FishTank

Megabass Over Rev Crank was my favorite last year. Load and fun to fish.

When it comes to a craw bait being damaged, I will change it if it's a trailer but if I am using it Texas rigged I will fish it without one claw. As far as live crawdads go, I use to fish them when I was a kid all the time. We would hook them sideways through the tail. When we let it sit still, the hook would keep it from running away but when you just tap the line the crawdad would turn on its side. That's when the fish would crush it.

It use to be photography. Back then, cameras, lens, film, lighting, flashes, and of course travel. It was crazy. Then when digital cameras came out, I had to have all new stuff. Buying camera equipment became like buying a cell phone, every few years you had to get the latest and greatest. I started fishing again because I thought it would be cheaper.

Telling my wife fishing is an inexpensive sport ?. It has never worked. All joking aside, the Carolina Rig is a done deal for me.

If I am taking just one rod and want to throw a lot of stuff, either the Megabass P5 Super Destroyer or the Valkyrie 7'1'' H. Both can cast a wide range of baits from squarebills to jigs.

I had one of the Griffon Zeros in a black and yellow color but lost it last year. Great bait but you need either spinning or BFS gear to throw it.

Last year's biggest was around 8lb. Sorry no pictures. I was in my kayak and left my phone in my car. It was the same size as the front hatch on my PA14 so 8lb is on the low side. I caught it on a wacky rigged senko.

I have both. The Zillion is the best bang for the buck. The Steez is better overall but not by much. Is it worth the extra cost? It's up to you. If you are fan of Steez reels, I say get the Steez but if you haven't fished either one, the Zillion.

Yes....I tossed around a Steez A when it came out. It was a nice reel but I wasn't blown away by it, especially in the casting department. The Steez A II is totally different. It's very much like the new Zillion but just slightly better. Casting is fantastic though. I have been using it (weather permitting) with the Deps Evoke 1.8 and 2.0. I haven't branched out much further. The key to the two baits you mentioned is more about the rod and fishing conditions than the reel. For bladed jigs I like a moderate fast rod and for spinnerbaits a fast rod. Spinnerbaits can turn into a kite if just a small breeze comes up. Generally with a bladed jig though, by the time you add a trailer, they cast fairly well. I throw bladed jigs on an old Curado G and spinnerbaits on either a Curado K or Chronarch MGL. Both cast well.

I like the Sleeper Gill but the paint on a few of them has not been very durable.

It's the same reel with a deeper spool.

No. It's basically an STX Gen4. I bought one of the STX's when they came out. Since I fished until I killed the Gen2 version (great reel until it wasn't) and I also have the Winch Gen4 (which I like and still have), I thought it would be a no brainer but something about this reel is just wrong on all levels. Casting, retrieve and drag. I did exchange it and same thing. I think I may have tried one more after that, and no luck. If there is any indication that you should steer clear of the Ike reel.... I think Tackle Warehouse and Cabela's/BPS had them $100-$125 at Christmas time and they still had stock. They couldn't give them away. I am not sure what the exchange rate is to Canada but like mentioned above, I would order a JDM reel. There are several great options. The Daiwa Zillion, Shimano Bantam and Metanium to name a few.

I have fished a pack of the Dolive Shots and if I remember correctly it said 10 grams somewhere on the package. So if it's around 3/8oz and you're adding a ds weight to it, you're a fuzz under 1/2 oz. That would put you out out of the BFS category. Also this bait is like a casting plug. It usually will cast a mile to begin with. I think both reels selected are good casters, with the Antares being the best of the two. A good 7' M or MH Fast rod should bomb that thing a mile. I think the issue is the line. At .325mm, that around 15-17lb FC. I would drop down to 10 or 12lb. Out of FC I have used, on average Invizx casts the longest. Another option on the reel, look at the Steez A II. It will cast dangerously far.

It's the new version. I like it. It too can do just about anything. It's great at the full range listed on the rod. The only thing I don't care for is the slick gloss grip. I have been throwing the 6in Magdraft on it. The shorter length is great for skipping that big bait under docs. Its also great at Texas rigged soft plastic and pretty good at jigs (not my favorite though). I have tried some heavier spinnerbaits with it and other paddle tail swimbaits. All have been fine. It also does ok with square bill crankbaits but its not the greatest at deeper diving cranks. I have other rods I prefer for this. I also like to use this rod on my kayak because of it's shorter length.

Same ones as well. The spiral wrapped guides on mine takes some getting used to. In the P5 line up I have the Super Destroyer, the Six-Eleven, and the Criffhanger. The Six Eleven has been my favorite out of the three. I use it for anything (bass) bfs.

I have played around with X-bites and I own the 853C and a few other NRX+ rods. I kind of look at my NRX rods as my day in day out rods and the P5s as my fun rods to fish, but both are great. For versatility in the NRX rods, the MBR line is my favorite but out of all of my rods the Valkyrie to me is the do all rod. It took me a few trips to get use it but once I went through my progression of catching one fish on each a topwater, jerkbait, crankbait, Texas rigged soft plastic, and a jig, all on the same day and all on the same rod, I was sold on it.

I don't have that particular rod but I have a couple of other P5s. I kind of get the impression that this series of rods, unlike a lot of other brands technique specific rods, can handle a lot of things well but can be exceptional at more than just one bait. From what I have seen of their hardbait rods, they seem fast at the tip, softer in the middle, and then strong just above the reel seat. From what I have read, the Cyclone is shorter and slightly lighter version of the Madbull, which is also very versatile. The Cyclone should be a good one. Another series of rods to look at from Megabass is the Valkyrie. They are composite rods and from the one I own (7'1'' H), they are a little softer all around but still sensitive. I especially like the rod I have for kayak fishing. I throw everything from jigs to big squarebills on it. It loads easily and doesn't require a lot force to launch a bait.

The 843C MBR would work. I have the 904C in the MBR line. It has become my go to for everything around a 1/2 oz, except crankbaits. The 843 sounds like it would fit the OP intentions better.

For leader, all I use now is Seaguar Gold Label. I got tired of fighting everything else. Best line I have found yet.

Megabass Levante Jerkbait Special and a Lews BB1 Pro. I really like this set up for jerkbaits.

I have a couple different colors and have had no luck. Can't say why. It looks like a great bait. It does everything I want in a jerkbait but so far no fish. I can cast a 110 or a Pointer in the same spot as the Stunna and get bit. One thing with this bait, I have not fished it in cold water so not giving up on it yet.

I haven't done this in a while but I have taken two different colors, white and whatever other color, twisted the worms together and placed them in their own bag. Unwrap them after a few days in a warm boat and you have a two colored swirled bait.

Me trying to decide what bait to throw next...

I know of it. I have never been there though. I will have to check it out.

That's a good deal. I have two old 251's, one purchased new and the other was used. Never had an issue with them. @FrnkNsteen Just curious, where was this at? I live in Indiana didn't hear anything on it.