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Braid is not abrasion resistant like so many 'internet experts' acclaim. Its strength comes from its pulling power. But its construction is still basically just twisted fabric and offers little against abrasion. Thats why its never gotten a foothold in deep sea bottom fishing.

I agree Quake. The diameter of the thinnest braids probably blends right in with the various debris in the water and in the background. Ive been using the new power pro 8 in brown for fishing tannin stained rivers with good success. But only on my spinning gear. Im still happier with mono for casting gear but trying to get used to braid. Re spooling mono every month is getting old. Just can decide if for me what I see as braids pitfalls can be outweighed by its convenience.

You'll be fine even though lots of experts will tell you, you have to have an 8 or 9. I never use more than a 6wt for bass reds or snook. Ive got a buddy who uses a 4wt and catches snook all the time and he manages to throw bigger than a size 1 without much trouble. You might not get big distance but it'll work fine.

Ive never used tapt with the wejebe method, just followed his directions. Its been successful and is simpler with less knots. Always a good thing. I've never had an issue with wind knots with lighter braids but I think it has to do with self training yourself to keep an eye for it. Never had an issue using the lightest braids with a baitcaster either but again maybe from self training since I for years played with Calcutta 50's and Abu 1500c's spooled with 2 and 4lb. Mono on kokonee trout casting rods. Glad you feel so strongly about braid. That's how I feel about old Abu Ambassadeurs, pistol grip rods and mono.

Interesting. I see no need for a backing just use the wejebe method and uni knot it. I find the only asset to braid is the opposite of your finding. I would only use it in the smallest diameters to gain huge benefits in casting distance. What knot to attach your leader have you found works best in the 20 years you've used it.

I've parred down my arsenal alot. Still have many. But I almost always bring only one outfit with me. Not everyone has a bassboat with a rod locker. I fish out of a yak a small jon boat or walking the shore. I don't find it worth the maintenance headache to carry another outfit in the yak. My buddy carries so many outfits in his jon boat that there isn't enough room for me to bring more than one. 25 years of police work tells me not to keep another outfit in the truck when I'm walking the bank.

Ditto the Abu 4600c3. Easy on the pocket, will last your entire life. You can easily maintain it. When you hit the inshore or fish a brackish river it'll handle snook,reds,baby tarpon and spinner sharks.

Man you must have huge flies where you live! I think it depends on the water clarity. I fish mostly tannic colored rivers and creeks. Gold with an orange belly is a big producer until we are in dry season. Then the water gets not clearer but less colored. Then a baby bass pattern produces more fish. But at least with Heddon Spooks, each bait the factory makes can sound different and walk higher or lower in water. Some never produce and some the bass attack even when the color is completely worn off by them.

Loomis rods are sent to a different location, a different state even than the reels are sent to. I cant see how the rods should tax the personnel at Shimano Americas offices. Ive been waiting fince last August for a back ordered chromed plastic cover for a CI4 4000. Since January for a bail arm assembly for a CI4 2500. I would expect BPS to do the same with their inhouse reels as Spirit Lake does with Revos. Simply send replacement as they do no repair work there. All damaged goods are sent back to Asia in bulk just as Quantum does.

Most of my fishing is walking the dog. You arent having trouble with the braid catching the front trebles? I find a stiff mono at least 12#, a necessity to prevent that. Being that to really work the lure you keep alot of slack in the line. You should be able to almost keep the lure in the same place, flopping back and forth you have so much slack going.

To each his own. After 35yrs of baitcasting I've found now that spinning is more comfortable and I feel more control of the lure and the fish when Im fighting it. Aint a free country great, you get to buy and use whatever you like. Unless its a gun.

St.Croix LTB 5'6" Skippin' Spinning Rod. Remember whats easy for somebody to use standing on the deck of a bass boat isnt necessarily gonna work for somebody sitting in a canoe.

That was straight from Bantam, back when he had a page here. Miss those days

Shimano wont warranty their reels if they find remnants of hot sauce inside. For spinning reels and gearing I use Yamaha marine grease. Baitcasters get Reel-X oil. All drags get Cals Drag Grease.

I only use braid on spinning reels and only to avoid loops and the trouble from the lines twist. I dont frog since there arent any frogs left in my part of Fl. 95% of my fishing is topwater or just sub surface with flukes.

The only scissors Ive found that keep an edge for braid in the long term are a pair of crafting scissors available at chinamart or scrapbook stores called a Cutter Bee. Small light and stays sharp for years.

I prefer the surgeons knot to all others for attaching leaders. But I have not found it held using braid main line.

We will often use pinfish and small tilapia for snook sharks and reds. We use a big rug needle to thread the rubberband through one eye socket and out the other. Even better through the baits nostril. Then tie the band to a circle hook. Let the fish run for a good ways and swallow the bait then take it out of freelspool and sweep set.

With the right rod with some flex, and an educated thumb a baitcaster will do fine for a 1/4oz Pepul. Light line too, like 8 or 10 max. There are many internet experts who will say they can throw air with their baitcaster. Dont worry about it and use what feels good or works well for you. Aint no shame in using a spinning outfit for any technique.

I wonder what that shop uses for a cleaner or degreaser. I ruined the rims of my wifes Blazer using straight Simple Green on them. It aggressively attacks anodized aluminum.

Excellent fish.

Were you using braid? With or without a mono backing? What percentage of the line strength did you have the drag set to?

For me its almost always walk the dog. Super spook jr. when I need a rattle. When I need more subtlety a Sebile Bonga Minnow or Ghost Walker.

Ive play'ed with 6 lb. sufix and saw significant distance over 10 lb. it held up well to saltwater flats fish like flounder reds and specks. Being 50 years old it was invisible to me not my choice for line watching. Ive been very unhappy with PP Slick 8 much prefer Sufix.

Your Premier/Saro's will fit your needs for years to come and is a good idea. St Croix MH is closer to Hvy in my opinion. Check them out at the rod rack when you buy it. Not the best idea with 8lb mono. I'd go with the med.