FishTank

I too have had great luck with the LC RC series lures. The 2.5 Copper Grean Shad is my favorite.

I have both the Shimano Sustain 2500 and a quantum Energy PTi A 20. Both are excelent reels. I use the quantum with 8lb Pline Flouroclear and the Sustain I use the 30lb powerpro. The Sustain is smoother, casts better and I have zero spool tie ins with braid. On the other hand the ergonomics of the Energy has a better feel for me. For most of the fishing I do, the 20 is ideal. The 30 did not seem as smooth and little too heavy. The 20 is also ideal for me closing the bail with one finger on my casting hand. As far as durability goes, I have had zero problems with either one. With your physical issues you might try one out and if it does not work for you take it back and try the other. Just in case what rod are you planning to pair up with this?

IMHO, it is just a quality issue. I belong to a bass club and we have a wide range of insane fisherman. We asked this question at our club and here is what we did. We have twelve members and we each purchased a silver DT6 Rapala and a Flat Mini Chartreuse Shad DR LC crankbait. We first compared the action of each in a 250gal fish tank and then a swimming pool. Four of the Rapalas out of the twelve ran true to depth and had same action. With the LC ten of the twelve ran exactly the same. But as far as catching fish, the LC's only had a slight edge over the Rapalas. This test is on going and still subject to debate. But for me, I like both and each has its' place in my tackle box.

Got a weird question regarding lube and oil. I purchased a few and looked at several Shimano reels and all seemed to be covered (on the outside) with a light oil. Anybody know what that oil is and why it is on so heavy? Thanks

Since I joined this forum, my head feels like it's going to explode with all the info I have tried to obsorb but I have been convinced of two things. 1)There is a lot of personal preference when it comes to equipment. If whatever it is, does what you want, then it's worth it. 2)I can't stress this enough. "The rod is the most important part of the set up."

I went to BPS shop on Friday. I purchased a G Loomis BCR803. I took my reel with me, stringed it up on serveral rods and made my wife tap the line. This drew strange looks and a lot of tongue lashing from my wife but it was worth it. I tried this combo out today and it seems to be the perfect fit. I can cast senkos a country mile. The rod is even more sensitive than my MBR783 GLX and cast further. Somebody with an insane mind for fishing and engineering invented this rod. It is just amazing how it works for what it is designed for. I thought to myself, how different can it be from my MBR783? It is way different!!! Accuracy, distance, and feel are all a step up. I could go on and on but I wanted to thank all for the suggestion of testing the balance. The 7' and longer rods I looked at all felt weird. The 6'8'' length is perfect. The only other rod that caught my attention was the Senko BCR864 but just was to heavy for the what I fish.

I just purchased the Calais 201 and fished it for the first time today. It is so smooth, you'll think you're fishing with some weird foreign object. It is truely amazing. I can cast just about anything I want from a 3/8oz crank to a 3/4oz lipless crank effortlessly. I hope enjoy yours.

Thanks again for everyones input. Just before I posted this question, my Quantum Tour Edition PT started having problems with both the drag and the cast control. I hooked a 3lb smallie and a couple of casts later I heard something pop. I just thought it was the line tied into the spool but I guessed wrong. Every other cast I would get a backlash. It was as if, on the retrieve the line was not coming in as steady as it should. It's a shame because I liked this reel a lot. In the end, I took it back to BPS and purchased a Shimano Calais 201A. I can't wait to try it (as soon as my wife stops screaming at me). I am going to pair this up with my G Loomis GLX mbr783. I guess I will, as some suggested, draw my own conclusion but it is still nice to hear opinions from others.

I have fished the Rat-L-Traps for years and have done OK with them but this year I tried a Chrome XCalibar Lipless. This is lure is a bass magnet. I have also tried a couple of the LC versions and I keep catching fish on the XCalibar. It is the only lure I have stocked three of in my tackle box.

My favorite is the Rapapla DT6 Silver with the sure set hooks.

I have done OK with the chatter baits but I also I have found crankbaits to be more effective. One thing about the chatter bait is when a fish hits it, it is usually a vicious strike instead of a nibble.

I have looked at these reels many times this year and was wanting to know, is the $70 to $180 difference from the curado to the chronarch or calais justified and if so, in your opinions why? Just wondering because I found the Curado hard to beat at the price?

I too was a little overwhelmed by how much this forum is pro Shiman. But after purchasing a couple, I can't argue. I have purchased five different reels this year and I like the Shimanos the best. I have the 2005 version of the Curado and I love it. I can't imagine how they were able to improve on it. So I guess there is another vote for the Shimano Curado.

I purchased a Johnny Morris 7' M last week and so far I like it. It is no G.Loomis GLX but for 1/2 the price, what is? I like the reel seat. The guiedes allow for a pretty smooth cast. Quality seems to be top notch. For the $119 sale price, I would highly recommend it.

My list is short. G. Loomis GLX BRC803 Jig and Worm Rod Bring on Santa.

I need some ideas on a rod for a new Shimano Calcutta 251? I tried the reel out a 6' 6'' Loomis GLX today. I like this set up but I will probably be just fishing this reel with soft plastic for large and small mouth bass. So the rod I will be using will also be dedicated to just the single purpose of soft plastic. The GLX is my all purpose rod that I will be using with my Curado. Thanks for any advice P.S. I also tried this reel on a BPS Johnny Morris Rod 7' M and it was just OK. This rod for some reason seems to be best with crankbaits. Also, on a side note, the Calcutta was difficult at first to set up but once you find the right settings, it is outstanding. I caught four large mouths and two smallies today despite the 40 degree weather.

After I read this post, I had to check my tackle box and examine the BPS weights I have. Well sure enough, I have a box of 3/16 oz bullet weigths that have a mix of 1/4 and 3/16 oz. I also noticed the holes a poorly punched. Thanks for the heads up. I'll probably not buy these again.

I had a St. Croix Avid casting rod and did not care for it pesonally. I ended up returning it for a Loomis but oddly enough I bought a spinning version of the Avid and I love it. The comfort, feel, and sensitivity are all top notch. I would it would be a nice choice for your Stradic.

OK I play dumb. What's the Q tip test?

I have also used Trilene for years and it has been, up to the past year or two, very reliable. But for some reason the past three spools have been breaking. I had some 8, 10 and I think it was 14 lb and all three had various problems. I ended up pitching them. I have been using P-Line Flouclear but I since I have been using Trilene for so long I might try it again. I might try the new stuff (Maxx) they got. I think it's supposed to be a combination of XL and XT. Has anybody used this yet?

I just purchased a new Shimano Calcutta 251 for a really good price (out of respect for the store I will not say how much I stole this real for). Anyway, it did not come with box or instructions. I contacted Shimano and they emailed me a schematic. Is their anyone else owns one of these? Is it a good reel? Any info would be great. I can't wait to test it out. I have used an old Abu Garcia that looks similar to this real years ago but I have been using the new style, low profile baitcasters. Is their a major difference between the old styles and the new? Will I need to fish/cast it differently? Thanks again for all the info.

The Tourney Specials have been on sale for $29.99 off and on all summer and fall. Their normal price was $39.99. They have been marking stuff up all week but if you bring in any of their ads or catalogs they will match the sale price. If not, they are $49.99. I purchased a Johnny Morris rod this weekend and it was marked up to $159.99 but with the flyer I got in the mail, it was $119.

Thanks to everyone for the help. I ended up buying a 7' Med. Johnny Morris BPS rod. I tried it out today with some 3/8 oz cranks and it performed quite well. No fish but it casted well and seemed very sensitive. I looked at the G. Loomis Crankbait rod, a St. Croix Legend Tournament rod and a St. Croix Avid but I got the Johnny Morris rod for $119. It looks to be a well made rod and for the price, it fit my needs without taking $200+ out of my wallet. If anyone still has an opinion on this, please fill free to add some more info. I always appreciate any advice I get on this forum.

I bought a bag of these today just to test them out. Has anyone else tried these? How do you fish them and how do they compair to other creature/crawl baits?

These have been an awesome bait for me. I fish them like a jerk bait but maybe a little easier and slower. I texas rig them with a 1/8oz bullet weight. I caught six Large Mouths yesterday in one hour. They did not seem to hit on much of anything else.