JGBassinAL

New one has a shallower spool as well I believe.

This instead of the Revo S

Just got on TW to check the Supreme XT out and it's $150. Then I go check a couple other things and come back to it and it is $112.49 and now the Daily Special, just in case anyone is interested...

Curious as well. JDM sites are not very in-depth when listing features.

Newest addition...

I was gonna use it for jigs but I picked up an Antares HG last night for a steal so I will probably put the 103 on my Texas rig or wobble head set up. If it casts light baits well then I will probably use it for Texas rigs since I throw 3/16 oz a lot.

I finally decided to try a Daiwa so I talked to Gary at the Tackle Trap about the SV 103. Of course, they are out of the 7.9:1 and they won't have one in stock till the later part of next week since he just ordered some today. It could be a sign to not stray from Shimano but I am really intrigued by this reel and am gonna give it a go. Have any of you had any water time with this reel? What are your thoughts? Thanks!

I bought the Pocket Knockers off of TW just to try them out even though I felt they were just a marketing scheme. To my surprise they work extremely well for single hook baits and treble hook baits. The only time I have ever had a problem is if my bait was hung up in fishing line, but I don't really know of any retrievers that would help in that situation anyways.

I don't normally weigh a fish if I'm not in a tournament. When I'm in a tournament I just put the hook of my scale thru the cull tag. Have been considering attaching a lip gripper to my scale so I can weigh them when I am fun fishing. Will probably go ahead and order one...I wish TW stocked them.

I use FX2 for frogs and punching and SX1 on my top water rod and spinning rigs. I don't find either to be noisy and both are awesome performers. I haven't used Smackdown but I'm sure it is great as well. If you already have some FX2 then I would try it and see how you like it before buying something else. I've never read any bad reviews on FX2 or SX1 and I have never had a bad experience in my time using these lines either. No one on here said it is bad stuff. You can't go wrong with either it's just personal preference.

I throw my squarebills with a Core 50MG7. You can really throw a shallow crank with any gear ratio. I think the Met in 6.2:1 or the new Scorpion in 6.2:1 would be perfect. For swimbaits get you a Curado 300E if you aren't into round reels. I love the 300E.

I have handled and casted the Caenan and it is crazy smooth and palms great. I cant recommend it as I haven't fished with it. I haven't fished the Lews either but I would pick it over the Caenan because, as others have stated, the aluminum frame.

From my experience Lews are pretty finicky. I had a Team Lite with 14 lb. Sniper (same diameter as 12 lb. Invizx) and it liked to backlash/overrun. I have a Chronarch Ci4 for jerkbaits that's spooled up with 8 lb. Sniper and it never backlashes.

I have a Stormr Fusion suit and I love it. Call the guys at Bass Mafia Tackle, they are running a deal on Stormr gear right now.

You don't have to be paid by Shimano, Daiwa, Lews, etc. to be brand loyal. I'm not paid by Shimano but I am brand loyal to them when it comes to reels. I have never been let down by Shimano and have never found another reel that I like as much as a Shimano at respective price points.

The Tatula rod he is considering is longer...In general, longer rod = longer casts.

You really can't go wrong either way. I have smaller hands so the Met palms better...except for the Core 50MG7. The Core 50 is my favorite Shimano that I own or have ever owned. If it were between the Met and Core 100 though, I would choose the Met. I just like smaller framed reels better.

Just wanted to let everyone know that I handled one of these today and got to cast it around at a local tackle shop. I was casting a 3/8 oz jig head with no skirt and this reel casts awesome. I could cast the jig head as far as possibly needed and it was really smooth on the cast and the retrieve. I would have bought one but I don't know how I feel about the graphite frame. It palms really well and has an aldebaran look to it. I might end up picking one up anyways to try out. Just wanted to let everyone know that I had handled one and it felt great if you were considering buying one.

With all the problems I have read about on the new Carbonlite reel I would hate to know what the old Carbonlite reel was like if these new ones are higher quality.

Thanks guys I'll go with the Alde. I already have a Core 50 so I know I like that platform.

Which of these would you use for smaller crankbaits (1/4 oz)? I can get both for pretty much the same price and both are 5.8:1 gear ratio which is what I want. I have all Shimanos and the fact that I'm considering a Daiwa hurts, but I have heard great reviews about the Alphas SV105 so I'm just seeing what you guys think. If the Daiwa is the better tool for the job then I will buy it, but if they are about equal I will stick with Shimano.

EMTF is an awesome rod for swimbaits and the DSR is supposed to be a shorter EMTF. I think the DSR will be perfect for what you want. I thought the EMTF was perfect for 3/4 oz hollow bodies and if the DSR is a smaller EMTF like a lot of people say then I think you will have no problem using the DSR for swimbaits.

Curado 70XG mounted on a custom 7'6" Medium Heavy Rainshadow Eternity2 blank. Gonna be my new fb jig setup!

I recently got some CP Custom Baits flat sided balsa crankbaits and they are quickly becoming my favorite crankbait for this time of year. I would recommend them to anyone looking for a flat sided balsa. Has a lot of vibration whether reeled slow or fast and is exceptional at deflecting off of cover. Haven't had a durability issue and I have fished them very hard. TW carries them if anyone is interested.

Im not 100% on this but I'm pretty sure the HP is an improved blank, but the Champion XP is the same blank as the old Champion. The Extreme is going to be more sensitive than the Powell but you can find the Powells around $100 and I would not pay $100 more for the Champ Extreme. The Powell is plenty sensitive so to me the price difference is not justifiable. Just my .02.