FishTank

I just checked how much a 2lb box DHL would cost from my place to a Thunder Bay address within the company I work for> $95 USD. That's insane.

Funny you should say that.... I have been eyeballing this one..... https://www.ebay.com/itm/Shimano-calcutta-50b-excellent-condition/223943313486?hash=item34240fc84e:g:ogMAAOSwWepeaPPr

This would be a little over your budget but it would work for both crank baits and jerkbaits, which to me are to different rods.... St. Croix Legend Tournament 6'9'' MH Mod. Fast. It's designed as a spinner bait rod. I used a buddies a few years ago and liked it but it didn't seem to be like the ideal rod for just one thing. Its taper was weird on hook sets but it had plenty of power. It was kind of soft at the tip but not as soft as a glass crankbait rod and stiff at the bottom. So it's sort fits in between two different rods, a crankbait rod and jerk bait rod. The one I use currently for cranks and jerkbaits when I am in my kayak is the St. Croix Avid 7' M Fast. Not ideal but I can use this rod for just about anything and the price is good for a quality rod.

This has been brought a couple of times but cabin fever is setting in again and thought why not...... If you were going to buy your last reel ever and money was no object, what would you buy, why and what would you use it for? Would you be completing an arsenal, buying one for a specific purpose, or just wanted this one reel for the fun of it? I keep asking myself this question and the problem for me is choosing. I have a few on my mind but can't decide as of yet. Maybe with some of your thoughts, I might come to a conclusion.

https://www.in.gov/dnr/10342.htm?utm_source=agency-website&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_term=&utm_content= Indiana's response as of yesterday. It seems sensible.

I bought a Mossyback spinning rod back in 2007 and sold it in 2008. I liked it but it was strange compared to other rods. It seemed more powerful at the end of rod and stiffer further up than most bass rods at the same power. It made casting accuracy difficult with the light lures that the rod was rated for. Also, it was not as sensitive as the IMX rods I had at the time. If I had to pick a true purpose for the rod I had, it would be deep vertical jigging which seems odd to me in a spinning rod. In the end, I picked up a St. Croix Avid M X-fast to replace it. I still have it till this day. On the other hand.... I have the 803C GLX and it is fine rod. I like the length and action but wish it was slightly more sensitive (more like the 783C GLX I have).

I have two setups that I use for the Ned Rig.... Spinning>7'2 Elite Tech Walleye ML X-Fast with a Shimano Symetre and 6lb Trilene XL 100% FC. This set up works great for the small TRD and Robo worms 7 M Fast Abu Garcia Fantasista Regista with a Abu Garcia ALX and 10lb Tatsu. I use this setup for the big TRD and an Owner 1/16oz or 1/8oz Block Head Jig. So far this has been the best of the two. Not total finesse but close enough.

I have two rods with EVA grips and they are OK but I prefer a good quality cork handle. Also, I do have a rod from Fenwick that has the cork/eva mix and it's not bad but I can tell in time it's going to fall apart.

I had the Tour rod and reel in my cart and had to stop. I have a too much in the works right now. I'm hoping to pull the trigger on a couple of Shimano reels from Japan. The exchange rate is too good to pass up on. The Tour S3 at $120 shipped is an awesome deal or even better the Tour rod and the Tour S3 reel for $230. Crazy....

50% off coupon. What is it and where to? Just asking for a friend....

I have the Bantam and I do like for crankbaits but I like the Curado DC better. It seems to work perfectly and casts a little further but on the other hand the Bantam is smoother. I am looking into getting the new Conquest DC and that thought has crossed my mind. I have had a 251 Calcutta for 15 years and it feels like brand new. I think it will last forever.

The most accurate setup I own is a G.Loomis 783C GLX paired with a Shimano Core 101. There is just something magical about this set up. I guess it comes with how the rod loads and the fact that I can thumb the reel more easily (which also has a very important part in casting accuracy). Personal opinion, a rod with a soft tip and stiff middle is what makes a rod more accurate for me> As well as how well it balances with the reel.

Another option would be the Calcutta Conquest BSF. Pricey but from what I can tell and yes, I don't own one, it's the best you can get.

I use to use this same line for jerkbaits and never had an issue. I have since gone to 12lb only because I got a good deal on a big spool.

I never use braid for backing for this reason. 6lb or 10lb of the cheapest stuff I can find or the left overs of whatever FC or Mono I have around, is what I had good luck with.

Ebay.... This is the MGL 30. It's even more finesse oriented. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Shimano-18-Aldebaran-MGL-30HG-Right-handle-From-Japan/133042854526?epid=27013900797&hash=item1ef9f8da7e:g:4FgAAOSwxy5ceJk5

Welcome to the forum. I am going to guess this is for the Metanium MG DC7. I would personally leave it alone and I don't think there is one available. The control that fits on the spool would have to fit the new spool. I am also guessing that the DC function is based on weight of the spool and the amount of torque. If you change those beyond a certain range, it will not function properly. One other thing too, would be the cost. You are probably looking at $100+. A new stock one from Plat is about $80. Most new reels average about 120 yards or less of 12lb line, the Metanium MG DC7 I think holds 120y/12lb. There is not much you can't do with that amount of line on a bass reel, except some serious trolling in deep water. If that that's the case, a different type of reel may be a better choice.

Welcome to the forum. My personal preference would be to use straight 6lb FC. My personal favorite is Trilene XL 100% FC. I have used Power Pro depth hunter for something like this but only for night fishing. I tend to use my finger on the line and bounce the Ned rig that way.

I say you got sort of lucky. Last year I seen a guy get a ticket for $2400 for turning on an engine that was larger than a 9.9 at the dock. This lake has an engine limit of 9.9 or smaller. He also got a ticket for gunning it trying to put his boat on the trailer after getting the first ticket which was kind of dumb. I am not sure how much the second ticket was but I still can't believe he got a ticket for $2400. I know there are rules but that was a little much.

I went out today but fished from the bank and left the kayak in the truck. We had40-45 degree weather here in Indy but the wind gusts were brutal, around 30mph. There were white caps on the lake I go to. It's supposed to snow tomorrow. I can't wait for nice weather. Last year it didn't show up until the middle of May. I did catch 4 in about 2 hours. Not bad for just messing around.

For value baits that work..... Anything made by Zoom. What's weird is that a lot of their baits and concepts have been duplicated by other companies and they will always be more expensive. Usually it's the other way around. A bait comes out, it catches fish/becomes popular, it goes up in price with the demand, and then the imitations come out at a cheaper price.

The most expensive thing, from a manufacturing stand point, in a rod build isn't the components... it's the hype/marketing. A rod might cost $50 to $100 to build (at the most) but add a pro staff of anglers, show booths, online videos, and tv spots and you might have one expensive rod on your hands.

I had the E and sold it but still own the G. Both reels are great when properly taken care of. Like DVT said above, about the best thing you can do is supertune it and update the bearings. I have done both on the G I have. The supertune made it a little smother but not much. It was pretty smooth to begin with. I did upgrade the bearings to ABEC 5 Boca ceramics and it did cast further. I also tried the ABEC 7's and didn't see where they were an upgrade from the 5's in terms of smoothness or casting. If I had to do it all over again, I would have ordered the stock bearings that go in the Calais/Antares from Shimano. They are the same size and this would have been a major improvement over the stock. I also feel that these bearings are as good or even better than the "upgraded" type bearings out there. They are also cheaper, $14 each.

My personal favorite for a general purpose rod is either the St. Croix Avid 7' MH Fast or the St. Croix Avid 7' M Fast. I have fished both from a kayak and like how they both can handle a wide variety of baits. For what you are doing, I would say the M would be best.