Deplorable Fisherman

Here I am after diving in the lake going after my reel (also a tatula sv). I had just cast out and wasn't thinking much of it...decided for some reason after the cast it was a good time to stretch out my arms as I yawned. A fish also decided it was a good time to slam my bait and literally jerk the rod and reel from my relaxed hand. My bro tried to kick the boat backwards with the trolling motor but I watched in start to sink and I said to hell with it and dove in after my gear. Got it back with the fish still hooked up. It turned out to be quite refreshing as we were baking in bluebird skies/80+ degree weather.

People would ask me where I caught a fish and I would tell them Lake Nunya. It was amazing how long that lasted with people saying they couldn't find it on a map or searching the web...eventually they caught on.

Could it make the Kessel run in 12 parsecs?

When you're targeting these bad boys...that reel is a must have!

Haha! That monkey is always around the corner shooting mind vibes at you! "Buy it....buy it...you know you want it!"

There are no pros to a closed face/spin cast reel unless you're taking your kids to the local pond for bluegills...

This will be a loaded topic and you'll get many different answers. If I was going to use a mono-leader, it would be good ol' Trilene XL or maybe Sufix Siege. To me, spooling Siege on a reel is equivalent to putting a clock spring on it...super stiff and I wouldn't suffer anyone with it spooled up...but it is tough as nails and should be good for a leader. Again...Trilene XL is long proven and I pulled what I'm sure was a 500 lb log off the bottom of the Wisconsin river one trip with XL 17 lb. For frogging, I'd just skip the leader.

I use a St Croix panfish series 7' light action and a Fuego 1000LT for trout. I have a St Croix Premier 6'6" UL that sits around and does nothing because it was just too flimsy. The light action rods are perfect for throwing tiny cranks, grubs and hair jigs and still have enough backbone to get the hooks in and fight the fish. You should do quite well with the setup you chose.

I recently got a Steez A and as soon as I held it I was in love! LOL. I have an older Steez SV 6.3 and a Steez SV TW and the Steez A just feels smoother and says durability. I have a Zillion 10 that I actually like more than my Steez reels until I got the Steez A. I don't think you'll be disappointed if you get one. I have no experience with a Metanium though...only Chronarchs and Curados and well...I sold them to get more Daiwas. Just personal preference I guess. I must have been typing when you posted you got a Chronarch

Big Bite Baits 3.5" College Craw is what I use. 10 pack for $3 can't be beat.

Caught this today at a retention pond in NE Illinois

First day out for 2021 pond hopping. 23" toad caught on a 3" Berkley Pit Boss.

I can only go by what they told me. I do not work there nor did I design their website.

Not sure if I got a bad spool (does braid go bad?) but the 832 I tried was terrible. It kept breaking on me, even on a cast once it just snapped and I watched my lure go off into the horizon. I use either Daiwa J-braid x8 or Berkley x9 for spinning and J-braid x4 and Berkley x5 for bait casters. Berkley x9 is definitely the most supple braid I've used though it's hard to distinguish between J-braid.

That and new leadership at St. Croix with a new line of rods that just came out and I'm sure updates or changes to other models. Me thinks the Avid X line is going away with the Victory in it's place.

I didn't hit the check out button...but I've added stuff to my cart at TW and continued shopping and it would say an item in my cart was out of stock when I went to check out if enough time had passed. I also chatted with them today and they said their inventory is real time. I ordered a 7'3" MHF casting rod in the Victory. It was perfect for what I was looking for (was that or a Daiwa Rebellion in same size/action). I am holding off on a spinning rod and hoping they have a nice 7'6" ish ML on the horizon for a hair jig rod.

Berkley Skeet Reese's Pit Boss. It just seems to catch them when nothing else works. That and a Creme Tube Worm. The price per pack is painful...so I use them sparingly when the bite is tough. But it just gets the bite when it's a slow day on the water.

They show the St. Croix Victory 7'1" MH in stock still...$190

That's odd...I just went to the site and it shows all in stock (5+). For giggles I added one to my cart and it still shows in stock...

I never thought of Carolina rigging as finesse...quite the opposite.

I would go with the Steez A for heavier applications.

I ordered from TW and it "looks" like they still have stock. Not sure if their web site updates inventory in real time? Just had a chat with TW and they said their website is updated in real time, so if it is showing in stock then you can grab one and it looks like all the first release models are still in their inventory.

So who else pulled the trigger on a Victory already?

It's just a good excuse to buy more gear.