jaym137

I have 4 of them....at $69 dollars they are a lot of reel for the money. I have about 5 Tierras and these reels feel surprisingly close in performance. I like the Daiwa Twist Buster better than other brands line management features to prevent twist. Air Bail is great too. Tierra has a sealed drag, but that's not too important to me. For the money, I think they are great.

Are you sure your spool wasn't slipping because it was not attached to backing, or taped securely to reel spool? Although power pro isn't my favorite braid, many guys use it with no problems. If it frays excessively a bad guide may be to blame or if it was breaking easily same thing. But reeling in and not taking in enough line sounds like line slipping on the spool which would usually be caused by a drag too loose or braid slipping around the spool. Since you didn't have the problem with the Flourocarbon it's not a faulty reel. Flouro and mono don't slip like braid. Also line test and diameter come into play...if line test or diameter of braid is too small for a particular reel that can cause some difficulty casting, digging into spool and wind knots. Those are the only things I can think of that might cause what you described.

What makes KVD a great fisherman has 99% to do with his ability to analyze water, make snap decisions on where to fish and to use the proper techniques to most efficiently catch those fish. It's not a secret lure or better reel that separates him from the pack. It's how he thinks, his confidence and attention to detail. How good are quantum rods and reels? Good enough for him to dominate. But would he catch less fish if he used G loomis rods and Shimano or Daiwa reels? Of course not. But I think that since Quantum has sponsored him so long, he likely is loyal to them and feels they invested in him before he became the best fisherman perhaps of all time. So my guess is that he rewards the company who helped get him to where he is today. I think he would be great no matter what rod or reel he chose. I love G loomis rods and Shimano and Daiwa reels over Quantum products, but lots of manufacturers make good stuff...especially in the high end range of their respective lines.

It is by far my favorite reel. The 400TE has earned a great reputation with guys that absolutely torture their equipment. The Daiwa Luna and St. Croix AC 300 also score high marks and are excellent. I have all 3 reels and the Shimano 400 Te will be my next purchase. There are specialty reels like the Saltist and Trinidad that guys use to throw pounders(soft plastic baits weighing a pound )and double 10 bucktails which have tremendous pull on a reel. But day in and day out the best all around reel for musky guys will be the 400TE. Do a search on Musky Hunter or Muskies First websites and you'll see how highly regarded it is.

If durability is your main concern.... get a rod with a lifetime warranty. Crucials,Compre,Avids, Loomis IMX etc all have them. You pay a bit more, but have a lighter more sensitive rod that you will enjoy more and piece of mind for years down the road. To me it's a better value in the long run vs a 50 dollar rod with say a 1yr waranty. But to each his own.. depends on your idea of value. Some guys are quite satisfied with Ugly Stick Lite or less expensive rods and have them for years. Once I started using St. Croix or Loomis I felt I wanted that type of rod from then on. I have way too many 49 Dollar bargain rods collecting dust. I have Crucials that I like too. All Star is a good rod and you can get a lifetime warranty with a Compre for about 100 bucks.

Caught a Northern Pike over 15lbs on my Zillion this year and plenty of big fish with it...drag is fine. Why is it the reels fault if you are horsing a fish in and bad things happen? I understand the need for a locked down drag punching mats with braid, but most fish lost at the boat are due to not playing the fish, using the drag to tire fish and trying to land fish too quickly. Here in the ultra clear Finger Lakes we land tons of big fish on 4 and 6 lb test with spinning gear...by playing fish out. Way too many glowing reviews of Zillions from some very picky and experienced fisherman for it to be the reel's fault, unless you got a defective one.

I use the 3730 for large musky lures, however, I also use them for all my bass cranks(which I have a ridiculous amount) but I find that the 3730 holds an enormous amount of bass cranks. I seperate them into shallow/midsize/ and deep cranks. The key is to use small rubber or elastic bands to hook over the trebles of each lure. Twist ties work too. With that setup tangles are just about eliminated and you can quickly pick up a lure from anywhere in the box without 10 other cranks tangled to each other.

I think the point that many miss is that it's not only important to have some knowledge of what you are talking about before giving advice, but that different fisherman can use the exact same line, reel, rod, lure or whatever and have a completely different experience with the same product. Many people love Revos.... I bought one and used one and returned it. That doesn't make it junk or inferior... it just means I didn't care for it as much as my comparatively priced Daiwas or Shimano's. Athough I own a Daiwa Steez and love it...I also have a Bass Pro-Lite Finesse Reel that I think is a great reel that cost a whole lot less. There usually is a point where affordability and quality meet. I think Flueger and Okuma are two companies who do a very good job of making affordable quality products. So when someone says all brand x reels suck it's an opinion that I don't put much stock in. I tend to listen to Road Warrior's opinions based on a whole lot of very intelligent posts. Muddy will do the same and lead you to affordable products that won't leave you broke. If Reel Mech says what type of oil to use for a certain reel...I listen. Anotherwards, I know what I don't know and don't have 25+ years tearing reels apart. Some guys are looking for the absolute best tackle and price is no object. Others are looking for best bang for the buck. The advice you give one guy may not be right for the next.

If you are willing to spend a bit more, you should be able to find costa's on e-bay at quite a savings. I have Blue-Mirror 580's, which I use in bright sunny conditions. The Green Mirror 580's, to me are best I've ever had for sight fishing and seeing into the water. I like glass lens myself. I like the swordfish Costa's as they have spring temples and fit me the best. I tried a bunch on at Bass Pro and then bought elsewhere as E-bay had much better deals new. If at all possible try different pairs on at stores, since even great sunglasses suck if they don't fit you right and feel comfortable.

I have the avid 7ftmm, the avid 7mhm and the loomis 845 cbr. I like the loomis the best, but the handle is a bit too short for my liking, so I put a bass pro rod balancer to give it a bit of extra length. Out of the rods you mentioned, the loomis 845cbr, to me handles the widest range of cranks the best, especially on the heavier side like a D22. But ...all are very good rods and it depends on what feels best to you. For me I like the loomis 845 for 1/2oz cranks, ie DT10's or Lucky Craft 2.5"s.... For D22"s and DT 16's or 20's I prefer a longer handle and beefier rod like Dobyns 805cb. If you do choose a St. Croix ,I would definitely get the MH moderate if you plan on throwing larger cranks like D22. I also think the 845cb feels just right for most cranks 1/4-5/8oz and the loomis 843 felt a bit underpowed to me. Some guys like slower rods like glass Skeet Reese cranking rod by Lamiglass which gets great reviews. I like graphite and the 845 has enough give but really good backbone that I prefer. All good rods.

Stay away from D&T Outdoors. I placed order for Kinami Crankbaits and never received merchandise. All e-mails and telephone calls were ignored. I had to contact Visa and was finally able to get the charge taken off my bill. Everything looks legit on website when you order but then you receive no merchandise and noone responds to your inquiries. Complete Rip Off.

Jig eye buster Rapala clippers on lanyard for cutting line cat's eyes clip light for visor on baseball cap Texas Tackle Split ring pliers mini needle nose pliers for tuning crankbaits

I have 3 crankbait rods that I love. First for small cranks like Rapala DT 6 size I have a Kistler 7ft crankbait special rod. For the majority of my cranks ie.. DT 10's, etc I have the Loomis 845 cbr 7ft. I also thought handle was a bit short on the loomis and kistler, so I added a Bass Pro balancer(adds a couple inches) and rod grip tape. I balance all my rods. My deep crankbait rod is a Dobyns 845 cb first generation which has a long handle which I feel is really a must for really deep divers like Norman D22's or Rapala DT 16's etc. I use zillion crazy crankers 4.9 to 1 gear ratio for 2 rods and a curado (not the newer version) 5 to 1 ratio on another. The newer 2nd generation Dobyns are probably even nicer, but I like the one I have fine.

Listen to R.W. and others re: KVD line conditioner. All mono or copoly retains some line memory and floro even more. A small bottle goes a long way. You don't have to apply it every time out. It will allow you to use a very abrasion resistant and strong line that normally may not be the best casting line and it will become more manageable like a limp line. I also use Yozuri Ultrasoft. Anotherwards, you get all the benefits of the best of different lines. Fly fisherman have used line conditioners for years for increased casting distance... same principle. It even works on braid. I think a bottle was $7.95 or so. The longer line sits on a spool, the more memory it retains. The smaller the spool... like ultralight spinning reels, the worse it is also. Use it once and you will be sold. It doesn't leave the line greasy or sticky. Good stuff... try it.

I think what better made, lighter, tighter, more efficient reels or rods do is add to your enjoyment while fishing at first. And possibly end up lasting longer or being more dependable over time, and if so become a better value in the long run. A curado or zillion for 200 or 250 dolars that is used and enjoyed over 8 years turns out to be a better value than a 50 dollar reel that you don't like using and replace in 2 or three years. I think quality baitcasters like a Citica or daiwa 153HSTA start usually around 100-150 dollar range and are probably best bang for the buck.