bass raider

These look very interesting. Sc3 blanks and traditional reel seats! https://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_123/st-croix-black-bass-62024.html

The mojo, theoretically, should be more sensitive, since it features newer technology and higher grade blank material, but looks and ergonomics-wise, the premier wins hands down in my opinion. I’ve handled several of the new trigons and I cannot make myself like how they feel in hand or even how they look. If you can get your hands on a Trigon and you like how they look and feel, then that would be the way to go. They do seem to have a really nice blank.

Thanks for the reply. How do the Lowriders and Tatula compare?

Awesome! Report back with how you like it!

I think it’s hard to go wrong with anything Shimano or Daiwa makes. That being said the Caius is at the bottom of the totem pole in the Shimano lineup. Not saying it’s a bad reel but you will be giving up some things. Most notably is braking performance and frame material. Aluminum frames are much more durable and rigid than graphite frames. Most Shimano’s feature svs or vbs centrifugal brakes that really aid in backlash control and increased distance. I’m almost positive this one features fixed linear magnetic brakes. While there’s nothing wrong with them, they will cut down on your casting distance and controllability. Sent you a DM

Looking for a new spinning rod. Something between 6’8” and 7’1” and medium power. Mainly going to throw floatin’ worms, weightless wacky, Neko rigs and fairly small spinnerbaits like the Booyah Pond Magic. Got a pretty long list that includes 13 fishing omen, muse, or meta, Daiwa Tatula XT, Dobyns Fury, Falcon Lowrider, Kistler Argon, St. Croix Bass X or Mojo Bass. The Daiwa and Dobyns are the only two locally that I can get my hands on. I have experience with 1st gen Omen, Fury, and 1st gen Bass X. Anyone have experience with some of these rods and how they compare? Any others I missed that I should consider? I’m terribly indecisive and trying to narrow my list down 😂 thanks in advance!

No experience with it but I believe this is the JDM version of the Caius 150B. Only differences I can see is gold instead of red accents and of course, a different name. Good price but probably most definitely has a graphite frame.

The 7’ Med. Reg. action Tatula is a really nice stick and super versatile. I don’t know how familiar you are with “regular” actions but I would call them about a Mod-Fast action. I’ve thrown senkos and flukes on that rod with great success. Never tried a jerkbait with it so I can’t comment on that application but unless you’re dead set on a fast action I would definitely recommend the regular tatula.

I like to keep 3 fingers in front of the trigger. Fore finger pointed straight out, thumb on top of the frame, middle finger directly behind the gear box resting on the side plate and ring finger wrapped around the rod grip. I’m slowly switching over from Shimano to Daiwa. I have a few Curado 200E and 200i left in the arsenal, an SLX, and had a Core and Chronarch ci4+. I also have a fuego ct, tatula ct, and an OG tatula Type R. For some reason, the thumb bar on the Zillion feels lower than even the CT’s and Type R. The CT platform, to me, is the absolute most comfortable reel I’ve ever palmed. The only thing that comes close is the Curado 200E.

Alrighty, so about 6 months ago I stumbled across a brand-new-in-the-box Team Daiwa Zillion 7:1. Brought it home, put carbontex drag washers in it, spooled it up with 18lb Sniper and headed to the pond. I’ve used several mid to high-end reels and this Zillion is by far one of the smoothest, most solid, and finely crafted reels that I’ve ever used and, well... I CANNOT STAND fishing this reel. There’s just something about it. Part of it is the way I palm it. I’ve tried with a bunch of different reel seats and grips and none of them feel good. Another gripe is the angle of the thumb bar. It depresses so much lower than all my other reels that I either backlash, or friction burn the tip of my thumb almost every time. I guess those two things combined make me dread using it. What would you do in my shoes? Would you keep it and try to learn to like it? Keep it for nostalgia’s sake and buy something more up to date to replace it? Or, Would you sell it, buy something new and forget about Ol’ Betsy? Curious to hear everyone’s thoughts!

I’m not for sure on the Sahara but on the Vanford, there is a bearing and a bearing retainer plate on the left side. The right side also has a bearing but no retainer plate. That minuscule amount of play could possibly be what you’re feeling or it could be the simple fact that the handle is closer to being directly in line with the drive gear on the left side, and further away from the gear on the right.

I have fished both and saw no difference in cast ability between the T-wing and a conventional level wind. I owned a standard tatula and a $100 speed spool lfs at the same time and I was actually getting more distance out of the LFS. The Lews seemed much more straightforward and a lot easier to get dialed in. I never could get the tatula dialed in just right. Maybe I'm not sophisticated enough to handle a Daiwa properly.. Lol

I own the 765 Fury and IMO it is much too stiff for anything under 5/8 oz. plus plastic. I bought it with intentions of it being my dedicated jig rod but unless you're going to be using 3/4 oz. jigs it won't load and cast properly. I now use it as my flippin/pitchin rod and with any weights 5/8 oz. and above it is perfect. So unless you're going to be using really heavy weights/jigs I would look at the 734 or 735.

Hey guys I'm looking to get a new spinning rod and would like to stick with St. Croix but I don't have the funds for an Avid. I'm looking at a 7' ML premier or the 6'10" ML mojo bass (new generation). I would love to get the made in USA St. Croix (Premier) but if the Mojo with SC lll is leaps and bounds better then I'd rather go with it. So My question is, for those that have used an SC ll and an SC lll blank how noticeable is the difference in sensitivity/balance/weight? Thanks.

X2

Thanks! Haven't gotten my flyer yet so I wasn't for sure.

I know this is been asked about reels but what about rods? Are all rods eligible for the discount? For example if I traded a rod in could I get a discount on say a G. Loomis or St. Croix? Thanks.

This is what happens when you go to the store without the girlfriend…

From what I've heard a new white ice (white ice ll) and the triad series are coming out sometime soon. My local Academy has some triads already in stock and I got to handle a few of them. They are absolutely stunning as far as looks go and balance and weight are also excellent for the price. Guides are stainless frames with aluminum oxide inserts. Can't tell ya much about the new white ice. All I know is that they have switched to cork grips and were supposed to be released this fall.

Haven't posted anything on here in a while so I thought id show off my newest combo! Lews BB1 7:1 on a St. Croix Avid X 7'4" hvy. My first St. Croix and definitely not my last! Also while I am still a MAJOR Shimano fan I have to admit this BB1 and my tournament speed spin are really growing on me ?

Is it just me or does it look very similar to the Lew's LFS frame?

Check out dad's ole tackle. Click on Shimano and then click on drive/pinion gears. Bnt3549 is on the last page. I'd insert the link but I don't know how to. Haha

I love my ghosts. Those and the irod fiber are my 2 favorite $100 rods. The guides on my fiber(754) are alot more heavy duty compared to the ghost, but all the ghosts I have fished have better balance and are lighter than my irod. Pluses and minuses to each but if i was picking just one I would probably go with the 7'3" hvy. Ghost. Their CS is first class too.

I believe it was 1991. But I could be wrong

7:1 is all I use for swim jigs/chatterbaits. I find that I get more bites on a stop and go retrieve and when they hit it on the pause I wanna take up slack quick.