fishballer06

This. To my knowledge, ALL Shimano spinning reels are this way now. Fear not, you can buy a different paddle for about $5-10 and be on your way. I'm the same as you. I like the 3000 size spool but I'm not a fan of the T knobs.

I own 3 of the SC blanks that you refer to. As for the Aetos, Fenwick's quality just doesn't compare to SC in my opinion.

It's just like going into the local gun shop. It never hurts to ask if they can do a better price. Tell them you're willing to pay X price and that you're willing to buy right then and there. Most Mom and Pop shops have a hard time turning down cash in their pockets, especially if an item has been sitting on a shelf stagnant for years. As far as Tackle Trap, I know for a fact that Gary doesn't keep St. Croix in stock in his shop. He has it all drop shipped from the SC factory, so if that is a discontinued model and SC is OOP, then you might be SOL. However, if it's still in production, then I know Gary will take good care of you.

It really irks me whenever people boast about being able to cast a weightless senko on baitcasting gear. Go throw a 5" Senko on a quality scale and you'll see that they weigh around 3/8oz.

All depends on what the fish want. Time of year, location, water clarity, etc. I get a lot of mine custom painted by a buddy because I'm not a fan of most of the factory colors and honestly, the factory paint doesn't hold up too well. Some waters I use bright chartruese, others I use bluegill colors, and other times I'll use a sexy shad pattern. In the spring of the year, a brown craw with an orange belly can be a killer.

Haha! I've yet to catch a turtle, but I know it will happen eventually. I bet removing the hooks was fun.

I would buy the Smoke (it's one heck of a reel), and then save up for the SLX or Fuego.

Fair enough. What do I know

My vote goes to the Fury. My father and I purchased 5 HMG's about four or five years ago and only 1 is still in service. I do think it's a decent blank, and I like the hybrid cork they use, and the reel seats seem great. However, 4 of those 5 rods have bent/broken guides on them in the middle of the blank (some of them multiple guides are broken). The foot of the guides they use on these rods are very weak and are not durable by any means. Maybe Fenwick has switched guide manufactuers since that time, but I know for a fact that the Dobyns does not have this issue.

I bought one because I'm a sucker for trying out new baits and I love chatterbaits. Just need the ice to thaw to test it out.

The water you're fishing is too shallow for the squarebill you're fishing. Try using a Mann's Baby 1-. They only run about 6-12" deep and they're a killer crankbait.

First off, welcome to BR from another fellow yinzer! The setup you are looking at is a great first setup for a beginner. Being a spinning reel, I would recommend a 7' Medium power, fast action rod. This will do so much for you just starting out and you'll be able to learn numerous techniques with this one setup. Eventually, you'll get more experience, and the bait monkey will infect you, and you will want another setup or 7. At that point, come back to us and we'll gladly help you spend more of your hard earned cash.

Good find @MN Fisher. I was going to say that from the reading I've done online, approximately 9-12 years. So I wasn't far off. Something good to keep in mind whenever you release those smaller fish, or to think about how many times that fish has likely been caught by the time it finally reaches that size.

I've seen that thread, and I've also seen a YouTube video directly comparing the too. I'm always a sucker for JDM reels with a few little extra bells and whistles.

I'd likely be getting a 25 or 30 size. I've also come across the Exsence ci4+ from Japan since starting my research. This reel looks to be the USDM Stradic ci4+, painted up like the USDM Exsence, a few extra bearings added to it, and a different spool. All the while, being essentially the same price as the Stradic ci4+.

More often than not, the reason for not catching fish is not being in the right location. If you can locate the fish, generally you can catch at least one or two, even if you aren't throwing exactly what they want. More often than not in my area, the issue isn't locating the fish, it's actually getting them to bite because they're so pressured. 1-3k acre lakes with 3-5 tournaments a week on them. There's only so many places for them to hide and they see everything under the sun, every day of the week.

I'm looking for another higher end spinning setup and the new Sustain has piqued my interest. How does this new model compare to the ci4+ or Stradic FK? I own the FK and FJ for comparison, but I was wondering if anyone here has experience with all of these models and can compare them for me. Thanks.

Why not just borrow a reel from a buddy instead of buying?

Buck Splizzors are the single greatest tool I have ever came across in fishing. I highly recommend them and they are well worth the money.

This sounds nothing like the Hank Williams Jr. song. Stay safe!!!

Green Gizzard Shad. It's a much more natural looking color in clearer water as opposed to some of the white colored baits, so I prefer it. Electric shad would be my next choice.

Thanks for sharing this, James! It's awesome to see such accomplished anglers such as yourself on here helping regular guys like us out. Really appreciate it!

I own the Champion 734C, as well as 2 Avid 7' M-F, and a LTB 7'1" M-F. The 734C is a step up in power (it's a MH). So it's going to pull the duties that are too heavy to handle what my medium powered rods can handle. In my opinion, the Dobyns rods feel slightly better balanced than the standard Avid rods. I'm not sure on the weights, but a balanced rod will feel better in the hand and be less fatiguing on a long day on the water. Not saying that the Avid is a tip heavy or unbalanced rod, just saying that the Dobyns is a hair better.

Try spilling gasoline on it at 3 AM in the morning at the gas station. That's a sound that will wake you up in the morning.

I had two guys make the cut today. I'm doing terrible so far this year.