smithy97

Dobyns Champion 765 flip, Daiwa Tatula SV 8:1, 65lb Sufux 832 braid

Spro bronze eye 65's for me, all day long. Walk easily, hook up great, last forever.

I can't say enough good things about the Megabass Levante Jerkbait Special. 6'11, the best action I've ever found for a jerkbait rod. Worth looking into!

Good to know! And yes, its an expensive hobby, and I like to set aside a bit of cash here and there until it's enough to buy a new combo. If I didn't do it that way, I'd be broke and have 1000 combos haha

No I'm still saving up some cash sadly

I have the gen 1 E6X, an 853C. I like the action of the rod, but the balance and overall weight isn't great. It is not as sensitive as other rods in that price range either. Just kind of feels dead in my hands. I think the best (just my opinion) rods in that price range are the new Megabass Levantes.

I have and love both, but what I prefer about Shimano is that they offer all models and gear ratios for both right and left handed. Daiwa only offers certain high speed options to right handed (ie, you can't get a tatula ct in 8:1 in left handed, only in right). Being a lefty, I had to start experimenting with Shimano. After buying a Curado K and a Chronarch MGL I wasn't disappointed. I do think they are more refined than my Daiwa's, but the brakes take a bit more getting used to.

x2 on Megabass Levante Jerkbait Special

My first choice is to fish alone, always. I can concentrate 100% on what I need to do to succeed. There is always a pressure when taking out someone else, and you have to consider their schedule and input into the decisions thru the day. I am introvert like some folks above, and the solitude is something I need. I like going by my own schedule, making the decisions, and positioning the boat so I can get the best cast angle. Granted, the odd time I fish with people close to me, like my wife, my Dad, my best friend, it is fulfilling in a different way and very rewarding. But, I couldn't do it every day.

Thanks for the feedback guys...I plan on picking one up and pairing it with a Curado K 8:1. Should be a deadly combo. Once I have it I'll post my thoughts on it. Keep up with any feedback you have!

Hey everyone, I'm looking for some feedback on the new gen Levante Perfect Pitch. I'm in need of another froggin setup. I have the new gen Levante Jerkbait Special and absolutely love it, so I'm considering the PP. How does the rod load a 1/2oz frog? Does the tip have enough give to walk a frog? Is there enough power to horse fish out of cover and boat flip them (5lb fish and less up here)? Any feedback is appreciated! Thanks

Love the Megabass 110's, 110+1, 110+2, and junior. A very underrated bait is the Duo Realis 110sp and the 100DR. These are suspending jerk baits, with very high build quality, durability, awesome paint jobs and quality hooks. They aren't expensive for a good JDM bait. Check those out. The green smelt colour is money.

1 - Megabass Popmax in secret gill, caught my PB this year. Can be walked, popped, or chugged 2 - Live Target Frog (55 size) in any colour that has an orange or yellow belly 3 - Heddon Chug'n Spook Jr in Bone. Caught TONS of fish on my original one and still going strong, never had to use my back up one yet. Its a bait that doesn't get talked about very much. Swap the hooks to some Gammy round bends and you've got a workhorse topwater bait for life. I have 2 whopper ploppers that never get used because I can't bring myself to throw any bait other than these haha!

Good stuff A-Jay, I've started doing this for glide baits and will for sure be doing it to jerkbaits and cranks. Hats off for how organized all those boxes are!

The Ika is a go-to flipping bait in pads and slop for me. Rig it skirt down, and it goes thru cover very well. Give it a pop or two upwards off the bottom and that skirt flares out. Fish love it. And you can rig it skirt upwards weightless and use it as a dock bait, swimming it right under there. They are worth the price for sure.

Thanks for the feedback guys. The lakes I'll be using these baits the most have a good musky population, but no pike as of yet. If a decent musky grabs my baits I have no issue with that. Its those small hammer handle pike that would drive me nuts, so thankfully there are none in the lakes I'm using these baits. I plan on running 65lb braid straight for the weedless presentations, since the big bass hold in some very heavy weedy shallow bays. For the glide baits I will tie on a 20lb mono leader. and fish the deeper weed edges. I may attach a short, thin gauge wire leader as well to prevent loosing a glide bait to a musky. These lakes get a ton of pressure from guys throwing traditional stuff, and I've done well with that but I want to try stepping up and seeing if it works out. If not, I know it will be easy to sell off the baits I've bought. Thanks Tom - I have some glue from 3:16 coming as well, I'll repair the baits as needed. I don't know of anyone up here throwing anything from 3:16. Excited to try these 6.75'' rising sons. If the big baits work out for me, a wake bait will be a must. I've been thinking of the Spro Rat. Also thanks for the tip on the Shine Glide, looks solid.

Hey all, this year I'm taking the plunge into fishing big swimbaits for largemouth and smallmouth up here in Ontario Canada. A big bass up here is 5-7lbs, I've came so close to 5lb but just missed a few times. This year I want to target those bigger fish, so I've ordered up some baits. I'll be getting my parcel soon, and it contains: An s-waver 200 in rainbow trout, two 6.75'' 3:16 rising son weedless in hitch colour, and two 6'' megabass magdrafts freestyle in perch. I have a s-waver 168 already in party crasher colour, and I have two 5.5'' evergreen es flat knock offs that a friend has custom painted for me. Baits like this aren't too popular up here yet, I hope to be throwing new baits the fish have never seen. I have a couple questions - for those that fish up north (Canada or USA), how big of a bait have you had success on? And, is there anyone up north whose "confidence bait" is a big one, rather than a senko or jerkbait for example? Thanks eh

Vision 110's and 110+1 are solid and worth getting a few, but you have to check out the Duo Realis 110sp. Premium baits with excellent paint jobs, good hooks, and great action and sound. And they are 10$ less than the Visions. If you had a jerbait box with some 110's, 110+1's, and Duo 110 and 100 DR (deep runner) you will be set. If you want to expand later (which you will haha) you can add 110 jr's, 110+2, and some Duo 120 baits.

This video helped me, I was wondering the same thing. There are some subtle differences that make the Tranx 200 a more robust reel, not just a saltwater version of the Curado K.

The 2019 Levante jerkbait special is an awesome rod. Great action, balance and feel. The 6'11 length is perfect for me. I know lots of guys throw jerkbaits on more of a moderate action (like a cranking rod, Dobyns 704cb and 705cb) but these feel far too flimsy to me and require more effort to get the bait really going. The jerkbait special has the right tip to give the bait a quick darting action without as much effort, but loads nicely into the blank to pin fish on treble hooks.

I'm one of those right handed guys that uses left handed reels. Walk the dog baits are what hooked me on fishing. I use a 7' megabass levante flat side special casting rod. Never understood why people like to switch hands when they cast, as well as work the rod with their non dominant hand...anyways if you like a technique enough, buy a dedicated setup for it. Look at a medium to medium heavy, whatever length you prefer. I'm 6 ft tall and walking baits with a 7 foot rod is no problem, and the casting distance improves with a longer rod. Just make sure the rod you choose loads deep enough into the blank to handle treble hooked baits.

The Duo Realis 110SP in Green Smelt, Duo Realis 100DR in Neo Pearl Megabass Vision 110, 110 Jr and 110+1. Top colours are GP Pro Perch, GP Pro Blue, and French Pearl. I just got my first 110+2 and have high hopes for it. The Duo is an amazing quality bait at a lower price than the MB. Casts amazing, quality sharp hooks, and a deeper rattle to it. That being said, the MB has an action all its own.

I handled some new models at a show a couple weeks back. They feel like a very premium rod! There's a very interesting green colour on the blanks up to the first guide, it looks great! I hope to pick up a jerkbait special and the perfect pitch. I have the flatside special in the last generation levante and its an amazing rod. The new ones have stepped it up for sure!

Welcome from Sarnia!

Dobyns Champion 765 flip Daiwa Tatula SV 8.1:1 65lb Sufix 832 moss green Kajun boss tungsten (mostly 1/2 and 3/4oz) Trokar 4/0 and 5/0 flippin hooks Angler's Choice flappin weasel or flappin craw, yamamoto fat ika, jackall archelon Love this setup and want to add a 766 for 3/4-1.5oz weights