Fishingmickey

I order both from Japan and TW. Now TW is running a 20% off sale and if you purchased a gift card before Christmas and got a 10% off on it. Then you buy something that is on clearance from TW w/20% off and the 10% reduced price on the gift card plus the clearance reduction you can get some very sweet deals that are at least 30% off if not closer to 50%. I've got a 7'4" MH regular Diawa BLX limber rod coming for just over 200 outlay and a 600 yrd spool of 30# Sunline Xplasma Asegai for $55. Those rods went for $400, OK 399.00 retail. Now they are being discontinued and there are some pretty good bargains for a very nice rod. I have two other BLX's that I really like. One piece rod buying from Japan comes with that shipping kicker but it isn't taxed. They also have some very fine travel rods that the shipping is free. I hunt for good deals on quality equipment and tackle. That's my .02 cents. FM

I've been using their ball head EWG jig head hooks and am very pleased with them. FM

Now where are your pom-poms and practice you're gimme a Zee.

In my PA14 mine rides on the front hatch the handle is between the pedals. I prefer having it in front of me so I can see it. I don't have to reach back blindly for the net when I am fighting a fish. FM

I use a 8 lb barbel and 75' of 1/4" line when I do anchor. FM

100 mm handle. Well Darth, You could always ask AJay what he thinks of Bantams.... FM

The Zillion TW HD with the longer handle might be the ticket. I have use mine for 1/2 & 3/4 oz chatterbait fishing with 18# Samurai Fluoro, 7'3" Curado MH+ glass rod. Bulldog and I are thinking alike at the same time...

Hard to go wrong either way. The frame on either the Bantam or the Met is rock solid and they both cast really well IMHO. The Zillion I think is a little less fussy then the Shimano's regarding brake and cast control settings. What moving baits are you thinking of using? FM

Tomato - tomotto, A medium rod is going to be the right action for the size lure your wanting to throw and more bendy. Moderate, moderate fast just is what is in that manufacturers mind and will vary between manufacturers. It's not like your trying to rip lipless crank baits out of hydrilla and want a stiffer rod. You could go medium power, fast action with monofilament or fluoro that stretches some. The medium power and longer rod will be softer and bend more then a M or MH at a 7' length. It really boils down to the individual's fishing preference. FM

Hi Ohio, That's a pretty light spec. on your crankbait weights. meaning smaller-ish crank baits with smaller treble hooks. Likely size 4 or size 6 small. You might even want to go to a 7'5" Med power Moderate action. rod for longer casting distance and a more parabolic bend. Your fine on reel size. FM

I can understand that. A lot of the manufacturers (or at least Shimano and Diawa) are not producing spinning reels with a anti-reverse switches any more. Best regards, FM

Why, I can understand when the days of spinning reel drags sucking (40-50 years ago) that back reeling would give you more control. FM

Hi Rockhopper, One of the tricks to use with the fluke type anchor in your picture. Tie the anchor line off to the tip/front of the anchor. Run your anchor line up to the tie point you have it tied to now and use a zip tie to secure it to the top. This is so if your anchor gets snagged and you pull on the anchor line hard enough the zip tie breaks and with the line tied off in front of the flukes it will pull free from what it's snagged on. Good luck, FM

That's Ajays tackle box gantry crane. We both are on a first name basis with the bait monkey. 🙂

Honestly, I have/had been a Shimano fan boy for 30+ years. But I've got to say when it comes to spinning reels I think Diawa makes a nicer reel. I like the slightly thicker bails on the Diawa spinning reels. I am running on spinning, Shimano Exsence, Integra, Stradic and a Vanford. They all perform great. In Diawa, I have Caldia, Esmeraldas LT and a Freams. No issues with them either. I don't think you can go wrong either way. With as well as they perform, I see no need to drop the extra coin to try a Stella or a Exist. FM