ErieCan

Exactly. The new Legend Tournaments are much better, but obviously more money.

What @GReb said. Listed at just Metanium, but it does have the MGL spool. FYI, they have a shallower spool than the USDM version. Still holds more than enough line IMO. Also, the 6.2 and 7.1 ratio models have shorter handles than the USDM versions. The 8.1 ratio model has the larger handle.

Ah yes. The new Curado rods are nice. I have a 6'10" MF casting version.

Can you swing a JDM Metanium MGL? It's an awesome reel (and I'm typically a Daiwa guy). The 21 Zillion SV is a great reel too.

I have the 7'1 MF. It does the job for wacky rig and dragging tubes. For dropshot I'd rather something like a Shimano Zodias or Daiwa Rebellion (in that price range).

Agreed!

I usually have 3 spinning combos on the boat along with my casting rods. A medium/fast, a med-light/fast, and a med-light/Xfast. I'll have a wacky or tube, ned rig, mojo rig, tied on respectively.

Got two reels from them (two separate orders). Japan to Canada in 5 days. No issues.

A tube jig. 1/8oz so it falls nice and slow.

Great review! The North American prices on the Tatula 80 don't make sense. I see Tackle warehouse has them for $199. But you can get them from Japan for about $150. Heck for $195 you could get an Alphas SV TW from the JDM stores.

I've been using the Orvis knot for a while now. One of the easiest to tie and very strong. It's also hard to screw it up. Someone on YouTube did a break test with it and it compared very well to the polmar knot it terms of break strength.

Tubes, drop shot, ned rigs, hard jerkbaits. If they're feeding on craws, the ned craws (Zman or Savage gear) are killer.

I'm wondering how others manoeuvre their boats to cover water. In my case, large submerged grass flats. Are you on the trolling motor constantly or moving a bit then hitting spot lock? I find I end up moving too slow. I was watching the Lake Fork Bassmasters and it looked like some of the guys would have it on auto pilot slowly creeping along.

Sunline FC Leader. 50yd spools. I use it on all of my spinning combos. 8lb or 10lb tied to 15lb braid with the alberto knot.

I haven't tried Smackdown yet. But I went back to regular Power Pro on my heavy grass set ups. And I pulled off the J-braid I had on my spinning reels and put on yellow Berkley X9. I like it so far. The X5 is pretty good stuff too.

Not a bass post as our season isn't open yet. But I've been Pike fishing a bit this spring. Many fish boated, this is the biggest so far. Just under 8lbs. I haven't been able to get out the where the 15+lb pike hang out. It's a 50 minute run through partly open Lake Erie. Need the right wind. Also, the Gar Pike were spawning. Hundreds of them along the shore line rocks.

Feels more crisp and a bit better balance (still a little tip heavy). More sensitive. Not sure on the actual weight difference as they don't list the weight of the LTB. It's an SCIV+ blank as opposed to an SCIII+.

The Alphas is solid. The handle is a bit small at 85mm but that can be upgraded easy enough.

I have the new LTB 7'3" HXF you're looking at. Having played around with it a bit, I can say it'd be well suited to the baits and weights you're looking at. I'd say a 1/2oz weight with a bulky trailer would be about the max I'd run on it. I tried it out with a 1/4oz and rage bug and it handled that just fine as well. It is a noticeable step up from my Victory rods. I intend to use mine for swimming and dragging grass flats with T-rigs as well as light flipping to deep grass edges.

Their Salmon and Trout leader material is great and one of the best deals going for true leader line.

I don't think so. I'm sure there is the odd "derby" that goes on north of here. They don't open our season until the bass are done spawning (last Saturday of June). And on top of that, a large part of the bay (about 23 square miles) is a sanctuary (no fishing at all) from mid May until bass opener. It used to be packed with Smallmouth bass in the early season. Those numbers have dwindled. Whether that's due to 6 fish catch and keep, or changing habitat, I can't say for sure. But the smallmouth don't stay in the bay nearly as long anymore either.

I have a Mojo Bass 7'4" heavy. It's a good rod for the money. Has a soft enough tip to work frogs and pitch with accuracy.

I found a reply from the Anglers group running it from a few years ago. They were being criticized for allowing dead or live entries. They said this. "When the ***** Bassmasters and the ***** took over the Bass Open Derby, we knew we could not expect tournament standards and still host a derby. This would not fly with family and folks that are just out to fish and compete for some cash and awesome prizes. We wanted this to be the opportunity for anyone to enter at any skill level or age and partake of the bounty that we all enjoy in ***. From what I see so far I think for our first year was a success." So, I get it. They want everyone to have a chance to compete. But I'd go with a other option. And that's not holding the derby at all. Or make it a live release only tournament. Walleye don't spawn in this bay. The lake Erie walleye stocks spawn mostly in the Detroit River and Upper Niagara (generally speaking).

The local bass derby is back up and running this year. I'm a bit annoyed to say the least. The bass can be dead or alive. Prizes are for the biggest largemouth and smallmouth. So you can imagine how many big bass are going to die. I usually skip bass opener here and try to fish the Monday after it opens. On the opener (Saturday) that derby usually turns the place into bumper boats. And unfortunately, people up here still measure their success by the fish on thier stringer..... And the bass limit is 6 fish per angler.

I just picked up the 7'3" HXF "Power Finesse". Very nice rod! Going to use it for T-rigs in the deep grass.