NorthernBasser

Yeah I doubt I would've paid $300, mostly because SG is still quite new in the rod industry. To be honest I never gave them much thought until I saw Matt (Tactical Bassin) recommend it and then saw the big sale on TW.

I have the 7'1 MH and it has a nice tip on it but then shuts down real quickly. Versatile rod but I mostly throw swim jigs on it. Retails for $300 but I got it last year on sale for like $170.

I couldn't believe it. When I grabbed the brown bag I could tell there wasn't a box in there. I was trying to figure out if I ordered something else that I obviously must've forgotten about. Then I opened the bag and could only laugh. ?‍♂️

I know @RichF just got a Coastal from Amazon as well. Rich, how did your reel arrive? Did it come in a box?

I agree. Makes me think (likely) that it's a used/returned reel for sure.

It shipped from an Amazon fulfillment center. This is where I ordered from. https://www.amazon.com/Daiwa-CLSVTW150HS-Coastal-Baitcasting-Reel/dp/B07VHYKX1X/ref=sr_1_3?crid=O8VVCKP9U6FM&keywords=daiwa+coastal&qid=1678130863&sprefix=daiwa+coastal%2Caps%2C118&sr=8-3

Coastal I ordered off Amazon came today. About 10 days sooner than scheduled which I was happy with. But this is how it came. IN a clear bag inside a brown paper bag. That's it! No box. No protection. Unbelievable. I haven't even opened the bag yet to inspect it.

The Savage Gear Black Ops rods are a thing of beauty. Pictures don't really do it justice. Awesome rods to boot.

I was kind of confused when you said the magnet keeps the bait straight while in flight. The bait is supposed to fold up, making it more compact so it doesn't helicopter. Hmm.

Is the tail that elastomer material?

Nice write-up.

To me nothing beats a black rod. The Powell Naked rods are as plain Jane as it gets (hence the same) but I love it. Mostly I love how it fishes but I like the look as well. With that said, I don't mind the look of the Elite's at all. Same with the Ark Tharp Honey Badger series. That also has gray EVA foam grips, but it's also gray/silver, albeit darker than the Elite's. What I can't do is white rods for whatever reason. And especially not the bright orange or neon green rods 13 Fishing and Lew's puts out.

Yes! If this is his own collection we need more pics! Not tackle, but I bought this print a few years ago and just recently got around to getting it framed. It has a really cool sheen/finish to it that you can't see in the pictures. The frame is decent size (27x23) so now I just have to figure out here I wanna hang it.

Haven't watched the video yet, but that tail looks like it'll really thump. I mostly throw the Cut R as well. But the Z-Man Turbo FattyZ is also a nice option. Obviously it's super durable. But it's just a different profile and a little heavier than the others. It's quite fat, hence the name. You're gonna be hooked. Nothing comes through grass like a weighted swimming worm. If the grass is sparse I won't usually peg it. But if it's the thick stuff I'll peg it. I'll usually straight retrieve, popping it when it does get hung up a bit. Or a lot of times I'll just kill it and that'll generate some vicious strikes. Once the head of the worm starts getting torn up, I'll simply cut that portion off and just fish a shorter version of it.

I don't see any transom mounts in the flyer. Does that mean they won't be on sale? I'm not sure to be honest.

Cheap, simple and do a good job. https://www.amazon.com/gp/slredirect/picassoRedirect.html/ref=pa_sp_atf_aps_sr_pg1_1?ie=UTF8&adId=A04982001P0L0CUKWIAJE&qualifier=1677708359&id=3878069000685198&widgetName=sp_atf&url=%2FSAMSFX-Fishing-Anglers-Assortment-Sharpener%2Fdp%2FB01A6QJQ9I%2Fref%3Dsr_1_2_sspa%3Fcrid%3D24K9ZWKAEKD91%26keywords%3Dfishing%2Bhook%2Bsharpener%26qid%3D1677708359%26sprefix%3Dhook%2Bsharpen%2Caps%2C124%26sr%3D8-2-spons%26psc%3D1

*Whispers* There's actually 5 sizes. The Ned Rage Bug, Baby Rage Bug, Regular Rage Bug, the new Medium-Size Rage Bug and Magnum Rage Bug. I do wanna get my hands on the new Strike King Rage Scounbug tho.

Won't argue that. Fine, 2 bags.

Nice! You pulled the trigger hey? Spend as much time with that thing now while you have the chance. The pike can't steal your memories at least. ?

This is 100% me (unless I'm fishing a tourney). I LOVE catching bass on all different techniques. There's many times where I can be crushing them on, lets say, a ned rig. But I'll get to the point where I wanna get some on a lipless bite. Or froggin'. Or punching. Or fishing a big swimbait through grass. All bites feel different, which is part of the excitement for me. And then there's the aspect of just trying to see if you can get them with different techniques, etc. But if I'm having non-stop action on topwater/frogs, forget about it. I'll do that all day.

Ok I was able to dig the actual bait I used in those pictures. Not sure exactly how many I caught on it but it's still fishable in it's current state. Remember I did catch a slime rocket on it as well. It is getting a little rough tho.

I swim them like a swimbait, and I think that's what they were designed to do. Obviously you can fish them any way you want. The Dark Sleeper I fish more like a jig.

Sounds like a good problem to have!

Yeah, the paint on them aren't too durable. But I think a lot of it has to do with where you're fishing it too. The one in that pic looks like they may have been dragging is along hard bottom. None of mine was worn on the bottom, just the sides a bit from the fish themselves. I have lost an eye on one of them. I've definitely caught more than 5 bass (and a pike) one one and it was still kicking. besides some of the paint wearing off, it's swam fine. The fin makes the bait a tad weedless. But it's like the Dark Sleeper...it's really not THAT weedless. It does get frustrating when the hook pops out of the fin tho. And if you're having issues hooking up you can always cut the front part of the dorsal fin.

I will say, all anglers should have at least 1 bag of Berkley Pit Boss in the Perfection Blue Fleck color with them at all times.