bass1980

Time to switch to Baitcast! Kidding. I do have to admit I love the noise of braids when I'm retrieving a hog though.

I'm currently using a 51e paired with a Gloomis GL2 MHM cranking rod. I can still cast fine but to get real good distance on 1/8 inline spinners I have to really sling it. Looking for a dedicated setup that I can finess cast it and still get good distance. I'm sure a MM rod will work too just wondering if I need to go to ML. Plus shad raps I'm using are number 5 so it's 3/16.

Smashing these Smallies right now. Love fall weather river fishing. I'm really thinking of a dedicated setup just for these Smallies. I'm throwing shad raps, KVD 1.0, and inline spinners. I just can't go back to spinning gears if I can avoid it. This gives me a excuse to buy a Chronarch Ci4+. Again only throwing very light lures. Would you guys recommend medium light rods? Any cranking ML rods? I do not like glass rod so that's out of the question. Any suggestions is appreciated.

There have been many quotes that's the *** is the best $100 rod out there. At $60 if it's in good condition then that's a no brainer. Hopefully it's the 7'1 MH. That rod is so versatile.

Lol did you buy my reel? I can't remember who I sold my reel to for the life of me haha. I remember sending it to Virginia. Can't find our pm's so thinking its a different forum. Anyways glad it is working out for you. I haven't gotten deep into reels and haven't opened up any. My opinions are based right out of the box. Well you got a almost new reel btw for a great deal. I have always wanted to believe in that reel, maybe I just didn't give it a fair shake.

I tried and tried to defend the reel from internet complaints. I just didn't like it and sold mine for $150 although I didn't buy it at full retail price. I did not have issues with braid like on TT said about grooves. In fact I had suffix mono on it and it made weird rubbing noise and you can feel a little of it. Couldn't figure out what it was. Switched to braids and made it my pitching jig setup and was a lot better. However reel just wasn't smooth enough. Feels like it had some grinding when retrieving. Cast good, but I didn't notices anything different with the Twing. In fact I used a 1/4oz shaky head with craw and tested it against my Lexa. The Lexa was right on par with my T3B. I had the XS version. Just not satisfy I almost sent it in for bocas and supertune or whatever tricks was needed to make me satisfy. Then I sold it and got a Chronarch 50 series and it was a big difference. I'm not a Shimano loyalist and still trying out different brands to see what I like more and I can honestly say without being bias that the CH50 absolutely blows the Daiwa T3 Ballistic out of the water. Not even in the same league. To be honest, I think the T3B should cost only $150 retail at the most. I found myself liking the Lexa more but the features on the T3B is nice like the 3D braking system. IMO just get the Tatula and see if you like it. The T3B will be a forgotten reel within a few years.

What I am mostly interested in is getting tips and info on MN bass fishing. Many things I read on trying to study bass fishing relates more to southern lakes and reservoirs. Our northern natural lakes are a bit different. Since were in the season already I'll shoot a question. I failed miserably last year with late fall fishing. I've seen videos on people fishing until November and getting giants. I couldn't much action at all. Was wondering what to look for late in the season were vegetation is mostly dead and bass are not as active with the cold water. I'm guessing it'll be spring when I finally get a response lol.

I have recently just started serious bass fishing. Meaning focusing on bass and not just fishing for whatever that bites. Have only been to Tonka a few handful of times. My thoughts along with many that I know is Tonka is a lake that changes daily if not hourly. You can prefish and find the pattern then on tournament day nothing. The best guys are the ones that can adjust. Marking spots can only go so far. Each bay is so different from the next. Some bays are clear water and some are stained so its a challenge and improvising is key. However when on the right pattern the lake is impressive. Winning bags usually have to be 28+ lbs with 8 fish limit. To me Tonka is the best because even with it being so pressured it always produce for top guys. Guy like me well, it's a roller coaster lol.

It's a common issue I've heard from a few people that owns Revo gen 3's.

I once had this concern but found the answer on here to for assurance. No problems using my CH51E for 1/2oz jigs. I just wish the CH51E came in 7.x:1 gear ratio. I know you can put in core gears but don't want to spend anymore money on the reel because still getting more setups. The 50 series size is great for people with smaller hands like me. Core 51 is my next reel.

Welcome! As you can see its very quiet in here. I'm willing to keep it alive but I feel like I'd be talking to myself haha.

Yup like what Gary Yamamoto calls it, do a sweep set instead of a hook set when your on fish. Lower gear ratio will give you more torque. Anything deep diver or 5/8oz or more I cannot stand faster ratio reels as they fatigue me. I don't have Popeyes forearms.

A crank rod will feel extremely whimpy/soft/flexible/noodleish however you want to call it. Most of them are moderate action so its not just the tip that will flex but half way down the rod. From reading your comments I bet you'll be in shock of the moderate feel of a glass cranking rod. A graphite crank rod will have more backbone but don't expect to feel that much either since its moderate action and made for cranks. The idea behind cranking rod is you lose fish on treble hooks when a fish shakes it off. So when you're on fish just keep reelin them in with the reel and not with rod. As the fish fights and shakes the rods flexibility with its moderate action will move with the fish and you line will always be tight and reduce the chance of them shaking that treble hook out. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Have you use a true cranking rod before? Their M and MH will not feel anything close to a regular rods feel. For deep drivers a longer stick and MH or H is needed. One you can cast longer. This allows your crank to get to its depth and then stay in that depth longer because once your crank starts getting closer to you it'll lose depth. I prefer 7'0 MHM for square bill cranks because I'm trying to bang them on the bottom or stumps. IMO I don't like to use MM for cranks over 1/2oz

I love the CH50 series. To me it feels even smoother than the 200 series. I just sold one of my 201 and about to order another 51. I'm just hesitant at the moment because I may pull the trigger and preorder the CI4+ 151 and wait patiently until late fall for arrival arghhhh. I use my CH51 for weightless flukes, jerkbaits, and tubes for Smallies.

Would like to add that the 7'0 Vertias balance and felt a lot better than the 7'3 Vertias. Where the *** it seems like there's less of a difference between the 7 and 7'3. The Veritas is still a pretty good rod though.

I'm one of the few that actually had a 7'3 MHF versions of both the Veritas and the Omens at the same time. So I got to do a better comparison. Without reel the veritas felt a tad lighter but no scales so I can't be sure on that. With the same reel, a few different reels too, the *** blows the Vertias in balance. I even gave it to a few of my buddies that don't fish and ask them witch setup is lighter. All of them easily picked the *** setup due to the balance so it easily felt like its lighter. Fit and finish easily goes to the ***. The opoxy on the Veritas guides seems to be put on my elementary kids looking at the craftsmanship. Sensitivity, well that's a hard one and my mind said the *** but overall feel for sure ***. Never had my three veritas break on me though. I sold all my veritas and now got Omens. I've tried about 5 different rods in the ball park of $100 and to be honest I wouldn't pick anyone over the Omens. BTW the St. croix Mojo felt even heavier than the Veritas so I wouldn't recommend that. I fished it for a few days from a buddy and hated it.

Wait, are we fishing for Groupers here or largemouths? I think some of you guys are over thinking this too much. Show me a reel that broke or cracked from a largemouth. Heck I even caught a 49" Muski on my T3B that's made out of Zion and at no point did I feel the material flex or felt like its about to come apart. It took me 12 minutes to pull her in because my setup wasnt geared for Ski's. The feel of Zion is different though. I have 2 CH201 and one CH51. They are sweet reels, but they are not that good to where I wouldn't want to try the CI4+. To the OP I would suggest to just get the CI4+ so you got the latest. You can easily sell it in the used market, that I am sure.

I tend to like MH Mod for square bill banging them off rocks and branches.

Too far for me but thanks for the suggestion.

Of course koppers would say they had the idea for years lol. This is nothing new in the world of small inventors vs giant manufacturers. Still have to say this is one of the biggest gimmick lures ever. If it catches fish it'll be solely on the action and profile, not the three little fish in the bait ball LMAO. I would rather hop on the idea of an A-rig cranking setup lol.

Yeah I hope to get a trade soon. Got some offers. I will say that 5/8oz cranks, medium to deep, does feel like its too much for the reel. Maybe it's the shorter handles?

Thanks everyone for the reply. Oddly I came upon this notion from doing extensive research before I bought the 200 reel. I guess can't believe everything you read on forums and people. Heck even a sales guy told me he recommends the 200 for pitching jigs in cover. I mean not once did I hear you can't use a 50 for this technique but just that a 200 is better and more recommended. Sorry but don't have the time to link up references where I read this and it was on different forums. Anyone want to trade

Yup there's no fish on my avatar pic so I can't BS about breaking any state records. I think we are still waiting for pics from you of the one or two state record you claim to know of.

Go to medicine lake and fish off the west end of it from shore. There's also a pier there. Might be hard this time of the year but in late spring I know some people catching nice size bass there.