FishTank

This is kind of funny to me and I am showing my age..... Go back 15-20 years, most reels weighed between 8 to almost 10oz. I also tournament fish with a guy that has 5 older Curados. They weigh about 9oz and he uses G. Loomis E6X rods. One of his combos that he flips and pitches with is a 894C and with a Curado 200B. He's 67 years old and can skip and pinpoint a lure just about anywhere and do this all day. I don't think the weight of his reel ever comes into question. He also has the 904C FSR, 783C, 843C CBR, and I think the 802C (doesn't use it often) all matched with the older Curados.

I think specific reels in the line up have done well and while others have not..... for example, I like the Gen. 2 STX but not the current one, the Revo Winch Gen. 4 is great but the older version felt weird, and the Revo Premier is a dealer's choice. I have liked the ALX but do not have a reel to compare it to from the previous generations or the newer ALF. I didn't really get the point of the MGX or the MGXtreme. The SX line always gave me the "Why would I buy this reel instead of a Curado (or something else)?" vibe. Not saying it's a bad reel but it felt underwhelming compared to several other reels at the same price point. With the exception of the Revo Toro Beast, this is as far down the Abu Garcia rabbit hole I have gone.

If it is to BPS, I would be patient and wait for their spring sale. They always have a combo of some kind for $100.

You should be good. I have used it in 25-30 degree weather all day on the water and I may have frozen guides but the line works great.

On a side note..... Did anybody see the Shimano Crankbaits. They look like the WEC baits (old Zoom). Nice but makes me wonder if they are ripping off a legend or bringing back a classic.

Mono, FC and Braid.... 3 different lines for different needs. For me..... Mono > topwater and crankbaits FC > General purpose fishing, T-Rigged Plastic and Jigs Braid > Topwater and heavy vegetation/cover Braid with FC Leader > Finesse spinning gear I try not to over think it but the main benefit to me of FC over mono is that it last longer and I have to change it less (in some cases it is a better value than mono). The benefit of mono is the initial cost and it floats. I haven't seen much of a difference in knot strength, invisibility/visibility (mono tends to loose it faster), or castability (mono might be slightly better depending on the pound test in question). As far FC stretch vs mono, it depends on the line. I have my favorites and use them as I see fit based on their individual properties. I do try each year to expand my taste in fishing line by trying something new. Last year it was Daiwa Samurai FC and it was a winner. This year it's Sunline Sniper Invisible Camo. Line is nothing more than a personal inclination so have fun.

Pictures please

I have the 873 CCR NRX and love it. Great rod and very versatile. It is my favorite choice for what you are wanting to fish. If you don't like the Recoil guides, then you might look at the 844C MBR GLX. The Jig and Worm extra fast tips are definitely different from the CCR. The MBR would be the closest. I do like the JWR's. I have the 803C GLX and the 853 NRX. I use these guys for the same stuff just a little lighter. What reel you put these rods will also change the tip heavy feeling.

I change them as I see fit. Some of even the best baits could have bad hooks but some are changed as soon as I open the box, for example the KVD Strike King baits. I like the XD baits but the hooks couldn't go through warm butter. Once changed, these baits are great. Rapala and Lucky Craft (JDM) hooks also get changed but only after a few fish. They don't stay sharp long. The most fragile to me are Megabass hooks. They are very sharp but tend to bend on big fish. Anything else, I check it and change as needed. I might go through 12-20 hooks a year. I like Owner ST-36 and Gamakatsu EWG's and G-finesse. If you want to cheap BPS hooks aren't bad and Berkley Fusions are good as well.

Found the culprit.

Berkley Pulse Worm and the original Xcalibur One Knocker lipless cranks

4in paddle tail swimbait or a chatterbait.

It's the jerkbait special as well. I haven't really noticed the shorter trigger. Definitely a nice rod for the money. We will see how it fishes when it warms up.

Here is the latest pick up.... I really like the Levante. I have not fished it yet but what a nicely made rod. I also picked up 5 packs of Ned rigs heads, drop shot weights and hooks, a new rod rack and some spark shads. It was a busy week for the monkey.

That's the way I have been doing it for the last several years. All are great lines but put together with the right gear and tackle, they show their true potential. They are not magic wands but tools for the job.

Awesome. That gives me a good place to start. Thanks

My wife has them and the only advice I can give is to buy a slightly bigger frame. Hers are huge but they make it better for driving. We found Costco to have the best prices and the best lenses.

I am picking up a new kayak and they have two of these. I am not sure how much but they told me that they were a good deal if I was interested. If you don't mind me asking, how much did this set you back? Does it have both side and down imaging? I am thinking of getting either this or the HDS Live. I am still learning and thinking on which one.

Those would be great for soft plastic.

I thought about most of what you said as well. I have gone to one lake in Indiana that is great fishing but goes from deep to shallow, maybe 15 feet - 2 feet, quickly. I have seen several props fowled up at this spot. Also, I am wanting to tournament fish and have heard the same. Even some of the smaller strip pits have gone to no motor completely. I still may consider a trolling motor for big lakes. I saw one put on and taken off and it took less than five minutes once the electric and mounting plate are installed.

Nice. I never thought to look DSG. I know the one near me caries the lower end of the spectrum in kayaks. It's where I got my current Eagle Talon. I might have been able to get them to order with a coupon. They have ordered a few things for myself and others I fish with when they have their community day which is 20% off. I have picked a few Shimano reels and St. Croix rods this way. I am kind of wishing I would have looked into it. Enjoy though. Sounds like you got a good deal.

Usually 30-40mph is where I am comfortable. But most of the lakes after 11am are so full of boats, skiers, and wake boarders, you can't go anywhere too fast. The fastest I have ever gone in a bass boat was on one time joyride. I went about 65-70mph in a Ranger with a 300hp Mercury. It felt like I was going to die but it was fun. Luckily it was first thing in the morning and the lake was like glass, otherwise it would not have been possible.

I think it was the horizontal rod storage that sold me. I go through some off the beaten path spots sometimes and rods stored vertically are not possible. On the other hand, the spot lock and the go to way point option on the Old Town is crazy cool. As far as the weight goes, I watched 100lb young lady load one in the back of a truck bed. She made it look easy. I will definitely buy the wheeled cart for it when it becomes available. I should have it Wednesday. Bring on the warmer weather.

You might be right. I always like poking fun at this guy.

Definitely a lost art. When I was a kid we would make anchors from coffee cans, an eyelet bolt and concrete. They looked something like this but we would cut the sides of the coffee can a little to make it look like a flower. This would cause it to catch on something on the bottom.