RipzLipz

@Delaware Valley Tackle Poor choice of words on my part. Intent was weight reduction is a supposed benefit of Toray materials, hence the "marketing keywords" I mentioned. I could care less from what a rod is made or where a blank is sourced. If I like it, I’m using it. Just giving food for thought to OP, more or less.👍

Im hoping these shake the rod out of my hand. Middle one mainly for night. Quarter on blade for size reference. Next up is getting some matching split tails from an in-state source that looks promising.

@thediscochef Glad you got on one. You’re due for a slob soon buddy! 👍

@gimruis, @NorthernBasser’s profile pic is more than likely Bait Gigantopithecus. From Guinness World Records: The largest primate of all time was Gigantopithecus blacki, an enormous extinct cousin of the modern-day south-east Asian orangutan (Pongo spp.), which lived in southern China and the Indochinese Peninsula between 2.15 million and 300,000 years ago; reasons for its eventual extinction remain unclear. Estimates derived from its fossilized 2.5-cm-wide (1-in) cheek teeth and huge jawbones suggest that Gigantopithecus stood up to 3.7 m (12 ft) tall when propped on its hind legs, and weighed up to 280–300 kg (617–661 lb), though more conservative estimates favor a standing height of 2.5–3 m (8 ft 2 in–9 ft 10 in) and mass of 200–300 kg (440–661 lb).

Possibly, however the marketing of split grips has always been the weight savings as well as properly positioned hands for 2 handed casting so I’m honestly not surprised by the mass difference, especially after seeing the EVA grip. But I do see your point, paying more you’d think the XP would be lighter. Another possibility is that the Champion line has been around for a long time, before the Fury, unless I’m mistaken. The Dobyns’ YT channel has 2 videos covering both of these rod models. Gary discusses the "new" Champion XP, having upgraded cork, guides & updated appearance. Nothing mentioned about upgraded or improved blanks. The Fury is mentioned as a new rod line for $100 price point & he mentions specifically the blank having Toray, which from my understanding one benefit is reduced mass, along with other marketing keywords. It’s possible the Fury blanks are lighter, due to newer tech, materials and/or processing. To know for sure, one would have to convince Gary to speak on the subject, IMO.

I was 4. Thanks….just thanks. 😉

@Team9nine Staaaahhhhhppp! My eyes! 😂 I think that would have also qualified as golfing attire. I’m curious if the fashion police would issue a citation. Maybe @gimruis should weigh in….

@thediscochef Nicely done. Get a weight? Looks pretty stout. Now tell us, was it worth the wait? 😉

@FrnkNsteen Could also be the supposedly higher grade cork, which (here comes that word again) I would assume means fewer voids in the cork & heavier pieces. Might even be different wall thickness in the blank, though if that were true, the thicker one I’d expect to be a bit stiffer feeling under load. The full handle vs. split grip doesn’t surprise me - does the Fury have EVA on the lower grip as I’m seeing on their website? If so, there you go (I assume 😂). The rabbit holes we often dig for ourselves…..

I am of the opinion….. Watch your line, yes, but learn to feel the bite as that will be a more reliable method of detecting a bite using a jig. Bite sensations vary from a thump, a tick, pressure or a mushy feeling when slowly lifting the rod tip & may not be as easily seen versus felt. You may not feel all bites transmitted through the rod (sensitivity varies). I palm the side of the baitcaster & try to keep my finger & thumb pinching the line or at least finger under the line (in front of reel) to help bite detection. I also prefer to fish a jig with more controlled slack - as little slack as possible so feeling is easier. Also, as @softwateronly pointed out earlier, you won’t want to wait to set the hook using a jig like you might when a fish picks up a T-rig & swims off with it. A jig needs the hook to be driven home immediately. Reel down quickly & set the hook. As a few have already suggested, don’t overthink it too much. You will pick it up fairly quickly as you fish.

@NorthernBasser Why on earth did you let him out of your tackle shed???

Hook, line & sinker. 🤣

Just wait until his silverback replacement shows up. 😂

Straight Seaguar Tatsu FC 15 or 17lb for jigs anywhere I fish. Straight braid only when punching in cover that typically doesn’t exist around here (trips out of state or where teeners are possible).

I believe he’s referring to my neighbor with the Xmas lights left out for 5-6 years living next door to you. 😂 Sure, you & I would probably get along great as neighbors. We both like fishing & have a good & somewhat twisted sense of humor. Plus I’d get free monthly reminders when I’d need a haircut. I might get a few citations from the fashion police every now & then (shorts, t-shirt & sandals). 🚔

Congratulations & hope you continue to recover & catch many giants! 🎣

Do it. You will not regret it. As much as you enjoy bluegill fishing, SMB are like acrobatic bluegill on HGH with a really bad attitude - utter strength & they do not quit.

7’5" MH Dobyns Xtasy rod, Abu Garcia Zenon MG-LTX 8.3:1, 15lb Seaguar Tatsu fluorocarbon, Dirty Jigs 1/2oz Scott Canterbury Flipping Jig in Dirty Chartreuse with a SK Rage Bug in Summer Craw. If the Dirty Chartreuse combo didn’t work, I used same jig in Black & Blue with same trailer in Blue Bug.

Probably easiest to do with thin lipped squarebills vs. thick lipped deep divers. Line tie location obviously needs to be considered:

Off topic, but some lipless porn for @Pat Brown

Nope but I saw Jimmy Houston fish them once, last year on his show, on his lake of course. He caught some fish but never saw him break them out again. Definitely a unique shaped waker.

@bait__Monkey Thanks a lot.

@Blue Raider Bob Your post above reminded me of an old photo my dad had so I was forced to dig through the photo albums of yesteryear & finally found it. Note what he wrote at the bottom. 😂

That’s a heck of a price for Tatsu. Unfortunately I end up with too much leftover with small spools & don’t use braid/leaders. Not nearly as cheap but: 10lb 1000yd spools are $132.18 (30% off) 12lb 1000yd spools are $167.19 (27% off) 15lb 1000yd spools are $189.19 (18% off) 22lb 1000yd spools are $164.84 (43% off)