GetFishorDieTryin

Check out Duo Realis. The 100sp has a rounder body like a Pointer and doesnt have a WT system, but casts very well, where the 120sp has WT system, the flat sides and action similar to the Vision 110. The Duo 110sp is kind of like the 120, but is a little rounder and has a lazier action.

1/4oz traps and RES work best for me mid fall to early winter. The bite picks up again in the prespawn, but just about everything works in the prespawn lol. If you are looking for a slower fall while yo yoing you want to make sure thy arent too small in size. Some 1/4 model traps are much smaller and thinner then the 1/2, which makes them just as if not faster then the larger sizes. Havent used the 6th sense suspending, but have used the suspending Ima lipless heavily during the coldest months the past few years. Its basically like a combination of a lipless and JB, which makes it very versatile. Although I do catch fish with it often Ive never had a day where I have just beat them down on it. What I do is I use it to determine what kind of mood the fish are in. If they hit it on a longer pause I throw a JB. If they hit in the middle of a retrieve I throw a CB. If I have followers that wont commit I go to a regular lipless, the faster ROF can make those followers react.

I agree, handle slop can make a great feel good and good reel feel meh. Ive got an Exceler and by dumb luck it nearly 0 slop, which makes it feel great. Kind of wish Daiwa or Shimano would make a better attempt to eliminate it on their mid to lower priced reels. If you have spare bushings, bearings and spacers laying around you can guess and test.

The texture is just a raw unsanded blank. When they sand a blank generally they paint and clearcoat it which protects it, but it can add a noticeable amount of weight. That blows my mind they dont send it in a tube, but I guess the tube is wort has much as the rod and profit is the bottom line. Arks a great budget option, even at 60$ that Catalyzer is a good deal and for 30$ its a no brainer. I really like my 7'3 MH F essence, its an incredibly versatile rod. Your rod doesnt have the same blank, but if the action and power are similar to mine, I cant see you not liking the rod.

I get lots of use out of a M F BC rod, and in the winter I can get away with the M over the MH the majority of the time. They are generally good with treble hooked baits as long as they arent too heavy or run too deep. 10 or 12lb FC just handles better on casting gear, no twists or wind knots to worry about. I do think a spinning rod is more effective overall at fishing JBs, but generally I will throw JBs 3/8oz and up on BC gear. I like a M F for smaller 3/16-5/16 jigs. Since I dont have to deal with so much grass or heavy cover in the winter I can get away with that M power rod. Ms are good for lighter compact spinner baits. 1/4-5/16 load better on my Ms then they do on my MHs. I fish a lot of 1/4oz chatterbaits in mid-late winter and have found a M F to be the best tool to use at my disposal. I also use a M for shakey heads, tubes, light t/mojo rigs and weightless plastics.

Havent tried it, but I can just about gurantee a black wooly bugger or muddler minnow would get bit for sure.

I found the most effective way is to cover water with a small swimbait and once you find a concentration go back through with a jig or, jerkbait or lipless. Ive been successful in the past pitching a jig in wood on the sun beaten bank from early to late afternoon. Im just looking for a reaction bite, so I dont waste time fishing the jig much more for then a foot or 2 from the target. The slowest way is to find a spot that you know will hold fish at some time. Concrete bridges, isolated rocks and or laydowns all hold heat. If you can find any of that structure in close proximity to deep water (relative to the body of water you fish) on the bank that gets the most sun. Find some of the spots and drag a jig around them on sunny afternoons. If you keep at eventually you run into a bigger fish. Fishing the moon really helps too. The 2nd and 3rd day before and after a full/new moon have produced best for me.

I pretty much go to a double tail grub or a dead action bait, like a fat baby craw or BB cricket. What do you guys like to use?

They work in the late fall/early winter but they really shine for me mid feb-early april. Its a PITA, but if you drill a hole in one and add enough lead to get it suspend they become far more effective and work all winter. The issue is you have to tank test as you add the weight and no 2 baits are exactly the same. That means the amount of lead it takes to achieve suspension in the given water temp has always been different for me.

LC makes a Sammy 55 and 65. One of them is 1/8 and the other is slightly over or slightly under. There are other light JDM walking baits, but the LC should be easier to find. Check out thehookuptackle before you look at JDM sites, you might be able to get a BF/CM discount.

Ive got one of tiny Zaras that I found years ago on the bank. I didnt know they were discontinued, which is a shame because its a blast to fish.

Probably a Catalyzer. I have a higher grade Ark in a 7'3 MH and I really like it. Tough to beat a 36t blank at retail price much less what you paid. The catch with Ark, particularly the cheaper ones is the quality control can really vary. Just make sure the blank has no cracks and the eyes are straight and in good shape. If the rod does fail, Ark will work with you as long as it's within the warranty period.

Personally, I would stay away from the fuse. They have been out for some time and if the concept showed promise, 13 would have further developed the line with new iterations. Fuse just seems like the answer to a question no one really asked. I havent gotten my hands on an Envy 3, but they look sharp, real clean and simple, reminds of a loomis almost. Im sure theyre nice rods, but they have a whole lor of good competition at that price point.

Check out there YT and website. Pretty sure they are the biggest MB retailer outside of Japan.

I dont why know black isn't as commonly popular in the LMB community when it comes to sub surface hard baits. In the surf casting its completely different. Even in the daytime just about every surf bag has a tube with at least 1 black or blurple bomber, SP minnow, redfin, Hydro Minnow and or Mag Darter.

If you want to buy from a domestic dealer in the US it comes down to 2 reels. The Taula LT or the Stradic FL. You really cant lose, both reels are excellent. If you want a smooth light reel get the Tatula. If you dont mind some extra weight for a little more refinement, get the FL. Both reels retail @199.99 so you would have to wait until thrusday night to get them at the black friday discounted price so including tax they will be under 200$. You have a similar decision if you choose to buy JDM. Again you have the choice between the Stradic FL, but now you the Vanford is within the budget. The Vanford is essentially a Stradic FL with a carbon composite body, that makes the Vanford considerably lighter then the FL. The FL may feel a little more sturdy because of the AL body, other then that they are pretty much the same reel. I would recommend the Vanford because of the light weight. Thats just my recommendation, but you cant lose with any of these reels.

Glomits seem like a great idea, but they have 1 major drawback. When the miten is folded onto the back of the glove it makes it nearly impossible to retrieve anything from a pocket. You have to take the glove completely off. I didn't either until I had gotten a pair as a gift. You can keep your hands warm and still feel and manipulate line. Ive been wearing them ever since.

Mosquito hooks work really well for wacky rigs and they are available in bulk packs. They are kind of like Owners Octopus hooks. Don't overlook the other Japanese brands. Decoy, Hayabusa and Ichikawa all make great hooks.

The Avid MLs are pretty good for neds you mentioned and DS as well. Personally I like the 7'1 ML Tatula for just about everything finesse. The Tatula has better balance and is a little lighter then the ML Avids I have which are anywhere from a few to over 15 yrs old. I like the ergonomics of the Tatula over the SCs as well. Other then that they are pretty similar in power and action with the Tatula loading a little deeper into the blank.

Uni Uni and blood knot are good if the lines are of similar diameter. I use the alberto and if its tied and cinched correctly its incredibly strong and very small.

Never held an ALX, but Im sure theyre great rods. Dont have any experience with the Psycho sticks, but I as a general rule, Okuma has some of the best bang for the buck rods Ive ever picked up. You get sic guides and a 46t blank for under 300$, which is awful hard to beat.

I wouldnt throw it away, but I would wait until the water warms back up to use it and use something else until then.

Depends on the reels weight. There are FC guys who swear by using 4k reels for finesse swimbaits, ned rigs and DS. That larger spool diameter casts farther, handles FC better and has more IPT compared to a smaller reel.

Depends on the weight of the jighead you like to throw. Generally a rod rated 1/16-3/8 which is typically a ML.

How much stiffer are the MH XF compared to the MH F?