How long of a rod - keep it clean please!

[brownieman]

Ignore my previous post...misread...thought you were looking for a heavy rod...duh.

For dinks I've always used a $30 Ugly Stik...pj is right though...a big fish will spool a small reel fast if you happen to hook one.

[WebFreeman]

Bill, can you make up for the lack of backbone in the micro-lites w/ different line? Like switching to flouro or something like that?

[Bill Babler]

When I was fishing the lite's, flora had not yet came into the spotlight. I believe you may be onto something. I would try some 6 lb. and see if that helps. I am fishing 4 lb. on the Lilley and White River Outfitter Rods, as are the rest of the guides that are using them.

The Micro lite is still a very good chose for the money. It's like anything else though, there is a better mouse trap.

As far as reels are concerned, have you guys taken a look at the Stradic MG.

Bass Pro on sale $159.00 Usual price $199.00

This is the highest rated spinning reel on the market. There are more expensive, but at this price with the Magnisium body, it is feather light with 5 ball bearing and and largest roller bearing on the market.

Every major research firm rates it number 1 in quality and price for the money, nothing under $300.00 compairs with it.

This is professional fishing equipment.

Regular Stradic is on sale from $129.00 to now $99.00. If you are looking for a reel, this is the time, to pull the trigger.

For under a couple of hundred bucks right now, you can be set for years to come. Good Luck

[BrowningFisherman]

while both stradics are nice you the internal gears are what matter and if you buy the regular stradic for 99.00 you might want to know that even shimano sales reps admit that internally the regular stradic and $79 symetre are almost identical not to mention the symetre comes in the smaller 750 while the stradics smallest is a 1000. but I aagree the stradic mgfa is a great reel but you can do well for qite a bit cheaper

[Bill Babler]

BrowningFisherman, you are right on the symetre but with a couple of other differences. The Stradic has a much larger polished master gear for a much smoother action. It also incorportates a heaver bail,and bail spring than the symetre, that is placed tighter to the spool with less tolorance than the symetre, and much less wobble on retrieve.

Quick story, I have had the line not get in the bail cradle on several different times and set the hook on drop shot bass and bent the bail. Once it is bent, it is a real problem, and just about cannot be fixed to work correctly again.

It's like breaking the tip of your favorite rod, you can have it fixed or fix it yourself, but it is never the same. I have had the same thing happen tons of times with the stradic and the sustain, and never bent a bail.

The weight of the 25OO stradic mg is a full two onces less than that of the symetre. Also the body size of the stradic is fractionally smaller, on the same number class reel.

I have 22 symetre's and wish I would have gone on an purchased the stradic's.

The staying power of the stradic is much longer and I only have to ship them in about once every 24 months, where the symetre needs to go to the Dr. at least once a year. This may sound like lots of cleaning and repair time for high priced reels, but you must remember that my reels are not only fishing here everyday, but some go to Alaska and are used there on a daily basis.

Drop shotting and rigging are extremely hard on any reel and the massive ammounts of jerking at the bails, rollers and internal parts is extremely hard on equipment.

Every guide I know that uses the symetre amd the stradic, prefers the stradic.

I know what your talking about with the money part. The stradic,is the better reel however, dollar for dollar.

I also have 11 sustains, and I believe the stradic MG to be as good if not better. If you figure price, they do grade out better than the sustain, Most of my sustains are in the 4000 number up bracket. Have not gotten the guts to buy a stela yet, but maybe I will someday.

Good Stuff

[BrowningFisherman]

I agree I have held sustains and stradic mg's and I would go with an mg. It does not go as small as I would like, the biggest reel I like to use is a 1500 and the smallest the mg comes in is a 2500. Personally I like the 750s they will hold about 150 yds of 4 lb which is more than you should need even if a big brown makes a big run. As far as line goes I would recomend berkley vanish or the new trilene flurocarbon, but if you want the best go for gamma, as it has the best shock strength of any fluro on the market

[MoMuskies]

We'll I just picked up a Shimano 2000 reel at a garage sale for $2.00. Body is little bruised, but it operated ok. Any issues with this reel that I should be looking out for?

I did pick up a 2 piece, 7.5' Cabelas spinning rod on sale the last week ($49.00) I'm not sure on who makes these rods for Cabela's but it is a fast blank. Took it down to the river and was pleased with the cast distance I got with 4 lb line and a rooster tail...

Frank