offsidewing

I feel like knots are trends. I use the Palomar for most everything. About 12-13 years ago when I started taking fishing seriously, it was Palomar or Alberto knot that everyone swore by. Pitzen seems to be the new hotness, might try it for 6 and 12 lb Fluoro to see what its all about.

Thanks! This worked like a charm!

Hello All, I was swapping gears on a Shimano Antares and have two questions How do I orient the two drag spring washers? Total brain fart here. Do they fit together - like a stack of bowls, or a stack of lids - or do they fit opposite of each other - like a bowl with a lid on top? What grease should I use on the gears? Thanks!

I run straight 6lb Tatsu on my finesse spinning reels for drop shot and various neds. I use shallow spool JDM shimano reels, so I get about 90-ish yards of line. I tie a Palomar knot for everything straight fluoro. Never an issue with Tastu. Yozuri Hybrid 6lb has a line diameter close to most 10lb mono. 6lb tatsu has a smaller diameter.

I've had excellent experience with St Croix customer service the last 10 years, which is why I continue to buy St Croix rods.

Hello All, I'm thinking of upgrading a couple of 10 year old Avid X rods to longer lengths. Current rods are 7MHF Avid X that I use in open water and mostly for soft plastics with some heft to them like Fat Ikas, 6"+ Senkos, Poop Baits, etc with 12-15 lb fluoro. They are a little tip heavy and I'm thinking of moving to either Victory series or the LTB for better balance. I'm thinking of 7'3" or 7'5" lengths in Medium-Heavy Fast . Has anybody made a similar switch and noticed any negative affects in castablility or how the rod loads moving up in rod length?

How comfortable is the Antares to hold/palm? People say it large, but it looks about the size of the 2016-2019 Metaniums to me, which were comfortable.

I literally logged on to ask this same exact question. I have a Met 100, Bantam 150, and 24 Steez SW TW. I love Core Body shimanos for moving baits and bottom jigs and Steez for plastics. But, for a dedicated bladed jig set up running mostly 15lb fluoro, I want to cover as much water and have a much castabilty as possible while have some protection from wind on open water. I had a Met DC (2018-ish) and Scorpion DC and it always felt like I had to choose between castability or breaking. The Steez A II has does have a great variety of spools, I love the SV breaking, but maybe the only thing I compromise on is the perceived rigidity or durability of the Core Body Shimanos. I'm just looking for someone to chime in with either 1) Experience with the Metanium DC vs other shimano DC reels or 2) experience using a Steez A a lot for chatterbaits (or Spinnerbaits).

I picked up the Dobyn's Sierra 690 XF rod from Amazon for $90. I primarily want to use it for 1/15 and 1/10 Ned Rigs with 4lb or 6lb Tastu fluoro. Maybe the occasional slip bobber for crappie. Not really sure what reel to go with. Price isn't a real limitation, but my goal is not to throw ridiculously lightweight stuff. I want a reasonably easy reel to manage while casting, even if it means a slight reduction in casting distance with the intended weights. Maybe the 25 Daiwa Alphas BF, Shimano Aldebaran BFS, or something along those lines.

Thanks for all the recommendations everyone. I ended up going with the Okuma X 7'3 Medium Fast. Should be great for chucking plastics in little to no cover.

Hello All, I'm looking to do with a dedicated unweighted soft plastics casting rod. It will be chucking Fat Ikas, 5/6 inch Senkos, and the occasional fluke. Mostly the 3/8 to 1/2 oz total weight on 10 - 12 lb fluro. I was thinking of a Kistler 70LMH rod with the fast tip or something like a St Croix Legend X 610MXF. Looking for suggestions too. Thanks.

Hello All, I'm looking to upgrade a couple 7' MHF casting rods to something in the 7'3 to 7'5 range, staying Medium Heavy / Fast. It's been a couple years and all my casting rods were Avid X because of the value at $200. St Croix discontinued the Avid X and now has Victory Series. Are there any recommendations at the $200 price point for rods. Looking to toss 3/8oz Jigs with various trailers. Mostly bottom contact, the occasional soft plastic swim bait. Thanks!

Expect to pay full retail on JDM pre-orders. With patience and timing, street price will likely be in the low $300s even at launch. In the past new reels have launched at street prices. That being said this is - for all intents and purpose - a Core 70. I wouldn't be surprised if street price is full retail.

Who asked for an SLX DC?

Shut 'er down folks, this guy wins the internet today.

Yep. Steez SV TW, Steez A, SV103, SV105, Alde 50, Core 50, Scorp MGL, Curado, Curado DC, Chronarch MGL, Met 13, Met DC, Met MGL, Bantam MGL, and Anatares MGL. I own or have owned them all in the last 5 years. The JDM Bantam is a tough reel to beat for black bass fishing. Another member posted that the knobs on the Steez A were less than ideal. I can confirm, indeed, that they suck. I'd choose the Steez A over the SV TW. I'd choose the Bantam MGL over both, unless you have a large investment in Daiwa 103 sized spools.

I like the Bantam MGL slightly more than the Steez A out of the box. If you're into swapping different Daiwa spools, that is something to consider too.

6'10" St Croix MLXF rod either Avid X, LTB, or Elite. Will also double as an excellent Ned Rig rod. Also work well if you're into hair jigs.

JDM Bantam MGL uber alles at that budget. Love it better than Curado MGL, Curado K, Curado DC, Curado 70, and almost as much as my Antares MGL.

People buy lightweight Mg framed reels with aluminum gears and expect them to “feel” like an 9oz aluminum reel with brass gears. I used to do the Met MGL with the Curado gear swap. Then I realized it weighed a few tenths of an ounce lighter than a Bantam MGL, I bought a JDM Bantam.

I've owned some many rods over the past 5 years. At this price point I would suggest thr St Croix Legend Tournament Bass in 6'8" MXF. Great for finesse applications with fluoro and plenty of backbone for 5/0 Gammys on braid or mono. I can't overstate how quick, painless, and polite the warranty dept is if you ever have an issue with the rod.

I've owned both. The Stradic Ci4+ feels solid, smooth, and light. The Patriarch didn't.

The Vanquish is my favorite spinning reel ever. The 19 Vanquish somehow feels even better than the 16 Vanq. It will haul in 5 and 6 lb bass with no problem. Its lightweight but under load it feels somsolid. Mine is used for Ned Rig and drop shot duty, but wouldn't hesitate to use it on more powerful rods with heavier presentations.

I occasionally will tie 50lb PowerPro to a 12lb flouro leader using a double uni knot on a St Croix Avid X. I have never had a problem with the knot casting through the micro guides. I seldom use a leader tho, typically straight braid. Reels: with a little patience, great deals on reels can be had on a popular auction site from very reputable sellers. Don't get too hung up on gear ratios and IPT. Get a reel that is suited to the purpose you need, fits your hands when seated on the rod, and fits your budget.

+1 for Roboworms and Yamamoto Shad shaped worm drop shotting for smallies.