Mossyoakglock

I think I'm going to get the new Stradic. After I posted I got to thinking and remembered my dad has one of my older reels. So, I think I'll take his and trade it in, get the new reel and keep my old Stradic. I have another newer Shimano reel that I'll give him. So he gets an upgrade while I get a new reel and keep my old Stradic. Problem solved. Ha ha. As as for it being serviced, not professionally just by myself at the end of every fishing season.

The other day I was at Basspro for the Fishing Classic going on now. I got to walking around and noticed that the newest Stradic FK is out. I've had the white Stradic 2000FG for probably going on at least 10 year (I think, maybe longer). The picture isn't my reel but one like it. With the reel trade-in going on now I'll get about $30 off the new Stradic. So, if you were in my shoes, would you trade up to the new Stradic? Part of me wants to do it to get a new reel but then the other part of me wants to keep my old reel for sentimental reasons. But, saving $30 on a new reel is nice. If I had an extra reel to trade in I would do that and keep my old one but I've used all my old reels on previous trade-ins. This is the new Stradic....http://www.basspro.com/Shimano-Stradic-FK-Spinning-Reel/product/2241799/

I appreciate all the opinions but I disagree that cheap and expensive are the same. The quality of the expensive glasses are far greater. I wear contacts and can tell a huge difference between a cheap lens and an expensive lens. The clarity is far superior. Back to the original question. Is the mirror finish better on the glass vs the poly?

They still make the Green Mirror in poly. I just bought the fantail in green mirror 580P. The mirror is good but it's not as good as my Oakleys mirrored lenses are. I'm wanting to get a pair in glass lenses and didn't know if the glass lenses are more "mirrored" then the poly. Thinking of going with the Silver Mirror in 580G.

Is there a difference in the mirrored qualities between the glass and plastic? Green mirror specifically? I don't like to be able to see my eyes through the sunglasses and didn't know if the glass mirror lense has a better mirrored finish then the plastic.

Which do you prefer? If you use a specific line can you elaborate which one and on what type of reel, etc and why? I have always been a P-Line guy but got a spool of Sufix elite for my spinning reel and I really like it. I might change out all my line to Sufix in the next few weeks on my baitcasters.

I contacted Oakley and they also suggested the Bronze Polarized (currently have the Black Iridium Polarized). Now I'm going to throw in Costa. I've been reading online (and here) on lens choices, etc. The consensus is that the Green Mirror is the best way to go and is one of the best all-around lens choices for a variety of fishing conditions, water clarity and sun/light conditions (I'll wear them for everyday activities occasionally). I fish freshwater 99% of the time but will probably start doing more saltwater fishing with my uncle in Panama City, FL. Off the pier, at the jetties and inshore in the bay mostly. I will probably pick up an extra lens for my Oakleys (Bronze Polarized) but want to get a second pair. If I were to go with the Costa's, would the Green Mirror be my best choice. I'm going with the Fantails but haven't decided if I want Glass or Poly. I'll have to try both on when I can get out there. The lakes and ponds I fish are never really that clear (occasionally clear down to 2-3ft) and mostly stained/murky. Being that I fish from the bank the majority of the time, I will be sight fishing and want a lens that allows me to "see" into the water. If Green isn't the way to go, is there another color that would suit me better? Maybe Gray or Silver Mirror? Obviously looking for something that cuts glare as well.

Yes, the new lenses will be mainly for fishing but I'm sure I'll wear them for non-fishing things too. I was planning on getting just the lenses so I can swap out my Black Iridiums with the bronze lenses when needed.

I didn't think about having two lenses with close to the same light transmission. So it sounds like the Bronze Polarized will be my best choice.

I've been doing more research and from what I've seen, the Gold Iridium appears to be a brown base. Anybody else seen that anywhere? Here is what I've found (multiple sources) and specific to Oakley lenses only - VR28 Black Iridium Polarized (Rose base, 10% transmission) Gold Iridium Polarized (Brown/Bronze base, 9% transmission) Bronze Polarized (Brown/Bronze base, 15% transmission) What are the main differences in Rose and Brown bases? Is one better for "seeing" through the water and contrast? I'm really looking for another lens that is a good all-purpose lens that works in a variety of light conditions (anywhere from sunrise/sunset to mid-afternoon), cuts glare and allows me to see through the water (if that makes sense) in both salt and fresh water, bu the majority will be freshwater though).

So go with the Bronze Iridium (15% light transmission) over the Gold Iridium (9%) even though they let in more light? I'm sure a 4% difference is not going to be that noticeable anyways. A second question - Is the Bronze/Gold lense better for shallow water? Is there a better color for deep water or should the Gold/Bronze be ok for that. I mainly fish freshwater so my fishing depths are not that great but want something that can also be good in moderatly deep water in the Bay in Panama City, FL.

I tried every pair of Costas they had and none of them fit my face very well or looked that good one me. Unfortunately they don't offer that in Polarized. Other than the Black Iridium (which I have), they only offer Gold Iridium, Bronze and VR28 Black Iridium Polarized in the Five Squared. Oakley makes two fishing specific lenses but they are not offered in the ones I got.

I just purchased a pair of Oakley Five Squared with the Black Iridium Polarized lenses. I’m wanting to get a second set of lenses more specifically geared towards fishing. I’ve read some things that say a Bronze or Gold polarized lens is good for fishing due to the amount of contrast it provides. The two replacement lens colors that Oakley has in the Five Squared are Gold Iridium Polarized and Bronze Polarized. The Black Iridium Polarized has a 9% light transmission rate and says it is for extremely bright conditions. The Bronze Polarized has a 15% light transmission and is best for medium to bright conditions. The Gold Iridium has a 9% light transmission and is for extremely bright conditions (same specs as the black iridium). Which would be better for all-around fishing conditions? I am also going to be using them when fishing the Gulf and Mobile Bay for Specks, redfish, etc so these will get some saltwater use as well. I'm sure both will be fine since they increase contrast but still would like everybody's opinion. I could have gone with Costa's but none of them fit my face well and looked very good on me and since I have always worn Oakley, I went with them again.

I decided to go with the Symetre 2500 with a BPS Carbonlite 6' L. I tried the 1000 on it and it didn't balance very well. The 2500 is almost perfectly balance. Topped it off with 6lb mono. I'm hoping to test it fully either today after work or tomorrow morning so I can't wait. I have a Stradic 2500 (w/ 8lb P-line) that is probably 10 years old and going strong so I could always throw that on the new rod if I wanted to.

I'll have to go today after work and see how the balance. Unfortunately after doing more looking online I found a few more rods that are in the range I want to spend. Since every manufacturer's power ratings are a little different I'll have to go get a feel for each one. Like the Berkley rods. It seems that their Medium power rods feel more like a BPS's Light power. Right now the Johnny Morris Carbonlite is the early winner due to the large range or lenghts and power (6' L, 6.5' M, 6'6" ML, 6'9" ML) and they are on sale. Also going to look at Abu Garcia's Vendetta and Veritas, St. Croix Mojo (ML 6'9"), Berkley Cherrywood and Lightning and a few other BPS rods. All are $99 or less which is the most I'm wanting to spend on the rod. Most of them are in the 6'6" range and Light to Medium. I'll be using 6lb mono no matter which one I go with. I would think on the longer 6'6" to 6'9", a 2500 series would be better but anything under a 6' then a 1000 series would be better. I'm liking the Symetre the best so far and the way it feels in my hand. I already have a Stradic so wanting something different and the Saros just didn't feel right.

I'm in the market for a new spinning reel but I'm a little stuck on the reel size. I think I've narrowed it down to a Light power, 6' or 6'6" (most likley a Carbonlite 6'6") rod and I'll be using 6lb mono. I'm going to stick with a Shimano reel (either a Symetre or Sahara). I have an ultra-light for small panfish and trout and when I use a bobber and crickets or minnows or small rooster tails, etc with 4lb mono. This set up will be for lighter lures as well but also for bass. Based on my plans for the setup, should I go with a 1000 or 2500 series? I think I'm leaning towards the 2500 incase I hook into a decent size bass. What do you think?

I'm heading to Fall Creek Falls State Park this weekend to do a little hiking and might fish for a little bit from the bank if we have time. Has anybody fished this lake before and what did you use? I've heard the bluegills are large here with the state record bluegill and Channel being caught out of this lake. I won't be using a boat or kayak this time so it will be just from the bank. I want to go for bass specifically but will probably target bluegills as well.

Depending on what the river/generation schedule is like this weekend, I might head over to the Caney for some trout fishing. During this time of the year, would the trout bite still be productive? Other than the normally fished spots, are there any less accessable spots that might need 4wd to get to? I'm not talking major offroad with ruts but just somewhere off the beaten path that might need 4wheel drive? Looking for some spots that might not be as heavily fished.

I have a Zara Super Spook Jr in the bone color that I don't use much. I haven't caught much on it compared to my other colors so it just sits in the tackle box. Being that it is the bone color it shouldn't be difficult to sand it down and repaint it, but I'm not sure what color. What do you guys think a good color would be? Either solid or a two-tone? I saw one online that was white with a blue head. Maybe do that and add some red on the underside? I know I could probalby buy one but now that it's starting to get colder, I like having little projects to do in the winter when I can't fish. If this should go in the lure making forum, please move. I wasn't sure which would be the best spot.

Anybody fish the Duck River in the Wartrace area? We have some friends there and go down there quite a bit. We usually catch a decent amount of fish (smallies, rockfish, redeyes, trout). For those of you that fish that area, what are your lures of choice? We usually have the best luck with Rooster Tails and craw colored cranks. The section we fish has a mix of still water (3 - 8' deep) and moving water anywhere from 1 - 5' deep.

Any particular color or pattern on the Spook Jr? We went this weekend and had some decent luck. 1 or 2 smallies but a lot or Rock/redeye bass. And one decent Rainbow. Caught the Rainbow on a silver Torpedo and the everything else on a craw colored Bandit 200.

I was mainly going to keep it in the crawfish color family and not go crazy with different colors. With the topwaters I wasn't so sure. I didn't know if a shad color or chrome worked better on the top or if color really mattered. I might pick up a Rainbow color Rapala or something. I actually caught the Smallmouth and Rainbow on the "Rainbow" color roostertail.

I have been fishing the Duck River in southern middle TN more lately and fish for pretty much anything that swims. I don't usually go after any one species since I just like being out and fishing. My main lure is a Rooster Tail since I can catch pretty much anything with it (Rainbows, Smallies, bream/bluegill/redeyes, etc). The other day I caught a nice smallmouth and got to thinking I want to try and target them more. I have been reading up on lures and these are what I found to be some of the better ones. Small Fluke Heddon Torpedo Buzzbait Brushhog Tube Jig Spinnerbait Soft craw When selecting color do I need to just go with a craw color/pattern or are there other colors to consider? Whites, shad colors, etc? I know water clarity and weather/season will play a factor but what about in general?

I picked up the new Curado and a Shimano Sellus for my "all-around" rod that I can pretty much throw anything with. The reel is a 6.3:1 and the rod is a 6'8" MH/Fast. I have a dedicated worm/jig rod and crankbait rod but this one is the one I use the most especially if I'm bank fishing and only want to carry one reel/rod.

If you hadn't asked me I could tell you what the rod is but I know it is a Shimano. I do know it's a MH/EF 6'6". It is paired with a Shimano Castaic. I've had the setup for at least 10 year now. *Edit - The rod is a Shimano Crucial.