Vafthrudnir

Another round reel fan here. My low profiles come and go with the latest-greatest, but my Calcutta and Daiwa round reels stay and seem to get better with age.

Here's another Cabelas option. I have the 2pc 7' H and like it a lot. These usually go on sale every year for around $99. http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabelas-XML-Casting-Rods/1158307.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3DsearchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3Dxml%26x%3D-332%26y%3D-12%26WTz_l%3DHeader%253BSearch-All%2BProducts&Ntt=xml&WTz_l=Header%3BSearch-All+Products

I use a Big Cranker for all of my mid-depth cranks, traps, spinnerbaits, and even some jerkbaits. It's my favorite crankbait rod.

Sam, thanks for the welcome. I've lurked around here before and I do like this place. Seems to be a lot of good people here. I sometimes get frustrated with the internet, but that's just my personal inability to adapt to cyber discussions. Your sentence "So it is not as much as putting other equipment down; it is about touting the equipment that has served you well to direct the forum members to purchase quality gear." is the right mindset in my opinion. Thanks!

21 farms, I just talking in general. I have noticed a lot of brand slamming here and there on the internet, haven't you? You're right about this thread. It's been very civil and open-minded.

Fat-G, you will love it!

See the little reel in my avatar? It's one of my favorite Shimanos, and a first cousin to your 50E. I basically like any reel of any brand that does its job well, and really it comes down to personal preferences. I just don't understand why some people have to put down another's reel of choice just to feel good about their own.

I shared this photo of my Lew's Tournament Pro on another forum, but I wanted to share my experiences with this reel. I've come to the same realization as Bigs on the value of these reels that are in the $150-200 range. The new ones on the market just work extremely well and I can't see myself buying anything more expensive unless it's a specialty reel like my Conquest 50, or a reel that offers superior performance like a Calcutta DC for casting light crankbaits into an ever-present wind like I encounter on the Mississippi River. I'll be first to yell fowl if this reel takes a quick dump, but it's replaced a lot of more expensive reels in my lineup, and it changed my thinking about the new reels in this price range. Will it last 10 years? I don't really care because I generally buy new reels every few years and that's just part of the fun for me. But I'll say with no reservations that I'm really, really impressed with this Tournament Pro. I've sold off my last Zillion, Sol, and have a Fuego that I can't justify anymore. I like this Lew's better than all of them. On Saturday evening I was just about to reel up my swim jig and a 42" pike grabbed it and took off like a freight train. The Lew's drag worked perfectly and the big pike (my biggest by far) was worn down after three good runs. I like it.

I'm right and everyone else is wrong.

I like the US because I can see that Mist Green color above water very well.

Favre?

I looked one over at a shop and I was very impressed with this Lew's reel. All of the controls worked so crisply and I loved the matte black finish. After reading TT's review and these comments here I just might replace my aging Fuego with one.

Another big round reel fan here. I also have the TDLuna 103 and it's on my main crankbait rod. I've got an assortment of older Abus, and one little crown jewel, the Shimano Conquest 50. I had a Calcutta 200B and I'm not sure why I sold it. That thing cast like a champ. I think in all I have 6 round reels and 5 low profile reels. Like them all, but the round reels are my sentimental favorites.