TNBankFishing

Of all Croix actions I prefer the XF. It’s got the tip and then the power for my style of fishing. I own the MHXF in the Xtreme line and it’s a dream to use.

Just my thoughts, drag numbers on reels don’t matter. It’s much more important that the drag is smooth and dependable. You’ll never need to hoist a 5+lb bass straight up out of the water on 6lb line. I’ve owned the Legend MLXF, NRX852s, and Expride ML. The MLXF was the best for finesse in hand. The current gem at less than 300 is the Megabass Whipsnake. I’d buy that stick if I was looking for a dedicated light line stick.

New hard baits and some JDM Dolive colors. They might have some Blitz left in stock and those are definitely worth snatching up. Honestly I could build a $300 dollar cart easy from Digitaka just in baits.

If you’re set on the Shimano brand, and you’re really interested in the Bantam I dont think you can go wrong. I’ve used the previous version for 3 years and my only complaint is it’s heavy. Still smooth, decent caster, and built indestructible. My only question would be if you’re going to crank with it check out the JDM PG gear ratio.

I’ve fished a couple of the casting options, my BIL is a Croix guy and they are really good values. I don’t know if I’d use them for bottom contact because I think there are better options at slightly higher prices. I will say the 6’8 MXF is a great jerk/topwater stick, and their spinning rods are fantastic. The 7’3 MF and any of the MLXF are some of my favorite actions.

Felt tip heavy enough to not want it. Granted I didn’t spool up a reel but I fitted it with a zillion and Met in store and just opted out.

I sold my 893 and picked up a 873 for 1/2 oz jigs. The 894 doesn’t balance well to me, even with a super light guide train.

Car topping is not a good option long term with that sized yak. You’ll eventually dump it and damage your vehicle, yak, or self. I throw my Titan 12 in the bed of my truck. Ive seen the rise of jet ski trailers being a great alternative if you don’t have a truck.

Yes. The Destroyers are much more crisp, lighter, better balanced and more sensitive.

From the bank you’re not deep cranking, or flipping. Now that I say it any treble hook baits subsurface from the bank can be bad news. Of the rods you mentioned I’d go with the heavy. Pick up a rod rated to 1.25 or 1.5oz and use it for heavy cover frogs, dragging big jigs through nasty stuff, and throwing 5 inch swimbaits. St. Croix H in the BassX/Victory/LTB would work nicely. Off the wall but a spinning setup to skip senkos, drag a drop shot, throw poppers and small topwaters? Megabass Shakeyhead, St. Croix MLXF, or ya know just an NRX 852. Only get the NRX if you put a Stella on it. When I’m pounding the bank I take two sticks, a 1/4 - 3/4oz casting setup and medium or medium light spinning rod.

They aren’t really in the same ballpark. The Fantasistas are built to be all around rods. The Destroyers are focused usually on one or at tops two techniques.

I own both a Legend Elite heavy, X MH, and Xtreme MHXF. I also own a NRX 893, 873, and sold a 893 and 894 MBR. Croix is not messing around with their ratings. If it says 1.5oz it will happily chuck that weight day in and day out. The H Croix is a frog, punching, 1 oz swim bait stick. It is has serious power. I use my for magdraft freestyles, 3/4 footballs, and punching. For the range your looking 1/4 to 1, your best bet is an 7’1 MHXF in the Elite or X lines. They will balance better, and have top notch components. The GLX is a great stick, but I’ve heard too many complaints about the handle and reel seat for me to even buy one to test. The NRX 894 I had was very light but wasn’t as mod fast as I’d want with a reaction rod. What specifically are you trying to do with the rod? That will help everyone guide you a bit better.

Like most brands the bang for buck range is 200-300 in my mind. The rods usually include the higher end blanks and also have better guides and handle materials. That being said St. Croix really comes into their own with the Legend series. I’ve fished the Victory and they are great, but the Elite/X/Xtreme are an entirely different level. Just for me with a budget of $200 for a serious bottom contact rod I’d look used. You could get your hands on IMX Pro, Megabass Orochi, and Expride.

I’m the exact opposite, I can’t catch a cold on most strike king baits! Maybe it’s a confidence thing but I catch more quality and quantity with DBombs.

I went the other direction and wouldn’t go back. Fully into my Titan 12 I’m around 7.5k with trailer, side imaging electronics, torqueedo and gear. I have to spend zero dollars on my boat beyond registration until I buy a new rig.

Watch Greg Blanchard on YouTube with some of his summer delta videos. He has a sideways pitch which looks awkward and first but I’ve started really using it and it works great. For actual flipping, super easy as you don’t need to position the bait as much as swing the rod over and area and release the line you’re holding.

Honestly any medium power moderate fast action rod will work. But if you want something completely different and really special I’d go with the Megabass Destroyer 110 Special. A good topwater rod and one of if not the best jerkbait rod on the planet. There is currently a shorter model out, and a 6’11” model coming this winter.

My mindset is always have a backup. If I bring my trolling motor, I also have my pedals. If I go pedals, I bring my paddle. I wouldn’t go out without it since trying to swim a yak back to shore is incredibly dangerous. If you have a medical emergency, or are otherwise injured you will now float around until you reach shore or a boater picks you up. I fish big waters often and in the ocean several times a year. In those cases I will also include a sat phone. I take more precautions than most, but I often go out in rougher water for longer and I’m alone at least 50% of the time.

I’ve fished tourneys in 40mph winds. With spot lock and experience it’s doable. Not may favorite, and definitely sketchy but use whatever you can to break the wind. My wife and I often take our dogs out on our kayaks. I get the 70lb staffy and she takes the corgi. My kayak isn’t the standard sit in variety. I run a Native Titan 12 and the rear well is large enough for my pup.

Ease of transport, use, storage, and price. I use a fully loaded pedal kayak that with trailer weighs less than 600lbs. I can pull it with a car, my wife’s suv or my truck. It’s easy to launch and load, and can be pulled up a ramp with its built in wheels if the ramps busy. With an electric motor I have access to all of the same bodies of water and can cover ground as needed. I have a full suite of electronics to locate cover underwater. I also have the option to go skinny and travel rivers and creeks a boat never could. My kayak is 12 feet long and 2.5 feet wide, storage is simple and easy. My rods, baits, and miscellaneous fishing gear takes up more space than my boat. I don’t pay for gas, I don’t have to register my yak if I don’t run a motor. When I travel it sits in the bed of my truck. I’ve taken mine to the beach, to tourneys two states away and more. I’ve never had to worry about somewhere to store it when visiting friends and family. A boat will give you two things a kayak can’t. Speed and onboard storage. Beyond those two items a kayak is just as useful for the process of fishing. If your boat isn’t a bass rig, but a pontoon or ski boat then the comparison is different. I’ve always felt I’d you don’t live on water a boat is generally never worth the cost of ownership. Building a garage to store it, or paying a slip fee combined with the loan required to buy push boats out of reach for many. If someone doesn’t have the means they often have to buy a smaller boat or settle for an older one which opens its own can of worms. I love fishing the spill water of Melton Hill for striper and south of the norris dam for trout/bass. You can fish those areas, but you’ll need a spot lock trolling motor and the experience to handle it. Definitely not a paddle kayak location.

None of the tech comes from Doyo or Banax that I can see. Who’s building them I can’t find on their page. The frame design doesn’t look familiar, but I’m not 100% up on the Korean brands full lineups. I just want real innovation, even if there are growing pains. I don’t expect Ark to sell enough of these to really scare the big two. I’d be really interested if they can scratch out enough of a market to keep pushing out new ideas and products. It only takes 1 smash hit to open the door for a new brand. I actually like the asymmetrical look. The anteres is build that way, and I wish more manufacturers would be willing to break the mold. I question if we will begin to see more ergonomic asymmetrical reels in the future. I personally would love a bantam or zillion that contoured to my hand a bit more.

I’ll buy one simply to support OEM manufacturers who try to push the market forward.

Plopper frogs!! Not sure I need them but I love the foot pad on the plopping legs.

Had one, sold it. I didn’t like the taper on it coming from Megabass, specifically the Destroyer Javelin. Weight was good, sensitive blank and guides, awful fit and finish. Pretty standard for Loomis, but overall it wasn’t as limber as I wanted for reaction baits. I own a 893, and 873 in the + lines and the taper on the 903 wasn’t different enough from the 893 to justify keeping it. It never felt great throwing spinnerbaits, bladed jigs, or squarebills. Which I’d consider in its wheelhouse based on weight and line ratings. Was great as a Texas rig and jig rod, but I have two od those and they are better at it. Perhaps the 843 would be softer, which would lead to a more versatile stick? I can’t give any advice on it though. Personally in that ballpark you’ve got rods which perform the “do everything” job a bit better. Legend Elite/X/Xtreme 7’1” MHXF from St. Croix, Steez AGS 7’3” MH, and Megabass Destroyer X-Bites or Dark Sleeper depending on more of a moving bait vs. bottom contact focus.

I was under the impression the reel was built ground up with dream, not just the spool and little bearing ends on it.