Flywatersmallie

My Metanium DC was in customs for 6 days earlier this month. Here's to hoping for a speedy resolution for you! I have some higher end stuff like the Metanium and I do like owning and playing with that stuff. Though I am generally a kayak fisherman, as such my reels get wet and often take a beating so... I use a lot of the $100-150 reels. I am waiting on 5 Daiwa Lexa, I got 3 a couple weeks ago but were no longer on sale locally. Tough to beat that reel at the current sale price at TW. Also just received a couple of the Okuma RTX spinning reels. Nice light option for anyone looking!

One thing with the DSI, how are you planning to mount the transducer? If you are looking at going through hull, the downscan doesn't work very well that way. Something to keep in mind. I've got the Elite 5x DSI on my kayak. Aside from screen size I am fairly sure they're all basically the same, feature wise. I think you'll be happy with the 3x. Having seen them in person, the 3x doesn't feel small. 3.5" screen seems to work on that unit.

Where to start... I spent over a grand in the last 5 days and about 3000 since January, fortunately I have an understanding wife and semi disposable income!. Its cold and everything is semi ice covered up here in WI, spring sales going on.... Something had to give! Package I am expecting Monday has.... 5 Daiwa Lexa baitcasters ($70, how can you not? Great reels at full retail) marker bouys 2 Senko bulk packs and some misc stuff that I just don't remember off hand And today, I went and picked up 700 tubes.

I suppose you could. The Columbia American Angler or PFG Supercell line is better for cold weather and monsoon type conditions. I own both one of the lighter warm weather suits and also the Supercell parka and bibs. Its great stuff but pretty expensive. Right in line with Simms and the rest where it should be to be honest. The American Angler stuff is quite a bit cheaper. Seems like nice quality for the price point but I don't have any real world experience with it.

2" Senkos. I use them fairly often in spring when the food is still small and they are great on a few local smallie rivers. I bought a ton on the GYCB website when they were closing them out but I am down to maybe 20 bags left and when they're gone, they're gone

A couple of fly rods I have are 10 years or so old and still fish as well as the new ones I have. I don't think I own any bass rods that are over 2 years old though. I like to try new stuff and often sell the old ones to finance the new.

Yup, ice jigs

Those Vortex rods really aren't bad

Depends what you get. I have some of those Columbia shirts pictured. Agreed that they dont breathe all that well. I usually wear them during cloudy days or cooler weather. When its hot out the airgill shirts get the nod. Those are cooler than exposed skin. They're pretty expensive though but worth it.

Yes. They're worth it. I've gone through cheap ones, Ray Ban, Oakley Solar Bat and others. Nothing compares to Costas. I now have 2 pairs of them and the rest sit on the shelf

Agreed. It's nice to have the top shelf toys. They're fun to use and fun to look at. That said though, the law of diminishing returns really comes into play here. Is the Tatula/Curado and others really twice the reel as say the Caenan or Abu max series? The answer is a resounding yes almost all of the time. The same can not be said going up from that $150-200 price point. Might be a couple extra bearings or a better finish but does any of that warrant the added price? For me it does not. I buy my reels to fish with. For $150 I get performance and quality I am happy with but at the same time I'm not afraid to actually use the reel

A friend of mine owns and runs a tackle shop. As far as pricing goes, he orders most (not all) from a distribution company. There are a few things he carries (for example, Sunline products and St Croix rods) that do not deal with his distribution company so he needs to get those on his own and often with hefty minimum orders and/or yearly purchase requirements to remain a dealer. Its expensive to stock a store and the markup isn't what you would think it is on many items. Another thing to remember, you don't work, you don't eat. You have to be open at the times fishermen demand or the business is doomed sooner rather than later. He has been in business since 1985 I believe in a town of 70,000 people. Main competition is Gander Mountain. In the last 5 years or so has taken a more specialized approach in that he offers things that nobody else locally does. He caters mostly to bass/musky guys even though there is a nationally known walleye lake 2 miles from his front door but lots of competition on that end. Local direct competition or not, he still competes with the internet everyday. He price matches online prices because he has to and that cuts directly into his profit margin and in turn into the new items he can carry. Not a job I would want but if you do, I hope you have a big pile of expendable cash and the patience of a saint to get started If you are set on doing it, best of luck to you! In all sincerity, I hope you make it work and are happy doing so.

There sure is.... buzzbaits and the Heddon Tiny Torpedo. These are both river smallie staples on the rivers up here (I am in WI and primarily a river smallmouth fisherman)

Got a Gander Mtn near by? Go get one of the Vortex (reg $60 and honestly not bad for that price but this week 75% off) and put that President on there. You'll have a nice, serviceable combo for $75

Not me. Just looks like I own one

I'm not a Shimano fan either. Spinning or casting they all left me wanting something more at each respective price point. If you guys. Like them, great! Just not for me

I prefer the Tatula to the Zillion too. For what its worth, I threw 1/4 oz jigs with a light trailer (small paca chunks) all night tonight with lots of wind and no issues on a Tatula. Its a great all around reel for not a lot of money! That's a steal! I've got one NIB sitting on my shelf right now and while I would sell it, not for anywhere near that price

Team Daiwa T at TW on sale for $59 right now. Best rod hands down in that price range. I own a ton of rods in that $150-300 range and 2 of these and they get used all the time.

deep cranks. I have a real issue fishing them anyway but never bit on one down more than maybe 12'. Seems to me that there are more efficient ways to catch deep fish anyway.

Me... I have one 6.4:1 and all my other casting reels are 7:1 or higher. I hardly ever throw cranks of any kind and really never the deep ones. High speed reels are so much better for the things I do more regularly. The 6.4:1 gets used for cranking duty if I need to and spinnerbaits. That's about it

I use braid on casting reels. Mostly 20lb for general purpose applications. That said, wind it on real tight when spooling or it has a tendency to dig into itself and will cause headaches. As far as the rods go, stay away from that KVD combo. I am a Q fan and still, just stay away. I'm pretty sure that the reel has a graphite frame. Too much load will cause flexing, even one time and you will have a coffee grinder. Look for an aluminum frame. I have never even handled the PQ though a lot of people like them so I cant really comment on those. A few to look at... Quantum Accurist or Catalyst, Lews Speed Spool, Daiwa Tatula as stated can be had cheap online and that's probably the best bang for your buck. I've got a couple of them and they are really good.

numbers.... 4" worm will catch you lots of fish. Might not all be giants but they will keep you busy. As for size jigs or swimbaits.

I am a river smallie guy and fish tubes probably 60% of the time. Rods (depending one weight of head needed)... 6'9" MLF Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth with Pflueger Supreme XT 9230 and 10lb braid 7' MF Fenwick HMG with Pflueger Supreme TX 9235 with 15lb braid 6'10 MHF Daiwa Tatula with Daiwa Tatula 7.3:1 with 20lb braid I will use as little weight as possible to get the bait down but that could be anything from 1/16 to 3/8oz depending on current, depth and other factors. A friend of mine pours the heads with 2/0 or 3/0 Mustad Ultra Points. Quality hooks but not real expensive and in the rocky rivers I fish, you lose a lot of them. As far as tubes, all are from Get Bit Baits. Great quality, great color and size selection. anywhere from 2 1/2 to 4" to match forage. 2 3/4" are probably my go to size. So many guys throwing 3 1/2" tubes showing them something a bit different often pays off in a big way. I really like the 2 1/2" single dipped finesse tubes as well.

Quantum stuff is IMO solid at each respective price point. I've got about 30 reels, 10 of those for sure are Quantum. When it comes to rods/reels, I am no longer brand loyal at all. I buy what fits my intended purpose. Fairly often that is the big Q. In fact, today I bought 3 Quantum Accurist spinning reels. I absolutely didn't need them but the deal was too good to pass up at $40 apiece. Their stuff is well built, well designed and durable and recently, just as light as other companies' products. Weight of their reels used to be one major gripe, no more. Don't have any real world experience with their rods so I cant really comment there.

Oh I don't know, I fish split grips all the time out of the kayak with no issues. So do most of the people I go with and never heard of an issue. +1 on the Tatula. I have the 6'10" MH and actually just bought the 7' M today. They are nice sticks for sure. Others to look at... Fenwick ET Smallmouth as was previously mentioned, Fenwick HMG, Aetos. The Avids were great for the money some years ago, since then, a lot of manufacturers have caught and passed St Croix at that price point unless you can find a deal on a used one I would look elsewhere