FishTank

I kind of did away with most of my old faithful stuff but I do have 2 reels that are now almost 8 years old. I have a Shimano Core that just keeps taking abuse. I also have a Shimano Calcutta 251A that will probably last my lifetime. It is just built like a tank.

We are having this issue at work getting parts for customers. They order them next day/2day air from Japan and they are getting held up in California. The shipping costs are out of this world but it can be done. These customers are red hot though and all we can do is send them the tracking numbers but they think it is somehow our fault.

For me I use (on baitcasters) 12lb FC for soft plastic, 50lb braid for flipping and punching, 10lb mono for crankbaits and 6lb FC or 6lb hybrid on spinning gear.

I have tried them and they are OK. I prefer to use them with lizards. It sort of turns the head down. Out of the other Owner hooks, I like the Wide Gap Plus and Rig N Hook for things like Senkos and Ikas.

For pitching I like my G. Loomis 844C IMX with a Dawia Zillion and I use either 15lb FC or 50lb Power Pro. As others have mentioned 15lb is probably to light for a bait caster but is ideal for spinning gear.

Love tungsten weights but hate the cost compared to lead. With that said, it may just be me, but I seem to catch more fish with them than lead.

Senkos, Fat Ikas, Keitech swimbaits, 4/0 Gammi EWG's, VMC Tungsten Bullet weights 1/8 oz and 3/16, and a Lucky Craft Flat CB in Chartreuse shad.

As far as bank fishing goes, I take a medium amount of stuff nothing major. -Two maybe three setups and a backpack of cranks, soft plastic, sunglasses, bug/sunscreen, a small flashlight, knife, water, and pliers. In my inflatable pontoon boat -Two setups, mainly for soft plastic>it's based on how deep I want to fish>A cooler with lunch and all the stuff above just more of it. I too was bank fishing yesterday at my favorite pond and just caught one. It was hot and nothing seemed to be biting. I could see fish hitting the top of the water but nothing was hungry. When it is like this, I just fish slower. It seems to work for me.

They are good stuff, no doubt about it. I have had great luck with Senkos, the hula grub, kreature, pro Senkos, Flappin Hog and Fat Ikas but over the years there are few that have not done so well.... Single tail grubs> can't explain why, I have had better luck with BPS's version and Zooms Lizards> Ok but still like Zooms better Swimming Senko> again just OK but a cool bait though Craw> not as good as I had hoped Swimbait> good but I there are others that are just as good if not better (Keitech)

I have Curado 200G and no issues as of yet. This is my main cranking reel. So it gets hit pretty hard. My old Japan made Curados were great and also had no issues. I can say the older Curado E was a more solid feeling reel and built like a tank but I don't think it had anything to do with being made in Japan. It was just better design, parts, etc. and a higher price tag. I do not have the new I as of yet but out of the ones I have owned, the Curado 201 BSF was my favorite. I think it had, to me, the first high dollar reel feel that I could afford (so I may be a little bias towards it).

Cool. Looks like me drinking a beer.

Congrats. My wife starts back on Monday. It's been great having her home for a few weeks. This year she is doing Academic Team after school. I think she is nuts but I am proud of her all the same. Good luck in the job search. I hope you find a school that fits you and your style.

I picked up a Shimano Chronarch for $150 at Gander Mountain.

I always like this ad when it shows up. I think it was from 1977.

Shimano Crucial and when I have seen them on sale (maybe a few bucks over $150), the St. Croix Avid.

Shimano Core 101MG and a G. Loomis 783C GLX. Pretty much does it all. St. Croix Avid 6'8" M x-fast and a Shimano Stradic. All around soft plastic setup.

This time nobody showed up as far as I know. About a month ago I was at the same lake and did see a guy get busted. He had no license, a bucket full of fish (catfish, blue gill, bass, and whatever else), and 6 rods set up (looked like 3 of these in pic below but more heavy duty) with electronic bite detectors. When the officer was done fining him and his buddy, he said it was over a $1000 between them. It's usually $125 for each violation and from what I can tell, most officers only write one ticket at a time. It's more of a slap on the wrist when they write one. In Indiana, they seem to be out to keep people safe and people in line and not out to just write tickets. These two though seemed like professional idiots.

In order to keep the Bait Monkey away, I bought enough to have my own tackle shop in my garage. In all truth, there is no avoiding the bait monkey. You can only prepare for him. Save your money, buy what you need when it is on sale, and try not to do something that causes buyers remorse.

I looked and sorry the answer is a polite, No.

Confidence.... I am only guessing but for me I would say the way it wiggles and falls when weightless.

Those where some awesome reels back then. I was 8 years old when that add came out.

It's a few bucks more than what you mentioned but I have G. Loomis CBR 783 that I love. It is a M Mod-Fast but it feels and acts like a ML. It will through the baits you are talking about very easily.

Something like this....