Preytorien

http://www.tackletour.com/reviewshimanobantam150xg.html Tackle Tour does their homework and gives very detailed reviews. Worth a read. Sounds like you can't go wrong with it. Has me thinking if I wouldn't have just loaded up on Chronarch MGL's that the Bantam would be attractive

For spinning I have too many problems when I use mono or fluoro. For that reason I use a light braid, 15lb or so, then add a leader if I feel the need. Tactical Bassin' has me really diggin' the braid to mono leader, it seems to be somewhat illogical, but it really works.

I have had the best luck with either Gliss, YGK Soul, or Seaguar Smackdown All are very thin and cast very far with ease

Oh the humanity!!! Hahaha I have a Zodias Never had a Diawa rod The Zodias is good enough I've sold off everything except one rod (sentimental reasons) and went to all Zodias rods....they're that good That said, I'm not sure I'd ever pair a Shimano with Diawa -- I'm too brand loyal and it just ain't right!!

I'm not under any impressions that it will last as long or be as good of quality as my usual Saharas, Stradics, or Sustains..... I was just wanting to experiment with one and see a) If they're ANY good at all or just a waste of money entirely b) If they're decent, how long will they continue to perform and maintain quality I'm really only exploring it because I'm curious and have way too much time to research this stuff since I'm too busy NOT hooking into anything lately and have time to fiddle with my gear

I’ve seen guys post in here about the knockoff eBay casting reels on eBay but wondered if anyone has had experience with the spinning reels. They sure look fancy and I’ve been kicking around the idea of buying one and giving it a test. Angone ever use one?

I've had this issue before on some older Saharas, cleaning and re-lubing seems to fix it. I wonder if it's just the way materials within the internals interact each other and too little oil causes it? Anyways, I do NOT get that on my Sustains, so something about either the internals or the spool material seems to be the culprit, or maybe they just grease them a bit more. Aside from that, it never impeded my fishing, they work fine if you don't mind the slight noise. I found myself tuning it out.

It's pretty new, so I haven't seen any reviews on it.

Wait now --- from other threads I've read you apparently "can't backlash a Diawa!"....hmm??? In jest I speak..... Does look like incredibly heavy braid. Should've made it easier to pick out in some cases, but many times I just shrug and pick up a different rod until I can give it some attention.

I've only ever broken one rod, and I think it was a fluke thing. I set the hook on a short striking fish and the tip 4 inches of the rod cracked. Shimano replaced it over the counter, although that policy is no longer in effect. That's the only one I've replaced. If you're breaking rods that often and don't want to spend the time and money shipping it back and waiting (who would?) I would go with either cheaper/more replaceable rods, or get something brutishly durable, like the Ugly Stik.

I knew it was a streak that would have to end eventually. I've enjoyed several straight weeks of very good fishing, even in conditions that I typically have difficulty with. Today however was a crushing day. The fish laid me the smackdown. I had a somewhat limited time to fish, about 3 hours. We had bluebird skies, a south wind, stained water, and temps in the mid-70's. Two fish in 3 hours.....and one was a bluegill. I gave it all the techniques, colors, depths, presentations, and variance I could think of. Not even my tried and true Ned Rig could fool them. They just had lockjaw all evening. I left feeling defeated, but I suppose this is part of it - that's why it's called "fishing"

That is certainly surprising. Maybe I caught them on a slow day at the office. They actually emailed me asking for my phone number, I replied back, and they called me within 30 minutes. They own, or are owned by, the same company that makes Lake Fork tackle I believe, maybe they're just short staffed, but in either case, as a company it's pertinent to reply in a timely fashion to your consumers. This makes me a bit worried.

All of my rods are covered by the Rod Sox. So far I love them. Like Choporoz said, it's a flexible but not truly soft form of rubber. You can definitely tell it's protective though. Additionally, the tip has the same protection for the top guide of your rods. I can also attest the service from them is great. I found out the hard way that they don't float, even though they're made of plastic/rubber. I emailed them to say that while I was happy with their product to make sure their website notes that it's not buoyant since mine blew out of the boat. They replied asking me what kind I lost, and they promptly sent me a new one. Pretty great in my opinion.

I'm with an unfortunate number of folks on here that can also raise their hand and say it's happened to me too. Had a great small "lake" - about 20 acres, it had decent amounts of grass, nothing major, a few pads here and there, and great fishing. Many days of 30+ 2-4lb fish. Here in Indiana the DNR requires public bodies of water to be stocked to assist in controlling mosquito larvae. Then the HOA decided those weeds "attracted mosquitoes for egg-laying habitat" even though the fish ate them quite effectively. Most of the time I fished there I never bothered applying bug repellent, never needed it. Upon their advice from an "expert" they put in about 40 carp one spring day, supposedly sterile (triploid), and the grass was gone by the end of summer. The fishing has never recovered. The lack of shoreline vegetation an the bottom disturbance by the carp has ruined any sustainable protection for the baitfish and the bass population has gone with it. If you go out there with a microscopic hook, tiny bobber, and red worms you can catch as many 4-5 inch bluegill you could ever ask for, but the bass are few and far between. I can't for the life of me figure out why HOAs continue to choose carp. They're invasive, they dirty, they're destructive, and despite the fishery claiming they're sterile, I've seen more than one instance where some sort of reproduction is happening - I know for a fact no more were stocked, and yet there are very small carp and very large carp. Maybe I should just spool up my heavy/low geared frogging rig with 80lb braid, thread a bunch of sweet creamed corn on a big catfish hook and rig for catching some carp now and then.

My first casting rod was a Carbonlite (gen. 1) and that thing is awesome. Bought the heavy action for frogging and that thing is still going strong. I love it.

Downsize

I use all Shimano reels, and the "local reel cleaning guy" advises with Shimano to never open them until you have to. They're good enough out of the box that they don't need aftermarket parts or tuning. That said, I tried some Boca's in my Chronarch MGL - immediately reinstalled the factory bearings. They need no replacement. The only thing I have done in the past is send in my wading reels for cleaning every other year since they end up getting much wetter than my others.

I honestly think it depends on your budget. I've used both and 100% can't tell the difference other than the handle. If you have the extra $$$ go with the Expride, if you want essentially an almost identical rod at half-ish the price, go with the Zodias. I started using Zodias a while back and have almost completely converted. I'm in love with them.

When the Senko bite stops, break out the Ned Rig

That's what I'd do. If I'm not getting bites on shoreline presentations, especially in the heat of summer, I break out either a wacky rig senko or a Ned Rig - target deeper water and fish very slow. The shoreline bites sometimes (especially in the high summer heat) will slow way down as the sun gets higher. I typically target them the most during dawn and dusk and move deeper as the sun travels overhead.

At your pricepoint there are hundreds of options. I owned the cork newer model Crucial and like it just as well, if not more than my older EVA handled one. But for a few bucks more I like the Zodias exponentially better - so much so I sold my Crucials and replaced them with Zodias rods

I wondered why the stock at my local DSG started to dwindle. That's unfortunate as there's not a buzzbait made that does what the Cavitron does. Just know that I'll buy them wherever I can get them Bobby, no matter the retailer. But for your business I'm saying a prayer or two that you pick up some more distributors to get these great US made products in our hands.

I use the 6'10" MH for literally everything, even frogging, and love it. I can imagine a Zodias in Heavy action would be even better for frogs. It's at least as light as my other casting rods and has a comfortable reel seat. Try one out in person if you can, but otherwise I'd imagine you'll be happy with it.

Never used the rod, but I can promise you won't regret the Chronarch MGL - hands down the best reel I've ever owned. I had some Boca's laying around from another Curado that used them then got sold. Put them in the Chronarch, fished, went home and re-inserted the stock Shimano bearings....they're that good. Smooth, strong, and quiet is how I'd classify the MGL. Worth every penny. I recently watched a casting tutorial from bassresource, showing how to set brakes for better casting and such. Now my distances are even further and I almost can't backlash this MGL now. Insane. Agree, I have mine on a 6'10" MH/Fast and it's a killer rig

Heading out to a lake an hour or so from me tomorrow morning very early. I have never fished this lake, but it has the distinction of usually being low visibility (0-2ft) from creek runoff. That muddiness and the water temps being between 75-80F have me wondering how to fish. Most things I read about muddy water pertain to winter or spring muddy water, not the middle of summer hot water. How would you fish it?