Sir Shamsalot

Dang... TW was to send all of my order together in one package. They split the order. I'm sorry about the too soon snoopy dance.

So how does this reel compare to the Bantam which shares the same price point? I get why everyone is comparing it to the Metanium, but build materials have a roll in choosing a reel for functionality: salt vs fresh.

Slip bobber and a worm. Boring as all get out but it works for everything, and I've caught some monsters on it. Artificials. A KVD 1.0 squarebill. Catches everything.

It depends really. If I want to go slow and keep the lure up high in the water column, 17# Suffix Elite. When I start burning blades, straight braid is fine.

Who? Me? I'm throwing towards cover and semi-open water. It's been a proven consistent producer for me.

Isn't the Skeeter the Minnesota State Bird?

My go to is a popper. It just seams the rain just makes the fish angry at them.

Well, I jumped on the purchase of the heavy when I found it. Given the current state of how Covid is effecting the whole industry. I figured that it will be hard to find. Especially with Matt Allen praising it. If that guy says anything positive about anything, it's gone the next day. I swear if he said he caught a fish casting a toylet seat as a lure there'd be nothing to sit on when nature calls within the next hour. The water hasn't iced out yet here. I have done my sensitivity test with it. I put my phone on vibrate, rest the rod tip on my phone, and have somebody call me. It's definitely a zinger, and zings more than my Legend X and much better than my Expride. The flexibility is much like my Legend X so hopefully it will skip heavier jigs like the X does with lighter ones. Compared to my other H-rods it's definitely more flexible overall. My dedicated frog rod a Dobyns Mag-H frog rod has a more flexible tip, but it's designed for launching frogs so sensitivity wasn't really a priority in it's build. I bought the Xtreme primarily for detecting larger swim jig/swinghead jig bites which can be difficult to feel since the fish is often swimming at you. I currently have a Curado DC on it, and the balance is phenomenal. Normally, I can feel the DC's weight on any rod I put it on. I tried some of my lighter reels on it and the balance feels just as good.

I use both. I used to be exclusively using LH gear till I lost a rig to Davey Jones Locker. I went to bomb cast a heavy spinnerbait, but either didn't disengage the clutch or accidentally engaged it. So as I was finishing my cast, I went to slide my left hand from casting position to palming the closed clutch let the lure torque the rod out of my grip, out of the boat,, and into the drink.. Shortly after that I switched to RH gear for long casting. I still use LH gear because there's are times it just shines, like fishing out of the back of the boat and more. I'm more mindful of body mechanics.

Wait... What?... I have an SV TW103 spooled with straight FC on a St Croix Legend Glass. In regards to ipt, it's just above the 23ipt recommended for crankbaits. It will cast a KVD 1.0 35 to 40 yards with little effort. I've landed alot of fish with it. I do admit to considering getting the same rod and possibly putting an Elite on it for slightly heavier cranks. I am interested in the new JDM Zillion P model. Hopefully, someone will get one a review it before I buy it.

I came across a video on YouTube today by Lord Volde... by Hewhoshouldnotbenamed on his channel The Banana Test. Anyhow, the new Curado MGL "unsurprisingly" beat the newer Tatula SV TW103 by a whopping 2ft. I was interested in the MGL up until that point. If you ever watch the channel, you get an overwhelming sense that he just may... just may... have a bit of a biased reel view. Now that all said, if the MGL just barely beat the SV TW103, the Elite would definitely leave it in the dust.

I have the Legend X MH/EF, plan on getting the Legend Xtreme MH/EF, and own the 7'4" H/F. The MH/EF has a ridiculous range of use (jigs, plastics, and I think it would make one hell of a deep diving heavy jerkbait rod). Currently I use my Legend X mostly for finesse /lighter swim, football, pitching jigs plus. It's currently paired with a a Tatula SV TW103 ( I know not enough glamor for some ) 7 gear with 15lb Tatsu. It's ridiculously sensitive, and I can feel bluegill bites and wacky rig bites on slack line. It skips like a dream and casts more than far enough for me. When I get the MH/EF, I'll line it most likely again with 15lb Tatsu for jigs. The Legend Xtreme guides are noticeably bigger for braid to leader ease if one prefers. For a reel, I'm considering the Steez SV TWS, Shimano Aldebaran, or the new Zillion (depending on its performance reviews). Here I want something like my Tatula, relatively light, versatile, can long cast, and doesn't give me headaches. I do prefer the the free spool function found in Daiwa's higher end reels, and I'll probably step up to an 8 gear speed.

I think he means if a Musky, or similar fish,, takes off with the lure or similar sized fish. Unfortunately for me, it's something to think about. I've had musky nail bass lures more than once.

Not often thought of items A decent lure retriever. I just got the Fragile Telescoping Lure Retriever. A first aid kit. Musky (large toothy fish) tools. I know, you're not fishing for Musky, but the Musky don't know that. So a jar spreader, wire cutters, bite proof glove, net maybe. So far the musky I've caught came off a Rapala DT6 and a 1/4oz Erie Dearie. Both where above 42" long. 2 Thermacells to keep mosquitoes away.

I have a large mixture of Daiwas and Shimanos. I prefer my Daiwas for short range work and Shimanos for long range. Though that did change some with the Tatula Elite. The Elite casts just as far as my Curado DC's but less than my K's, but weights noticeably less. The Elites also handled straight FC much better. So I have replaced most of my K's with Elites. Currently, I've been doing alot of comparison shopping for a new reel for a H/F. I keep looking at the Bantam and I keep wondering "Why?" It weights the same as a Curado DC and more than a K. The K can outcast the other two. The DC is close... close to set and forget. I get the Bantam feels stronger, but all 3 equally brake drag at 12.2lbs ( tested ) which makes feeling meaningless to me. Yet, I keep looking at the Bantam. I looked at the Steez SV TW. Unfortunately, I looked at the price tag. I did find what looks to be a killer deal on them, but I'm thinking it's light weight will throw the H/F rig out of balance. Then I came to the 2020 Metanium. I like hearing about improved sensitivity through the reel. I was pretty much set to buy one until I read about line management issues with braid in several reviews. Now, it wouldn't be the first time someone put less than 30lbs braid on a reel and had issues. Maybe someone can put my mind at ease about that. This reel also reminds me of the Ardent Apex Flippin Reel with its narrow spool and over sized line guide. The Apex is known to have line management headaches but is a fav of Flippin/Pitching set. Now, I feel about sold on the 2021 Zillion. If it can close quarter like an SV TWS and then cast like an Elite ( rumors have it outcasting a K... again RUMORS ) without making adjustments while weighting in the 6oz range, that's pretty d**n impressive. I really want to see this. I have decided to pull the trigger on an Aldebaran for my jerkbait rod.

Culprit had a Motor Ohio Flake color that looked more like neon green with a dance mirror ball stuffed in it, and absolutely nothing like a regular motor oil worm. Crazy thing was, the bass just loved them. Now, they're impossible to find.

I seen that. You can also pick up the Steez cheaper too. Not that there's anything wrong with the older Zillion SV. TWS Higher than normal drag, I really like the frame, still a skipping machine, definitely not a slouch at casting distance thanks to the free spool, and relatively light weight makes the older Zillion SV TWS a reel you just can't pass at that price. It's a proven close quarter combat champion that can reach out and touch something when needed.

I feel your pain. I'm in the same boat. Turns out there's a microchip shortage about. Car manufacturers have had to halt production on vehicles because of it. I imagine it's effecting products all over.

$330 for the USDM version not made in Japan. It has brass gears instead of aluminum, weights in at 6.7oz, and retains the higher 13lb drag. If it can skip like an SV, and then cast like an Elite (rumors are it's casting futher), what's not to like? I do like the looks of the paint scheme, it reminds me alot of the brushed aluminum that's under the paint.

What's your favorite do all reel for a heavy action rod and why? I doing homework for 7' 4" HF that I'd like to flip, pitch, cast, and occasionally cast. I'm not really looking for something that will cast into the stratosphere. Just a decent cast that will add to swimjig usage. I'm also considering reel weight for sensitivity, and drag power for hook sets.

I like my Curado DC. I like it alot. But what kills it is the weight. I don't have a Steez... yet... but when I compare it to my Tatula SV's, Elites, or my other Shimanos, that weight just stands out.

It's a shame really. A nice chrome finish doesn't really give you anything but added weight and cost on any reel. You get the new spool which I can see being a bit more expensive. However, if you buy a "Limited Edition" of anything, one should expect the base parts to be pretty much really close to the original. If a majority of the reel was different, you'd have a different reel. I definitely agree the marketing language has got to get toned down, but we're all fishermen. We've all gotten caught by shiny things just as much as the fish have at one time or another.

Let's compare the Dobyns Fury to the Champion frog rods. What you get is a lighter rod with some higher quality components. Often the extra cost is saving wear and tear on you as you fish. Though sometimes its about extra sensitivity.

So now I'm looking at the Met B or a Bantam. The rod i plan to put this reel on is a St. Croix Legend Xtreme 7'4" HF. I bought it for swim jig sensitivity as well as pitching/flipping/bottom dragging duty. The rod actually has good sized guides and leader knots will pass through easily. So I've pretty much narrowed my selection down to a Bantam, Met B, or a Steez SV TW. Does the Met B add to the sensitivity?

Dobyn Fury 735c Magnum Heavy Frog rod for about $119. It's got a very flexible tip and just lauches frogs and more. It's rated 3/8 to 1 1/2 oz. It will frog, cast lighter swimbaits, punch, pitch, flip. At its price IMO its the absolute best buy for what your looking for. I have mine paired with a Tatula 150, and I use it for in-line spinners for weed walleye. It's just incredibly versatile, and never ever leaves the boat. On the other higher dollar side, I also have a St Croix 7' 4" HF Legend Xtreme. There I'm paying a premium for sensitivity for jig/bottom dragging techniques.