22RangerZ520R

I'm in the "latest/greatest" category... I'm a gear junkie though, all my rods/reels are less than 1.5 years old.

^^^ This ^^^

Yes sir.

Yeah, there's not a mold out there for a 12lb smallie....

As said above, can't go wrong with either one. Sounds like you prefer the low profile vs round style, if so get the Tranx. Be careful with the Tranx, some of the models have the single paddle handles, I don't like those... I have four Calcutta 400D's for my big bait applications.

And that's your right to do that! I just have too much respect for the trophy sized fish to kill them. I'd rather release the trophies and have them reproduce and spread those genetics for future generation fishermen to hopefully enjoy their offspring or even have another angler catch my same fish again to get their PB's too, rather than them collecting dust on my wall. If they are still alive, my PB smallie is probably in the high 7lb - low 8lb range and my largemouth is probably around the 14lb mark. I have a 7lb skin mount on my wall that I caught back in high school and both of my replica's blow it out of the water as far as looks and long term durability. My replicas will never crack, fade, peel or yellow. I weighed both of my PB's on my IGFA certified Boga Grip scale, took a ton of pics and did a release video of both so I will always have those memories to go along with the replicas. I'll never keep a bass again. CPR for me.

Appreciate it.

I avoid the weekends like the plague, I fish Mon-Thu 99% of the time. The only time I fish the weekend is during my long trips up north or elsewhere that are 7+ days long and I can't avoid it...

No, not really. But I have a 965 IMX Pro SWBR that I'll use for the 10XD's when I throw them. If you throw the 10XD's and other big crankbaits a lot, I'd get the crankbait rod. Otherwise the 5 power swimbait rod will handle it just fine.

Thanks

Welcome. I responded to your PM about LSC. And yeah, Al banned me from that site. Apparently I hurt the feelings of a couple of his 25k+ post buddies and his sponsor buddies on there....

I know Curious to see what the ex-Ranger guys have come up with......

A few more months and I'll be up there again, can't wait! Areas already mentioned above are a good start. I've been making the annual pilgrimage up there for 10 years now, 2018 was my best trip yet... Spent 9 days up there and I caught 27 smallies that were 5lb+, two of those were 6lb+. Four days I had a five smallie bag that went 25lb 12oz or greater with my PB five smallie bag one day going 27lb 12oz!

I always plan my trips around the full or new moon...

First thing in the morning, 12lb 8oz. It was on the final day of a 4 day trip, the best 4 days of largemouth fishing in my life to date. I broke my PB 5 times that trip. Had 34lb 8oz for my best 5 on day two, then 35lb for my best 5 on day 3. Day 4 I caught the 12lb 8oz and she was the only fish I caught that day. I'm smiling ear to ear remembering that trip while typing this.....

Give Dave Campbell a try... He did both of my PB's, a 12lb 8oz largemouth and a 6lb 4oz smallie. I did hours of research online before I went with him. He modified both of my mounts to better match my actual fish. He paints each scale individually, not just the generic "air brush" paint job many of the other $500 replica companies do like Lake Fork Taxidermy, etc. Let me know if you have any questions about Dave or my mounts. Below are pics of my two PB's and their respective replica mounts. Good luck in your search. www.davecampbellfish.com 12lb 8oz largemouth: 6lb 4oz smallie:

I had the 969. I didn't use it as much as I thought I would, so I sold it. It was a great 10XD rod.

My vote is for the Ranger. Speed was not even on my list of "must have's" in a bass boat... I could care less about constantly swapping out props, etc just to gain a couple mph top end speed. I cruise at the blistering speed of 30-35 mph 95+% of the time anyway. I'd be more concerned with build quality, layout, safety, warranty, resale value, etc than speed. Good luck

I've noticed zero difference in the quality of my previous 2009 Z520 "pre-Johnny Morris" Ranger and my current "Johnny Morris" Ranger Z520L....

I'm waiting to see their 20' and 21' fiberglass boats this spring...

Congrats!

Yeah, great product. I've got 4 of the carbon fiber ones in my boat, they are sharp looking! My only problem was that the carbon fiber ones were $35 each....

+1

I have 10 Metanium MGL's, zero issues. My vote is for the Metanium. Good luck.