FishTank

Is it the Hi Vis Yellow? Scan the barcode. You can use Amazon's app or there are several others that will direct to what product it's supposed to be.

I haven’t fished it much this year but a Plasma Tail worm with a wobble head set up has been deadly for me in the past. Another bait I like is a Kreature bait. Both of these do well, bouncing and slow swimming.

I found the issue/issues. There was a piece of unfinished plastic on the level wind cap and it was cross threaded. The line was hitting it as the spool slowed down causing the backlashes. As I was picking/cutting the backlash out in the above pic, the cap started to fall out. The tiny piece of plastic just dropped off. I didn't notice it when I spooled it but I would never have seen it with line on. With the line almost half gone, I was able to get the get the cap screwed on and fish. It casted well and I was able to catch a few dinks before the sun went down.

No thanks. I have worked on too many and seen too many issues to know better. Sorry not Sorry but ......

So far it feels great but setting it up to cast well has been frustrating.

I will try this tomorrow. It was super frustrating. I started with two brakes on and the outside dial at 4 and I was fine. Then about 10 casts in and one backlash after another. So I went to 6 on the dail and tightened the cast control as the backlash was towards the end of the cast, no good. I then turned on another brake, samething. I then went to four brakes on and then I gave up. I have two Curado K's, a Bantam MGL, a Chronarch MGL, two Antares 12 and an Anteras 70A. None of these have this issue.

I just got my 2020 Met today and have the same issue as the op. I can't make sense of it. No matter what I set the brakes to, I get a backlash. I'm using the same line I have on 4 other reels, 15lb Tatsu. My first 10 casts or so were fine. After that, I had no luck. I even tried a 1/ 2 Oz casting plug.

It depends on which lines in their catalog you are comparing. I would choose the following..... 832 over PLines braid.... There are better options though. Sufix Elite is slightly better Floroclear but in Floroclear you should go one diameter thicker in the comparative poundage. Pline Florocarbon over the Sufix equivalent. I didn't care for Pline Halo or Sufix Advance lines. Sufix Seige is also good line.

If those are the two you have, I would go with the one that has the lower gear ratio. My preference is a reel that is 5.x:1 but all really need to do is reel slow enough to fit your needs.

I have tried them and they're not bad but I have other creature baits I like better.

I fish them on occasion in specific spots where I know salamanders/newts are present. Bass seem to eat them or at least want to attack them, year round.

I have gear in various price ranges I take on my kayak but I agree it's easy to loose a set up, especially in high winds and with wakes from big boats. So I try to be cautious in what I take but at the same time I want my setups to be functional and capable of taking a beating. I have found I don't like to take my Curado DC (I tend to get my reels wet and it doesn't respond well to a dunking) or my more expensive stuff. I have found my favorite set up is a Shimano Chronach with a St. Croix Mojo Yak Med. Fast. Next would be my ML St. Croix Avid and a Shimano Stradic. I also like shorter lighter rods with fast soft tip (but not a Moderate taper) as apposed to longer heavier rods with an X-Fast tip. A few things on the Mojo Yak.... Not big on the Wynn grips but they get the job done when things get wet, the shorter handle is great on kayak and helps with hook sets, this rod is soft and whippy (great for long casts)... all that said, it's not the most sensitive rod but it does bring in fish.

A little bit of everything. Jigs, soft plastic and maybe topwater.

I was pushed. It's not my fault.... at least that's what I keep telling myself. A new Met is coming tomorrow .

I am currently using 8lb FC on my Steez CT. No issues at all. I could probably go down to 6lb without any concerns.

I have the old version and it's awesome. If the new is equal or better, you will have a fine rod on your hands. It works great for both techniques you mentioned.

Can you post some pics of the reels in question? Did you spool them yourself? Is the external brake working properly (is the cone moving back and forth when you turn the dial)?

I bought some the Samurai FC early this year and it's great line. I would say it falls somewhere between Invizx and Tatsu. The line keeper works really well. I have since emptied the spool of Samurai and used the keeper for a different spool. Works well but it's not a universal fit

I have the 903 and have thrown a DT16 with it. Although not ideal, it worked. I would say the 845 would be fine with it. Just my two cents, I am a big Loomis fan and my 903C IMX Pro CBR is a great rod but I like the Legend Glass from St. Croix for deeper crankbaits better.

Between my middle finger and my ring finger is where the stem of the reel goes. Anything else feels wonky. And after two semesters of Anatomy in college.... 4 fingers + 1 thumb = 5 digits. It was on a test, believe it or not.

For that price I would also look at the St. Croix Legend Glass. I have owned several over the years and this one has been my favorite so far.

I had the same 803C GLX and unfortunately broke it (my fault) years ago. I did the Xpeditor service and Loomis sent me a newer version without the Recoil guides. It's a great rod but the original was like a magic wand. I still miss the original rod today. I also had one of the GLX crankbait rods (can't remember which one ) from the same era and didn't care for it as much as I thought I would. It was actually too sensitive for a crankbait rod and the taper made hook sets feel off. Granted it is a really nice rod, it just wasn't what I wanted in a crankbait rod. I ended up selling it after the first season.

783C GLX.

I am not expert at it but I tighten my cast control until the bait does not drop, leave the brakes at the current setting, cast low and hard and control things with my thumb (especially stopping the bait). For spinning reels, I do kind of the same thing. Except I put my hand over the spool as the line is going out, and then close my hand around the spool and closing the bail in one motion>stoping the bait. One other thing, that for me helps, is that I max out or come close to the rods upper end weight. I know these weight guides are not all that accurate but if I over load the rod, the tip can act like a whip. So for a senko and a 1/8oz bullet weight (around 1/2oz total), I would use a M rod with a fast tip. For a 1/2oz jig with a trailer (5/8oz+ weight), I would use a either a MH or H (depending on the trailer) Fast or Extra-fast. And.....calm water is almost a must for me to get a good, accurate cast in.

15lb FC. I am partial to Seaguar's Abrazx, Invizx and Tatsu. All three work well but Tatsu is my favorite.