RichF

The hype train is getting annoying....but it's working lol.

Asian Portal finally got some Scorpion MGLs back in stock today so I had to jump on it. This will be my first JDM Shimano...and certainly not my last.

A lot of moving parts here. I fished on the Co side a lot over the years. For the most part, it sucks. I did my fair share of complaining (off the water of course). Eventually, I finally accepted what being a Co is. It's a way to get on the water for 8 hrs, in a high performance bass boat, with a slight chance of making a couple bucks (and hopefully a friend). You have to get this one thing out of your head if you want to continue as a Co....you CANNOT do what you wanna do in someone else's boat, period. I was a bit too eager in my younger days, getting frustrated when my boater went too slow, too fast, didn't position in a good spot, etc, etc. Then I realized and accepted that it's simply out of my control and what I needed to do was just put my head down and fish. Once I did that, I had a lot of success. Just keep asking questions, communicate, and be polite all day. If you do those things, both of your days should go smoothly, for the most part. But also understand that there are some real knobs that fish tournaments and no amount of communication will make the day go well.....and you'll likely get paired up with one of them at some point. Unfortunately, that's just part of the game. That said, your particular situation is a tough one. Going strictly by rules, that side of the canal is fair game, as long as you don't cast in front of the console. Boaters understand (or should understand) that when they parallel a bank, the only place their Co can fish is the opposite side of the boat. They should expect and accept that. I totally get it from the boater perspective too though. I would want to fish the other side of that canal as well. However, I also wouldn't prevent my Co from fishing it or get angry if he/she did. Of course that's just my attitude and doesn't reflect that of every other angler. Anyway, I've experienced the good, the bad, and the ugly at both ends of the boat. Overall though, I'd say much more good than bad and ugly. Just like everything in life, you win some, you lose some. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and rip some lips at the next one!

Complaining? Hmm

I thought I heard that the Lowriders and Experts fished truer to their power ratings. The Bucoos are (IMO) 2 powers lighter than their rating. I have the 7'0 Heavy Bucoo that fishes a touch lighter than a medium heavy moderate fast. I have several 7'6 heavy rods that I use for flipping, jigs, a-rigs, and 5-7in swimbaits. Lots of uses for a rod like that.

Pheww! Thanks for the heads up!

Yup, I saw $180-$230. Also sounds like an unpainted blank to help reduce weight. I imagine we'll start seeing the Avid Xs on sale soon.

I started a thread about this too. Glad to know it's a brand new line coming out and just new models of existing ones. I'm really intrigued to see where the price point will be. Seems like Croix already has something in every category. Wonder if something is getting cut.

I almost picked up a new M1 during Black Friday. Decided against it when I saw that the Megabass Levantes were showing up again. I'm still intrigued by the M1 so I'd be interested to get your thoughts on it, if you decide to grab one.

I have one of the first run models that retailed for over $200. It took the place of the old Certified Pro series. I got it as a replacement for a Cert Pro I had that TSA broke on a flight. The components and craftsmanship seemed very nice but it broke setting the hook on a 2 pounder. I got a free placement from Lamiglas for that one and it legit broke in the same spot on the hookset. This was quite a few years ago so I don't know what the new ones are like.

MidwayUSA is at it again with the clearance stuff. Things get shuffled around daily and prices change often but there are A LOT of good things at 50% off right now. I spent $55 today and got 3 Spro bronzeyes, 2 Spro fat Johns, 4 Hack attack fluoro jigs, 3 Dirty No Jack punchin jigs, 2 Dirty Canterbury flipping jigs, and a pack of Tour grade mag jig heads. Didn't need any of it, but too hard to pass up the deals!

Well shoot. I thought it was a whole new line not just more $600+ xtremes! Boooo

Just got a teaser email saying they're coming out with a new line of bass rods. More info coming 2/1/2021.

I think it would be fine depending on the treble hook you use for them. I've never personally used a magdraft (or any line thru hook swimbait for that matter), but if and when I do, I would slap a beefy treble on there. I wouldn't worry too much about a heavy rod ripping out a 2x size 2 triple grip or something like that.

I didn't pull the trigger quick enough on that rod. I would've used it for flipping and/or belly weighted paddle tail swimbaits.

Oh I hope that's the case! I really didn't want to have to take the yak out there this spring.

Has anyone heard about boat rentals being unavailable at Fountainhead until 2022????

Think I know what my first DC reel will be;)

I bought an Origin TX a couple years ago because I dig the the seafoam green color. Used it for a a couple hours and it felt like the internals disintegrated. Grinding, sqealing, screaching, etc. Returned it. Then I got a Concept Z (again bc the color was cool) and the fact that it was on sale for $90. It definitely does not feel refined and there is no way I would have ever spent $200 on it. But at $80-$90, it's a great buy. It's a great casting reel and the drag is stout. I found that it starts to sqeal a bit if the bushings aren't lubed fairly regularly. All in all, I actually enjoy fishing this reel. Nowhere near the quality of a Curado but where are you going to find one of those for $80??

Nice and good to know! Waiting on the faster Bantams and Scorpion MGLs.

MidwayUSA has a bunch of braid and other stuff for upwards of 40-50% off.

Did you happen to order it from Asian Portal? I've been pokin around there for some time, waiting for a couple reels to get back in stock.

If anyone is looking for a new Minn Kota Fortrex with the Mega DI trandsucer, MidwayUSA has them at obscene prices. 40% off!

I always use the heaviest line I can get away with. 12 and 14 won't be a ton different. I used to drag heavy tubes around Lake Ontario with medium, fast action casting rods with both those size lines. As long as I checked for knicks and retied every now and again I was good to go. I'd go with the 14 since you'll be fishing from the shore. A little extra strength never hurt anybody.

I know a guy who put Shimano all over his jersey as his "title" sponsor only to tell all of us at the ramp that his Curado E7's cost him $350 a piece. I told him if that were the case, he was getting ripped off, lol.