FryDog62

Had almost this exact experience… Bought a pack when they were first released kind of thinking it was more gimmick than anything. Showed a couple different guys that fished in my boat, they laughed, but we never used it. Then one day after a couple of slow hours on the water, I tied one on and cast it a country mile onto a known gravel/chunk rock point. Watched the line slowly sink for about 5 seconds - then THUMP - the line went tight and reeled in a 20 incher. First cast!! My friend who had scoffed at the bait was like - “No you didn’t, that “*%#^” doesn’t work!” Reeled it in and showed him what was down the fishes gullet and he couldn’t believe it. Told him I’d sell one turd to him for $20, he had some choice words for me..

I decided to order a GLX MBR 843c. Versatile rod and should do other things pretty well too. I need that going from 20+ rods in my bass boat to 8 now in a kayak.

Tim, looking for a dual purpose for the 893… can it handle dragging 1/2 oz football jigs as well or is 3/8 it’s top end? Thx

Always been curious about the 893… besides scat lures, how does it do dragging 1/2 oz football jigs or is 3/8 it’s top end?

Yes, no ***** (lol)

What’s your preferred set up for the typical 3.5 inch (approx 1/2 ounce) scat bait? I think the rod has to be the right action for poop lures. It has to load/cast relatively heavy/compact lures right - but also sensitive enough for bottom contact, detecting slack line bites, etc. Preferred line too?

It could be the braid if that’s what you’re using. Smallmouth, especially in current, will pull and turn several ways until there is a momentary lapse in tension and either spit the hook, jump, or both. Mono/fluoro act more like a rubber band and it’s harder for the fish to get any slack. Slack, even just a split second, is a killer - -

Agreed, I think the casting technology on the Antares was a bigger deal 5 years ago when introduced. Still a good reel, but as you said it trickled down to much of the rest of the lineup. I’ll bet Shimano has plans to update their flagship reel soon - and will probably add FFS to it. Anyway, I awoke from my delusional dream about a $650 reel. Decided I could buy two Tatula Elites (and a few spools of line) for the same price and get the same casting distance (or maybe even better). Take that bait monkey 🙈

When the Antares A first came out in 2019 with the MGL III spool, it was touted as the longest casting baitcasting reel at least for Shimano if not within the industry. That was five years ago, and now Shimano has introduced other reels with MGL and MGL III spools. Does the Antares still cast farther than their other newer offerings, or has the technology of other reels caught up? Frankly, I have some of the newer MGL and MGL III reels and they are nice, but they still don’t quite cast as far as my Tatula Elites. Thoughts on the Antares?

I like using a Phenix Feather Medium-Light for Neds. Sometimes straight 7 lb Sniper around open water, braid + leader with some cover present. What’s your best set up?

I agree that power varies between baitcasting and spinning. I have a couple ML baitcasters that have more power and backbone than a lot of my Medium spinning rods.

I use a variety of medium power casting rods for: Flukes Scat Lures Spinnerbaits (ALX Dream is an awesome one) Free Rig Shaky head Wacky worm Tubes

I hear you... this seems to be the dilemma. Shorter Stinger tip rods that shake well, or longer rods without Stinger tips for casting distance but can be fatiguing to shake over time. Any idea if the ALX Hover (or any other rods) masters both aspects well?

I hear ya, casting distance might improve with the longer rod but fighting a fish with a longer rod next to the kayak can be difficult to grab/net. Would like to find a 7 footer that bombs them yet is light action enough to throw the lighter lures.

I have Sniper 7 lb on my Aldebaran BFS, works great, no issues.

Curious what rod/reel combos everyone is using for Strolling? A lot of us have been learning the technique over the past 1-2 years. If you’re like me, what you started with might not be what you end up with next… Likes/dislikes, recommendations?

Yes, lots of different retrieve approaches - are you using a spinning or casting rod with the swim jig?

I remember when I first started drop-shotting when I was young, I had mixed success. Later, when I was out with a guide, he told me I was working it too fast, that less is more in terms of action. "Slow down, don't over-work the bait..." Years later, I've been at the strolling/hover rig game for awhile now and it does work. But I'm finding the same thing - I'm getting less bites with the constant twitching of the rod, and catching more fish with a straight retrieve with either light or occasional more aggressive twitches. Curious to get other's opinion on this as well...

All-Terrain Grassmaster Jig 👍

This... especially if you're exploring new water or fishing after a front - conditions can and do change and it helps to be prepared. Does that lead to bringing far more than you need most days yes, but other days it really pays off..

I also used to use the Daiwa Neko, but had mixed results… part of the issue was I think I had a tendency to over-work the plastic to keep it from laying flat on the bottom since it sinks. I switched to GrandeBass Airtail worms that have the floating tail - which keeps the worm more upright, 45-90 degree angle which is a natural feeding position. Although I really like the Airtail Rattler, I’ve also used the Airtail Neko Stick Bait that looks like the Daiwa Neko, but it actually floats and works much better IMO. If you like longer, thin straight tail worms try the Airtail Wiggler. It also has the blunt tip to wedge a nail weight in there easily. I gave all my Trick Worms away to a local High School fishing team when I started using these 👍

I find slightly better accuracy with baitcasting. But unless I’m using a Daiwa SV model - it’s about 50-50 if I get an overrun. Not worth it - SV or nothing for me. Works very well…

That sounds like a great idea, and photos or links? Thx👍

I like the T-Mac worm as well, but I seem to catch the biggest fish on a thicker worm with floating tail - GrandeBass Airtail Rattler. Shrink tube instead of O-ring and a VMC Neko hook size #1.

I have not noticed any odor, and I’ve had it about a year. Worst odor I had was on my bass boat whenever I fished with a guy named Paul… it was like fishing with a tuba in the back of the boat I really like the BlackPak, and got the 16x16 so I could get 8 rod tubes. It holds a lot of lures in an organized way, plus plastics. I don’t like bags of stuff blowing around in the cockpit all day. My only gripe has been the tether hooks which hold the rods in the tubes. They can get in the way of closing the lid on the crate. So I just started hooking them to the sides of each tube, out of the way until I need to secure the rods during rough seas. Yes, a year later, I’d buy the same set up again… I kept a fair amount, especially the plastics - and just take a daily quantity out on the water with me. I did donate a bunch of lures to a local High School bass club before I moved to FL. I’m admittedly a bit of a tackle junkie and can’t resist the latest Free rig, Mullet, Poop bait phenomena - so the old stuff had to get thinned out a little lol.