Jrob78

Exactly! The Rebellion rods are beautiful and in the same price range. To me they look like they should cost double what the Elites cost.

I don't use much regular mono but I use a lot of copoly in 12lb. I've been using Defier Armilo some recently, which I guess is mono, but I go for 15lb in that, based on diameter.

I don't disagree at all. There's just something about it I find very off-putting. It might be as simple as the gray eva grips. I will have to see the cork models in person to see if it's the grips, the blanks or both. I've used enough Daiwa rods to know that these are great rods, I just can't get past the color.

It just occurred to me after the new Daiwa Tatula Elite rod thread that I have absolutely not bought any of those rods because they're ugly and look cheap to me. I will not be buying any of the new ones either, at least not the gray ones with the gray eva grips. I know they are probably great rods but I'm out on them. It's not even that I don't like colored blanks because I have some St. Croix's in a few different blues, dark greens and teals, it's the grays and whites that look cheap to me and I won't buy them. lol

I hate how these rods look. I was hoping the new models wouldn't be all gray like the last ones. The cork grips help some but I don't think many models have them. I hate it too because the Daiwa MHRB and glass rods are amazing general purpose moving bait and crankbait rods.

I bought a 507k for a 43X MOS but you're right, I bought from Simmons Sporting Goods in LA, not the same place. The RDS came from LA and the LC’s came from AL.

That's awesome! I've been buying from them for years on Ebay and I actually just got a pistol RDS from their website a couple of weeks ago. They're always one of my first stops for LC's.

Yep, Simmons

Yeah 1's and 2's are my favs. This particular seller has killer LC auctions but they get you on the shipping so buying multiples helps get the price down.

I wouldn't say it's super important but I would be lying if I said it didn't matter. I am function over form but I appreciate the sleek lines of a nice reel and the components, craftsmanship and design of a beautiful rod. I take care of my stuff but I also use it and don't freak out if something gets scratched in normal use. All that said, 2 rods or reels created equal, I'm getting the one I find the most visually pleasing every time.

Ebay got me the other night ??‍♂️ Top 2 rows are doubles of the same color, bottom row are singles. Average price of about $6.50 a bait so ??‍♂️ Sorry for the awful glare ridden picture but you get the idea. RTO 150's and 200's, SKT Mediums, Fat BDS 1's, 2's, 2.2's and 3's, KJ Flats and Hagane 60's.

I had good luck with them too. I fished the Gill like a swimbait and they get bit, whereas I fished the Dark Sleeper more like a jig most of the time. They are both great baits.

The adjustable trigger has a glass rod break and the gun is super accurate. Mine is a T3 stainless bought around 2010 or so, I haven't shot any of the newer models but I love mine.

That's funny, I killed all my deer from childhood to early adulthood with a Winchester 30-30 and then bought a Tikka 7mm-08 and have been using it for the last 15 years or so. I don't shoot much past about 300 yds and that gun and round has done everything I've asked of it. I've recommended the caliber to so many people, it gets the job done and is light shooting. Great round for kids starting out too.

Ok, the rod weighs 7oz and has a 14” handle, measured from butt to the bottom of the reel seat. The Zillion weighs 8oz and the combo balances an inch in front of the locking nut. Probably not terribly light but it feels great due to the good balance for a 7’8” swimbait rod. The rod is rated at 1/2-4oz and is definitely a hard bait rod. It’s mod fast with a fairly soft tip. It’s called the “Wakebait” rod and that seems perfect based on how it feels. Build quality and details are excellent, as you would expect.

If it wasn't for Mullins I would have had a really great tournament, so far at least.

I will weigh it when I get home. It seems reasonable and balances really well with the heavier HD so it feels great.

Got the new 1520 HD in 6:1 today. I think I have a set of black cork knobs to go on it and I’m gonna spool it up with some 19 or 22 lb Defier Armilo and cast some small/med hardbaits. It pairs really well with the 7’8” Evergreen Combat Stick.

Yep, fluoro is a good and popular choice but I wouldn't really recommend that for someone who is new to big baits. I personally like fluoro as well but it isn't always the most user friendly line, which is why I didn't include it. I think people should use whatever gear and techniques they want but sometimes I see people doing something with no reasoning other than they saw some Youtuber doing it. Keep it simple until you have an actual reason to change things up and more importantly, understand why you're changing it up. This is why I questioned OP. I got my newest big bait reel today and I'm planning on running 19 or 22 lb Defier Armilo for it also. This set up will be for wakebaits and 2-4oz hardbaits, much like OP. I have it in 13 and 15 on few different set ups and really like it, albeit in limited use.

Is there a reason you want to use braid to a leader for swimbaits? This seems like overcomplicating a new to you technique when it is absolutely unnecessary. There's a reason most swimbait fishermen use mono or copoly and not braid.

4 guys in the top 50 and the 5th is dead last with 2 lbs. ?‍♂️

I totally understand why anyone would feel this way but if I only bought rods I could get my hands on first, I wouldn't have many of the really great rods I have now. I live in a major city and I'm still very limited in what I can actually get my hands on, especially higher end non Loomis stuff. I've bought a few rods that were different than what I expected but I can always find a use for them. I've never ordered a rod and had it show up broken, lucky I guess.

This is my Scheels store too. The fishing section is pretty big and they have a pretty good selection but not always a ton of everything. The last time I looked at rods they had Exprides, Adrena's, some Loomis, some St. Croix, a bunch of Levantes, a few different Dobyns Champ, Extremes and Furys...but not always more than 3 or 4 of each line. So they have some cool stuff but it was a bit hit or miss as far as individual rods. The gun department is amazing if that's your thing. Prices are pretty average but the selection of higher end rifles, handguns, shotguns, and optics equals or bests any gun shop I've ever been to. Their clothing selection is also stellar, they carry a lot of really high end brands that are usually only found in specialty stores, not general sporting good stores. It's one of those places you can spend a ton of money on stuff you didn't even realize you needed.

Yeah you’re absolutely right