TNBankFishing

I would 100% read the fine print. Affirm sends out deals similar to this but even if you pay the full amount 30 seconds after the purchase the total will reflect the interest.

With the merger and the updates to the warehouse they might be scrambling to get everything in order before dropping their sale.

The 7’4” sold out just before I could pull the trigger. Might see more retailers start pushing the elites and x out the door.

Any experience with their stuff? Bulk prices are definitely good.

Be aware the JDM zillion has aluminum gears. No they don’t break more easily than brass but it’s something to note. Makes the reels slightly lighter though.

I’ve got rod tubes from them spanning the last 5 years. Not fun to see them go but the founder is gone. Hard to keep the dream alive when the guiding force isn’t there. I really hope those who are waiting on orders get their money back.

I’ve seen them for punching and big swim baits. Witch Doctor rods had a couple at one point.

I’ve ordered from JLS probably two dozen times. They have been amazing on every purchase. One bad experience doesn’t mean the company has suddenly changed. Don’t blame JLS for tariffs holding your goods in check.

Just because you name it Magnesium doesn’t mean it’s made of magnesium.

I’ve fished co for a little more than a season and my thoughts follow this pattern. 1. How expensive is it? Less than five bucks break off and don’t complain to anyone. It’s fishing not catching and sometimes bad luck happens. 2. Will an attempt to retrieve the bait pull us off location or into the target? If the answer is yes break off. That 10 dollar top water won’t make up for possibly missing a 6lber hiding in the pads. 3. Are we in crunch time looking for a limit or a big cull? Break off. You can see the pattern there. Tourney fishing is flat out expensive. From the cost of a boat, gas, gear, and time there are few hobbies that get this pricey. My entire thought process is how quickly can I get the next cast out, and when time is limited during a tournament 99.9% I’m going to break off and retie. Is it the most cost effective way to fish? Hell no. Does it let me be the most efficient I can from the back of a boat? Definitely.

Depends on where you live and the cover you fish. I sold my Xbites as it wasn’t up to pulling bass out of the junk on the Tennessee river. My 873 is the bottom contact Swiss Army knife I need. Bubba shot, Texas rig, jig, free rig. Slack line sensitivity is great and it keeps fish pinned.

This is the thing. I trust St. Croix. I know it’s not smart but over 20 years of bass fishing they have always done right by me. I’d be willing to spend the money on sale for a new stick. I love my elites and my legend x. I have NRX+, Daiwa AGS Steez, and Megabass P5s. Still reach for my St. Croixs on the daily. There’s something about the familiarity, the way they function on the water. I’m sure I’ll be trying the new Legend at some point, and I kinda expect it to perform like the two dozen rods before it.

I’ll take the way Daiwa has built their reels over the last 5+ years. No change needed. I don’t want or need the T wing gone. What would you replace it with? Would the replacement make a difference on the water? Is removing the T wing going to suddenly change the dynamics of how my zillions handle? Nah. The T wing is Daiwas thing just like the MGL spool is Shimanos. Removing or changing it doesn’t make much sense at this point.

When I’m serious about catching not just soaking baits for fun with family, I use JDM 75%+. I have more confidence in a lot of JDM baits. Maybe it’s the specific action, profile, or previous success. Nothing can really unseat the Senko or Roboworm for some applications. I find myself reaching for OSP, Deps, and Geecrack significantly more often than Strike King, Crush City, or Reaction Innovations the rest of the time.

@FishTank you dun it now. The first rule of fish club is we don’t talk about DoLive soft baits, Hunts jigs, or Blitz cranks. The truth is the DoLive stick is one of my favorites. When I moved back to TN I gave my neighbor in MD a couple packs and he texted me later asking where to buy more. It shines at being amazingly versatile in a lot of conditions. Sometimes I find myself trending towards certain baits during certain conditions from past experiences (is windy so throw a buzz or spinner). With the stick it allows one bait to be presented successfully regardless of time of day, or weather conditions. Not getting bit as a wacky rig? Switch it up to Texas or free rig. Maybe put it on a keitech model 3 swim jig. How about just throwing it as a fluke? A couple weeks ago I went out for an hour with a couple packs in two colors and crushed them at Chester frost on Chickamauga. When they’d stop biting one presentation switch up the terminal and they’d come back. So many folks only talk about the beaver but honestly I have more confidence in the stick and craw. Side note: The Hook Up runs bogo on DoLive a couple times a year. It’s when I stock up because prices are nearly in line with Japan direct.

I strongly agree with Mice. This rod is so good for anything moving at or above 1/2 oz. If you’re good with the drag I can throw 3/8 oz topwater as well as single hook. The stick has more power than expected but the bend of the rod under power is just butter. It’s truly a gem in the lineup and I’ve ditched the rip ‘n chatter from st Croix with it.

If your not interested in spending a ton, the GLX line has the same stick now. From my experience the 873 is just such a fantastic dragging, pitching, and big buzz rod it’s hard to put down. With some Loomis models you do need to get used to how they feel in hand. I don’t know a better way to put it, but it takes an adjustment and once it’s down you’ll never put it down.

I agree we can go out and walk the rivers and creeks of TN for smallies, hop in a boat and fish Chick, or float around in yaks on watts bar. Nothing is impacting the joy of fishing the wonderful water here in TN. The issue comes up when he wants to join the high school team, or fish a derby with me. When he doesn’t have the gear it dramatically reduces his chances of winning. It’s simply not an even playing field. People need to understand there are many of us willing to spend thousands a year on entry fees, more on travel and expenses, to fish competitions across the country. I fished through the southeast on my kayak the year before last. Brought my wife and dogs and stayed at rentals in the Carolina’s, Florida, and Bama. We had a ton of fun. What wasn’t fun was launching and seeing every other yak with 15k in electronics. Watching them out scoping just following a single fish until they catch it. Watching more than half of the top 10 at every event be guys glued to their screens. Those experiences changed how I’ll fish competitions in the future but those kids coming up through the system don’t have a choice. They buy the gear or get left behind.

If I can get in the water in a jon or float tube I’m in the water. It’s in my blood to fish and I have family that feel the same way. I would tend to disagree about fishing quality being the same. The pressure on productive lakes is higher than it’s ever been in my lifetime. Big bass never get respite because FFS or “Harass a Bass” chases them across the lake. From weekend warriors to a serious pros the population is hammered. My experience is simply anecdotal as I can’t possibly be on every body of water, but I’ve seen a consistent trend throughout East TN waters. Larger and more often occurring tournaments combined with casual anglers using FFS has diminished the quality of fish in my lakes. In a competitive situation a team with the gear and know how to use FFS they will out perform regular joe with skill 90% of the time. Why did we see a number of fresh names start making consistent podiums using the technology? Why is it now being banned in part or whole for multiple compatible bodies? Because the skill of the fisherman has been replaced with the accuracy of the FFS screen. Right or wrong FFS has dramatically changed the sport of bass fishing. For my nephew it’s not a situation of “keeping up with the jones” among his club. It’s showing up to a gun fight with a pocket knife. I’ve said in the past from youth through college they should only be allowed down imaging chirp sonar. See contours, water temp, and depth. The rest should be angler knowledge and skill.

NRX+ 873 CRR I’ve used the power pitch on two trips and while I don’t own it, it felt nearly identical to my 873. Similar taper, power, and weight.

It’s not hard to try and explain to them they don’t need a full 20 combos to enjoy fishing. It’s seeing their faces when the next kid in line has parents who dropped 75k on a kitted out bass boat and they need to fish in a dinky Jon. I don’t like fishing against boats with 25k in electronics, or yaks with 360 and FFS. It’s the reality they know they are under gunned if they don’t have the gear. I 100% blame high school and college teams for not banning that trash from the jump. 2D down sonar is all they need and the skill with a stick in hand should come first. The reality is fishing as we remember it is gone and isn’t coming back.

In practical terms they are often lighter. An NRX+ is going to weigh less compared to similar powered rods produced at a lower price point. The more expensive rods often carry a wide range of high end components such as titanium or carbon fiber guides, or very high quality cork. For me I prefer lightweight gear. I have bad shoulders and carpel tunnel in both wrists. I also like using what I like using. Do I think for a second high end sticks make me a better fisherman? Not a chance. A Dodge Hellcat will keep up with our outrun a Lamborghini in a straight line. Personal preference tells you which you’d rather drive home.

I’ve looked at boats with my nephew and I’m honestly shocked. I just want people to continue to enjoy the sport we love so much. I’m in my 40s and have a solid career, but I can’t help but feel bad for anyone starting out on life now. The last five years has changed so much, I guess we have to adjust to the times.

Not a whole lot, but that 10 year old starts fishing with his high school team in 3 years and from there wants a boat and the list goes on. The reality is it’s significantly more expensive compared to similar costs from 20-30 years ago when my generation was picking up the hobby. I could work a part time job and afford to run my little aluminum boat with decent gear. No 18 year olds doing that today.

I only wish it wasn’t going up for the kids. I doubt if I was 10 again today my family would ever let me pick up fishing as a hobby. If you run only ugly sticks from Walmart it’s not insane, but the joys of baitcasters and solid gear wouldn’t happen.