ErieCan

Order JDM from Japan and you can get a 22 Bantam for around $230 or a 21 Scorpion DC for around $180. The JDM Metanium has less line capacity than the US version so keep that in mind if looking at those. Edit - didn't see you bought one. Congrats on the Bantam!

I'll just post what I use and why and hope that helps. 90% of my Largemouth fishing is in submerged grass in clear water. Thick isolated clumps or lines. Many require some stealth so as not to spook the fish (some long casts required). I want sensitivity on slack line, a rod and line with the power to turn the fish out/away of the grass, but with a soft tip to cast well. And a reel that can launch a light'ish bait as far as I need. So here are two I use for jigs and tex rigs (I don't use jigs very often. I'll use a skirted tex rig instead) #1 - 3/16 - 5/16oz weight with ribbon tail worms, creature baits. - St. Croix Legend Tournament Bass 7'3" Heavy/Xfast. - 2020 Shimano Metanium XG - 16lb Sunline sniper #2 - 5/16 - 1/2 oz weight. Usually leave this one unpegged. With tubes, craws, skirted tex rigs. - 7'5" Daiwa Steez AGS BC2 - 2020 Shimano Metanium XG - 16lb Sunline sniper I use baitcasters for pretty well everything but drop shot and mojo rigs now. Wacky rigs, flick shake, trick worms all on a baitcaster.

I runs texas rigs on 14 or 16lb FC Sniper line with Woo or Swagger tungsten. I've never broken off on a hook set. I use an Orvis knot.

Perfect, thanks!

Does anyone know if you can swap the spools between the 2022 Metanium shallow edition and the 2020 Metanium. Both are JDM. Thanks.

I switched to mostly fluorocarbon. I fish clear water and submerged off shore grass. I used to used braid to leader but there's two reasons I stopped. One - I got sick of tying on leaders. Two - I long cast to and drag through and along grass flats and isolated clumps. Sometimes with unpegged texas rigs. So there's going to be slack line. Fluorocarbon will transmit vibration on a slack line. You can especially feel it with a good rod like a Steez AGS. I've cought way more fish since the switch. For pitching in flipping into thick grass, I will still use braid.

Do you mean the rattle (that's normal... Loose tolerances) or are you getting gear grind noise?

A 2020 JDM Metanium cost me about $340 Canadian and I didn't pay tax on it. Most stores here are charging $550 or more, plus our ridiculous 13% sales taxes. I have two Metaniums, another Shallows Edition Metanium on the way, a 2022 Bantam, a 2021 Zillion SV and Alphas SV TW. All good deals.

They only charged me like $25 to ship a replacement to Canada..... $50 seems odd.

What kind of cover/structure will you be fishing? From boat or shore? Generally, a 7' to 7'3" MH, fast action rod will cover all of the bases. I fish submerged grass mostly, and I really like the St. Croix Legend Tournament Bass 7'3" H-XF for ribbon tail worms, weightless senkos, and various other plastics. I've throw as light as a 3/16oz weight and up to 3/8oz with them and this rod is great for running them through grass and almond grass edges. A Daiwa Zillion SV TW pairs great with it as well as a Shimano Metanium. If those are out of your price range, a Daiwa Tatula SV103 or Shimano 150 MGL would be great too. I typically use 16lb Sunline FC Sniper.

I get tired of catching pike when I'm fishing for bass. Lol.

I fish submerged grass, 7-12'. I like caffeine shads the best with an Owner Twistlock 3/32oz 5/0 weighted hook. Make sure its rigged straight. Cast, let it sink, two or three twitches/jerks, let it sink. For me, it worka best on schooled up bass. Especially September/October when the big schools of shinners start balling up.

Thier jig/chatterbait box was a must for me. I thought about the terminal box but I'd need two of them.

Most of mine are fairly specific. I primarily fish offshore submerged grass edges and clumps, 7'-12' deep. T-rigs and jigs - Daiwa Steez AGS BC2 w/ Shimano Metanium -- the rod is super sensitive (slack line fluorocarbon) and great for dragging baits through grass. Worms (ribbon tails, senkos) - St. Croix LTB 73HXF w/ Daiwa Zillion SV - - the XF tip on this rod is soft enough it casts amazing and crawls/hops/swims a weighted or weightless worm through grass very well. The heavy power will get the fish out of any grass in a hurry. Soft swimbaits/under spins - St. Croix LTB 73MHF w/ Shimano Bantam -- all around rod but stout enough to set heavier hooks with a T-rigged bait. Chatterbaits - Daiwa Tatula 7'6" MHF w/ Daiwa Tatula 100 -- This rod has a great bend to it. With 16lb fluorocarbon, I'm getting really good hookups with chatterbaits. Mostly 3/8 oz. Flukes and weighted wacky rigs - 6'10" Shimano Curado MF rod w/ Curado 70 MGL. 20lb yellow braid to 10lb fluorocarbon leader. -- For fluke syle baits (soft jerk baits) its been great so far. We don't get huge bass up here but I've landed a lot of bass over 4lbs on this combo with no trouble. Although the drag on the Curado reel has been a bit problematic. I'm going to strip it down and see what's up with that. Shallow squarebills - St. Croix Victory 72MHMF w/ Daiwa Alphas SV TW and 12lb Yozuri Hybrid. -- great for running over grass or along edges. Too soft for ripping through grass. Might be better with braid to leader. My frog and flipping combos collect dust so I won't list those. Same with spinning combos. They're boring anyways ?

Saw you ordered already. Digitaka is great! The other I order from is Japanlureshop.com If you ever order from there, choose "best way" for the shipping option. He usually gives you a thank you gift as well in the box. Like a megabass or jackhammer lure.