FishTank

I've become a big fan of Costas but I would never buy them at regular retail price. The last two pair I got came from Macy's for next to nothing. My wife shops there and I usually buy her jewelry for Christmas or our Anniversary. We save up the bonus points and I use them on sunglasses. Also if you keep your eyes open, once a year, for only one day, Costas can be found on a BOGO sale. It's usually around one of the summer holidays.

@DaubsNU1 Good deal. I've been using Nikwax forever. 25 years. I think you got your money's worth out it. If the seams are shot, it's definitely time for new gear. I had the same issue with the stuff I got from Stomr. It only lasted two years. I've tried sets from Columbia, REI, and Huk. None of them fared well. A lot guys I know like the upper end BPS set. I hope to get several years out of the stuff from Simms.

That's what I was thinking. I was surprised at the feel of it. Extremely light but powerful. Like a frog rod or a jig rod. Its sort of unique. I also considered the 7'1'' MH X-fast and the 7'4'' H. I can't imagine a faster rod or a more powerful one for that matter in this series. I am excited to see how it fishes.

Another suggestion before you drop a lot of money on a new set. This stuff works. It takes hours to use both and you will probably need both but it's worth a shot. I have used it all kinds stuff that has lost its DWR and waterproofing. Most of the time it brings it back to new.

There seems to be too much of this lately. Instead of someone enforcing the rules and laws on fraud, they just let it go as long as someone clicks on it and falls for it.

After years of trying different rain gear, I finally gave in and bought a pair of CX bibs and a CX jacket from Simms. I found them at a decent price and have not been disappointed yet. I also have a hard shell from Arcteryx and a pair of rain pance from them. I only were these when I am going for really cold weather and I am putting on lots of layers. On my kayak, I were a pair of NRS Sidewinder bibs. They have feet and are seemed sealed. It's like wearing half a dry suit.

I really like the Gomexus handles I have. You can't beat them for the price. The ones I have ordered for my Daiwa spinning reels really help to balance them out.

Something white or something shiny. Presentation and retrieve are probably more important than the color.

Not yet. The lakes are still frozen here. I did toss a 3/8oz jig around my front yard. I was able to pitch it pretty easily for about 40 feet or so. If I had a 1/2oz jig on, I could gotten further. It balances well and loads easily. I too noticed how stiff it was when it first arrived but once I got a lure on it, it felt softer at the tip. That's all I got on it until the ice melts.

I thought this was cool. Might be a good reel but definitely a good idea.

In Indiana we will hit 65 degrees today but it won't be enough to thaw the ponds and lakes near me. If they were, I think the fish will be pretty lethargic but I would get to practice some casting. For drop shot in clear water, I like a small 3in minnow, nosed hooked, and fished slowly,. But in cold water, 🥶 good luck.

The JWR rods to me are just what they say they are, jig and worm rods. They are not really designed for moving baits with maybe the exception of the 802c (I use it for small swimbaits). IMHO, in the NRX+ line, the closest you get to a moving bait rod is the 883C and the MBR rods but I don't care for them for crankbaits. They are too sensitive and somewhat stiff but great all around rods none the less. I prefer the IMX Pro rods for treble hook baits and I also really like Megabass P5 rods for moving baits. They are a little softer at the tip and are pretty powerful when controlling a fish.

I have used it for spinnerbaits, swim jigs and some topwater. Great rod. I haven't tried it for swimbaits or flat sided cranks but I would think it would be just fine.

And yet they are what all other rod companies aspire to. For the most part, when a new rod comes out the phrase, "It's nice but is it as sensitive as an NRX?" applies to everyones curiosity.

This stuff works. Oddly, I haven't tried it on a tackle bag. I usually use the tube I got with my Yeti cooler.

I have a 12v 100ah LiTime lithium on my kayak. I can operate my trolling motor for about 3 days. I'm out for about 8 hours each time. I did buy a battery box, which made carrying it and charging it a breeze. You do need a lithium charger and yes, you do need to charge it in warm but not freezing temps.

Whether you're for it or against it, this is something to really think about.

I don't have any GLX spinning rods but I have three casting, the 844c, 783c, and 803c. All are older models. I tend to use casting more than spinning for jerkbaits. The 783c use to be my dedicated jerkbait rod but then I purchased the Megabass Levante Jerkbait Special. It's a little on the stiff side and does well with regular 110s. Then this past fall I picked up the Megabass P5 Z-Crank Elseil and this rod to me was perfect for 110s and 110jr's, and of course small cranks.

I don't like x-fast rods for jerkbaits so the St. Croix rod would be out for me. Then on the G. Loomis side, I have the 842s NRX+ and is way under powered for a Megabass Vision 110 but it's great for baits like 110 jr and small shad baits. The 843s, which I don't have, may be better suited for 1/2 jerkbaits. I would suggest the Megabass P5 Windbuster. It can handle all of the OP wants. It has plenty of power and it has a nice tip but it is 7'2". There is also the Addermine. I have not fished this one but it seems to be great for jerkbaits.

I will add I don't totally think 832 is bad line. It's pretty good for frogs and most heavy vegetation when fished without a leader. I have just found other lines I like better.

I used 832 for years. It is the most expensive braid I have tried. Thats not because of the actual cost but because of how many lures I have lost on it. I had it in multiple diameters on spinning and casting. I had too many loops and backlashes. I blaimed it on user error for years. I just eventually decided to move on from it. Xbraid is made by YGK. I usually order it from a JDM site. It's about half the cost on some lines but it's still not cheap. I use lines from PE #0.8 up to PE #4. I also like Varivas. I haven't used it but they say their Varivas 8 and 4 are excellent lines. This will be my experiment for this year.

@Goby My experience with 832 and Almight has been the opposite of yours. I find the leader knots on 832 to be unreliable at best. Once it looses some of it's coating which happens quickly, it absorbs water and line starts to become questionable. I fished Almight all last year on two setups and never retied the leader. As far as diameter goes, I found Almight to be spot on and 832 larger (same listed diameter on the boxes). Also, I find if no leader is used 832 has really good knot strength and Almight is not so good. For an alternative, I like X-braid Upgrade.

This brings up one thing (and probably just me) about Sieberts site...... I wish it had a place that had the jig head types all on one page with an explanation of each. Then you select the jig by head type and add the size and skirt color. I kind of have to have two pages open. One to figure out the variety of jigs and then a page open to order from.

I have the 6'11" MH Fast. There is nothing much to tell about it yet. The lakes are still frozen. I can say that it's light and strong (stiff). I haven't really fished the regular Steez rods so kind of hard to compare. Off the rack, it was hard to feel a difference but the blank is definitely different. This is also my first Daiwa rod. When the weather warms up, I'll report back.

@UmairF I wouldn't say the 803C is softer. It just loads differently. It seems slightly more powerful when fighting a fish. I also roll cast when I skip with this rod.