new2BC4bass

Replace with 'will'.

My first choice would be a Pflueger Trion and Berkley Lightning (not the Shock). I'm sure there are others.

I have more than 2 spinning outfits, but normally only carry one with me. It will be for lighter lures than I want to cast with a baitcast reel. Hardly ever gets used. My newest is a dedicated Ned Rig. This I hope to use more often. Should I carry a second spinning combo it will be for lighter worms and jigs, etc. i.e. small thin wire single hooks. This year when I went to Florida on vacation the only casting reel loaded with braid I took with me was for my frog rod. Forgot to take another one with braid. I had shipped a few rods down ahead of time. One was an older Fenwick HMG 7' MF worm & jig spinning rod. As it turns out the spinning reel I took with me had braid spooled on it. This became my main rod this year while there. Mostly it was for casting a 10" weightless ribbontail worm back into the lily pads and other junk. Worked fine. BTW, I have a more complete list of my rods and reel on another forum. (No longer a complete list.) Posting all of them might sound like bragging. It's not. I'm just happy with what I have accumulated over the years. Many on here have much more expensive rods & reels than I do. I'm happy for them and enjoy seeing what others use. EDIT: webertime, which model is your Prodigy? I have the older gray model. Definitely a solid reel.

I feel bad for the seller, but I like my end of the bargain. I've got 4 custom rods that I wouldn't have if I was the initial purchaser. I have mentioned custom resale value before. Not to discourage anyone from having one made, but to make them aware they will lose more should they decide to sell it then they would a factory rod.

I don't think you have to go to 50# braid. 40# should be enough. I have no problem with the 30# that came on a reel I bought used. However, when I first took it out I had to spend about 15 minutes casting and removing tight spots left there by the previous owner. Never had a dig in with the 40# braid...which is the first braid I ever used. No experience with the Curado DC, but have an Exsence DC. From what I have read, I'd say the Exsence DC is more trouble free setting up. Spool tension is loose yet I don't need a thumb unless going below 4 on the brake setting. None of the other settings require a thumb. This is an older model. I think you did exceptionally well. Took me a lot longer than that to get decent with my first baitcast reel. I was 61 at the time. Never will be as good with a baitcast reel as a lot of the guys (and gals) on here.

Good luck getting suggestions. One time I posted a similar thread. Naturally I had my own ideas, but wanted opinions of some others. Not one answer. I would suggest listing reel ratios. It makes a difference to many on which technique to use the reel for.

So am I. I have a text file for both rods and reels. I'm not very computer literate. Would love a similar spreadsheet. Might be too lazy to figure out how to make one and fill it out, tho.

As a shore fisherman...in a highly pressured area...I would disagree with that statement. Sure you want to start in close hoping the person ahead of you didn't...or didn't present a lure any fish that might be in the area was interested in...but it isn't long before you are looking for that country mile cast. Even when in a boat with my fishing buddy in Florida, I find it is often necessary for me to reach out there because of boat position and where he is casting. I always let him fish an area he is interested in. As a general rule I am also looking for the longest cast possible when throwing a crankbait. Naturally there are times I am targeting targets close by. (Can suck for me.) When I practice I spend a lot of time on distance casting. Because of this I am more accurate at distance than with a close in target. This doesn't mean that I am within inches at 45 yards (happens occasionally) and feet at 10 yards (happens occasionally ), but relatively speaking I am better at a longer distance. I've noticed that some rods are more accurate (for me) than others.

Hot dog! This would be another good reason to buy a few more reels. BUT the yellow on my OG Tatulas is now more towards a copper color from age. What can I use to polish them (in hopes of returning them to yellow)?

A lot of my reels were purchased used. Quite a few rods, too. It can be an excellent way to go allowing you to buy gear you wouldn't normally spring the money for when new. Especially reels. I've bought several that looked like new...or close to it.

You will find the vast majority here prefer baitcast reels. Many use spinning for the light stuff. Not all. However, there are a few that prefer spinning for just about everything. Nothing wrong with either. Use whichever you prefer.

I like reels with red trim, but dislike the looks of the CT Type R. Much prefer the looks of the original Type R. The Limited Edition (original Type R) is beautiful.

I hadn't previously heard of problems with the Helios rods breaking. Did a little research. Two on Amazon had a rod break while fishing. A third opened the package to find the rod in two pieces. He said he had read in other reviews of this happening. Gave it one star. That is ridiculous. How can you blame the rod because the carrier broke it in transit? That's like blaming your wife for you getting food poisoning because she drove the car to the restaurant. Everyone else loved the rods. I bought a Medium. (Mini guide. Prefer standard guides but that was what was on sale.) I liked the rod well enough to buy a second. Neither have seen a lot of use, but that is because I haven't been getting out much the past two years. I have a feeling the reason the rods that broke could have been caused by a handling issue. i.e. something like hitting the rod against the corner of a solid object. I've never read of a breakage problem on this site or the other two sites that I frequent.

Only a few rods were purchased with a specific technique in mind. The OG 7'4" Tatula was purchased as a frog rod and stays in Florida. So does the Hurricane and is used for treble hook lures. The Toadface is for frogs and toads locally, but is much more versatile that that. The Aetos, X10 and 704 CB Glass naturally are used for treble hook lures. As will be a Lew's Crankbait Ledge rod still in plastic. The Benkei was purchased for my dedicated Ned Rig rod. The HMG is one on the rods I learned to cast 3/16 oz. Shad Raps on. Still use it for that, but it will also do more. The 105H makes a good companion for it and were purchased together. I've never used a Carolina Rig, Umbrella Rig or punched. I don't use large swimbaits. I do user smaller ones. I never figured I'd be buying so much gear so I always bought with versatility in mind. Technique rods (including crankbait rods) are some of the last rods I have purchased. I decided to try a baitcast reel when I got back into fishing in 2009. Love them. Have too many. Would have more, but am trying to be more responsible.

I couldn't tell you. My cheapest rod cost $17 plus tax. Most expensive $175. Cheapest reel $30, most expensive i think was $240. However, my Airy Red has the most invested in it. It was unusable upon delivery. Repair, cleaning and upgrades cost more than the reel's purchase price. Let's just say that over the past 10 plus years I have managed to accumulate a few thousand in rods and reels.

A few combos. Deputy/Steez Toadface/Exsence Custom 7’ ML/Airy Red Rainshodow RX7 7’ MHF/Zillion 50th Tatula 7’4” HF/Curado 201E7 Smallmouth 6’10” MF/Curado 51E Dobyns 704 CB Glass/Daiwa TD-Z 103ML Aetos 6’6” MLM/PXL Type R Diablo Spec R/Daiwa SV103HL Powell Endurance/Patriarch XT Ark Sniper 6’10” MF/Primmus HS Xi HMG 7’ ML/TD-Z 105H Regista 7’ MF/Scorpion 71HG Daiwa Tatula 7’ MLR/Helios Air Phenix X10 7’ MF/Purple Alphas Okuma Helios 7’ MF/Supreme XT Major Craft Benkei 6’7” LF/Daiwa BG 1500 Regista 6’10” MLF/Procyon 2000 Plus a few more. I keep a 7’ ML Hurricane (Medium rating for bass) in Florida that I thoroughly enjoy with a Primmus.

We are similar. Rods and reels from all over with Daiwa reels being in the majority. Daiwa, Fenwick & Falcon lead in rods. About 82% of mine are baitcasting, but they get used about 99.3% of the time.

You will like it. My 201E7 is on my frog rod. Very good reels.

No. Although in the right hands the Type R might do a smidgen better with light baits. Not in mine, tho.

'No' is not something I'd dare tell my wife. OP. Left hand or right hand? I ask because you can find some really good deals on used reels. There are a couple LH Patriarchs for $100 on another site. These are $200 reels new unless on sale...which is how I got mine for $80 directly from Pflueger. Also several RH Curado Ks for $130 and 2 RH Tournament MBs for $100. Both very good reels.

See. That is what happens when you get old. You think 30 years is just a moment in time. Wait until you get to be my age.

I like my Fenwick HMGs, The Ark Lancer has a couple nice reviews. One website...in which I read an article about the Lancer...is a site I don't think I've ever read a bad thing about ANY rod. Tackletour also liked it for its price. The Aird X gets good reviews. If you like cork, then look at the Procyon. Abu, Shimano and several others also offer rods at and below that price point. Take a gander through the rods on Tacklewarehouse.

Same title thread.

Yup. Most of the time I don't have to adjust brakes when changing lures. You probably won't have to either.

Excellent choice. Versatile. My MHF rods out number all other power rods.