chillfactor

You can use it with a fluoro rig material, figure of 8 loop knot to create the hinge job done . So your lake bans braid as a hooklink material ...you sure its not just as mainline braid ?

It was size 8 that was mentioned Vic. Hi Banjojohn .... i would just go for inline or pendant running leads . No need for it to be on a length of line , got tangles written all over it & the lead will be working against you when playing the fish & depending on the length of your hooklink quite possibly bashing the fish . If you were to swap the lead & hooklengh positions that would be a helicopter rig . In my picture.... there called hook beads The Ronnie is a pop up rig & very easy to make .

Handy for the Ronnie... Vic

2.4 mm fits over barrels of swivels etc perfectly.

You can still use running leads , obviously there will be more friction so plastic wide bore ring & minimum 3oz lead . Depending on how long a length they are specifying ? you could put a bead at the top of the tubing so your lead will remain on the mainline .

It's only 2000 HH to me that's very much on the low side .... heavy rain can come anytime of the year so would opt for the jrc at 5000 . My two man is 10000 HH

Nightmare.... the only thing i can think of doing if the handle section is long enough to pick up the drive gear from the other side would be to machine out the smaller diameter hole ?

Without knowing anything about either or seing one in the flesh ..... But just looking at the spec on the links you put up , I would definitely head towards the jrc far higher HH rating .

Definitely sound like you were up against snags at some point mate which obviously weakened it . Can't imagine that happening to the 15lb tbh.... haven't used the 12lb so can't comment really.

Me neither Nick... would never discibe Lillie stems as sharp or abrasive. Never had issues with them even if you go back to fishing very light for tench etc on the float.

Very surprised to hear this mate as the 15lb is proving to be bullet proof. Had plenty of upper twenties on it since giving it a go from weedy snaggy lakes . Was it cut when you checked where it snapped or obviously stretched to the point it snapped ? Or did it snap at the knot?

I've got a selection of 6 & 10 thousand xteas & can interchange the spools the bodies are the same . The deeper spool won't make any difference on casting , it just simply holds more line mate .

I use , N trap semi stiff . I find it just right to allow for bottom debris but also stiff enough not to end up in a heap especially with a sinker half way or just over half way down . This will all depend on the weight of your bait your fishing though.

Always found a sinker half way down the hook length on coated braid , will kick the section below out .

Yes Nick it was me that told everyone about that change too , something will definitely be changing again at some point.

That has to depend on what your looking for in a reel . The bearings in the fox reel mentioned on this thread are of a better quality than in the xtds. What shimano have done with this reel is work out a way of offering the line lay of far more expensive versions at a budget price ( no bad thing) but this has hit the overall quality of the rest of the reel .... but like you say for around the 100 £ mark still a good reel . Anyone looking at buying shimano should do so quick as a lot of suppliers are basically going to boycott ordering from them until there prices become stable, when you have 1or 2 outlets selling them at what most others have to buy them at something has to give . This more than likely will mean in & around rrp's stuck to , so these deals you see at the moment might disappear for a while at least .

Would normally agree .... but these xtd reels arn't as good as people think , I personally think your just paying for the super slow oscillation / line lay Break down the parts used & plastic casing & you find only 1 shielded bearing & cheap parts , & the parallel reel to rod, i can't see any benefits in . If you could stretch to them go for the ci4 version miles better components & will last many years longer .

Think it was a drone .... taken by carl & Alex I believe.

Thought I would stick this one on your thread mufty.... cracking photo of a group of fish up Horseshoe.

Just wrap a rizla round it .... should start to move then

Personally think it's simply down to what type of braid your using . Some 30 lb braid is more than adequate to use straight through for large spomb distance work ,other 45lb braid isn't. If it's ultra thin dineama I would use a leader with it even if the leader is the same breaking strain.

What braid have you purchased, as my answer will depend on this .

Well that would suggest why I find yellow / amber lenses the best all-rounder then .

Fortis one's are pants , gone back to my 10£ boots pair . Anyone else find yellow lenses the best all-rounder ?

Would I put 50's on my torrix ...no Would I change my 50's on my 220's to 40's .... no, as the rod has been designed around them . So yes in a way I would agree just sticking 50's on a rod in Exactly the same position as a set of 40's is a fad & probably doing more harm than good.