OnthePotomac

Look to parts needed in the future. I have never had a problem getting anything for all of my Shimanos and many of their reels have interchangeable parts regardless of reel model. I recently completed a reel parts compatability chart for my reels and was amazed at how many parts are common throughout the Shimano reel family.

Here is the information on the rod and reel trade in. http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CFPageBasic?storeId=10151&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&appID=206&template=specials.cfm&loc=56

This is a Bass Pro Shops show and he is their star. That said, I have seen all of the BPS pro staff on the shows and some with no KVD at all.

I read an article several years ago by Denny Brauer where he recommended the same thing as KVD

Reel X works well on worm gears. It has anti-corrision properties and has the right viscosity.

The annual BPS rod and reel trade in is coming up and I have a question regarding the rod aspect of the trade in, since there has to be a BPS employee on board here, or someone who has done it. How does the rod trade in work? I know how the reels work.

My only comment is that you had better be an accomplished spinning reel angler to use 5lb braid with a sewing thread diameter. Gary Yamamoto uses thin braid. but he does not even go that thin. I recommend not going below 15lb/4lb diameter.

I have two Carbonlite spinning and three Carbonlite baitcasters among my rods. My grandson has two Carbonlite spinning rods and three Carbonlite baitcasters and the rods range in age from 3 to one year old and we have had no problems fishing the junk in the Tidal Potomac river with them. Our baitcasters are MH 6'6" and 7'. The spinning rods are medium 6'6" and 7'. We love the rods and both of us use Shimano Citica and Curado reels and Sahara spinning reels. I saw a comment on another forum by a professional rod builder who said that in his view the Carbonlite is the best "bang for the buck" and this guy has a reputation for being very critical on production rods.

Doug, I put this little chart together which might help you decide what to use: USE SWIVELS ON Carolina rigs Fluke rigs In line spinners (If line twist occurs) USE SNAP SWIVELS OR SWIVELS ON Standard Spoons Mepps Syclops TIE DIRECT TO Buzz baits Chuggers (or split ring/duolock) Jigs Frogs/rats Prop baits Spinner baits Stick baits (i.e.Zara Spook) Tail spinners Weedless spoons Weight forward spinners TIE TO SPLIT RING OR DUOLOCK SNAP Crank baits Lipless crank baits Jerk baits Blade baits Jigging spoons* * Swivel if desired

I have one Carbonlite micro guide 6'6" I bought this summer and two regular Carbonlite, 7' and 6'6" I bought last year, all MH, and have had no problems worm fishing heavy grass. My grandson has two Carbonlite microguide, one 7' and one 6'6", both MH and he loves them.

Agree. I am still using BPS Excel 20lb mono from a jumbo spool I bought 10 years ago with no problems. It stays in the box on my peg board in my finished basemant.

The Citica 200E has been replaced with a new 2011 model, yet to be released. The 200E's are really scarce as many retailers cut the price to unload them.

I use your rod with a Citica 200E and 14lb XPS floro for my worm fishing. Love it.

You can find Quantum Hot Sauce (oil and grease)in WalMart. Quality lubes are not expensive though and a small container lasts forever. I do my own reels and use Yellow Rocket Fuel on the bearings, ReelX on the worm gear, SuperLube on gears and Shimano drag grease on the drag washers. I recommend that you stay away from basic machine oils for your reels and do not use WD40 on your reels.

I agree fully, you need 50# in any braid. I have switched to Sufix 832 from Power Pro and like it very much. Very smooth. The line you have wil work well on a spinning reel.

Sometimes if your cast control cap is tightened down it pushes the spool out when you remove the cover. Loosen the cast control cap and try. Just an idea since it has heppened to me.

Kid's water color brushes work great for brushing grease into gear tracks and boy, are they inexpensive.

The snap takes the place of the split ring.

Any quality mono for top waters and shallow runners, and a quality floro for deeper crankbaits and worm/plastics. If you only have one reel, I used BPS Excel 14lb mono for a long time for everything and caught many bass.

Call Shimano customer service at 877-577-0600 and they will send you replacements free. I just did for the same brake. In this regard, I have experienced them providing various tiny items at no charge. The extra brakes in your reel box will not be the same brake and are heavier brakes.

Bass Pro Woo Daves still uses a spincaster on occasion.

BassDeaton, here is another good knot for floro, easy to tie and you can watch it being tied: http://www.netknots.com/html/eye_crosser.html

OOPS! I stand corrected, Carbonlite guides are Titanium Carbide with a PVD (physical vapor deposition) coating, and I just noticed that the micro guide rods are Hialoy inserts.

I have never fished a Compre, but I have fished three Carbonlites for two years and am very happy with them. I worm fish very heavy grass beds on the Tidal Potomac and they have never failed me horsing a fish out of heavy grass, or detecting a bite. I am not an expert on rod quality, but the Carbonlite PacBay silicon carbide line guides seem to do the trick. I can only compare the Carbonlite to the BPS Extremes, with which I fished for 10 years and the Carbonlites are far more sensitive. It all depends on what one is comfortable with for the money. On the hardness scale SiC is pretty hard: Ring Hardness Values Stainless Steel (SS): 400 Chrome: 800-1000 Carbaloy: 1000 Aluminum Oxide: 1200-1400 Alconite : 1300-1500 NanoLite : 1800 Zirconia: 1000-1400 Zirconia PVD: 1600 Silicon Carbide (SiC): 2200-2400

You may have trouble with a hook set fishing plastics on a whippy rod. Generally plastics are fished on a graphite medium heavy rod with a fast action.