new2BC4bass

The vast majority of my rods were purchased with versatility in mind. I have a 6’7” LF spinning rod that was purchased with Ned Rigs in mind. BG1500 with 10# 832. A 6'10" MLF for other finesse presentations. Procyon EX 2000SH and 10# 832. Mostly I use casting rods. A 7'4" HF is my dedicated frog rod that is kept in Florida. I carry a Curado 201E7 with 60# braid for it when I visit. Got a 7'2" MH+F for frogs and toads locally, but plan on using it for several other techniques as well. Currently has a Steez 100H with 45# braid. Jigs: Custom 7'2" MHF but is another versatile rod. Upgraded TD-X 103H with 45# braid. 7' MHF Techna AV with Chronarch 100B and 12# Siege Crankbaits: 6'6" MLM with PXL Type R and 8# AN40, 7' MHF Glass with TD-Z 103ML and 12# AN40 Topwater: 6'10" M-XF Currently T3 1016 and 12# Siege Chatterbaits: 7' MHR currently with OG Fuego and 12# Cajun Red, 7'1" MHF Exsence 12# AN40 Trick Worm: Casting Custom 7' L with tuned/upgraded Airy Red and 8# AN40/ spinning above 6'10" MLF combo Spinnerbait: Many Probably my first dedicated rod...6' MHF Berkley/Procaster 100HN and 15# mono for shorter casts. Depending on weights...7' MLF to 7'6" HF and everything in between. A spinnerbait is my lure of choice when testing new gear at a local river. Almost never lose a lure. Bought the 7' MLF as a combo with a TD-Z 105H that I've had tuned and upgraded. Using 8# AN40 on it. When in Florida I use a saltwater 7' ML rated 3/8-3/4 and Primmus Xi HS with 12# AN40 to toss 3/8 oz. (mostly) treble lures a country mile. A 7' MHF with various reels...Gen1 STX and older Patriarch XT both with 40# braid to name a couple. Mostly casting 10" unweighted ribbontails into lily pads. Don't flip, punch or dropshot although I want to start using the dropshot. Probably with the previously mentioned 6'10" MLF spinning combo or a 7' MF spinning rod with a President 6735XT. Line choice unknown as yet. The problem with these types of threads is I have other rods and reels that I enjoy, but have to try and pick out just a few. Hard to do and some favorites don't get mentioned.

That reel is probably my oldest Daiwa. I have 4 TD-X reels. A 100HSDF, TDX-103H, 103HVA and 103H Airmetal. Bought the Airmetal from Tim Starnes so you know it has a few changes. One being a Steez 100H spool although the original came with it. Tim said the reel is a crazy-good distance caster now. Got it at the end of the year and only been out once with it. The 103H and 103 HVA have been thoroughly gone through and some upgrades made by Gulfcoastwader. The HSDF is stock. Sorry OP. Don't mean to hijack your thread.

Not really. I have an older Daiwa with a flipping switch instead of a thumb bar that doesn't see much use simply because I like a thumb bar better. Finish is tougher than on a TD-Z. Casts just fine. Uses MagForce V. Been sitting long enough that it will need a cleaning before I use it again. Pretty sure the seller listed it as a TD-S 103HL, but I have it listed as a TD-X in my reel file. Don't think a box came with it and model isn't on the reel. Doesn't look like any of the S models (or any other model) displayed here. https://ontariofishing.com/Baitcasting-Team-Daiwa-Td/ I see a Zillion PE Line Special listed for $498 and $551 for sale in Japan in that link. Now I could be talked into selling mine for that price. Price for a TD-Z 103H A.o.i. at $1308.33 might be a bit high.

Never heard of Low Down Custom Rods before. After a quick search I'd have to say you got a nice rod. Be sure to post back your opinions on it. Personally I don't fish those type of lures and have no desire to do so, but nonetheless I enjoy reading about techniques I don't use. Never know, but even an old dog like me has been known to change his mind on occasion.

I hope it isn't like the Tatula CT Type R. If so, gross is right. EDIT: Checked out the MP at TW. No where near as bad as the CT.

I kind of like my Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth 6'9" M-XF casting. I suppose I would like the 6'9" M-XF spinning model as well but haven't tried it yet.

Saw it. Have one. Have 10 more reels than rods. Have way too many rods. Might not be able to pass this deal up anyway.

Specifically the 6'10" M-Mod. topwater? TW has them at 47% off. I've never used a TFO rod, and can't recall anyone mentioning them on this forum...or any other that I visit. I believe I have read a little on their flyrods and the opinion seems to be the flyrods are good value. I will say that the trigger looks very uncomfortable.

Yeah. That puts a completely different spin on things. I was having a hard time trying to figure out why you couldn't get them dialed in with as much experience as you have. I was going to post a link to a left hand OG Tatula Type R for $99.99, but it is the high speed model and you have a hard time slowing down. If I were you I'd be taking a hard look at Lew's Tournament MB. This model is being phased out to be replaced by the Tournament MP (so I've read). TW has them on sale for $80...a $140 reel. Dual braking. The TS1SMBL features a high capacity spool and a longer 95MM power crank handle and is 5.6:1 ratio. I am over saturated with reels, but this is a hard deal to pass on. I have a 7.5 purchased several years ago at $108 and I thought I was getting a great deal. These are very nice reels. Luckily I don't care which side the handle is on unless it is an expensive (to me) reel. Even then I'll buy a right hand if the price is right. I'm thinking a right hand 6.8 might be in my near future.

Yup. But a reel can be set up so it won't cast on any rod without backlashing. Not for guys like you that learned on reels with no brakes, but the vast majority of the rest of us need reels set somewhere close to correct for our abilities.

5 years is plenty long enough to know how to set up a baitcast reel. It is also plenty long enough to know how to cast properly with a baitcast reel. Have to ask anyway. Is the spool set with a touch of side to side play or with the play just barely removed? Where are the brakes set? I've only been using baitcast reels since March '09 so I am also far from being a professional. I learned on an OG Fuego. Next possible cause to eliminate is the rod being used versus lure weights being cast. I have to assume you know what you are doing in that area as well, but it is still vital information to know. Some people can cast 1/8 oz. on a MH rod, but I ain't one of them. I need a rod that loads properly for the weight being used. It is possible to get a bad reel from any brand. You would have to be very unlucky to get two. However, the Tatula SV is a very nice looking and performing reel. Far be it from me to dissuade you from buying a new reel. Love Utah. How about I fly out there next year and try your combo myself? Just kidding. But if I did I could bring 20 or so reels for you to try. All Daiwas or a sampling of several brands. I've got Daiwas with at least 5 different braking systems: Magforce, Magforce V, Magforce Z, Magforce 3D and reels with SV spools. Only had problem with one, and that was a spool tension problem (had none), but I was able to fix it on my own from help on here. EDIT: Quality control on the Magforce 3D reels wasn't the best. It is the one reel I mentioned earlier, but you can turn the brakes completely off and still cast without being an expert. You probably could find one in good shape for not much. Backlashes would occur less often with just a few brakes turned on than on an SV spooled reel.

I don't think it is the reels causing the problem. How familiar are you with baitcast reels? What weight lures are you trying to cast and on what rod? I am thinking you might not be using a rod that will load properly, or else you are quite new to baitcast reels and maybe trying to whip the rod like a spinning rod is often used.

I envy you. I've never been able to keep a short answer to two words.

Nice to know. I tried a small unweighted fluke with mine on a 6'9" MF V.I.P. Smallmouth rod and it did extremely well. I was very impressed. Was able to cast into a stiff wind with no problem...with one exception. Backlashed when I tried for the other side of the lake while casting directly into that stiff wind. I would like a different handle for it. More play in the knobs than I am used to. Actually I bought 3 as a package deal, but have only used the one.

I purchased a used custom 7' MHF RX7 Rainshadow and have to say I really like the rod a lot. Seems quite sensitive to me.

That sucks. Try one of Daiwa's cheaper models. I bought a Revros a few years ago as a birthday present for my brother-in-law (who is my fishing partner when I visit Florida), and he is still using it. Hasn't mentioned having any problems with it.

I've only called Fenwick once, and it was for something I did to the rod. Customer service was friendly. However, I decided to use the rod and see if what I had done caused a problem down the road since the rod was out of production. I have quite a few Fenwick rods...both spinning and casting. I've always felt I got good value for my money. They range from old Elite Tech, HMG, Smallmouth, Techna AV, River Runner to the gen1 Aetos. Personally I'd give Fenwick a call.

How light? You don't need to spend hundreds on a reel for 3/16 oz. Also guys on here have mentioned that something like a Fuego CT with the right aftermarket spool can handle light lures for a total cost of around $100-$110. I mention 3/16 oz. because that is my comfort limit. Start going lighter and I'm not all that good with a baitcast reel. I cast a #5 Shad Rap on used reels that cost me $65. The Tsurinoya X50 costs about $54 and is said to do well with light lures. Almost every reel I have can handle an unweighted 10" ribbontail worm on a 3/0-5/0 hook.

Sorry. Refuse to do 5. 15 maybe.

Sounds like you want to use not only the same brand, but the same pound test for both spinning and baitcast reels. What power rods are you using? I don't like larger spinning reels, which is one reason I wanted to try baitcast reels back in '09 when I decided to get back into fishing. I don't use over 8# on my spinning reels. (Again...because of the size of the reels I use.) I also use a lot of 8# on the vast majority of my Medium and less powerful baitcast rods. Personally I would make sure the line you plan on using doesn't have excessive memory when used on a spinning reel. Some others to consider are Berkley XL, Sufix Elite, Izorline XXX and McCoy. Even 4# will be strong enough to land any bass. The cover you fish in will be more critical to line size. I will say that if you chose 4# that you might need a leader depending on the rod. I've snapped 4# on the cast with small BeetleSpins on one of my spinning rods....a 9' fiberglass rod. I put a long enough 10# leader to keep the leader within the guides on the cast. No more casting lures into the wild blue yonder.

Good thing I have 3000 yd. spools of the two lines I use most...8# and 12#. Don't think I have to worry about running out at my age. Especially since I don't get out several times a month much less several times a week like some of you.

Agree. I have 9 different brands of reels. Daiwas I use have at least 5 different braking systems. Abus at least four. Shimanos at least four. I never take out just one brand. I have no problem setting one type down and grabbing something with a totally different braking system.

Sorry for the loss of your love affair. The first video proved to me that a light spool isn't the end all for distance. Loved the color scheme on the EXD. Too bad its performance didn't live up to its looks. My first Abu was a used Gen 1 STX. It has always had 40# braid on it. Initially Performance, but now PP Original since I had to change the line while in Florida. I run brakes higher than most people probably do. (Set near max right now, but I don't recall what lure I was casting with it the last time it was out.) But I run spool tension pretty loose. It went with me the first few years I visited Florida. Mostly used to cast weightless 10" ribbontail worms into lily pads. One year it got used with a 3/4 oz. spoon to fish brackish water (and caught a few flounder). Both lures cast on the same rod...a Jupiter 7' MHF. Made some of my longest casts ever with that spoon. No problem getting the ribbontail a decent distance. Matter of fact my brother-in-law thinks baitcast reels out cast spinning reels for distance. He only uses spinning. I've never measured distance with this reel. If I remember correctly, it is listed as holding 135 yards of 12# mono. I couldn't say whether or not this is to the bevel (as I fill it) or the 1/16-1/8 below the bevel as suggested on the sheet that came with the reel. I was consistently casting over half the spool. I will be the first to admit I am not the best caster.

I was going to suggest a Medium power rod until you posted this. But now? Jeez, you might want to consider a Heavy power rod depending on total weight. One with a little softer tip. Can't offer any suggestions, tho. Possibly a Bucoo SR Heavy. Falcons I have used (no Bucoos) tend to fish a bit light. Also have a nice tip. I learned on an OG Fuego...Magforce Z. Was quite a learning curve for me at 61 years old. PhishLI might have a valid point. Wouldn't know as you can't learn twice. Although after sending out a few reels at the end of my first season with baitcast reels, I was informed my cast controls were set way too tight. Loosening them up to where they belonged was almost like learning again. I overran/backlashed a lot, but at least my lures were going in the right direction.

Been through this topic a few times. Yup. Originally started using baitcasters with the handle on the same side as my spinning reels...the left. Nice, highly rated, reel (no longer in production at that time) came up for sale. Wrong hand. Bought it anyway. Haven't looked back. Not only does using both hands allow you to act on (buy ) any reel that comes along regardless of handle side, but allows you to switch hands during the day if getting tired on one side. Which for me means the rod arm getting tired.