TackleTour.com

[Ca_Bass]

Being in Hawaii there isn't a whole lot of freshwater gear, and if you're anything like me you don't like buying high-end equipment without being able to touch and feel it to make sure you're getting the right rod or reel for the application you want. Here's a website that gives really informative reviews of fishing equipment to help take out some of the guess work when ordering rod

http://www.tackletour.com/

[Stan Wright]

I've heard of those guys...

[skunked]

That is the website that led to me spending a whole bunch money on reels that I hardly ever use, ever since I signed up about 5 years ago! It all started for me with a Shimano Scorpion 1000 and a Daiwa Alphas 103. It's been a tough battle with this addiction ever since then. Damn you Tackletour!

[Stan Wright]

Hay Skunked... you need to contact the guy that wants to start baitcasting.... that's looking for a casting reel and rod

[Ca_Bass]

Skunked...you seem to know a whole lot about quality fishing equipment. Is the shimano core comparable to the team daiwa steez? I saw its a less expensive, but about as light.

Also curious as to why shimano and team daiwa seem have exclusive rods and reels for the japanese market. I know they are not impossible to get but you are not gonna find them at basspro or cabellas. Some of the reading I've done leads me to believe the Japanese marketed rods and reels are better. Is this true? If so why are they holding out on us Americans?

I also have some questions about megabass and the IS73 Casting reel. Is megabass part of the daiwa company? From what I read the IS73 used the steez frame, why the hell is it $750 and why would anyone need this reel. Also, is the extra $250 going to get you anything the steez can't?

I've really started to take a liking to high quality fishing equipment, I usually had some of the nicer stuff anyways, but since I stopped wasting so much money on RC cars I've been waiting to get some of the "really" nice stuff.

If you any answers to my questions that would be awesome. Thanks.

[Ca_Bass]

I went to Roys Tackle today to get an eye fixed on my dropshot/worm rod..just under$12..it wasn't the tip so I didn't wanna mess with it. While I was there I asked about how quickly they could get a shimano core in (I'm an instant gradification type guy). So she called her supplier and could get it Friday. Then I asked how much and she said....................$294. That $56 bucks cheaper than any retail place I've seen online and I don't have to pay shipping plus I get it in 4.5 days! I really like that shop. Everytime I go in there I ask if they plan or stocking more freshwater equipment. She says maybe or we're thinking about it. I told her if she wanted to know what us freshwater guys want to come on the forum and ask. Hopefully they do.

Whenever I am on leave or have extra time off...I get bored..and a bored Ca_Bass buys a lot of stuff he doesn't really need, just stuff he really wants or really likes.

[roadwarriorsvt]

CA, If yoiu want a change of scenary, check out Brian's Fishing Supply. I think they are on the 1200 block of S. King St, just past Zippy's. Although further away than Roys, I like supporting a small one man shop.

[Ca_Bass]

I will try to check them out tmw, do they have freshwater stuff? Having new carpet installed in the morning, hopefully they finish before 11 or 12 so I can check em out and beat traffic on the way back.

[roadwarriorsvt]

He has a modest selection of freshwater stuff, not a lot. He also enjoys fishing Lake Wilson for the PB and has a few stories to tell.

[skunked]

Skunked...you seem to know a whole lot about quality fishing equipment. Is the shimano core comparable to the team daiwa steez? I saw its a less expensive, but about as light.

Also curious as to why shimano and team daiwa seem have exclusive rods and reels for the japanese market. I know they are not impossible to get but you are not gonna find them at basspro or cabellas. Some of the reading I've done leads me to believe the Japanese marketed rods and reels are better. Is this true? If so why are they holding out on us Americans?

I also have some questions about megabass and the IS73 Casting reel. Is megabass part of the daiwa company? From what I read the IS73 used the steez frame, why the hell is it $750 and why would anyone need this reel. Also, is the extra $250 going to get you anything the steez can't?

I've really started to take a liking to high quality fishing equipment, I usually had some of the nicer stuff anyways, but since I stopped wasting so much money on RC cars I've been waiting to get some of the "really" nice stuff.

If you any answers to my questions that would be awesome. Thanks.

I don't know much, I just read a lot and look at the pictures of the nice shiny toys! As for that IS73, if you read that tackletour review you know as much as I do about it. I think it is mostly cosmetic upgrades. You pay a lot for the exclusivity of owning one of these fancy reels. I think Megabass and Daiwa have a business partnership, almost like AMG and Mercedes, or Roush with the Ford Mustangs. They do a little supertuning and make big $$$. As for the Core vs Steez question, I don't think the Core is even close in performance or refinement. I have a Core 51 and a Metanium MG7 (somewhat comparable to the Core 100). The main selling point of these is the light weight. Performance wise, it is no better than my Curado 51E which costs less than half of what the Core retails for. I don't own a Steez, but from what I have read, it is very light, yet super smooth (12 bearings) and refined with incredible fit and finish and attention to detail. I just can't get myself to spend that much on a reel with the braking system (magnetic) that I know I won't be as comfortable using as my trusty Shimanos with their old school centrifugal system (I'm a little backlash prone). My advice...buy BOTH! See which one YOU like better. It's fun!

[Ca_Bass]

Thanks Skunked, very helpfull. I don't really know the mechanical differences between daiwa and shimano braking systems, but I get less backlash with the daiwas. Probably because that is what I started with. One thing that has really cut down on backlashes for me is to use the reel butter, when I get backlashes it's usually because the line gets too hot on my thumb or I try to cast too hard, but the reel butter let's me thumb the spool a little harder yet not lose distance . If you soak your line the day before you fish it really helps out. I almost always set my brakes to zero. When I was a kid and first learning to use a baitcaster I started with a lot of brake. Then I gradually just used less and less until I didn't need it anymore. When I was about 12 when I started using a baitcaster, I would go to my backyard and cast for hours.

I had the nice lady at roys order me a core should be here Friday. I couldn't argue with the price.

Skunked one more thing...I think in 2006 I bought a shimano curado 300 hdsv I think 7.3:1 gear ratio. Well that model of curado is hands down better than the other curados I own much smoother and solid feeling...it was also about $100 more expensive too. Any clue why they stopped making it? Or has the core or another model maybe taken its place in the performance line?

About to to my initial review of my steez.

[Ca_Bass]

Here's a review to what I think are the best plastic worms available. Been using them almost 12 years now and I still think they can't be beat. Actually caught my largest bass at Wilson on a Roboworm.

I've caught a few 5 and 6 pounders in California and Arizona on their zipper worms too! I usually use the 6" straight tail.

http://www.tackletour.com/reviewrobowormplastic.html



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[roadwarriorsvt]

Hey, bring some of those Fri. man!