FishTank

I have always liked cork grips. It just feels natural to me.

I thought this was cool and kind of funny.... I found a new car part I wanted to buy but it does not fit truck and they are currently out of stock...... https://www.oreillyauto.com/flux-capacitor?q=121g

Not yet. I have yet to see one anywhere. By the looks of it, it maybe a really nice rod for the money, not big on foam grips though. I think if I were going to get a rod from Megabass, I would probably be looking at the Orochi XX or a Destroyer. I would need to see one of the Levantes in action before I would even think about it. I did see that Tackle Warehouse has the old ones clearance out for $119.40.

For me, if I am using a deep crank it's because nothing else biting at regular depths (around 6-10 feet). I tend to shoot for deep long points and drop-offs with rocks and humps. But the most important thing, IMHO, is a super long cast and then maybe moving the boat away from the bait (20 feet at the most) while feeding some line out, that way the lure has plenty of time and distance to reach the correct running depth. Work each area of a point slowly, a 5.x reel works best for me and try to hit the bottom, making the lure bounce off the structure slowly.

The St. Croix Avid is my favorite best bang for the buck rod but the Dobyns Fury is a fine rod. As far as FAVORITE Rods go> I will pass. There are better offerings.

A Med. Fast should be fine as long as it is weightless and it also depends on the rods in question. I use a Med. all the time for soft plastic. I have never had an issue.

I like them. I was into photography years ago and had a pair like these. They only thing with neoprene years ago was it made your hands sweat not because of the warmth but because they did not breath. In the end, your hands could get dangerously cold depending on the outside temp. Of course, neoprene has improved greatly in the past 20+ years since I had a pair.

Nice looking rod but I am not sold on the shinny plastic handle.

I continue to look for the perfect glove but I have tried a few and this one seems to be the best so far. For me, a glove has to be tight and thin so you can feel it when a fish hits, waterproof/windproof and warm. This pare does all that but yet, I want a pair like it with removable fingers or a flip back mitten to cover my exposed fingers. https://www.rei.com/product/889579/seirus-xtreme-hyperlite-gloves-mens There are also these but I found that they are great for warmth but are not that waterproof. If you get the fabric in the mitten wet, you're done for the day. https://www.simmsfishing.com/shop/gear/gloves/guide-windbloc-foldover-mitt

So I finally got out to test out my new Daiwa Steez SV TW with a St. Croix Legend Elite 6'8'' M Fast and my Shimano Curado DC with a St. Croix Legend Glass 7'2'' M Mod...... The Daiwa Steez is amazing... smooth, accurate, and cast a mile. It is almost impossible to backlash. Yet, I think for the price, I was expecting something more but it's still one of the best reels I have ever fished. The Legend is super sensitive and light. It is equal to and if not better than my G. Loomis 783C GLX. The big surprise for me was the Curado DC and the Legend Glass. I was really skeptical of both when I got them. First, I thought the DC breaking was just a gimmick but casting it was fantastic. It does not cast as far as the Steez under normal circumstances but it casts a 3/8 oz crankbait a long way in the wind. It took me a few tries to dial it in but once I found it's groove, it was surprisingly fun to fish. With a light breeze, all I needed to do was set it at 1 and off it goes. I tried casting it into the wind at 3 setting and it somehow did not backlash. Next the Legend Glass was outstanding and the biggest surprise. It is, so far for me, the best technique specific rod I have ever used. I have fished several crankbait rods (Shimano Crucial, G.Loomis Crankbait, G. Loomis GLX Crankbait, Laminglass, Powell, St.Croix Mojo Glass.. just to name a few) and this rod is a G.Z. (Goldilocks Zone) rod. It is, in my opinion, the perfect crankbait rod. It is just sensitive enough, not too whippy (like most glass rods) and it has more than enough power for easy hook sets. This was the first catch of the year and it exploded and swallowed a square bill. If I had eased up a little on the hook set, it would have not been a bloody mess.

I have a 6'8'' M XF Avid, 6 ML Fast Avid and a 7'6'' Fenwick Elite Tech Walley ML XF that I use for smallmouth and walleye. Out of the 3, the most fun is the Fenwick. It is not for tight spaces but on open water or wading in a stream/river, this rod is king. It does well with light lines, long casts, and just about any bait that I fish. Hook sets are easy as well. Now with that said..... The 6'8'' Avid is the most functional of the three. The only thing I don't like is that it is stiffer (faster) at the tip than other rods but other than that its great.

5in Senko in any dark color.

Not sure the exact one he had but I have been using and seen other guys using a size 4 (not 4/0) Rig'n Hook from Owner. It works great for Robo Worms (anything like it). I Texas rig it through the nose of the bait.

Shimano Core 101MG. After 12 years, it's still my favorite.

I am right handed and use left handed bait casters. It just works for me. I didn't use to see it that often but now I see all the time.

One other thing...... If I read the instructions correctly, it is possible to over tighten the cast control knob causing the DC function not to work. The instructions word it like this ....."If the cast control knob is tightened more than necessary, the DC System can not demonstrate its original performance."

I just purchased a Curado DC and have not had any issues yet but I have only just tossed it around a pond that just thawed. I have seen this on a Calcutta DC reel though and it was a simple fix..... The guy I saw with this issue fought it for about a month and was ready to return it or ship it to Shimano for repair. He called Shimano and they had him pull all of the line off of the spool and re-spool it. Problem solved. The knot he had tied onto the spool had come loose and the line was slipping and was sloppy, this would stop the DC cast control from functioning properly.

G. Loomis 783C GLX

I just purchased the Steez SV TW and it is really small. I don't see why they would make one any smaller.

I had about 25 yards left over of a spool of 15lb and it worked just fine for leader. It did not last long as dedicated FC but it worked.

I was at Cabelas last night to return/exchange a pair of Crocs (I got two different size shoes) and behind the return counter was a stack of the Pro Qualifier Spring Sale reels. I guess we had a nice enough day for people to get out and test them. I asked about it and people returned them because they said they were defective. I talked to the guys in fishing department about it and one said that they would not recommend this reel and the other said it's a 50/50 reel> 50% work and the other 50% do not. If you read the reviews on Cabela's and BPS's website, it sort of reflects this. I too have the Revo Wench Gen 4 and I use it for anything heavy. I think it would work great for anything other than fast moving topwater (buzzbaits, etc) and flipping. It is definitely a heavy duty reel and can handle pulling out some cabbage. It would also balance nicely with a longer rod. I picked up mine on Amazon for $150 when they had it on sale.

Big spinnerbaits and crankbaits.

12lb Invizx for me.

I ordered mine from DSG and it came in a 10 foot long box. It was smashed and opened when it arrived but the rod was in mint condition. I plan to use mine for the same. Also, it surprised me how thick the butt of the rod is. I too can't wait to use it. I'd love to but I blew my budget. I am thinking the Shimano Bantam or something around that price will be my next pick up. We'll see.

He got me once again..... I have one more reel to get before the end of the year but I think I'm ready.....