Capt.Bob

Once removed, I keep them that way, as said already, hurts absolutely nothing, and make cleaning and servicing easier, as for orange seals yes it is recommended once removed to leave them off, but they are a totally different material. Unless a customer request they be replaced after servicing, they go in the spare parts bin or trash.

I have not had any problems after years of using these length's for my leaders. I used fireline for years, mainly because of it's strength and abrasion, 2 years ago I found Sufix, no more feeling it drag thru my guides, smaller diameter, and retains the top of the pecking order for abrasion resistance among Braids, acording to my findings and several test's with different braids and synthetics, mono, fluoro, copol. I think if you try it you will agree, your problem will be gone and you will consider it the best braid option out there at this time. If you do let us know how it did!!! Good Luck whatever you try!!

My leader knots are usually a couple wraps on my spool, maybe at the tip, maybe 3 eyes down, absolutely doesn't mater with the right lines and knot's! It didn't matter where they were with Power Pro I had issues from time to time. Not with Sufix 832

service it twice a year and don't worry about it in the meantime. If it soaked in a muddy river or it took a while to get it out, maybe tear down blow it dry and relube, if any mud or sand got in it flush it and do as said..

I used Power Pro on 3 different rods for a little over a month, the 2 spinning outfits were the worst, but after a few snap offs with the Baitcaster I had enough. I don't know what the problem was, but the only thing OI changed was the line,,,,Sufix 832 and the problem was gone!! Same knot's same rod's same weight lines, no more break offs on cast's. Since it usually broke well above the leader knot, I would suspect it is prone to wind knot's, but I would try just one spool of Sufix 832, see what you think and let us all know how it worked,,,,,,good luck!

Sufix 832, and your choice of leader 4' to 12' and fluoro or mono depending on conditions and tactic. My only rules are never as heavy as my mainline, and never exceed the rod rating,,,,,

I use 832 Sufix on everything, if the BPS rod has a true Moderate action, and little to gain with the stretch of mono, and in my opinion quite the contrary. Since I went with the Moderate action crank rods from St. Croix I think they are at their best with Sufix braid, 20lbs test on the MM and run 30 lbs. test on the MHM. I use 4' to 12' fluoro or mono leaders on every rod I own depending the conditions and tactic at the time.

Braid on everything and 4' to 12' leaders of mono, fluoro for the conditions and tactic's, my leader never exceeds the line weight rating on the rod, and always lighter than the braid mainline. just the way I do it,,,,,,

Suffix 832, in any color you prefer, I like leaders using Trilene Big Game, or Seagar when I need Fluorocarbon, I always use a lighter leader than I do main line, and usually 6' to 12' in length. Welcome to B.R.

I feel the best reel you can buy is the Stradic FJ or Sustain FG, with very little difference to justify the cost of the Sustain. I haven't found another reel as smooth or dependable as the shimano brand and I have tried most. The FJ can be had new under 150 bucks and that is a steel.

I agree, that was why I switched, seems they have gotten into a habit of instead of raising the price of a reel model, they cheapen it up and sell the less desirable reel for the same money. Much like food producers do, same size container, with less in it, for the same price it used to sell for when you got more????? Sales tactic that is being used to sell all kinds of product today, when will the consumer say NO MORE,,,,,pin not intended!

Raider has you on the right track, stick with the brands he mentioned, I prefer Hoyt over the last 25 years with 7 new bows in that time and never a problem. The Brands he listed are all good bows and built to last. I think like he said, do it right at a pro shop. I would prefer a shop that deals in nothing but bow's! Period, you are more assured of not getting a jack of all trades, but a true master of the industry. Then shoot em all, find the one that draw's, hold's, and shoots the best for you and go with it. If you want to be happy don't look for a cheap get you buy bow, spend the money for a top of the line bow, it will be easier to master that a cheap bow that most likely never will shoot like you expect,,,,,,spend the money up fron,,,,,practice, practice, practice, and a top of the line model from any of these bow companies will more than amaize you at what is possible with archery equipment!! GOOD LUCK and be prepared to have a new addiction!!!

I don't think you can by a better spinning reel for twice the money over a Shimano,,,,when it comes to baitcasting reels there a couple I find better for 1/2 the price. If you want a good Shimano in that price range, drop under $150.00 on a Stradic in whichever size suites your style of fishing,,,,,and you will never find a better spinning reel new near that price.

Put the time in, do your scouting and stay aware of your surroundings, I am sure it will happen. But like I said,,,,,put your time in and do your scouting, it don't just happen. or you can wait on luck to make it happen,,,,,that may take a while. GOOD LUCK!!

Wow that's a monster Black Bear!! ANYWHERE!!

Are you confident with that theory??? see what I said,,,,,,,,90%!!!!

I do all the time,,,,many don't and say they have seen no difference in hookup ratio's,,,,all up to you, but whatever you do you have to have confidence in it or it won't work,,,,,90% of success is confidence in what your doing!

Just know the Cyclone and Gale Force both come with the string dampeners, they were both the quietest crossbows I have shot or herd, and have shot or been around most. I had to hang up the Hoyt after 30 years of shooting them 4 years ago, If I buy another crossbow,,,,,it will be a Parker, and have the dampeners.

Lew's Tournament for less, or Tournament Pro for about that price, both best thing available close to their price.

Watched this guy the last 4 days and set up on his morning route. 45 minuets in the stand and let the VPA Terminator tipped Black Eagle executioner loose @ 35 yards, 70 yards later,,,,, this is the result's. The Gale Force eats,,,,, With 2 doe's already the groceries locker is gett'n full with just 2 more tags to fill before the first Monday in Feb. I can now pick the days I want to hunt and stay home when it's miserable or hit the hard water on them days!!!

Out of the reels you mention the Symetre hands down is the choice I would recamend, but as suggested for around $125.00 to $140.00 the Stradic FJ 2500 would be a huge jump up in quality, or for the same size reel the 3000 has the "T" handle I prefer and a deeper spool that holds a little more line, the handle I like better than the 2500, but the capacity is of little importance. I have both plus the Sustain, the Stradic is my personal best buy of all spinning reels not just Shimano, the Sustain is very nice I just don't see the price difference for the performance difference. Go for the Symetre if you must but I would find a way to get the Stradic. JMO

I have to question who is the problem here and where the rude attitudes started with. I have dealt with ST. Croix for over 50 years from a commercial standpoint to a consumer standpoint, I have never been anything but thrilled with their willingness to stand behind anything thrown at them, and with no hassle. It is obvious as so many have never had a problem and so few do???? Makes one think maybe they are handling things wrong on their end or maybe expecting way to much for NOTHING,,,, I am sorry but this does seem to be what is happening here, like others have tried to explain,,,,the hook set may not have been what broke it, maybe it was the yanks and drops, or bumps it has received since it was new, they do add up. I have abused their rods from premiers to Extremes for years and once in a while they don't take it anymore, and now being used normally and not abusing,,,,that last strain shows the abuse finally. I won't even ask which LTB it is, I am going to do you a favor and make you a better offer, you send it to me and I will double the price of shipping back to you, beats throwing it away and getting nothing!! But I would seriously ask myself should I really expect everything for nothing,,,,,take a little responsibility for the abuse we all give our equipment from time to time, MAN UP and except their gracious offer to replace it,,,,or take advantage of their offer to upgrade to a better piece of equipment at a ridiculously low bargain price!!! I will assure you a 240 dollar LTB is know where near as sweet a rod as the Elite or the Extreme, I own all three and you do get what you pay for, the LTB is a very nice rod but nowhere as nice as my extremes or elites!

The first line my first statement, that is where I specified the shorter rod with full cork and being the Avid series. The Legend Series would not be an option for you since the price is no where close to the Rage, and was only mentioned as the benefits of Lifetime warranties, but if you don't like the handle on the rage, my second post shows you what I did after steeling 2 excellent Extreme rods to get the handle I wanted on them, and how cheap you could do the same thing with the Rage rod if you want it and want to have a one piece handle on it but the new extreme and rage series you would be stuck with the 2 piece reel seat, or it would requier removal of all the guides to change the seat, not cost affective, and how a custom comes into the mix if you really want that blank and one piece handle,,,,AND reel seat.. Then I recommended another Avid, in an offshore model if you want the leverage, 8' which is 1" longer, but has a 2" longer handle, which can also be advantages horsing big fish out of thick cover, with a SCIII Blank Made in the USA and Lifetime warranted for $80.00 more than the Rage.I think the Model AIC80HF is an excelent substitute for what you are wanting it for at a great price for the extra warranty and high grade full cork handle, you can see it here It is a fast action instead of moderate fast which is very close, would be rated for the line and lures you would be using and has the one piece cork. check em out here and Good Luck with whatever you choose to do,,, http://www.stcroixrods.com/product/avid-series-inshore The comment on the Legend Elite was only about how the lifetime warranty on my Avid series which allowed me to upgrade to a better lifetime rod after abusing a rod for 8 years, the 5 year rods don't allow that possibility.

I use braid on everything with mono or fluoro leaders, 4' to 12', and all my spinning reels are Shimano's. I have a standard I go by like this,,,,,30# 832 on 4000 size,,,,,20# 832 on 2500 and 3000 size,,,,and 6# to 10# 832 on 1000 size. I let my leader determine my actual breaking strength and never use a heavier leader than the Braid I am running. with 6# @ 2# mono diameter, to 30# @ 8# mono diameter is very light line with very heavy breaking strength. with 6# and 10# I will go as high as 6# or 10# test leader, but on my 20# test on 2500 and 3000 size reels never go with a heavier leader than 15# test and on the 4000 size reels 20# test is the highest I go,,,,, the reason is I don't like to rig heavier than the rods rating I am using them on and I want my leader to be my monitored weak link. I use 10 to 12 wraps of mono tied directly to the spool and attach the braid to that with an improved blood knot and use the same weight mono as the heaviest leader I use on that size reel, I only loose braid when I want to trim, and always turn the braid around on the spool when it starts getting to limp, usually 1 to 2 years, then I have new unused line for another 1 to 2 years, seldom do I get more than 3 years out of a spool of braid on heavily used outfits.

I think what J Fancho is saying is 100% on, the problem is far to many have never used a quality Moderate Graphite Blank, and are comparing fast graphite to way sssslllloooooowwwww and heavy glass. I have that same rod J is referring to in a MM power and action, and the Extreme in the MHM power and action, both are very forgiving and in my opinion better so than glass, with more precise actions, and much much lighter, but still have more POWER than equal rated glass rods, and way more sensitive. Most compare Glass to Fast actions in graphite, and they are no where near the forgiving rods the St. Croix Moderate action blanks are for treble rigs, I will never own another glass rod, for working any lures. But do prefer them for big water trolling and down rigger use! Everything else, make it a quality graphite action for the purpose I am using it for.