FishTank

I have fished it and it's a good bait for both trout and bass but it does sink like a rock. I fish it in deeper water (8-15 feet) with a quick pause and pop retrieve. You can also fish it shallow but you need to reel really quick. Overall, I like the 50S better. Also, the hooks are kind of light. Make sure you set the hook lightly and let the fish hook itself. A rod with a soft middle and quick tip helps.

They're not bad but they are not my first choice. Ryugi Infini has become my go to for an EWG. I still have a bunch of Gami's that will get used eventually. I also still use several specific hooks from Owner. The Ryugi's are cheaper when I order them from Japan, around $2.50 a pack and to me it's a better hook.

I will second the Z Crank as a good topwater rod. Although I use it mainly for jerkbaits and small cranks. The Pop X can be challenging though. I try to throw that one on the Kasumi Six Eleven.

Also, one of my favorites. I have the older GLX version. I have it paired with a Chronarch 51e. Fun combo. I also like the Loomis NRX+ 803S and 803C GLX. I also like the NRX+ 904C and the 894C when I am sitting on my kayak. The longer length of these rods allows me to side cast or roll cast off of the side of kayak. It took me a minute to figure this out and it's still a work in process but when I can angle my kayak just right, it's successful.

I have the Metanium MG7 Limited Edition and its ok but the Core to me was the better feeling reel between the two. It might be the gears in the MG7 that bug me. Still a great reel though.

I've been using the Megabass Valkyrie 7'4'' H+. It's rated up to 3oz. It can handle that and maybe a fuzz more. Great all around rod. I have used it the 8in Magdraft and 7in Bass Mafia Loaded version.

One to last.. Shimano Calcutta Conquest. An indestructible tank that's a pleasure to fish. It will out live me. One to enjoy.... Shimano Core 101. Always will be my favorite.

I've been fishing it on two setups for almost a year now. I haven't had any break offs but did notice that it seems to be a little stiffer than it was originally. Otherwise its been fine.

I use this stuff from Geecrack. It's smells really bad but works. You just spray lightly in the bag and then close it. It will last quite a while. Just remember lightly and in the bag. https://www.omniafishing.com/p/geecrack-big-bass-energy-saf-spray-scent Also, the can is small but I have used it at least 15 bags of plastic and it's still pretty much full.

I have a drawer full of them. It started 20+ years ago. I still have most of them. I wasn't until this year my wife finally made me throw some away and they were still good. I only wear them to work and from about April till October I'm in flip flops after work and on the weekends so they might last forever. Also, I never pay full price for them. A few local shoe shops clearance them out just before Christmas and we have a Sierra store that carries them. Most of my cotton gym socks last 6 months or so. Oddly I can't stand to workout in Smartwool socks.

Yup. I kind of meant.... In lure terms, panfish are usually referred to in gill patterns. So typo on my part.

I think that it's a bait ball for a carp rig. They float. Never used one though.

Got several of them. I have caught a few but its not been as good as I had hoped. I have had better luck with Geecrack Bellows Swimmer. For a big bait, I've tried the Gillsoft 130 and did pretty well but I have only thrown it twice.

I still have my Rapala scale from 15 years ago. I never use the hook. I just zero it with a fish clamp and it works great. Never hurts a fish and it holds them more securely.

The lakes I fish are loaded with bluegill and they will still hit those shad shaped baits. I would like to see a gill style bait to match these guys. They are everywhere in one lake I fish. I generally have to fight through them to get a bass to bite. They will hit anything, including a 5in swimbait.

I live in Indiana and the fish aren't huge here but they will hit a 6in swimbait pretty hard. I've caught a few big ones but it surprises me how many little bass will strike a 6in Magdraft or something like it. I would start with the 5in though, something like the Magdraft or the 5in version from Bass Mafia just to see if its something thing that will catch fish in your area.

I've used Xplasma for a couple of years and its good line. It does fade over time though. I have since moved on to Xbraid Upgrade.

I've brought in 15+lb catfish on my kayak so sure. The biggest largemouth I've ever caught on it though was around 8lbs and the biggest smallmouth was around 6lb but 15lbs would definitely be challenging. I think I would need the right gear (rod, reel and line) and I would certainly need a net.

I'm surprised we haven't heard @TOXIC talking about this one. Looks cool but it's still pricey.

I have only been doing this for a few years but I buy Smartwool socks for myself and family for Christmas. I keep the striped band they put on the socks for my filler spools and I use masking tape on the actual spool itself.

Yes and no. Ive caught bass when it seems the bite has stopped completely. I'll get this one fish that bites out of nowhere and changes the whole day. The worst is crappie. They will bite and then all of a sudden stop and be done for the rest of the day. The one thing I dont believe in is that fish only bite first thing in the morning. I've fished several tournaments were we didn't get a bite until around 10am even though we started at 6-7am and end up with 5 fish by 3pm.

I like Daiwa Reel Grease. Cal's is also great but I find I like the Daiwa stuff a little better, especially the easy to use bottle it comes in.

I would say the 873c to me is a stiffer rod, great for jigs, softplastic, some topwater and maybe spinnerbaits but I wouldn't use it for treble hook baits. Like you, I use it for dragging, especially football jigs. I still think the Daemos is the most versatile. As far as the MBV goes, I really dont know anything about it.

I might try going to different line, maybe braid to leader. On a side note, when I fished the NRX:+ BJR and the Daemos side by side, you can really see how soft the Daemos is. The NRX has a soft tip but it loads up better. I do like the Daemos though. It casts extremely well and is easy to use. Its probably the most accurate casting rod I have.

Single hook baits (jigs, spinnerbaits, swim jigs, etc). My first thought is that the rod is too soft but more times than not, everything's fine. Its the only rod I have that has this issue.