Tywithay

I have 6lb and 8lb Tatsu on my two bfs reels. I don't recommend braid for senkos or traps.

My cabelas cover and my sf covers both allow the line to come off the reel.

I've been using the SF covers from amazon. They come in a 3 pack for $14.99. They're pretty easy to get on and off. I like them, because you can get the line strung through the rod. Some of them aren't open at the front and that's a bit of a chore.

The SV holds 100 yards of 14lb line. I don't know of anyone that can cast that far, unless they're throwing a couple ounces. It will handle pretty much any bass technique without an issue.

Going solely based on reels that I own, and use regularly, I'd buy another Tatula SV, Gen3 Revo Premier, or look for a deal on a Lew's Hyper Mag. The first two are readily available around $150 and the Lew's can be found under $200 when ebay has coupons or good deals. You might be able to snag a Chronarch MGL if you really shop around as well. There's one sitting in my local Cabela's bargain cave right now for $175. Just keep you eye out for good deals and try to get a $300 reel for under $200, so you can stretch your dollar further.

Haven't used the Elite, but I have a 766 Recon2 flipping stick and I like the blank a lot. Handle is a little skinny for my liking, but the rod itself is pretty dang good. Whether or not it's worth the cost is subjective.

The white ones were Zebco 404's. Zebco still makes the same reels today, though they look a little more modern.

I haven't used the newer IMX Pro rods, but I would rate the champion on par with the previous generation IMX. Might even be a touch more sensitive, though the balance may just allow me to focus on the bite better. The IMX is not a great performer, in my opinion, given the price. I have rods at half the cost that compared favorably and many that outperformed it altogether.

It's a good rod, for that price.

Revo X has the clickies for $99 retail. Can be found for around $70.

I considered doing it, but so far I haven't had any issues remembering which one is which. It probably wouldn't hurt as I get older and try to keep track of 50 some odd combos, but I've always had a good memory.

There can come a point with a cheaper reel when your skill will exceed the capabilities of the reel. I have a couple older abu silver max reels, and short of turning the brakes off, they are pretty much peaked out on distance. I can take one of my Zillions and achieve similar distance (or further) with very little effort. The technology in that Zillion is far superior to the old abu. It allows me to get better results with less effort.

I use 15lb Abrazx. I like to use mono as well, but found I wasn't getting as good of penetration due to the extra stretch in the line.

The aldebaran mg is the jdm equivalent of the Core 50. It's still one of the smaller profile reels that shimano has ever produced.

No doubt. I have some 8lb Tatsu on a spinning rod that I haven't changed for over 5 years. Still fishes like the day I spooled it. Fluorocarbon doesn't break down from uv rays like nylon, so it will last a lot longer.

The only time I reapply is if I have some filler falling out after a lot of use. I'll lightly sand the handle, patch the filler spots, lightly sand it again, then clean and seal. When I say lightly sand, I literally mean two or three passes with 220 grit. Just enough to remove the sealer. I've only had to do that a couple times.

I ordered one last night for $49.99 on ebay. Figure it's worth a try at that price.

I had him add a longer full EVA rear grip, because I didn't like the short handle, or the split grip. Think I went with 14", if I remember right. I also added spiral wrapped micro guides. I think that's pretty much it. I kept it simple so it wouldn't cost much more than msrp and to keep the weight down. I did the same thing on my Deputy. Alex will work with you to get it exactly the way you want it. You can go as fancy, or as simple, as you like.

1. ALX custom built "Deputy" 7'1" MH/F - Daiwa Tatula SV - 15lb Tatsu 2. ALX custom built "Dragger" 7'4" H/F - Daiwa JDM Zillion 1516 (my favorite reel) - 18lb Shooter 3. St Croix Legend Elite 6' ML/F - Daiwa Fuego 1000A - 4lb Sniper 4. Abu Garcia Fantasista Regista 6'10" ML/F - Daiwa Luvias 2000H - 8lb Tatsu 5. Whisker Seeker Chad Ferguson 7'6" H/F - Daiwa Lexa CC300H - 20lb Trilene XL I don't just fish for bass. I catch a ton of crappie, walleye, wipers, stripers, catfish, etc. So I have a full compliment of rods for a variety of techniques. Of my 30-some rods, these are probably the 5 I reach for the most often. That Deputy blank is something special and it will forever be my favorite rod.

There's no real difference between a bass rod, panfish rod, salmon rod, etc., other than the name. They're all graphite and/or glass in a variety of configurations. I have inshore rods that I use in freshwater and the rod doesn't seem to know the difference... Stay within the recommended weights on the rod and find bass-specific lures that fit the bill. I would guess it'd work really well for light jigs and unweighted small plastics.

With proper drag settings and good knots, I don't believe I've snapped off any line in the last 5 years or so. Trilene XL has been no exception. I've got everything from 8lb to 20lb on a variety of reels and it has held up well.

I can buy replacement parts cheaper from other sites, but I don't want replacements. I want to find compatible aftermarket parts.

I paid over $100 for mine. Think it was like $119.99. I distinctly remember it, because my mom wanted to kill me for spending that much on a fishing reel. Good thing she doesn't see my receipts from the rods and reels I have in the garage right now...

It does have the insignia. I did buy the reel from kmart. Think I used money I got for my 16th birthday, or something like that.

I bought this old Ambassadeur new almost 20 years ago. It has been sitting the past few, because somewhere along the line, I lost the two little brake blocks on the spool. It is now pretty wild, unless you're casting a lot of weight. I've decided that I want to spice it up a bit, if possible, because it seems like a pretty rare reel (almost impossible to find any information on it), and I don't have anything better to do. I know for sure I want to get a new spool. I'd like to possibly change the handle and drag star, if anything else will fit. They don't really make 5500 C4 reels, but this is a special edition. I managed to do some digging and find out it uses the same spool as the 5600C4 Elite, so I can order that one if need be. I was kind of hoping a more modern spool might be compatible. I am also hoping a longer, more modern, handle will work. The little 80mm with crappy plastic knobs just doesn't cut it after using the stuff of today. If anyone can help a brother out, it'd be much appreciated. Even if you can't help, but know any information about this particular reel, that'd be neat. I have only found one other photo on the google and it didn't supply any new information.