lmbfisherman

I own a CI4+ and have been fishing it for a total of 1 week. It's an awesome reel and very light, I have fished my Chronarch 50E side by side with it. (GLX 853C paired with CI4+ now, I find the balance is better than on my MH 7'1" Cumulus and my GLX 854C is paired the Chronarch 50E). Even though the CI4+ is a size 150, it seems as palmable as the 50E. I also find the build of the CI4 to feel solid. As for the performance, jury is still out for me vs the Chronarch 50E. I will give an edge to the CI4+ in casting, it is so easy and effortless over the E. Other than that, I do not see big difference in performance (casting and retrieving), although to be fair I haven't broken down the CI4+ yet and did a cleaning. (Been feeling lazy the last couple weeks) I definitely will have to do that. I haven't tested how well it performs with a fish on either, as the fishing has been tough the last couple times I've been out. (But the Perch and Sunfish bite is on for my crankbait and 5" senkos) So don't know how it feels with a bass on. But imo - I believe it is worth it...especially if you like to fish a size 50 reel and want a little more line capacity and the quality in the reel, you can just feel it.

I'd probably pick any of my MH 7' rods if I had to only use 1. Specifically I'd probably go for my GLX 853C paired with my Ci4+.

I own the exact one you are planning to buy. It is my multi-purpose rod and does well when I need it in a pinch. Sensitive enough to fish bottom contact and stout enough to be a frogging rod. Like Rockchalk said, you really need to do your due diligence before you buy it. Double and triple check it! I've not had an issue with it at all...no breakage or no guide issues.

Welcome to a fellow angler in Ontario.

Welcome to the site.

For a plastic worm I usually go with a Extra Wide Gap not an Offset. Although a Zoom Finesse worm isn't that thick, follow WRB's instructions and see if that helps. If you can though, I'd suggest getting EWG hooks.

Probably be fine for shallow running crankbaits - Squarebills...not sure how soft the tip is though, I'd definitely use mono for mainline.

Kevin, I have no issue with the product he bought, I only stated I probably wouldn't have bought it. I'd be wary, and I never ONCE put him down for it. I did say I'd be interested in hearing his experience though. Also, I had to respond cause your post was pretty blatant stating a 30 dollar reel with less quality "parts" would beat a 200 dollar reel with better parts would be an issue. In fact your statement frankly did the same exact thing you are accusing everyone else of. There would've been a better way to say it, honestly. If a newbie asked to buy their first BC, I would never tell them to go cheap. Personal experience, when I bought a cheapo baitcaster..I got frustrated and stopped trying one a few years. Then I learned and listened to others, bought a quality 100 dollar BC and wow what a difference. There is a big jump from 100 to 200+ bc in performance and I'm sure others would agree. Just like a under 50 dollar retail and 100 dollar has a major difference.

I doubt it's jealousy, really..and sorry no 30 dollar reel is going to beat a 200 dollar reel.

It depends, if it was really bad and collected a lot of crap from the trip then yeah. Normally I clean them if I'm not going to use them on my next trip though or any extended length of time...by removing the reel and wiping the reel and rod down.

I bought a fair share the past year, although I had to start from scratch in 2012 (1st year starting bass fishing). I'm pretty much set with rods and reels. Although I still look... Like Jeff, I'm not going to post that!

Sorry football can stay away for a little longer. Baseball fan here.

I still haven't fished a spook that much to build enough confidence. However, last week at the cottage I started to tie on a jitterbug for the first time ever...only because my wife goes, hey that looks like something that will catch fish. So I was like heck why not, nothing else is working on this trip. I started to catch smallies morning, day and night with it. I guess it is what they wanted more over a buzzbait (although still was somewhat successful with it later in the week). So now a jitterbug is part of my arsenal, probably should starting using a spook to gain confidence. Some days were clear skies, overcast and light rain. I tied one on for my wife, she caught her first smallie - she was shocked as hell how much fight it had, she was using a cheap Shimano Zirca 2pc and it was bending it. It was a 3lber, she was excited..she also had an explosion and looked like a monster (it looked like from my vantage point a big Largemouth). She had it on, but thought she was hung on weeds after the strike I paddled over to come and help and notice it was moving, I said that isn't a snag, I tried to come help her (This is where I think good equipment would've helped her and experience, she didn't set the drag properly after I did it for her, it was so tight)...but it shot straight out of the water and shook loose. It was probably a 5-6 lber if I had to guess. She had that rush look, the one we all get..and when she lost it she was disappointed.

x2 on what he said. I now just wait for sales and clearances, but I do invest in high end gear now at the same time, but I usually don't sell off my equipment..they usually stick with me for a long time.

I rarely use Floro as mainline, but the one I do have is filled with 15lb AbrazX - use it for plastics and jigs around cover that may cause braid to get frayed. I mainly use braid and tie on a leader (Red Label) and the rest have P Line Floro clear or Yo Zuri.

Chronarch all the way here..all though I'm sure getting any of the others would be fine, just as long as you like fishing with them.

Yeah can see a Cumulus handling it, it even loaded a weightless 6" worm enough to get a fishable distance..although accuracy was an issue. I still want to try a Phenix, it seems like a rod that is right up my alley power wise.

Medium Heavy would be a bad idea for a casting rod. The rod is use is a spinning rod for weightless flukes - Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth 6'8 M/XF. This thing is paired with a Shimano Symetre FI 2500 and can sling it a good distance. If you are set on a baitcaster, I'd go with a Shimano M/F Crucial. Cumara if you can, also I own a M/F Fenwick Baitcaster at 6'10" and I can launch a weightless super fluke pretty good which is paired with a Chronarch 50MG.

If I were you I'd contact the manufacturer and ask them if that is normal. That would be the best course if you are worried. I'm not familiar with KLX rods and it could be just how the blanks are manufactured, but I'd call to be sure.

Nothing wrong with using mono for cranking. I normally use copoly or floro. (Use copoly on my M/F 7' for squarebills, since it has some stretch, but not as much as mono, on my moderate cranking stick I use floro as the rod itself will negate the effect of the little to no stretch floro line.) Line is just preference really.

I use SK jigs and never had a problem. I even pulled up a big branch from 10 ft of water without straightening it out. I'd give them a call about your issues. I do use the Hack Attack Jigs though.

Usually do better in the mornings or evenings...however, I will still throw them during the day. Especially like others stated, overcast days..light rain.

Whats going to be crazy though, is the temp is shooting back up the next week. Boy is this going to be fun on my outings this weekend.

I use three different products. Fish Stick - Craw Scent Megastrike JJ's Magic (Yellow/Cht) I will use JJ's Magic to add color to plastics, the yellow seems to work best for me. Fish Stick I usually will put on mostly my jigs and t rigged creature baits. I use Megastrike on everything else, but I will change it up if things get tough.

BPS also has a Crankin' line instead, I hear great things about them. If you want a dedicated cranking/topwater rod. Which is also cheaper than a carbonlite, I don't have one yet...but a lot of good reviews. Do a search, I can't remember who posted..maybe it was Goose52?