickly learned I will need a leader for abrasion resistance. As you said...not all that 'Hi-Vis' in that diameter. Being somewhat frugal, I will try to use it until it needs changing, but definitely will be going to a higher test line when it gets replaced. Which may be sooner than later.

I've been considering one because of the extra casting distance they are supposed to provide. Waiting for a good sale. Capability of casting light lures is good, but not really what I am looking for. I've got Pixys for that. Please don't anyone tell me the Elite casts light lures as well as a Pixy. I've also been looking at the Smoke S3 and Tour S3 for long casts as well after reading the recent thread on here. Seems they do very well for distance. Also the Daiwa Catalina, but that is a bit rich for my blood.

Don't know if the Zolo Toadface would be heavy enough for you, but it is an excellent frog rod that is also very versatile. Custom is another good option.

No clue. I spool braid on by holding it snug between my thumb and first finger. Green Fireline color flaked off and tuned them green. Not done that with any other braid. Maybe the Sufix was really old and dried out? I wouldn't let this experience keep you from trying colored braid. I have some orange Sufix Performance Fuse I found at Ollie's. Good luck finding any mention of this braid on here other than a post I started. $5.99 for 125 yards. Hasn't caused that problem on the reel I have been using it on. I've got blue and Hi-Vis Yellow from Fins that I've been trying. No problem there either. Over time my green Sufix Performance lost its color turning to a whitish pale green. Didn't leave color behind on the reel. At least not like that or bad enough for me to notice it. Color loss didn't hurt the performance of Performance. Many people use colored braid without having your problem. Sufix 832 is an excellent braid.

Wonder if mine will work as good tomorrow. Supposed to be 65 with sun.....and hopefully no heavy wind. Only sunny day on forecast.

What reel will you be putting on it? There are several combinations that will give you a combo weighing less than 10 oz. total weight when spooled.

Notice that the Medium will handle quit a bit above its rating. Light at 3.4 oz., sensitive. I liked mine well enough to buy a second one.

http://tackletour.com/reviewokumaheliosrod.html https://www.bassresource.com/fishing_lures/okuma-helios-review.html https://www.bassresource.com/fishing_lures/okuma-helios-reel-rod.html I like my Medium.

Just noticed this was your first post. I got to thinking after my original post about what kind of reel you would need depending on weights being used. As Mike (DVD) said...learning to cast using light weight lures is not the way to go. There are plenty of threads on this forum dedicated to the use of light lures. One to two pound bass will hit lures that a MH rod (or Heavy) is capable of casting. I agree with what has already been said. Consider using your current set up for light lures and going to lures in the 1/4-5/8 oz. with the baitcast rod. I've had rock bass (what we called them) hit lures almost as big as they were.

How heavy is the cover? How light are you talking about for lure weights? I am thinking a MLF would be best. Beetlespins I've used are pretty light. I'd use 8# mono or co-polymer. Most importantly...what is your budget?

6' Berkley Lightning spinning rod with Penn 430SS. Purchased over 45 years at not remembered prices. Has caught more fish than any rod/reel since I got back into fishing in '09. 6' MH Berkley casting rod with Daiwa Procaster 100HN. $17 plus tax for rod (so $18.02) and $30 for reel on closeout. Was purchased for my oldest grandson, but he has no desire to try a baitcast reel. It is now my dedicated short range spinnerbait rod. Plenty of 'feel'. Too much with 1/2 oz. Colorado blade spinnerbait.

Gen 1 Villain 7'6" MHF. I hardly ever get to handle a rod first. This rod has been my only regret so far.

I don't. Robert K is the one you quoted. I was curious as to why nylon lines were a no-no in those spools. I've come to this conclusion..........more than once. And yet I keep trying. Just like baitcast reels better.

I assume this is because the spools are so shallow??? Sorry. Can't help.

Debated about a week ago whether to get or not one when there was a thread on them. Think the sale price mentioned in the thread was below $100. Was able to talk myself out of it. Can get the KVD now for $110. Supposedly S3 casts way far. I fish from shore so extra distance is a plus. Just don't know if it is worth me getting another reel as I have no rod for it. Dang Bait Monkey.

Can I safely assume the only difference between the Quantum Smoke S3 and the KVD Smoke S3 are the trim? Thanks.

I am guessing from all over as I have something like 26 different brands.

Nice fish!

I still say the rod makes a difference. I have a 7'6" MHF casting rod rated 3/8 to 1-1/4 oz. Won't cast a 3/8 oz. spinnerbait worth a darn. A 1/2 oz. spinnerbait only to a decent fishing distance. I've weighed a few 3/8 oz. spinnerbaits I bought from a guy on here that made his own. They weighed .58 oz. Maybe an aerodynamic lure would do better. I also tried a 1-1/2 oz. salt water jig (picked up from Dick's for this very purpose) and I had to lob that weight. I felt that if I tried my normal cast it might break the rod. Haven't weighed that jig. Read through Tackletour rod reviews and you will find more than a couple that handle above the rod's rating quite well while trying to go below its rating results in poor performance. You don't want to overload a rod, but at the same time it needs enough of a load to cast properly. I've seen a buddy cast a pretty light lure on his MHF St. Croix. The rod literally whistles on his casting stroke. That is how hard and fast he is can cast. I doubt I could have cast that weight very far...if at all on that rod. So some skill is also involved. That was awhile ago and I have gotten better at casting....I hope.

Maybe it did sound picky. I didn't mean it that way. I doubt I could tell the difference in 1/2 oz. Rod/reel weight isn't everything. Many think Dobyns rods are very light, but we know it is more about balance as they aren't always the lightest.

Walmart has one left at $154.99. Of course you will have to pay tax, but shipping is free to a store near you. Model HSX-273V. I believe that makes it a 7.3:1 right hand reel. EDIT: Wow. Same price on Amazon. Double wow. ebay as the green trim 7.3 left hand Helios (regular, not the SX) for $130. Too bad I am overloaded with reels. Those are some nice deals. The SX is heavier than the Air. List is 6.3 oz. (SX), 5.8 oz. (Air) but Tackletour weighed the Air at 5.3 oz.

According to Megabass literature, they felt the (Gen 1) Orochi XX Diablo Spec R was the most versatile in that line.

Your price range is too rich for my blood. Such a rod bought by me would be purchased used at a very good price. I picked up a Witch Doctor Shaman and Kistler Helium 3 over the winter, but haven't used either yet. Both are highly rated. Check out Tackletour's reviews. The ALX Zolo Toadface is a very versatile rod, but maybe you'd like to try an ENOX. ALX rods get excellent reviews by most. EDIT: Many rate the Expride as good as most $400 rods.

From what I could find out the TD-Z 105H was made from 1998-2005. I hope longevity is good because I have 3 of them. If it isn't, I've wasted some money because all 3 have been tuned and upgraded.