Messages

2491

Outdoors & Recreational Hobbies / Re: bass fishing

« on: March 30, 2010, 04:51:21 PM »

Just a regular cranking battery - Get an Interstate - cheap.  They make the Optima's.  Not that the price will justify it for you, but...it depends.

2492

Outdoors & Recreational Hobbies / Re: bass fishing

« on: March 28, 2010, 09:38:59 PM »

Very professional job!

2493

Outdoors & Recreational Hobbies / Re: Lets Start A Post Your Fish Thread.

« on: March 24, 2010, 04:34:41 AM »

10,000 lakes....but only about 100 good lakes to fish in. 

I can only probably name like 10 lakes that I would call good fishing lakes, but not in the same year.

2494

Outdoors & Recreational Hobbies / Re: Fishing Equipment Reviews

« on: March 17, 2010, 12:29:54 AM »

Product name: Shimano Curado 200E5/E7 and Citica 200#
website: Curado E

What it is or whats it use is: Baitcasting reel, low profile.  Use for whatever crank, spinnerbait, T-rig, C-rig, or Wacky rig, style you want it for.  While the Curado can cast 1/4 oz. weight decent, the Citica really needs a lot more effort.  Not worth it for the Citica and better suited for the 1/2 oz. lures.  HEG desing maybe more efficient, but seems to make reel more lopsided to handle heavy side.

Price:  Citica retails $120, Curado retails $180

Reason to buy or not buy the product - what was good or bad about it - overall review: Maybe.  The wider spool is not as efficient as a slightly more narrow spool.  While both Curado and Citica E series are huge improvement over their predecessors, they fulfill a totally different niche.  It's more like these reels were intended for the heavier line and more power fishing styles.  The Curado has almost eliminated the handle backplay.  The Citica still has evident handle backplay.  Citica is also a pain on the maintainence.  The star drag can lose some parts easily and you have to hold the whole handle assembly down as you try to put the handle nut back in.

Your grade from 5-1 stars (1 being the worst and 5 being the best): 4.0 for Curado.  3.0 for Citica

2495

Outdoors & Recreational Hobbies / Re: Fishing Equipment Reviews

« on: March 08, 2010, 01:13:54 PM »

What kind of rod you got the test run on?  What type of line and how heavy?

It's always kind of hard to tell unless you have identical setups side by side.  Then compare the upgraded one right next to the stock one.

2496

Outdoors & Recreational Hobbies / Re: bass fishing

« on: March 08, 2010, 01:07:30 PM »

I only get pro staff discounts on strike master stuff.

Oh! you a pro staff?

2497

Outdoors & Recreational Hobbies / Re: Fishing Equipment Reviews

« on: March 06, 2010, 08:21:59 PM »

Took out one of the reel for a few time to the local park.  The freespool is definately alot smoother than the stock bearings.  But when I casted it, it didn't seem like I got more distance than the stock bearings.  I heard that the abec 7 needed to be broken in first but it's been a few trip already and it's still the same.  Is it worth the upgrade? I didn't think so afterward. But I got them at $18 /pr which is about the same price if I ordered a pr of bearing from Shimano. 

You never mentioned what kind of reel you upgraded the bearings on.  Anyway casting distance is governed by order of lure weight, rod length, line size, reel drag, spool weight, then bearing.  Improving the bearings should allow to to pitch and flip with a lot less effort.  If you didn't get a lightweight spool and didn't take your drag all off, then you might not get the casting distance you were looking for.

The orange seal has orange seal on the bearing shield.  Maybe the bearings are rubbing up against it so therefore you aren getting the casting distance you ought to.

2498

Outdoors & Recreational Hobbies / Re: Fishing Equipment Reviews

« on: December 10, 2009, 11:17:42 PM »

For you Ice Fishing Folks.

Product name: Thorne Bros. Custom Ice Rods
website: http://www.thornebros.com

What it is or whats it use is: Custom Ice Fishing Rods.  These are premium equipment that mimics the high end summer rods that a lot of people demand for in quality.  Each rod blank is unique and has the correct rod bend, unlike your standard retail rods that may be cut offs of the same original rod blank.   They have several handles to choose from: tennessee, standard, hidden hood, and locking tennesee handle.  They don't label their rods for power, rather that their Panfish Sweetheart Plus rod is equal to a light action rod.  The Perch is equal to a medium light and the Walleye comes in medium and medium heavy.  

Price:  Depends on how much you want to customize, but around $60 to $100+.

Reason to buy or not buy the product - what was good or bad about it - overall review: Yes.  You get a full length rod action and shrink it down to a miniature version for an ice fishing rod.  Making these rods, the most responsive rods you can get for ice fishing.  They will put your name on the rod and make the line guide wraps in whatever color thread you want.  Thorne Bros. also makes sure the line guides are placed on the rod's spline.  This reduces rod twists as you're hauling in the big one.  The only shortcoming is that their handles can be off set somewhat.  If it bothers you that much, they can work on it again.  It's not that big of a deal, when you're catching fish, you forget about it.

Your grade from 5-1 stars (1 being the worst and 5 being the best): 4.0

2499

Outdoors & Recreational Hobbies / Re: Fishing Equipment Reviews

« on: December 05, 2009, 04:22:46 AM »

JDM for you guys


Product name: Shimano Metanium Mg7

What it is or whats it use is: This is a baitcasting reel made with magnesium alloy for the reel frame.  It's very light and weighs in at 6 oz.  This reels comes with 8 bearings with four of them in the handle knobs.  The gear ratio for this on is 7.0 but amazingly it has the power to crank medium divers decently.   That is due to the larger gears it has, although the handle only comes in at 80 mm.  The drag star clicks, but the cast control knob does not.  The level wind guide is taper to be larger on the side of the spool so this helps reduce backlash.  The level wind guide is also titanium nitride coated.  The spool is a standard 100 size and is machined aircraft aluminum with crossed drilled holes.
The nice thing about this reel is that the reel body is all smooth with no holes on the outside for screws that you see on most reels.  Performing reel maintenance is kind of tricky as you may need a fairly long #1 phillips to get at a screw. 

Price:  Depends on JPN yen, but around $400 USD.

Reason to buy or not buy the product - what was good or bad about it - overall review: Yes.  I used this reel for cranks, spinners, buzzbaits, and some plastics.  This reel can cast light weight of 1/4 oz with great distances.  There is almost no backlash because of the tapered levelwind line guide.  The line lay on the spool is tight and very uniform.   The magnesium alloy frame makes this reel feel kind of hollow and fragile while you crank.  It's a great reel for finesse techniques.

Your grade from 5-1 stars (1 being the worst and 5 being the best): 4.0