Msl819

And he loves a jig!!! I am mostly wanting to learn to fish a jig well enough that I can fish it well when it is a good option

Would you be true swimming the swim jig or would you bury it in the grass and rip it out? No doubt the swim jig comes through all the different vegetation better.

I am exclusively LMB water down I Lousiana.

I am asking for some collective wisdom and advice. This year I am determined to learn the jig better. Historically I have avoided the jig because most of the water I fish is muddy/mucky bottom or full of slimmy/snotty vegetation. Dragging bottom has proven to be frustrating but too many people talk about how much a jig produces for them. All that said - how would you fish this? What types and sizes of jigs would you use? Thanks in advance for your advice!

I’ve had both and kept the Stradic. To each their own, right? Nothing at all wrong with the Vanford but I do not place as high a value on lightness. The Stradic is so, so smooth. I also love the solid feel of the aluminum body. It just “feels” higher quality to me. Some reels can start to feel “plasticky” which can “feel” cheap even though it is not. My actual in the hand experience was there was no real world difference to me in how they fished. In fact I sold the Vanford to grab a Twin Power. They’re all great. That said, my Daiwa Certates are even better!

That’s like asking me which one of my kids I love more! I have the 852s and love it, but the 842s Conquest seems to be a great stick. My only complaint of the 852s is the is isn’t the best long cast rod but it is plenty capable for what I do. I cannot compare the two directly but I do have the 782s Conquest and if I were be solely dock skipping I would probably grab the 782s. But I don’t have a ton of docks to fish and the ones I do have are elevated enough that rarely would accuracy be a major factor.

DVT has handled several of my reels now and Mike has done a great job. Only downside for me is the cost to ship both ways. That’s what I get for living where I do, I suppose!

Very nice. I love the handful of SC rods I have.

Sounds like a winner!

That’s a good looking combo.

My take as well, although I am not a huge fan of foam. No particular reason, just a preference.

It sounds like your a one rod/reel guy, which is absolutely ok. If that is the case, personally I’d get the Tatula SV and a good 7’3”ish MH Fast rod and call it a day. For me, that would handle 75% or more of the fishing I usually do. Another reel I would add to you list would be the Shimano Curado 150. There is a reason the Curado and Tatula series of reels are all time best sellers for each company.

If ease of use on the water is a top consideration, it sounds like you answered your own question - one brand/braking system probably makes the most sense. Nothing wrong with variety, but I can certainly see why an angler would find a series of rods and reels that they like and essentially stay there. If the rod/reel is a tool for you, that’s what I’d do. If the rod/reel is part of the experience and fun, variety makes more sense. Just my two cents.

I have had both and sold all of the Curado DC reels and kept the Bantams. I don’t have anything bad to say about the Curado DC. I will say the DC didn’t seem to do much to warrant the cost. Casting a regular baitcaster isn’t so hard that one needs the DC (at least to me) with the exception of certain, poor conditions. In the big picture, if the wind is blowing that hard that I need a DC reel to tame things my thumb cannot, I most likely won’t be fishing anyway. I guess I am just not that die hard. Not exactly the question you’re asking, but my SV spool reels handle wind as good as anything I have used. I have and will keep the Curado 70 MGL and would buy a 150 MGL if I needed another reel in a heartbeat. I picked up the newest Scorpion DC to play with. Time will tell if it stays or gets released back into the wild.

Keep me updated. I’ll be curious to hear your results.

what did you spool it with? Is it a brake setting issue? line choice issue?

I have the same Scorpion DC in RH that I am excited to put to use. It is on my chatterbait rod.

I own all three and really love all three. If I were picking one it would be in this order. 1. Zillion 2. Metanium 3. Bantam The Zillion is just a smooth and refined but less finicky than the Metanium. But they are all GREAT. Time will tell which one holds up best.

I cannot speak directly to the difference between the 854 and 894 but it may simply come down to preference on length and if you plan more up close presentations versus longer presentations. Shorter should be more accurate and longer give longer casts.

The MBR makes these rods much more versatile by my count. If one was looking primarily for a bottom contact rod I would choose the JWR, if one wants something one can fish the bottom and moving baits, the MBR really is great. My last trip out I was throwing a DWalker 120 on an underspin hook and the 844 MBR performed great.

I have the 844 MBR NRX+ and the 894c NRX. Not a direct comparison but the MBR action is different from the JWR for sure. I am not sure if the 854 is JWR or MBR but that may be something to consider. The 894 is a much more fast action, heavy power rod on how it fishes than my 844 MBR. I will say though, the 844 MBR is worth a look too.

Of the below rods, which would you most often choose? 7’1” M - Fast TFO Tactical Elite 873 CCR 844 MBR 7’3” H Glass Jackhammer Special I don’t and won’t throw them enough to have a dedicated set up so it will need to be a double duty type situation.

It won’t be long where I am before we are starting an early spring, pre-spawn pattern. I am curious about lipless. I will be fishing around grass, fairly shallow water, with scattered lay-downs and stumps. What say you guys? 1. What combo do you prefer to throw a lipless on? 2. What are your go to lipless baits? 3. How do you fish them? Are you a burner? A bottom hopper? A grass ripper? 4. Any special secrets you’re willing to share?

Mine is a dark blue/gray. Like what many people would call a slate gray. Great reel, BTW!

I LOVE mine as well. My only complaint is it is an XG. Wish it was a HG. Not the reels fault, obviously. Other than that it is hard to justify the cost jump to the Bantams/Metaniums/ETC. I am curious if the 150 MGL is as good but I don’t find the need for more line capacity.