Capt.Bob

I thought you could fish when you wanted, just can't play video games or surf on a computer, at the same time. I just prefer the computer on the weekends, forget the weekend warrior crowd, I'll fish when the temp drops below 105 and there are fewer %^&$%^* on the water. Besides this 105 degree crap is takin its toll. This week is goina be great though, now if we could just get some rain!!!!!! After 25 years of chartering, those who haven't been there, but done that, and know more than you, it's nice to fish when it's convenient, as it is just for fun now!

Sorry Glenn, but I am dissapointed that the Kick Stand was all you noticed, the last thing I care about, I threw mine in the box and will never get used, the X ship is another story, and soon you will see, ALL THE OTHER REEL MANUFACTURERS WILL DO A "ME TOO" thats on a spinning reel that already had no equal. !! I am considering selling 3 reels and replacing them with the new FJ and FG stradic and sustains. It is like Canon with Cameras, they are top on the list when it comes to new developments, they don't come up with all design first's,and high tech development, just most! If smooth silent and reliable mean little to some why would they buy a Shimano. You should see bigger jumps from other manufacturers because they are trying to catch up. They had to improve a lot to equall the quality and weight and performance of the core, does that make Shimano bad because they were already made the way they were?? Sorry but it is common everywhere to hear whatever reel compared to a Stratic, or a Core, or a Curado, or a Calcutta. You can say what you want but in the fishing reel industry, 9 times out of 10 it the upper end Shimano reels are what all other big name manufacturers are compared to. At the risk of p!!$$!^& people off, ask yourself WHY! Lets face it the G series is loosing ground, but those who use the CiticaE, and CuradoE,D,B,all know the new reels from all other manufacturers have started catching them. But the OLD CuradoE is hard to compare anything to made back when it was introduced. It is these two reels that I feel Shimano is downgrading for the higher end core and others, time will tell. But to be #1, you have to have more than one type of reel that you want all others judged by. I have switched my Curados to Lews, but if I think I can find a better $150.00 real than the Tournament Pro, I'll use it. the point is not all Shimano owners are Shimano owner because of a name, I will own whatever the best bang for the buck is regardless who else owns them, just happens I feel most models are Shimanos!

I seemed to lose more fish with crankbaits and spinners when I went to braid, and a fast rod. Then when I started using a moderate action rod, I had more hookups, I think once you get the fish hooked either is a wash and will depend on you fighting the fish properly. With braid and no stretch, and a fast tip I just can't hesitate that extra little bit before setting the hook, and I miss more hook up's with a fast action rod.

I used nothing but Abu 40 years ago then I bought a diawa 30 years ago and found out how much smoother and more refined a reel could be, then 20 years ago I bought a couple, well, I won't say because I don't want stoned. But I have found nothing to replace that brand, with as good a performance as I have become accustom to, till this year when, If I can say it without being persecuted, the new Lews reels. Is there a "Lews Posse"??? Sorry but in time the other models of reels I found to outperform the competition may get a new manufacturer's model, to outperform them, when they do, that is what I will use, till then I will spend my money on what performs the best, in whatever style reel I use. I don't believe it is cheaper to buy a product because it is not as good but will reel in fish!! I find it better to buy as good a quality and performance as you can and consider that a bargain, it will probably loose less fish. Hope that was politically correct? and still don't see the Shimano owners any more arrogant that users of other brands, they all have extremest!

This is almost funny, B.S. you say, again been there done that!!! why would I buy a new frame for a Stella and put old parts in them, that is what most discontinued parts are for the stella, when Shimano is going to upgrade you to the New model they are going to give you at no charge!! Thanks Shimano!! The 10000 Stella part is the front drag, most want the new material anyway, So if you fix it yourself the newer model which is probably upgraded with a better drag, will interchange. If not, you get a new Stella with multiple upgrades, all you have to do is send it in. those dirty $%^$##%^!! They show the Stradic 1000 MGF body, that was on that list, well if the body is broke or you let it get corroded, that bad you need a new body, it probably would not make sence to put that much money in it. I just bought a screw and line roller bearing shim and roller for my 2500 MGF, so small parts interchange with the 1000, since they share the same frame, different print is all. So the only difference in the 2 are the printing on the frame and the spool holds less line but totally interchange! So if your going to buy the frame just get the one for the 2500 same thing as the discontinued just different print on it!! Like I said the antis don't understand, your lifetime warranty means you never have to pay for that reel again, if they can't fix it, or I can't get parts to fix it myself, which I always do and have never even paid to get them shipped!! They will give me a brand new reel with a lot of updates and new technology!!!!!! Wow I hate that. If I could not get parts for most upper end reels from them it would be because most are interchangable with newer updated parts that fit the older reels anyway, so why stock inferior parts, when newer upgraded parts work on the older model anyway??? Make mine the better updated part. I have upgraded many models with different parts but from higher end reels, the better parts fit them, or newre model parts that interchange on older models. I know when I could use an FG stradic spool handle gears bearings whatever on a Symetre FH, but you have to understand, Shimano does not cut the throat of the authorized service center that knows how what and where, to use proper parts to make your reel perform like new or better. These guy's have spent many hours and much time and money, aquiering the knowledge to be classified as professional, they would know this already, and why it pays to use their service if you don't. I'm sorry but no it isn't B.S. But if you haven't been there you probably won't understand. I am sure you will find any reel worth it's salt from Shimano will have parts available for over 20 years and longer. The problem is most wana be pro's on the matter don't know what parts should be used or interchanged, for those, if your reel is on "THE LIST" I would send it to a professional service provider, money says they will make it work like new, if it is one of the reels I mentioned earlier!! Or if you insist on being right and want to believe this is B.S. you can throw it in the trash and call it a throw away in your mind!! If it is one I mentioned earlier, send it to me if you decide to throw it away, I'll waste my time on it.

"Throw away as in : Stradic CI 4. Havent been able to get spare parts since it was created. In either 4000 or 2500 size." But wait a minuet! "a handle for the 2500 CI4 lasted 10 months". Oh! you could get parts??? "Can't get parts for even liftime warrnted reels" ??? "Even the Flagship Calais and Stella has models that are not supported with spare parts. That makes a Calais or Stella with a for ever warranty, a throw away." Read the warranty, if that were the case, which I dought, they will give you a brand new reel with many new upgrades! "I dont take the term throw away lightly. So no......my reels are not treated as throw aways". Am I missing something here??? So you can get parts, and even though say you can't that makes them throw aways, but you don't treat them as throw aways, or are you still calling them throw aways, is it the saltwater or am I missing the logic here????? Most Shimano owners are not as the OP states, just as most Shinano critics, don't make these type of statements. But there are plenty of those out there that twist what the truth is, to knock anyone who will back Shimanos for their merits. And plenty that will agree with them that have never even had the same hands on experience??? If all Shimano owners were that way, it's funny how many forums have threads by long time Shimano fans that are dissapointed in there low profile baitcast reels and are turning to other brands for better quality reels. Wonder how that could be. But then those who are willing to pay for the Stella, would be stupid to think or lie to to anyone saying there are better or equall reels out their, but their are plenty who haven't been there done that, that would argue there %^(*&%$ whatever was every bit as good cause they catch X pound fish with it????? Like was said earlier, this is a b@!! $&!** thread and that is what most internet threads run on. As reel fisherman it is up to us to go along with fun and know the difference.

I think the question was TFO, compared to a Triumph, or another St. Croix in that price range. I will take the Premier if given those options every time. Just my opinion. I wont deviate from the OP's question, and make this another Shimano hardcore testosterone whatever, by bringing in a Veritas,Lamiglass, Crucial, Compre, Carbonlite, Denalis, or Redbone and Star. where did that come from?? But yes the kettle is black. My answer to your question was Premier would be a better rod in that price range of the rods you ask about.

In that price range its pretty hard to beat or top a St. Croix Premier, $99.00-$120.00 for fairly light, crisp, sesative and decently balanced rod, WITH A 5 YEAR WARRANTY! and a company known to extend excellent cutomer service. Unless you worry about looking stylish!

Your choices are not the best bang for the buck, for the money I would suggest another direction, "in my opinion". The Revo is not going to be as easy to cast with only magnetic breaking, as the curado, but the new curados are not getting the support from Shimano owners the older curados got, I for one was not happy and sold the one I bought. Then the the citica is a step down from the curado and I have heard complaints of smoothness on the retrieve with bigger fish. for the same or less money I would check this out. http://www.ebay.com/...=item27c8ca1a3d, I did and am very happy and save some money. Run a search here and I think you will find all owners of these reels are more than happy with there purchase, more bang for the buck!!

If you can't find out how or where to get and do the service yourself, there are people out there that make a living keeping your OLD SHIMANO running!! I prefer to work on my own and have never had one die yet, lets NOT talk about the low end kids stuff, all manufacturers make throw aways. The next time your stella, stradic Ci4 or any other version, or symetre, citica, curado calcutta, sustain, chronarch , calais, heck even your sahara is ready for the trash, I'll TAKE IT!!! you got a core, it should probably be pitched to, PM me for my address. when it gets here I'll send you a refund for your shipping!!!

I own mostly Shimano, I don't think there are any better spinning reels than the Stradic and Sustain, for there price period, THERE IS NOTHING SMOTHER WITH A BETTER DRAG OR MORE DURABLE, they were made to last! Stella simply has NO EQUAL PERIOD, at any price!! maybe others as well as me don't need the performance it gives but to say it is overpriced when there is no other reel that comes close to its quality, performance or reliability meaning lifetime durability!! would be a ludicrous. if you want to compare Saros Symetre and Sahara, you may find reels from others that will give the same performance and price equivalent. But that is about it. I am sorry but the same goes for the round reels, in the sizes they are made in, no one can match the performance or durability of the higher end Calcuttas! they are the leaders in their catagory and the reels you always hear others comparing all other round reels to, for a reason, they are the best. I would put a 3 bearing calcutta against any other 3 bearing round baitcast reel any day they are smoother cast as well and the drag system is as good as it gets. Same for the 10 or 11 bearing Calcuttas, they are true top of the line in their category. It may not be worth the price to some for that level of performance, but if you want that level, there is only one way to get it. The low profile market is closing in on them, they realize it and have looked for ways to cut cost and compete with the market and the many new low profile baitcasting reel manufacturers that are squeezing their market hold. The fact that on forums everywhere the crying we are hearing about the curado chronarch core citica and others being poorer quality than they were once known for is a true fact that Shimano is loosing that ground. that comes from Shimano owners that have owned and used them for years with many different year models, the ones that won't admit it have not owned or used enough equipment to no the difference and think they are using the best, which at one time I believe was the best, but as Bob Dillon put it,,,, THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGIN!!!!! As for there other lines of Saltwater gear I wont comment as I have very limited experience with it, what I have had was good, but there is little I can compare it to so I will not comment on those lines.

My preference after over 15 years using synthetic line on everything as mainline is, on this size spinning gear, 10# braid, I use 3 and 4# Fluorocarbon in clear water, In stained water I will use mono occasionally. If I am fishing in or around weed beds I will change to 6# Fluoro or mono, and still have heavy enough mainline to never loose more than my leader!! It can be difficult pulling a 10 to 12" gill out of weeds, and those are the ones I definitely don't want to loose, but it happens. But if you use to large a line its even harder to get em on!!! For knots to join my leaders, (and I always tie directly to my mainline, unless I am Carolina rigging), only one I ever use, after trying many, is the old blood knot, it is a little more difficult to draw down than some others, but when properly tied it is tapered from both ends to the center and will flow through guides like butter. A blood knot running through smaller guides with 4# mono to 10# braid on an UL, is no more difficult than 15 or 20# test tied to 20 or 30# Braid running through a MH or H action rods guides! I like to put on a 6 to 8 foot leader, then as I retie, or have a snag, or break off, I still have leader and don't have to hassle with tying a new leader that often. If you are using good knots like a improved sinch or Palomar, you will usually break right above that knot. It has worked for me for over 15 years.

Very Well Done CONGRATS to both of you!!!!!

I am sure once you fish that 6'8" MXF you wont settle for less than a St. Croix, they spoiled me! Congrats on a fine rod, You will be HAPPY!

I for one after years of owning primarily Avids and Legends for decades, personally think St. Croix rods are rated properly, and all other rods are over rated for what they actually are!! I had to say that! I, on a more serious note, think you need at least a 6'2" MXF and the 6'8" MXF would be better. the 7' Avid MF would also do what you want. With only one rod, your going to do one thing great and everything else just doable, not great but it will work. I like the Avid better than the Tournament, maybe because of the grip, but I think sensativity is a tie and durability goes to the Avid.

I have one and love it, Looks like that one was spotted already. I will say I think an even better rod for what your looking for is an Avid by St. Croix for $180.00 the AVS68MXF. Just near not the price the the 7' MF that RW recomended, but if your gonna pay full retail, for a rod for tubes grubs and jigs, this is a great rod, might need a trailer for spinerbaits, but tops for everything else you mentiomned. If you can add another 80 or 90 bucks to that, I think the very best available is the 6'8 MXF Legend Elite!! I bought a Legend Tournament form a guy who broke the tip of of a LTB68MXF and fixed it a good rod at 6'5" MXF but I think I'm going to up it to the Legend Elite, just my opinion, but I think they are the best rods on the planet, and the Avids are as good as anything else. Just my opinion owning both and trying others!

I had to run a rod to my rod builder yesterday, a 65 mile drive. I left my favorite Smallmouth rod, a 6'3 MXF Legend Elite spinning rod by, slide down the side of the truck a week ago and the second guide down landed on a small stone when it hit the ground and shattered the insert!! BUMMER! So I thought while I was there I would slide by the river, (the Maumee, the largest tributary to all the Great Lakes) and catch a few Smallmouth. I got to the river and it was unbelievable, I could walk across the river where I have had great luck catching Sallies in the past. there was one little riffle about 6' across. I have never seen this river this low, not even in August. So I decided to head back up stream to another spot that is always been a producer. When I got there it was even worse, I almost left, BUT!! Being stuborn and I decided to put on an old pair of tennis shoes and see if I could find a couple holes with some current in them. As luck would have it I did. I found a couple holes that were maybe 30 to 50 foot across, and maybe 60 or 80 foot long, and maybe 4' deep, the river bed is bed rock and full of cracks and rocks, with a few small boulders. I know, not what we want but I wanna fish since I had to come this far to get my rod fixed. I had a great time once I threw the first tube. I caught Chanel Cats, White Bass, Freshwater Drum, and "TONS OF SMALLMOUTH" not many over 2 lbs. but a ton of em 10 to 12 or 13 inches, and on a wasted day with just my 6' Loomis IMX Light, and a 100 stradic with 6lbs. flouro. It was a ball, I would fish one hole for 30 min. to an hour and walk through water less than a foot deep to the next hole. Then I would start hitting fish again. After about 20 or 30 fish I lost my first hook. So I put on a rapala 1 1/2" ultra light floating minnow. That was all it took!! I satarted getting hit every second or third cast. I caught Six Smallies over 2LBS. and 4 or 5 drum 2 to 4 lbs. the Channels were 12 to about 16" for the biggest. the smallmout were around 10 to 12" for most of them. But I know I caught 50 or 60 that size! It was a ball. three or four times in the 5 hours I was there, I had schools of white Bass come in to feed in the fast riffles and chase minnows they hammer anything you throw, most were 10 to 14 inches, but just about dark when I had to leave, I thought I had another good smallie, till it didn't jump, it was a 16" white bass, what a way to end the day. I know I caught over 100 fish most on a litlle 1 1/2" long Rapala floating minnow. WHAT A BAWL. I had to walk about 200 yards in almost dark ankle to foot deep water on flat mossy rock with open cracks and holes in it to get back to shore, and when I got there I was whipped. I kept telling myself you need to go you need to go but till I knew I would have trouble getting back to shore if I stayed any longer, for lack of light, I couldn't stop fishing. I'm going back next week with my 8' 4wgt. flyrod, and a 5' Avid UL!! It's days like this that remindes me, even though I'm 57, I'm still a little kid at heart!!

I have never heard of anyone using 50# braid on a bass size spinning reel. I have a couple, 4000 Stradics, They are on MH rods, The rods are only rated to handle 20# test line, the max drag pressure of the reel is 20Lbs. I just never seen an advantage in using line heavier than my equipment can handle??? I use 20# Tracer Braid by Berkely and used to use Power Pro on these large 4000 size reels, it is 6lbs. test mono diameter and on the large spool, using this set up I am casting farther than ,,,, well it is extreme distance, and can usure you of the same results, If you think you cant throw 50# braid as good as mono, buy some 50# mono and see how far it will throw on your spinning reel. I use heavier on baitcast reels because I need the bigger diameter to keep from cutting into itself. Best braid performance on a reel comes when you match pound test mono to the same pound test braid on spinning reels. When I put braid on a spinning reel, I know under 8 pound test mono cuts into itself on my baitcast reels, so I use the same diameter or larger on my baitcast reels. Fireline Braid 30# test is the same diameter as 8# mono, that is what I use on a baitcaster. On spinning for Bass and Walleye I never use heavier than 15# test on 2500 size reels, it's 4 lbs. test mono diameter, and usually requires a fishing license in the next state to make long cast!!

You don't need one and you can throw weightless plastics with a baitcaster, but I will guarantee you with light line4 and 6 pound diameter and weightless, I'll throw 2 times as far and more accurate than anyone with the same weightless lure and a baitcast setup. After all, when I do use a spinning reel it is usually finesse fishing and I need long cast and light line, to get the spooky fish that won't hit close to the boat, and light line to keep from spooking them. So no you really don't need one, it just depends how successful you want to be in all circumstances. I throw a lot of light tubes when Smallmouth fishing and that would be one application , I would never use a baitcaster for. I also prefer a spinning rod when fishing deep with light line and live bait harnesses for Walleye. Like many have said before, you really need both or you just cant be as proficient, using only one type, regardless what it is. I would never use a spinning rod to fish heavy cover with big jigs and plastics for the same reason, it is just much more efficient with a baitcaster.

Lews tournament, about $105.00 if you got the money buy the Tournament Pro about $145.00 street price and the best bang for the buck I have found. holds over 120 yards of 30LBS. Braid and has a 15 lbs. max drag that is smooth as silk and the Pro weighs a mear 6.7 oz. I love mine, and heave heard zero complaints from owners that use them.

Don't worry pricebb, you got a great reel, if you can't see why it is giving you a problem, send it back and Lew's will make it right, in over a year know I have only heard good things from "EVERYONE THAT OWNS THEM"!! So it is not an everyday problem, and remember, the only "COMPLAINTS" I have heard from others about Lews reels, are "FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER OWNED ONE"!!! Think about it, that oughta tell you something about their expertise on the subject!!! And coming from a guy who owns mostly Shimanos, as hard as it is to believe, they have had problems with brand new reels just like all the rest!

Amen on that, Northwest Ohio is about bone dry. We have had less than 2" of rain in almost 3 months. Send some of it our way, we'll be glad to help you with some of it.

Took my 10 and 12 year old grandsons (brothers) to the river yesterday. I kicked it off Tuesday when I took the youngest out on the golf cart to get bait. We went to a couple small county bridges over creeks, then with a #16 hook and wax worms, on a 4 1/2' Ultra light, I let him fill the 7 gallon bucket with about 2 dozen creek chub's, for 10 years old and no bobber, he does pretty good. Then put the aerator on them over night with a quart bottle of ice to get em fresh for the next day's trip. It was a little warm, and with the drought here, it is taking it's toll, low water very warm water temps, and fish been kinda off. But if you want to hold #1 Grandpa status, it takes a little work!! So I took them to a local River, the St. Joe, a spot that has deep water in a couple small holes, and should hold some better size Channel Cat. Plus there is a very small creek that dumps in and it's spring fed, so with the cold clear water dumping in, I usually can catch a couple Northern Pike or Small Mouth in this area. But today it was creek chubs for Catfish, and in short order, Maleeke had our first 1st Chanel Cat, about a 3 1/2 pounder, Garrets first turn, for the second fish, was a nice little Northern Pike, only about 30" but plenty good enough to put me on top for #1 Grandpa status!! Then to keep things even the third fish of the day, a Chanel Cat, Maleeke caught, and it was about 26" around 7 pounds, so now one has the longest and one has the heaviest, and the boys are tied, (keeps brothers form arguing and on an even field, you know, mines bigger than yours??). We ended the day after about 7 hours, loosing 5 or 6 fish, and the boys had 4 Catfish averaging about 3-4 pounds and 2 Northern Pike, one about 24" and one about 30", and to top it off the last catch was a BIG OLD SNAPPING TURTLE!! this thing was about 18 to 20" across, and on 20 pound test it worked till they got him to the bank, then when the turtle could get it's feet on the ground it didn't take long to break the line. But no matter they still thought that was cooler than ice water!! Ah, youth, wouldn't it be great if one more time----- oh well. So we'll do it again somewhere else in a couple weeks, only this time me and Garrett will go get the bait the afternoon before the trip. The way it sounds, to lock that #1 Grandpa status up for the rest of the year, I think there going to make me camp out and fish all day on the river. It's a lot of work staying #1 Grandpa, but it sure is nice!! A pic of the Future Fisherman of America (FFA) each with there biggest fish of the day, just before puting them back for someone else to enjoy!!

Use them both, there both great knots and very reliable. I use the Improved clinch most, just because it takes less line most times, I usually can tie the clinch without leaving a tail that needs trimmed, not always but hard to do with the palomar, and as stated, impossible with cranks and bulky tackle.

I seen that on your other post RW, I wish it would have been an Elite, I'd be in your shoes but for another $165.00, it's still like you said SWEET DEAL! but I think I'll fish it a while this summer, it's pretty decent working Zara puppies, but this winter I think it will be a LES6'8"MXF, just cause I love deep water walleyes!!