Pogues2300

I own a couple zillions and one usdm metanium. I mostly own daiwa but the metanium is the best casting, smoothest reel I’ve ever used. Opinions I guess Funny how experience varies. Of my two zillions one is smooth, one is geary… and my metanium is buttery smooth and definitely no random back lashes.

Good thing I rarely throw jerk baits because those would catch me for sure!

Minnesota needs to open catch and release year round so I don’t need to buy a Wisconsin license every year for a few trips!

Nice idea

I use fg knot for multiple outings. Retie it in my kayak on the water no problem.

Had the rod, kept reaching for my loomis 873 crr so I sold the x bites to my friend for a friend price. We both are happy. Nice rod though and it is beautiful if that makes a difference to you.

Sounds pretty dang good.

I tend to pedal my kayak towards the launch after so much rain….. that being said my best day numbers wise was in a light steady rain this year. Biggest bass was in a clear blue sky in October in Minnesota so yeah… who knows

I remember when Jesse Ventura was governor and talking about people going through thin ice… he said it was nature’s way of weeding out the idiots.

Bad call for me started a thread when old crickety was active

Ice just formed over my local lakes, please enjoy and tell stories about your open water winter bass fishing so I can have a little hope for next spring here in Minnesota

They don’t even give you oil so I’m guessing this isn’t happening lol.

I do both on nrx 873 crr but obviously not a rod the op mentioned

I think it’s great! Can’t wait for heat seeking lures personally. More tech please 😜

I live in Minnesota and not a fan of ice fishing. I think I may need to pay a visit for the first time down south this winter with my kayak and break up the routine lol.

I live in the twin cities area Minnesota and I actually caught my biggest bass yesterday speed cranking in about 12-14 ft of water (no electronics but somewhere in there) I tend to use crankbaits around that depth and when they come back up with green healthy weeds I may go back through that area with a tube, jig, blade bait….etc and see if they want a bit slower. I’ve consistently caught my biggest bass of the year here around this time. Good luck!!

Chatterbait, spunk Shad

I use a tatula sv tw 103 for those applications but I prefer the 8:1 .

Confusing to me what blow out means in this application. For me the spunk shad or something like a super fluke is the trailer that doesn’t over power the situation and that’s what I’d use

I’m not anymore… was at the time of posting but later heard the reason why… maintenance basically

Wish I could help with your specific question but for what it’s worth I own two imx pro crankbait rods and love them…also own two nrx and a glx spinning rod and love them all. Never noticed them being tip heavy but I guess it’s not a thing I focus on. Hopefully someone here can help you out. 873 crr is my favorite rod I’ve ever owned for a jig but I have seen some that really like the 854 you mentioned.

Anyone else experiencing sluggish website or just my phone… probably wrong forum but who knows

In Minnesota I like finding the last bit of green vegetation out deeper and stroking a jig…. Until the ice forms and I’m practicing skipping as you mentioned.

I blame big oil for driving up the price!

One day I will catch something other than a pike on a spinnerbait! So weird that I have zero confidence in a tried and true lure lol.