Original Fireline broke at twice or more of its labeled strength, at least in the lower rated strengths. Have you an idea how the fused Ultra 8 compares in this regard?

Goldrod, I use many combos for topwaters, usually baitcasters with clear mono. I probably was using 10 lb. test for the X-Rap Prop (shallow flat with sparse cover in spring before weeds came up) and typically 12 lb. for the Woodchopper.

I'd say it's premature to regret ordering the Rapala X-Rap Prop bait. I used one in the yellow perch color to catch 3 bass in about half an hour on a highly pressured city lake that rarely rewards topwater fishing. Conditions were early evening with just enough breeze to barely ripple the water. In ...

I'd cross off Maxima Chameleon--very abrasion resistant, but thicker than stated on box and too visible in open water.

I don't have an opinion on the others.

Thanks, Cal! That would be sold as a Size 25 guide.

It would certainly make more sense to label guides by their inside diameter, since that is what matters in casting.

Is the guide closest to the reel seat a 20 mm.?

That video review was superb in its coverage of what I'd want to know about a rod. I have to admit, though, that the image starting at 3:12--two orange leaves floating on reflected blue sky peppered with popcorn clouds--was so arrestingly beautiful that I had to go back and replay that part to hear ...

Thanks again. Though most of my jig and worm hooks are bronzed, it's good to know these alternative finishes can offer protection from salt-infused soft plastics.

Thank you for your reply! To clarify: were the rust-free hooks you mention partly inside the soft plastic baits you mentioned, or just in the same box? If they were inserted in the baits for years, did the Owner hooks have the black nickel finish (as the ones I own are), and were the Gamakatsu hooks...

Might be helpful to specify how light the baits you choose could be.

Made two 3-day canoe trips with Cabela's Guidewear GORE-TEX in the 90s. Breatheability was super-important on a long portage where sun was interspersed with showers, but also appreciated during intermittent showers just fishing in the canoe (where the angler in the bow risks tipping the canoe if att...

Seems to me that a 16 mm guide is small for coils coming off of a 2000-size reel and a 12 mm base guide is absurdly small (even in a Torzite). That might give an advantage to the 500-size spool that would instead go to the 2000 with larger base guides of 20 or 25 mm. But like you, I'm guessing. The ...

Thanks for sharing your findings. What is the size of the largest guide on each rod?

For bank fishing and wading fresh water, I prefer to pre-rig soft baits on hooks. I've learned through experience that bronzed jig hooks can be ruined if salt-containing soft plastic lures are left on them very long. I'm hoping black nickel and/or Teflon-coated hooks might resist rusting even with m...

Keith Kavajecz (in collaboration with Gary Parsons, I think, as teammates on the pro walleye circuit) produced a book decades ago listing depths various lures reach with different types and strengths of line and varied lengths of line out. He has a website now, apparently with an updated app: https:...