Tywithay

I had 10lb on my pixy at one time, but it was an ultralight setup. I don't like braid at all, so I went with 6lb fluoro instead. Lightest I've used on a typical baitcaster is 20lb.

I have that same Daiwa rod and it's a pretty good rod, especially if you can get it at a sale price. I think it fishes a little heavier than a typical medium power, so I don't ever really use mine anymore. I think a medium-light in the same rod would be really good. I usually try to look for sales before buying anything. A lot of times you can snag a $200 rod (or more) for around $100. Dickssportinggoods.com recently had the Loomis e6x spinning rods on sale for $99 and they're actually pretty good for that price. They only have medium heavy left now, but you can sometimes find similar deals if you search around.

The E series braking system was better, in my opinion. I don't care for the SVS Infinity on the newer reels.

Own both, have used both several times, and prefer the Tatula SV. I think the Curado is smoother and can cast further with heavier weights (Tatula is no slouch in either of these areas!). Once you get down the weightless stuff and light jigs, the SV spool really shines. It offers a unique combination of versatility and control. Either would be great, but I've just found the SV to be a real pleasure to fish wish, mostly due to the less finicky braking system.

It won't hurt them at all. There's tons of guys that keep them horizontally in a rod locker on a boat for years, with no issues.

Daiwa.

If you want balance, I'd look into the Megabass Orochi Lineup. The perfect pitch is pretty much "perfect" for jigs. GLX level sensitivity with better balance and beautiful aesthetically.

I would personally pick the bantam. I feel like the solid aluminum construction would hold up better over years of flipping abuse. Plus, it looks neat.

None of the brands pay me to use their products, so I don't limit myself to just one product line. Each company comes out with new stuff all the time and some of it may be exactly what I am looking for. I have reels that I love from just about every manufacturer.

If you're casting them a great distance, the IPT for a 1/2 full spool is a lot lower. That's why a faster ratio is more effective.

Supernatural is not any thinner than Siege. It's just properly rated for its breaking strength. 10lb Siege will break between 13-14lbs, and has a comparable diameter compared to 14lb Supernatural. You can't really compare them by the poundage on the box, but by the diameter instead.

Happens fairly often. I know a lot of people that think Sunline Supernatural is a "weak" line, because they're used to their 14lb US line breaking at 17-20lbs, while Sunline 14lb breaks at precisely 14lb. I wish they'd do away with weight ratings altogether and just sell line by diameter, but that'd throw a serious monkey wrench into the process after so many years. The average fisherman wouldn't have a clue.

I have a *** made by the number company that we can't talk about, that really excels in that weight range. It's a 7'9" moderate rated from 1/2-2oz. I think I picked it up for like $105 during one of the TW sales. Only thing I dislike is the rear grip is a little short. Otherwise, it's a beast.

I throw a lot of big swimbaits for stripers and wipers and I've tried a few lines over the years. I have pretty much decided that 22lb Defier Armilo is the last line I'll purchase for swimbaits. I like braid for the thin diameter when I'm casting, but with such heavy baits it's more prone to dig in to the spool, and it doesn't have great shock strength. I've watched more than one $20+ bait fly at warp speed up into the heavens. Reckon a couple are probably still in orbit. Since switching to the Armilo, I don't recall ever having a break off, in any instance.

It is odd that they don't have even gaps. Trilene XL, for example, is pretty standard through all of their sizes, except the jump from 10lb to 12lb. It is almost double the increase in diameter, when compared to every other size. Best guess is because 10lb and below is typically marketed more for spinning gear, so they can keep it thinner and claim it's super manageable. Then they beef up the higher pound line to make it seem like they have "the strongest line on the market, pound for pound" even though the breaking strength is actually 30-40% higher than what they have listed, based on diameter.

It's like comparing a Core to a Calais 100A. They were both great reels, but an entirely different experience. Even more so in this instance, because of the difference in gear material.

I have/ have had the BB1, BB1 Inshore, BB1 Pro, Hyper Mag SLP, and the Tournament Pro. They offer a lot of features for the money, but I haven't found them to be overly durable. On nearly every one I've owned, the gears have noticeably worn over the course of a year. They don't seem to stay as smooth, for as long, as a similarly priced Daiwa or Shimano, in my experience. I wish they'd stop trying to make everything super light and put more durable brass gears in their top offerings.

If you lost 5-10 minutes, you need to change techniques. If I cast with the right, I am completing the switch as the lure is splashing, sometimes before. There's no wasted motion at all as the cast brings the rod right to my left hand.

EVA is a closed cell foam, therefore it's not permeable.

My handle faces down when I cast, because I prefer a sidearm roll cast. I've tried other ways and found no real difference in performance. I just found my way to be quick and less stressful on my wrist. After bowling for 30+ years, my wrist and elbow needs all the help it can get.

The SCV/VI blanks feel between the GLX and NRX, in terms of sensitivity, best I can tell. At that level of rod, there's not a whole lot of difference anyway. I would still choose the St Croix's over the Loomis NRX, solely based on the guides.

I am right handed and use a right handed reel as well. I can cast and reel just fine with my left hand, but I've found that I have a more difficult time working the rod with my right hand, for whatever reason; even though it's my dominant hand. I have the same issue whether it's spinning or casting, and have my handles on the right side with both, so my left can control the rod.

I've used all three and I'd pick a Tatula CT or SV over the K and BB1. I think the Curado is smoother on the retrieve, but the Tatula beats it in pretty much every other performance aspect. The BB1 casts heavier lures further, but I didn't care for it much as an all around reel. It didn't feel as refined as the other two either.

Curado 70 with a DIY honeycomb spool. You can buy the combo for around $200.

Check the drag spring washers in the stack compared to the schematic. They're usually curved and installed opposed () and not nested ((. That can throw it out of whack.