Bandersnatch

Conquest with a few recoil guides I gather...

Don't forget the jdm is almost a half ounce lighter!

I hear these are tight around the corner

We have. It's definitely on the list but finding a place to stay has been difficult. Outside of Michigan Champlain is definitely an option

Let's not confuse the fact that you can't compare reels to reels on balance without factoring in the rod. An slx vs curado having better balance than the other is ridiculous. It makes zero sense... How can a reel be more "balanced" than another?

How does one reel balance better than the other? This doesn't make sense

This topic has crept back up since canada is still closed with no end in sight... We're considering the burt/Mullet chain and Lake St Clair but are open to any options. I'm not much of a smallmouth fisherman and I've struggled in mullets clear waters before. Last year, black NY was a complete dud in mid August. The lake had an alge bloom and you couldn't get them to bit for anything. Open to any and all suggestions for a mid August week trip.

We have a guys trip in mid August that we typically go to Canada for. Admittedly were all much better largemouth fisher than smallmouth. We tend to enjoy fishing for largemouth on structure but than can be a little hard to find for a full week's trip in michigan in August. We are considering staying on mullet and fishing that chain or going tibst Clair. I've only fished mullet once but really struggled locating smallmouth and getting them to eat. If you were picking between the two, where would you go and why? I appreciate any help. And, if you know if some reliable deep summer places for smallmouth or largemouth let me know! Ps. I suck at smallmouth fishing and really enjoy pitching to targets for largemouth, not a lot of good places I can find to do that up north in August ?

XF is the opposite of a do it all rod, XFAST would be a rod that you wouldn't actually want to use for much other than something like a worm and jig while fast could do all. My guess is 13 fishings xf and fast are probably about the same ?

Cranks, senkos 5 inch and under, small swimbaits, nose hooked flukes, drop shots, jerkbaits

While I haven't had their 7'3 mh xf I can assure you the 7'4 is plenty fast for a jigs, worms and Texas rigs. It's a pretty universal rod. It's quite powerful for its rating.

While I think my 842C is a unicorn I'd really struggle putting a 7.9oz reel. I fish mind with an aldebaran or steez ct sv. I'd imagine you're loosing some of the fun putting the heavy albeit awesome reel one it. I love my 842c

I've had both rods. They 7'6 mh is like a heavy rod. It's a Carolina rig rod. It's not very senstive. The 7'4 mh is much more sensitive and would be a way better worm rod. The 7'6 is also weighs a lot more.

Somebody's been drinking Ben's coolaid

are you saying the new alphas is similar to the CT sv steez? My buddy has it and said the alpha was close to the same as the new zillion. It definitely looks longer than the CT sv

I just wish I could get an sv reel that was as similar size as the curado 70 mgl without having to spend $500 on the steez ct sv. I love the size of my steez ct sv and the curado mgl. Please let me know if I'm missing an sv reel that is actually small. The new tatula is way wider and bigger than the curado 70 mgl or ct sv

I have the 842c and it's awesome. I prefer the shorter rods when trying to hit close targets. Ive had my eye on that 6'6 conquest but a 6'3 fx for $400 less sounds nice ?

I do skip now, 5/6 inch senkos 1/4-3/8 jigs, 3/8 chatterbaits

Could you weigh your 6'3?

I'm looking for more recommendations for even shorter rods than I have now. 6'6 or less, a lot bit of a soft enough tip to skip a senko or jig. I'm considering the 6'6 conquest 3 power but welcome to anything in any price range. Short rods can be hard to find

I kept an eye on the handle and it didn't bother me even with putting in bait sent, line conditioner and sunscreen. One thing that may make a difference is the way I like to hold the rod with small reels. I really enjoy reels like the aldebaran, curado 70 and steez ct sv 70. These reels allow me to have a really solid planed reel with my fingers fully wrapped around the reel seat. The result is an incredibly connected feeling that you have a lot of power influence over.

I finally got to push the SD through it's paces. I think they are both really special rods. The SD has a little softer tip which imo lends to its versatility and would make skipping lighter baits easier. Both are very sensitive a nd you wont miss bites. My sd paired with a steez ct is like my ninja sword. I can do anything!

Love me some 40lb smackdown. Tatsu is like a rubber band, to me

If they kept the blank, balanced it better, upgraded the guides, they could sell imo for $600 retail. Who would buy it? The people that want the faster blank, I guess... Conquest doesn't have a really fast blank like the NRX does

So essentially nrx stiffer blank with a conquest body and guides, sounds like a winner if they figure out how to balance them.