Thanks for the responses, I ended up ordering a Daiwa Presso Air AGS 61L and Presso LT1000S-P reel. Hope I don't regret going with the light instead of ultralight but some of the brook trout I catch are over 4 lbs and I could also use this setup for rainbows that occasionally top 5lbs. That rod loo...

Warping of fiberglass can happen if you store the rods at an angle or other position that stores the rod slightly bent (say against a wall). Quality multi piece rods still have a smooth taper. I can say, traveling with 2 piece rods around 5ft is a pain for checked bags. Those multi piece rods the sa...

I have the 17 Conquest on mine right now. Just seems right, even if it is Daiwa/Shimano

The leader helps with abrasion cranking through rocks and such. It also helps prevent lures from getting launched into orbit by a know snapping on the cast. I see it happen straight braid has some abrasion near the knot.

I can't take it anymore, ordering an Aldebaran right now. Misery loves company! 😫 I had planned for so long to get one but changed my mind. Ordered a HG Aldebaran BFS the second they came in stock, just gonna buy another Conquest 100HG for general duty unless I get the BFS crave. I recently sold my...

Fluorocarbon for most applications. 30lb braid with a leader for deep cranking. Keeps my IPT up and also give me good feel at the end of long line. Any special braid? 4 strand vs 8 strand vs 12? I know they say 8 strand is suppose to make less sound through guides and water...who knows. I have 8 st...

Fluorocarbon for most applications.

30lb braid with a leader for deep cranking. Keeps my IPT up and also give me good feel at the end of long line.

If going with treble hooked hard jerkbaits (X raps, Vision 110s...) for smallies, I'd look into a medium powers fast action rod. XFast rods can lose fish at the boat and pull hooks. If using mono, not as big a deal but, FC with a Medium fast rod is a great combo. Smallies are hard fighting and like ...

If you enjoy wine, you may be familiar with QPR or “quality price ratio.” A $10 bottle or $100+ bottle could score well in this category, just depends on how it performs. I definitely think this is something to consider in TT reviews, though perhaps it should have a little less influence than other...

Other than a few rare comparisons TT does not get into the reel comparison crap storm. I don't take and number from a point system to mean that any reel is better than another. You're bench racing reels at that point. The review is there to get you a look at the insides, some spool weights and idea...

Should price score be comparative to other reels in the price point? An issue would be that the first reel in a generation (say Daiwa pumps out a new Steez before Shimano does an Antares and such). Would it be fair for that new Steez to get a better price score because it is better than the competit...

Looks like Shimano FTB :lol: The Gekka TW was a disappointment which 28mm spool is too small and couldn't cast far enough. Hopefully this is better but I am not too positive for its again 28mm spool. I do not like some BFS freaks who claimed to need to cast 1gram or 0.1gram. :lol: 2~3gram being the...

I assume this new SS AIR TW is a Steez CT frame? Different side plate, new braking system, new spool to match, and a few other small differences? Still looks nice and curious to see how the new braking system goes over. I would still like to see the BFS style braking (like FTB) incorporated into a ...

I know I am excited for this one. I think Daiwa is trying to do us right by "updating" the Steez AIR TW of sorts. Many issues with the Steez AIR TW gears leads me to believe this is their redemption.

Learned lot from mhood over the years. Sad news to see him go.