Ok im a little bored this afternoon and since its been quite a long time since ive written one - or much anything else for that matter - I think I will crank out one of my mini-novels in an attempt to ask a simple question. Anyway, this past mid-summer I came across a Quantum SX4 spinning reel that after looking it over real good and close appeared to be in like-new condition and the spare spool that came with it had never had line on it. The guy who had the reel (and had just bought a new reel that day to replace this sweet SX4) was complaining that when trying to cast that it would jerk and would birdsnest on him and was tired of it so me being the nice guy that I am, I let him give the reel to me. Yeah, for real! This is a very nice reel IMO being smooth as silk and since the guy obviously didnt know anything about spinning reels and their main inherent problem which after quickly saying my good-byes and getting the reel straight home, I discovered (Ok, ok... I already knew what the problem was and how to fix it simple) that the foo..I mean real nice guy had twisted the line on the spool, that being the only problem with the reel. Its a "Snapshot" model Quantum that has 4 ball bearings, brass and metal internals without a trace of wear on them, rear drag knob and quick change spools, the reel being marked with the capacity of different weight lines it is designed for which is 270yds of 8#, 230yds of 10#, and 200yds of 12#. Once I had fixed the line twist problem on the reel, me not having a rod for it to go on, and needing a few bucks (still do for that matter) tried to sell it and here is this like-new $49 Quantum that I couldnt get $25 for and since im not going to just give it away ive decided that I will just keep the darn reel and when im ever able to save a few bucks to get a rod for it, will be using it primarily for catching bait (im a cat man guys!), some cats with it now and then for some pucker factor fun, and the once in a great while outing for Crappie, Walleye or Bass. I need some suggestions on a decent rod manufacturer that I can possibly afford like an Ugly-Stik. What im thinking would be a good match for this reel would be a 6' - 7' Medium that has enough sensitivity in the tip but plenty of backbone and good castability, not wanting some noodle. Since I fish for cats most all the time that kinda makes for a stubborn person so knowing this, another opinion I have about a lot of the "super rods" out there the average Joe (me) couldnt tell the difference - besides rod weight - of the difference in rod sensitivity between some gold thread wrapped $300 "peach tree limb" which also requires that you smoke a Meerschaum pipe, wear one of those "funny"
flat hats, and have patches on the elbows of your tailored tweed "outdoors jacket" VS. a $25 rod that also has a warranty and a name you have no problem pronouncing without it giving you visions of Steeplechase or Fox hunts! So this question is for the monetarily challenged fishermen who know and like to use spinning gear in the weight class this Quantum reel is in. I guess the Med 6'-7' Ugly-Stik would be a good place to start when looking for a balance in rod performance, quality and price so what do you all think?
11-23-2005, 03:22 PM
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