All I'm using (other than a 5:1 Fuego for deep cranks) is the BPS Carbonlite & Pro Qualifier Tournament reels. I have had absolutely no troubles out of them at all. I think I've had them now for about 15-16 months.

Well when he was on Zona's show Zona made a comment like " ok I don't understand half of what you say". He doesn't really bother me, but my wife can't stand to listen to him talk!

My PB was this past Febuary. I didn't have a scale but the fish was 24" and prespawn. I figure it was 8.25 plus I was using 7'1" Steez Harrier, BPS Pro Qualifier Tournament, 15# Vicious FC, and a 1/2oz black/blue jig with a BPS twin tail grub. Prior to that my personal best was a little over 7 lbs c...

I wonder how well the Zillion 7' MH/Lew's/50# braid would handle soft plastics and jigs? 8-) The MH Zillion kinda performs like a MH+. I used up to a 3/4 oz football jig with that rod and it never seemed overloaded. I'm assuming the Lew's is pretty similar to the BPS PQT/Carbonlite & Revo's (what I...

I got the KVD spray in yesterday and sprayed the reels that has Excel on it. I checked it this morning and was pleasantly surprised how much less coily it was than yesterday before I sprayed them!! I was hoping all the hype was true, but didn't really expect it. I think I'll probably be good with Ex...

you could have just gotten the PQ tournament...it's the same reel as the Carbonlite, minus the handle. you're forgetting the carbonlite's use of duralumin (a harder aluminum alloy) for the drilled spool and crankshaft versus aluminum for both in the PQT and brass for the crankshaft in the PQ. also,...

I've got some newer 17# Excel and really like it when it's new on the reel. It doesn't take too long for it to get bad memory. I'm going to try some of the KVD line conditioner and see if it helps.

This newer Excel doesn't seem to be as stretchy as it used to be.

I've been using 15# fluoro on my jigs & plastics rods, but I just changed it out to 17# BPS Excel day before yesterday. I like the way you stay in constant contact with fluorocarbon line, but I sometimes think I'm fishing too fast. The larger diameter+copoly of the Excel should slow things down a li...

I own three Carbonlite reels. The dual brakes make them my preferred casting reel for cranks. I bought them while on sale for $99. At that price, if they last 3 or 4 years I'll be satisfied. My biggest gripe is the color. I'm not a fan but I deal with it. It (sadly) matches really well with my Flex...

I've got 1 Carbonlite and 3 of the Pro Qualifier Tournamnents and am as happy with them as I have been any other reels I have owned. They are very comfortable to palm, they're light weight, and very smooth. One of the things I like about them most is there is no play in them like the Fuegos I used t...

Anybody tell me about the BPS Xcrank reel? I've never heard of it and there's 2 different eBay listings for them. Best I could tell from the pics it looks like a variation of an Extreme with externally adjustable cent. braking. Also, anybody else notice how much resale has went up on BPS reels in th...

I guess I'm lucky that my rod box just barely has enough room for the 7'2" FlexLite, I don't have to buy more gear this way!!

I wonder how fast it will sink? The FluoroBraid idea to me seems killer for spinning reels, but I haven't talked myself into trying it yet. A line that handles like braid, sinks like FC, and in a hi-vis color would be pretty much everything I need

You are correct. The Zillion Rods are XFast and are just as as good or close to the Steez. But the question is, do you really need a $500 rod for reaction? I think $150-$200 rods would do perfectly for reaction rods vs the XFast feel/sensativity rods. Me, I have Cumara Fast action rods for everythi...

The XT weighs 6.8oz the std Patriarch is 8oz, OK the XT has a carbon handle and one less bearings in the worm gear, so is that where the 1.2oz lighter weight comes from ?????? or is there any other part that is lighter ????? I would think it's the crankshaft and the gears. The Premier and the Carbo...