TNBankFishing

If you’re at the $400 dollar mark I’d strongly look at the St. croix legend x 6’10” MLXF. It’s rated 1/8 to 1/2 and it’s a true extra fast tip. I use mine for wacky rigs, neko, neds, and shakey heads. Super smooth and sensitive, feather light, and packed with high end components. If you look around right now a site I know has 15% off everything including croix I use a new steez 7’1” ML for drop shots and super light work. It’s a more natural parabolic action with just enough backbone.

If they aren’t going up they are still king of value especially when compared to Megabass Levante and Dobyns Champs. I’m still wary of the handle. The bubbling issue in the Adrenas was enough to make me not buy one. I’m a stickler for the little things when a rods costs as much as these do. The Megabass price hike is looking worse and worse.

I’ve held one, and don’t think it’s worth $400. There are a number of sticks around that price I’d go with. What are the top three techniques you’re looking to use with it?

I agree, but sometimes cheap doesn’t mean trash. If they are solid baits I might add a few and see how they perform.

Are these a quality brand? Never heard of them.

It’s one of those things when they were 200 it was an easy sale. Now they’ve gone up but we’re waiting for the competition to do the same. I’ve only really had issues fishing from a kayak with a longer rod when I’m trying to navigate skinny water and trees. When I’m able to pitch with my Brailist the extra length helps with the hook set so I’m not leaning out of my seat. I would not buy one used. Losing the warranty when you kayak fish is a recipe for disaster.

From my limited experience with Cashon rods they have been solid if uninspiring. This particular stick looks really interesting though. A sub 7’2” frog rod made by a major brand is rare. While it’s ratings would tell me to avoid massive slop, open water or light salad might be great. I have a feeling the torque coming off heavy blank would serve well for everything you’re looking to use it for. If anything though I’d say look at the Megabass Levante Perfect Pitch if you don’t mind 7’2”. I’ve used one for a while season for just what you described and I recently upgraded to the Orochi. I fish tournaments from a kayak, but I’m comfortable throwing swim baits on an 8 foot stick.

The ML seems like a better choice based on weights alone, but I wish you could see what the action types are. I prefer a slightly faster tip for neds than drop shot.

I agree 100%. The only composite rod I’d put even near the Legend is the Daiwa BLX Limber rods. I’ve fished both series and they are superb. The Legend line gives you a large range of length and powers to choose from to really dial in your approach. The St. Croix also comes with a fantastic warranty and is made in the USA. There are fantastic graphite rods out there, but for medium to deep divers it’s still hard to beat the Legend Glass at any price point.

Other than the handle were the guides changed? I thought they were already stainless SiC, but I could be wrong. Most important thing is going to be the price increase Feb. 1

Japan Tackle has them listed, no PG. price is 299.

If the last version is any guess we’d see the same brass gear and an extra low speed 5.x gear ratio called the PG. Possibly a more shallow spool similar to the JDM Met. The only difference between them was the handle and a 100 vs. 150 spool.

Infinity drive doesn’t matter to 99% of applications but moving the line guide is awesome. It always felt like the 18 Bantam choked casts. Most people might not notice but that change is huge in my mind. It means the frame or hood area has been modified. Excellent change.

I’ve owned a Zillion and sold it to fund more JDM Mets. It’s a toss up which is better, but if the the Shimano price increase pushes it above $400 it will be hard to swallow. Which features have bled down from the Antares? The spool and more brakes, but I’m not sure if that will do much. Maybe those changes will make it better for light/medium weight baits. I love the photos of both reels. The shiny silver looks more Shimano and the matte gray looks like a Daiwa reel.

I feel like the new Zillion, Lews Hypermag, and to lesser extents the Tatula Elites offer compelling choices. I don’t think the 18 Bantam is a bad reel, I own two of them. My argument is that after a redesign Shimano didn’t really push the product forward. A reduction of weight, changing the line guide position, or incorporating some valuable new tech would have made it worth buying. I don’t see how you convince anglers to shell out ~$400 for a reel which isn’t going to be a huge improvement over the 4 year old one. I say ~$400 because Shimano is raising its prices Feb 1.

What is your point? A 7.8oz reel made for general bass fishing in 2022 is heavy compared to its competitors. It’s a fact. I honestly don’t care what you throw but somehow making reel weight about “manliness” or “an old timer still throws heavy gear” are irrelevant anecdotes.

When the weight of a reel throws off the weight of a 7’5” rod yeah it matters. I don’t want to fight with a stick while pitching or making hundreds of short casts a day. Weight doesn’t matter when I’m bombing a deep crank as the rod stays in the same position most of the retrieve. I’m sorry you’re used to combos weighing almost a pound, and didn’t realize it was a point of pride.

Which won’t matter much as the line guide position so close to the spool was the main reason it was a poor caster. The angle of attack coming off the spool was really severe on the 18s. Honestly the weight is such an issue with high end rods feeling strange in hand. A 7.8oz reel on a sub 5oz rod leads to a bad time for me. I need more photos to see if the line guide issue was fixed. Comparing the feel of a 20 Met or Steez in hand to a Bantam really shows you can have light weight and solid feeling reels. 7.8 oz is too heavy for a $300+ reel.

Do you know if their 10% off works for Megabass or St. Croix?

I only use 7 or higher speeds other than my dedicated deep crank rod. I’ve bank fished a ton and still do when the itch strikes. My “zoned out” reeling speed is super slow so faster reels help me not just drag weeds out of the mud. Cranking from the bank is hard unless you have chunk rock or bare sand as the bottom. The crank dives against the rise in bank and I’ve never felt good throwing even shallow divers. I stick to topwater or mid column single hook baits from the bank.

I might need to check one out. The conversion rate for dollar to yen is in a good spot right now. Mets are hovering around $270, with Anteres is $420. I will completely blame you if I end up swapping all my Mets out, lol.

Is that the 2019 model?

Need to snap up a couple JDM Mets before the jump.

I just really dig the MBR tapers, it’s why I also love a lot of the Megabass blanks. Im good with the guides, but I would prefer improvements even if they are minor. For example the victory line for st croix is very similar to the avids, but they made slight tweaks to the blank, reel seat, and guide placements to try and push the line forward. Shimano has a habit of repackaging the same product with a single flashy change like handle or color.

Daiwa BLX 7’4 Limber Graphite. I was concerned since they went on pretty steep sales that Daiwa had screwed these up, man was I wrong. Hands down my favorite medium and deep crank rod, as well as the absolute best chatter and big topwater stick I’ve used. Has blown me away from how light it is and how well it fishes.