PhishLI

Mine's currently spooled with 8lb Sufix Advance on a Powell Inferno 703C MHXF which, like Dobyns, fishes more like a medium. It'll fire out 1/8-1/4oz Bitsy Bugs with compact trailers very nicely, and 4" T-rigged 1/16-1/8oz weighted worms. Both dragging baits, so the fast IPT is just to pick up slack and good for quickly pulling them away from snaggy cover. I'll also zip out 1/4oz transfer weighted JBs with the rig and small cranks too. Drag management makes it work out nicely for those baits when I don't feel like swapping rigs or if I only bring a few combos.

Typical Tatula build element. Frame side bearing to support that side of the pinion and a stepped long-shaft supporting the other end of the pinion. The side plate bearing supports the end of the long shaft which holds it all together.

Who said that?

?

I have the 6'9" I haven't been in the water yet with mine, but hopefully tomorrow before we're back in the freezer again at night. Could be the 7'1" wants a heavier jig. Hard to know what my 6'9" wants at this point but when tossing with it in the yard it was fine doing pitches with 3/8+trailer. All I have is very soft bottoms here, so I need to go by the subtle changes from goo to a bite in order to know what the sensitivity is like. The drag on a jig with these types of bottoms keeps at least a semi tight line, so sensing changes is usually enough for me to feel what's happening enough to swing in time regardless of which rod I'm using. I've been shut out of fishing particular heavier baits in some very juicy areas due to rod length, but with this one I'll be able to now. I'll make it work. Just something to think about. I figured this out with chatterbaits, but it has translated directly to straight jig fishing for me. I had about a 50/50 landing percentage throwing chatterbaits using straight braid. It was always blown hooksets. Due to the cover I fish, I must use it. After trying different approaches to no avail, I really analyzed what I was doing while I was just winding. It turned out I had a rigid posture and an iron grip on the reel. I think it was because of anticipation. I dunno. Regardless of why, I decided to try relaxing my grip, and myself in general, and everything changed dramatically. Everything slowed down at the point where the bite occurred along with my response to it, and my hookups went way, way up. I could feel much more now. So, regardless of which rod you end up with ultimately, if you feel your jig game is so-so, perhaps finding an adjustment a little outside the box is worth considering. The rod is only part of the equation.

I didn't take you for someone who speculates about gear. Most of your posts insinuate first hand experience. I mostly agree with you on Lew's ACB, and while it's better than SVS Infinity, IMO, and my favorite centrifugal system, it's still a bit touchy for a beginner if set for free casting. On the other hand, SV Boost is painless, and not restrictive like typical SV braking. If the ergos work for a particular user, the new Zillion is a desert island reel.

Several posters on this forum have mentioned it, but I have a bunch of Daiwas and have never done it once. Who knows how.

Does it click? If it doesn't there's a problem. If it does, you're moving it with your grasp.

10 grams

Starts on the 8th. Just checked the roster. No Bobby Lane. I thought he said he'd defend regardless of the fact he was going back to BASS. I believe he said that on Mercer's YT channel.

No, it looks like a blowfish?

If I head upstate or Connecticut, I'm going for smallmouth. They're only in two lakes on the island, and I'm only willing to fish at one of them. It happens to be my childhood lake, and they didn't exist there back then. They were transplanted by a family 30 years ago, so there's a decent population there now. I have big LM bass dreams at this spot though, out of nostalgia, so that's what I'm going for primarily. But when you hook a smallmouth using a MHF rod and straight braid, the fight is vicious. So much more intense than when hooking them on a medium spinning rig. It really feels like something's going to break. Got a 21 1/2" SM there a few years ago on casting gear, and it was absolutely sick! Top 10 fishing memory for sure. Just stocked up on 4" rainbow trout laminate senkos, stupid tubes, and bought a chrome Rat 30 for the smallie prespawn.

...and for Pete's sake, make sure the exhaust fans are in working order.

3rd review down. What do you consider heavier? Daiwa Tatula Elite Spinning Rods - Tackle Warehouse

He's closing in with an hour and a half to go. Hanging in the top 10 at the moment.

Safe to assume the 80 has standard magforce with the diameter of its arbor. Not necessarily a bad thing though. I have a Lexa 100HL and, honestly, magforce is pretty good in this reel. It's not the same as magtrax. So, it's a Magforce Tatula 80 with blue paint, a power handle, a deep spool, and CRBBs. My Tat 80 is very smooth with its Hyper cut gear teeth, so... It looks as if there's an o-ring for the key washer in the drag stack. Sealed drag? The crankshaft has a bushing instead of a bearing on the frame side.

This one is only 4", but they may be just-right size-wise where we have them. Looks better than I thought it would. We'll see. They crush a Berkeley Grass Pig in Swamp Gas in those spots, so these should play. The white/shad is for my Alewife spots. The pre-rigged hook looks like a 5/0 Beast might.

The latest tribute to my weakness for this junk. So sad... Can't wait to chuck the SG Pulse Tail Bait Fish in a Golden Shiner lake! Looks scrumptious!

Really. Off the top of my head, I have 10, and I'll be adding another shortly.

Then watch his affiliate channels Fish the Moment and Bass Fishing Declassified where they dive deep into those subjects.

Wait for a sale.

USDM models usually come with a fold-out in their box. A phone pic would be fine.

I'm really the worst person to be doling out guidance on this subject. I always find a niche for any rod that passes the initial feel-test for me. I have trouble parting with them once I've found a window where I like to use them, then have difficulty sending them away, so I don't. Good luck!

Which one feels better to you? Jettison the one in 2nd place.

Ben Milliken balancing big bass specialist versus points chaser - Bassmaster