TNBassin'

This is because too many people are in this sport for a trophy and forget how fun AND relaxing being outdoors can be. Everyone wants to have others admire them for their accomplishments no matter the cost to achieve them. Fishing is one sport where ego should be left at home, and respect for the fish should be brought with. Social media has ruined a lot of things, and fishing is definitely feeling the affects of it judging by this post, and how many dry looking bass I see in some peoples selfies they take with their catch. A shame.

Grab some Seaguar Red Label and treat it with KVD L&L. Great line imo that won't break the bank.

The sales guy at BPS says that the BPS brand of line conditioner is the same stuff as KVD L&L. It sells for 6.99 so it's almost a pack of plastics cheaper than KVD's stuff. Has anyone ever used it?

X4 on the Red Label. Love that stuff and its even better doused in some KVD L&L.

Absolutely nothing wrong with being thrifty or buying used. Sounds like you have got some nice gear.

Can you go wrong with either? Great choices.

I don't have any experience with Duckett rods, but I know that for the $ you can't go wrong with a Crucial. With fluorocarbon and tungsten weights they are ridiculously sensitive, though I'm much more of a cranker and their cranking rods are awesome. My interest is piqued about the Ducketts now though, especially the Ghost now that I hear they are on par with the Crucials at a bit cheaper price. SenkoGuru has experience with both rods, so I'd go with his opinion and stick your Duckett.

I typed my reply above before I saw post #9. The White ICE is a bit more expensive so you may be right about it being in a different class. At full retail, it's about $40 more. I have no experience with the Duckett rods. I do know that there have been more than a few reports about those rods breaking but I don't know which model it was. But who knows what torture people put their gear through? It did sway me away from a micro magic though.

The Crucials don't feel like "nothing". Especially for $119. VERY nice rods, though I've never fished a Duckett to compare it with. The Crucial does come with a lifetime in store warranty as well.

Thanks for the impressions. Had I not ordered 2 Curado I reels, I'd be tempted to grab a Type R. Been gawking over them all day online.

Snag a crucial off TW. I just got another jig/worm rod for $124 and change and that included 2 day shipping. Great rods especially at that price.

I love getting new reels. Unboxing them and feeling that new reel smoothness can't be beat. I also like cleaning them out of excess grease and making them even smoother.

How does that weird t wing deal work?

No and thankfully there wasn't toddler still in the seat.

Last year I caught a Power Wheels Barbie Jeep. Since it was near a house on the lake, we assumed it rolled off the bank. It was kind of eerie actually.

Way to stand up for the sport OP. We usually go out with my woman's aunt fishing. She will put her catches on a stringer and haul them all over the lake. And then right before we come back into the dock she almost ALWAYS decides to just let them go. Well by this time, 1 or 2 always die because she's a moron. She knows darn well she's not gonna clean and cook those bass, but every time we go out, she puts fish on a stringer. I've been on her about this for 2 years now, and have told her to get her live well fixed and even offered to help. But no. "I'll just use the stringer". Ugh.

Fishing is definitely not my most expensive hobby. I'm big into sports memorabilia in which I used to sell on eBay for a few years. U talk about a hobby that's expensive....

I've found that most Daiwas handle lighter baits well, as do a lot of other mag brake reels. Daiwas magforce z just makes dialing it in super easy.

Bomber makes some.

Wouldn't numbers mean you're really doing something right. If I caught 15 smaller ones wouldn't that mean that my bait, presentation, and lure selection is spot on?

If you're not go throw deep diving cranks like a 6xd you could use a M. Why you wouldn't go MH-moderate for more versatility I dunno. The extra back bone of a mh would make it easier to rip the bait out of weeds and cover.

Douglas Lake is where it's at for bass fishing around here.

Ugh...easy mode.

I use a MH-moderate crucial cranking rod with 10# seaguar red label fluorocarbon. I either use my E5 or E6 to crank.

Funny how the biggest complaint I hear about Quantums is always the same:getting it dialed in.