offsidewing

$275 is a reasonable price from some of more competitively priced JDM sites. It's not necessarily a clearance or blowout price. They're hard to find at $275, but you can find them for $325 without much trouble. I've only been in the JDM game for about 18 months, so I'm not as versed in the sales cycle of the reels like many other on these forums. It's tough to tell (for me anyways) at this point if the Metanium MGL is a replacement or alternative to the 13 Metanium. The MGL looks to have a newly designed spool and it has a new braking system. Perhaps someone has translated the Shimano TV clip and can give a few more details. The 13 Metanium is a fine reel and other than it not being the latest and greatest - it's one of the finest baitcasters out there. Getting a Metanium MGL is a 'wait and see' proposition for me as I already have a 13 Metanium. However, I pre-ordered the 2016 Scorpion 70 the moment I was able to.

if I had to do it again, I would have just stuck with the regular Met and used the $400 I spent on a DC for killer spinning setup or another Met and some BFS do-dads. Right now, if I were you, you could hang onto that $400 and pick up a couple Scorpion 70s/Curado 70s for Bass Fishing. Or a Scorpion/Curado 70 and a nice rod. I have both a Met and Met DC. I got the Met DC specifically for fishing on open water in windy conditions (I fish some big lakes in the summer). I've never fished with the legendary 4x8 DC system, but the Met DC system does a nice job minimizing backlashes with lures that can tumble or fishing in windy conditions. It is not a magic backlash eliminator. If you load the rod incorrectly, you will get a backlash. The fundamentals of bait casting are still required with the Met DC. Keep in mind, the DC unit doesn't kick in if you're pitching/flipping short distances as the spool RPMs aren't high enough to engage the DC system. The DC really helps in windy conditions, at the expense of a little bit of distance over the Met. I like my Met DC and it got a lot of use last season. However, the regular Metanium offers a lot of versatility (different Spools), is a pleasure to cast in it's own right, and is lighter than the DC. I only reach for the DC over my regular Met if the wind is stronger than a breeze. In golf terms, having a Met DC is like making the most expensive golf club you own a 4-Wood. You don't use it a whole lot, but you've very happy when you're using it.

I have both a Met and Met DC. I got the Met DC specifically for fishing on open water in windy conditions (I fish some big lakes in the summer). I've never fished with the legendary 4x8 DC system, but the Met DC system does a nice job minimizing backlashes with lures that can tumble or fishing in windy conditions. It is not a magic backlash eliminator. If you load the rod incorrectly, you will get a backlash. The fundamentals of bait casting are still required with the Met DC. Keep in mind, the DC unit doesn't kick in if you're pitching/flipping short distances as the spool RPMs aren't high enough to engage the DC system. The DC really helps in windy conditions, at the expense of a little bit of distance over the Met. I like my Met DC and it got a lot of use last season. However, the regular Metanium offers a lot of versatility (different Spools), is a pleasure to cast in it's own right, and is lighter than the DC. I only reach for the DC over my regular Met if the wind is stronger than a breeze. In golf terms, having a Met DC is like making the most expensive golf club you own a 4-Wood. You don't use it a whole lot, but you've very happy when you're using it.

I emailed Jun yesterday specifically about the 70XG and he said Shimano doesn't list it as "available" to vendors yet - so it's not listed on their site, yet. They will list it as soon as Shimano updates the other gear ratio status. I feel you though, trying a left hand retrieve would probably be worse than me trying to brush my teeth with my left hand. I pre-ordered a 70 HG just because.

http://japantackle.com/shimano-16scorpion70.html

Where from?

What size Tackle Warehouse reel covers does everyone use? I have the TW "Low Profile" size and they barely fit over my 50-sized reels and can't latch the velcro on Shimano 100-sized reels.

I recently picked up a New Legend Elite 6'8" MXF casting rod on an impulse. I have not had a chance to fish it yet. I prefer using Fat Ikas and 6 inch senkos on casting gear, but wanted a little more sensitivity in the rod. This is the first sub-7 foot casting rod I've owned. Compared to my 7' MF Avid X, the 6'8" Legend Elite does seem dainty. However, my personal best was caught on a 6'8" MXF LTB spinning rod, so I have no doubts of the strength of the Legend Elite. Holy cow is it light though. I've fighting the urge to re-acquire an Aldebaran 50 to have a sub 9oz combo.

The moderators should create a macro for this response to reply to posts like the OP's instead of the typical "ERMAHGERD, CHECK THE STICKIES"

I use a special wide gap hook instead of a jig head and shove a broken piece of Senko in the tube cavity before inserting the hook. Works like a charm.

My father kills 'em with his spincast/bent pistol grip rods when it's time for crankbaits. Daiwa Gold spincast rod for him too! It kills me everytime we go smallmouth fishing in deep water and he can't set a hook if he cast into the middle of a thicket. He thinks its him and not the gear.

My father has used these exclusively for 40 years. He prefers the pistol grips with the handles bent downwards behind the reel seat. When he uses crankbaits he has success as typically these are MM rods. He can't catch a cold with them when using plastics. Because of the success with crankbaits, he refuses to switch to spinning gear for plastics. He's as stubborn as he is educated. He watched me pull out 8-10 trophy fish this season all on spinning gear while he couldn't make a hook set. I just got him 68MXF Avid X for Christmas with a Plueger President reel. His question when he saw the gift "How much do you think it would cost to put one of those pistol grips on this?" I almost snapped the rod over my knee.

$240

So, I had to run some errands this afternoon and wanted to stop into Cabela's before it closed at 8pm. I pulled in at 6:15 and despite what the hours on the front window said, they closed at 6pm. My teenage son and I got back into the car and noticed the brand new Field and Stream store was still open across the street. I had yet to go in since they opened so I used this opportunity to check it out. We walked into the store an headed directly to the fishing section. I was impressed with the amount of rods they had in stock compared to the Cabela's here in town. They had a big sale going which was 25% of the clearance prices on rods and reels. I glanced at the case housing the high-end reels. Then, crammed in between a Quantum and a Revo was this puppy. $85 off MSRP, then 25% off that!! This thing is brand spanking new!

*skims over 2.5 pages of Ford vs Chevy Butt Hurt posts* Can't wait to pick one up! I'll have to hit all the usual websites to pre-order one!

I use both. For 4 or 5 inch Senkos I use Spinning gear: 30 sized Plueger and a 6'8" MXF St Croix rod, YoZuri Hybrid 6# line. When using 6 inch Senkos (or weighted 5") I go with Baitcasting gear: 100 sized reel with a 7" MF sensitive rod and 12# Fluoro. This set up also works for Fat Ikas. |

I've fished both the Avid X and Loomis E6X in similar specs and prefer the Avid X. 7' MF Avid X is what I use for heavier plastics. No hate for the Loomis. It's also worth mentioning that St Croix customer service is excellent to deal with should you ever have an issue with a rod.

I own many SC rods across several different lines they offer. I have the Avid X in casting and LTB in spinning. The Avid X is a heck of a deal for the price point. I prefer it over the E6X. Keep in mind, St Croix has some of the best customer service out there.

I have the E6X and Avid-X in comparable length/ratings in casting rods. I prefer the Avid-X, but the E6X is no slouch. The E6X might have a slight advantage in sensitivity, but I found the Avix-X to be just a bit better in all other aspects. The E6X got a lot of press because its a $200 loomis rod that doesn't come with buyers remorse.

Ok, here's what I've got top to bottom. St Croix Avid X 70MF with Metanium XG St Croix Avid X 70MHF with Metanium DC XG St Croix LTB 68MXF with Plueger Supreme XT St Croix Legend Xtreme 610MLXF with Shimano Stella C2500HGS

Zebco 202 combo that was handed out at school in the 4th grade circa 1986.

St Croix Premier 6'6" Medium Fast. This was my favorite rod until I upgraded to an LTB.

I have St Croix LTB 6'8" MXF that is my go-to rod for plastics and sensitive enough to drop shop.

I've used 8 lb Seaguar Invisx and 6 lb Yo-Zuri Hybrid Clear. Both do well in clear/Lightly stained water. Invizx is ~$20 for 200 yards. Yo-Zuri is $15 for 600 yards.

If local laws permit, congrats on your catch. FYI, Everytime I see guys trying to foul hook a fish sitting on nests, I want to push them in the water.