PBBrandon

Yeah amen to that. Used to be my go-to mono for the manageability, but I’ve noticed a drop off in that recently. I just bite the bullet and get Seaguar Invizx if I’m not running braid to leader on spinning setups

The Dobyns Champion XP 734c definitely fits the bill for being magically special. The quintessential “do it all” rod. Anything between 3/8-3/4 of an ounce, it’ll do wonderfully. Perfect action for moving baits. maybe a tad on the slow side for bottom contact, but it’ll handle a football jig just fine too

Got to take the kayak out onto Texoma this morning and try out a couple of new lures I’ve never used. I tried out the 6” Megabass Magdraft as well as the new Sleeper Craw. Equipment used: 7’2” H+F Daiwa BLX w/ 7.4:1 Curado 200k, 50lb PowerPro Braid w/ 20lb Sunline Sniper FC leader and a Megabass 6” Magdraft in Whiteback Shad 7’2” MHF Shimano Expride B w/ 7.1:1 Chronarch MGL, 40lb PowerPro Braid w/ 20lb Sunline Sniper FC leader and a Megabass Sleeper Craw in Numa Ebi 7’0” MF Shimano Expride B w/ Tatula MQ 2500, 8lb Seaguar Basix FC and a Neko Rig (green pumpkin/chart tail Senko, 3/32 nail weight) Got out on the water at around 9:45am and started by tossing the magdraft around empty boat slips. It was a bit cloudy at the time so I wasn’t really expecting much from it. Just wanted to see how it worked. It swims nice at a slow/medium retrieve, and sinks pretty slow. I like to let it sink a little before retrieving it and that works best for me. Skips really nice as well. I bet it will be killer during the summer when the sun is out and the fish are hugging those docks in the shade. Next I paddled over to a calm cove with a rocky/mud bottom. Depth varied from a foot to probably around 15ft deep. I threw the Sleeper Craw and within a few casts I already hooked into one. Unfortunately I had the landing net in a bad spot and the fish got off as I was reaching for it. A few minutes later I hooked into another fish as I was casting towards the shoreline. I was able to bring this one to at least touch the boat before it spat the hook (still counts lol). It was a largemouth probably about a pound or so. Had a few more bites on it until I casted by a rock and got slammed by a fish. This time, I fought it for a while and was able to land it in the net. Turned out to be a nice blue cat. I forgot to weigh it but I’d guess it was around 3-5lbs. After that I tried a Neko rig for a bit with no luck. Overall I’m very impressed with these 2 lures from MB. Specifically the Sleeper Craw. Didn’t get a good hookset on the first 2 fish, but I was setting it at an angle as opposed to straight up. With the location of the hook, I should’ve been setting it that way. Hook was sharp enough to pierce a catfish’s mouth so definitely a nice one on there. the prize of the day

Yeah it looks like it’s gonna be cloudy and maybe a little rain tomorrow so I might have better luck throwing something else like a whopper plopper. Might still try the magdraft

I’m planning on hitting up texoma on Monday and wanna try something new. I’ve never thrown a Megabass Magdraft before but they look interesting. I’m thinking of tossing one around dock slips since everyone is gonna be out and about and I don’t have to worry about slapping people’s expensive boats lol. Anyone have luck around boat docks with magdrafts? What equipment do y’all use? I’m thinking either my 7’ HXF Abu Veracity or 7’2” H+F BLX with a 7 speed Curado K. Thank you

I’ve used a couple of Carbonlite 2.0 reels. For $130 they are decent. Would rather have a Lews KVD, SLX XT, or a JDM Tatula 80/100 for that price though. The rods are pretty nice too. Back when you could get the combo for 180 it was a good deal. Idk if they still are or if they went up but you can’t go wrong with the Carbonlite

1 and 2: Gamakatsu Offset EWG 2/0-4/0 3: Z-Man Shroomz (weight depends on cover and depth) 4: size 1 Gamakatsu octopus hook

My experience with the 7’1” MF Platinum and the 7ft MHF Patriot tells me the Platinum is the better rod. Both feel like mediums, both are super light and comfortable in hand. The Patriot has a really soft tip and stout backbone, the platinum is stiffer all around and is a great weightless senko rod. Depends on what action you like really. Also the fit and finish is much better on the platinums and 50% off??? Are y’all hiring? Lol

I have the LTB 7’3” HXF and it’s closer to a MHF. Has a nice tip and a strong backbone. The Victory should be very similar if not the same. Great rod for t-rigs and jigs in the 3/8-1/2oz range Punchfishing has a great video on YT on the exact rod you are looking at and gives a nice breakdown on it

If you can go a little over $100 the Dobyns Fury 733c is a good rod

rooster tails are a great lure for catching loads of 1-3lb fish. Can throw it pretty much anywhere and get striper. Most of the big girls I’ve caught there have been on live shiners. The river side of the Denison dam is usually really great for stripers. I like tossing shiners into eddys close to the dam. The lake side of the dam is really good along the rip rap for stripers and smallmouth using rooster tails, spoons, and Texas rigs. What part of texoma are you fishing?

Looks like the main differences between this rod and the Psycho stick are that it’s a 46 ton toray blank as opposed to what Okuma calls a “low resin blank” in the Psycho Stick. And the X series has UXR instead of UMR. Not sure how much those upgrades add to the rod, but the Psycho Sticks are already great rods and this series looks priced to compete with the Expride

Yesterday I finally took the yak out onto Texoma for the first time. Took it out once before at a small lake in my town for a trial run and it worked well. The water was a bit choppy and winds were about 10mph so I hung out around the boat docks for a bit throwing a KVD 1.5 in gizzard shad with no luck. Once the water calmed down a bit, I swung out over to the rock bluffs by Eisenhower State Park. Tried tossing a TRD craw Ned rig as well as a Siebert Outdoors finesse jig with no results. Decided I’d try to put on a 6th Sense Cloud 9 medium diver, and on the first cast I caught this nice smallie After a couple more casts on the Cloud 9 I had to head in so my girlfriend wouldn’t get mad that I was out all afternoon lol. I always figure out where and what to throw right before I have to head in ?. Happy I got fish at least and once again, fishing from the kayak worked out ?

My go-to FC. Switched from PLine FC and haven’t looked back. Punches above its price point for sure. Not quite as good as Invizx, but a better value IMO. Great for braid to FC leaders

Yeah 6th sense soft plastics are a bit on the stiffer side. Doesn’t mean they won’t catch fish, caught my PB smallmouth on a stroker craw. But they might not have as good of an action as some other plastics. They are more durable though. They’d probably do just fine in warm water, definitely wouldn’t use them in the winter or something

Got to try the new sticks out this morning and I have to say I am very impressed. The 7’2” MHM is exactly what I was expecting from St. Croix. Definitely a little whippy but works really well for fishing squarebills and medium divers. The 7’3” HXF is my favorite of the two. It’s a wonderful open water/light cover t-rig rod. Sensitivity is on par with my 7’2” MHF Expride B. The only real concern I had with these was the fact that St. Croix rods, especially the LTB line, are really tip heavy. I found that on the water, it doesn’t end up being a big deal to me. I had a 6.5oz Curado 150 MGL on the cranking rod and a 6.2oz JDM Zillion SV on the t-rig rod and they felt fine. The latter was a bit more tip heavy but I bet a ~7oz reel would negate that issue. Overall I’m super happy I got these, especially for buy one get one free. Made in the USA, very good warranty, and very good rods for the money, I think St. Croix has earned my future business with these bad boys. I forgot to mention they are gorgeous in the sunlight

One is the 2017 version and one is the 2020 version. I have the 2017 and it’s an amazing reel. The 2020 model is lighter and has a different frame. From what I hear the performance differences are negligible but if you want the newer one, it’s the black colored one

Anyone else excited for this one?

The Tatula SV is a really good reel to learn on and it is really versatile. I’d get either that or a Curado 150 MGL in a 7 speed and pair it with a 7’2” MHF Zodias or a 7’3” MHF Rebellion

Reading on Daiwas website I see it says “Hyper Double Support” so it seems as if it has double supported pinion. Pretty much a USDM Alphas SV it looks like. Can’t wait to get it lol

Sweet yeah I ended up ordering the SV70. Got that coming in now along with 2 St Croix LTBs and I got 2 rebates for those Daiwa Huk hoodies. I think I’m done buying stuff for a while ?

I’m trying to decide which reel to buy between the SV70 and the SV103. With my Omnia points plus promo code I can get the 103 for around $148 and the 70 for $165. Is the 70 worth the extra cash? It’s gonna be going on my 7’2” MF Okuma Psycho Stick for mostly 1/4oz finesse jigs. Thank you

All would be great, and the Speed Spool LFS is the best $100 reel on the market imo. For $50 they are a really good value

This morning I got an email that Omnia was having a buy one get one free on St Croix rods. In the couple of hours I was debating which rods to get, a lot of them sold out and luckily I jumped on it in time to grab the 7’3” HXF and 7’2” MHM carbon cranker legend tournament rods. Punchfishing said that the 7’3” HXF Victory is good for Texas rigs in grass. I assume the LTB is very similar. havent heard much on the carbon cranker but I plan on throwing squarebills and medium divers on it, and making my 705cb Fury a dedicated Jerkbait rod. anyone have any experience with the new Legend tournament rods or these 2 models? I can’t wait to get them next week and am curious on y’all’s thoughts on them

Still got one for sale ? Zillions are amazing reels too, can get them from Japan for 220-230