ErieCan

I just got a JDM version of the new Bantam (XG model) and put it on a St. Croix LTB "workhorse". It's a heavy reel but it pairs up with that rod very nice. It's a great caster! I also have a JDM Metanium XG. Both reels feel similar in the hand. I like the paddles on the Bantam better. Also, the Bantam has a tad wider spool and 6 breaks instead of 4. The Metanium is about 2.5oz lighter or so. IMO, if Shimano just took the current Bantam and made a magnesium (light) version of it, they'd have the best of everything.

Braid - San Diego jam Fluoro/mono - Orvis knot Braid to leader - Alberto

The new Daiwa Tatula SV 70. It's essentially an Alphas

Apparently the lefty models aren't coming out until August ?

Daiwa Missle Baits Z-Man

22 JDM Bantam vs 20 JDM Metanium - what are the key differences between the two? I own a JDM Metanium XG and live it. Just wondering if I should spring on the Bantam when I can get a lefty model.

Alberto knot. Easy to tie.

This is giving me bad flashbacks ?

I was out over a week ago battling some wind and fishing off shore submerged grass. Picked up a variety of fish. Pike, LM, SM, Crappie, and the ever present Rockbass. Then I came down with Covid and fishing was done until this past Friday. Friday was a great day. Fished the same off shore grass. Picked up around 25 LM bass from 6am to 2pm before the wind got crazy. A lot of the bass were clones of each other it seemed. High 2lb to low 3s. Biggest was 3.8 (which I didn't get a pic of because my phone over heated ?). Working a 3/16th weighted 7" watermelon/red ribbon tail through the grass edges was the ticket.

I have mine on a 7'3" MHF Daiwa Rebellion with 14lb Daiwa J-Fluoro Samurai line (went full Daiwa on that one. Lol) Crazy light combo. Been using it for weightless senkos and flukes. I have a new St. Croix LTB 73HXF "Power Finesse rod. Awesome rods. Have a JDM Metanium on mine.

I used to run 30 and 40lb fly leaders off a flasher for salmon. Short leaders 18"-24". I always used an Orvis knot. Easy to tie and very strong. And it would end up very compact with such thick and stiff leader line.

These are what I use as well. The weed guard is pretty flexible but the way it's designed it just plain old works.

Although I haven't tried them, I've heard good things about the St. Croix "rip'n chatter" models. They have them in the Victory line and Legend Tournament Bass line.

I hav the MH version of that rod. Use it for 3/8oz Zman regular size and mini max chatterbaits. Braid to leader. Great success with this combo.

Different action and fall rate brand to brand.

Some days, they'll only eat one brand of stick bait (senko style bait). Other days they'll eat anything. Every body and their brother throws spinnerbaits up here. I own a grand total of zero spinnerbaits.

Is the 5" senko the GOAT? Fishing this weekend I was set up to target both Largemouth and Smallmouth. I was making my way between a couple of my largemouth spots when I saw some smallmouth cruising around in open water about 8 feet deep. I threw every smallie bait I had rigged at them. Ned craw, tube, dropshot and jerkbait. They'd investigate then bugger off. For the hell of it, I threw a weighted wacky rig I was using on the Largies. They'd follow it down, let it settle, stare at if for a second, then suck it in. Four smallmouth in that same area did this. If I didn't have that rig ready to go, I probably would have never thought to try it. Maybe a 4" Senko, but that's not on my top 5 either. P. S. MY buddy was fishing the bay at the same time and said most of the smallmouth were even snubbing live leeches.

Yes. Funny thing..... I bought 4 new combos this year and caught bass on all four during the opening day of the season.

I agree. The trouble here (Canada) is there are still way too many people who measure their success by the amount of bass in their frying pan. I'd love it if they reduced the limits. Heck, even if they just closed the season for a few weeks for the spawn that'd be nice. @Way north bass guy btw, great report! Didn't mean to hijack your post.

Perfect weather for opening day Saturday. I was on the water at 3am (which was way over kill, Lol.) and chilled out in the dark for a bit. I caught a few smallmouth at first light but ultimately, I'm a bucket mouth chaser so I ducked into the weeds just after sunrise. Over 30 bass in total. A lot of fish over 3lbs and over all, good sized fish all around. Some pike and rockbass in the mix as well. Top water bite was all pike today. Bass were on a mix of speed worms, senkos, and crankbaits.

That break dial position is actually an improvement over the Tatulas, lol. The tension knob would have been set at the factory and left there. I've slightly adjusted a few of mine but those reels should be left loose on the spoon tension. You dont need to change it for different baits. Are you a hand switcher? (cast with right hand, reel with right hand)?

I meant that a 50yd spool of Sunline FC Leader is cheaper than 25yd of Blue Label.

Someone on this forum asked Seguar this question a few years back. Below is the quote (I'm assuming Sunline is the same. But if you run long leaders, I don't see why sniper wouldn't do the trick. BTW, I have used Blue Label in the past and it is very good as well. I just liked getting double the amount of leader for roughly the same price with the Sunline leader. I mostly use 8lb tied to a 15lb braid main line. I've caught plenty of hard fighting lake Erie smallmouth with that set up. Never an issue with it. " What are the differences between Seaguar fluorocarbon Leaders and Seaguar fluorocarbon Lines? Strength – While both are strong and will withstand the lb test listed, leader is stronger over shorter lengths and are not designed to be a long, main line product. The main lines are designed to take the impact load over a much longer distance, transferred throughout the line. Double Structure Technology – Our FC, FP, GM, and FX are all Double Structure, (2 to 80 lb), a Seaguar exclusive process that injects two different molten resins through a special die. The resins are extruded as one solid piece. The harder, inside resin contributes to the Tensile Strength, while the softer, outside resin creates greater Knot Strength. Our current main lines are single structure. Price – Leader is more difficult to produce because of double structure and the resins involved, therefore line is less expensive and leader costs more. Resins – The resins in our line are different than the resins in our leaders."

Sunline makes a dedicated leader. It's good stuff. 50yd spools. I use it form 6lb to 20lb.

Take a look at the Orvis knot. Super easy and quick to tie.