MeatHead1313

I've only had 1 trip with my Steez, so can't give a detailed review, and basing this off inshore fishing not bass, but I absolutely love it after that 1 trip and it's quickly become my absolute favourite rod to use. Had no problem keeping speckled trout pinned despite them having a super soft mouth and loving to jump, but also had more than enough power to handle slot redfish and 2-3ft long alligator gar. Used 3-3.5inch soft plastic paddletails on 1/8oz and 1/4 jigheads and it handled those perfectly. Don't have any experience with NRX rods so can't comment there.

Did you get a reply from them? I messaged yesterday as well and still no response.

How well do they package rods for shipping? Thinking of grabbing a Steez ags rod, hard to pass up 20% off.

They've got a 15% off Daiwa sale going on too, code is DAIWA. 15% off used gear, or 25% off if buying 2 or more used items as well.

It's shown up for me in the past when it takes me to PayPal if paying that way. That said, I just tried it out and it didn't show this time.

Another advantage I've noticed with the sv that hasn't been mentioned is it's far easier to use when casting into the wind. I fish from a kayak so don't have the ability to fly around a lake or the bayous to always have the wind at my back. I've been able to fish head on into 20+mph winds with the sv and not have any issues with backlash.

Another vote for the Zillion here. I have a USDM model and it's just amazing how great those reels are. Ridiculously smooth. Most US sites seem to have gone to 15% off sales this year vs the 20% off they'd run last year which puts them just under $300, so slightly over your budget. If you don't mind having no warranty they can be found for around $230 on some JDM sites. Only differences other than warranty vs no warranty is US has brass gears while Japan has aluminum, and US are made in Thailand while the JDM are made in Japan. If you want warranty but don't want to pay Zillion prices the Tatula sv reels are great too, just not as smooth. I have both versions and while both are good, my vote would go to the 2020 sv tw 103 due to its smaller size making it easier to palm while fishing. Can't comment on the elites as I have no experience with them.

That hellraizer has my interest for sure. I love fishing topwaters for redfish and that looks like something they would absolutely smash.

I have 20lb Sufix 832 on nearly all my baitcasters and have no issues with it. I've tried 30lb Daiwa j-braid x8 grand once and had no issue with that either.

I absolutely love my Vanford, but what rod I put it on makes a huge difference. I've currently got it on a Cajun rods Atled and it's extremely comfortable to fish with, but recently got a St Croix legend elite that I tried putting it on and it was extremely uncomfortable to try and hold.

Majority of my casting reels are Daiwa, but I do have a 13 fishing concept z and a couple Shimano reels as well. Spinning is an even mix of Shimano and Daiwa.

No left hand retrieve, only righties in stock.

It'd be a toss up between my 7'2 ml+ Shimano Expride A and my 7'1 Mh xf Daiwa Steez ags (old model).

Baitcasting- my 21 Daiwa Zillion sv by far. Spinning- Shimano Vanford

Does anyone know if this would work inshore for redfish/speckled trout/flounder as well or was it designed purely for bass? I was thinking of getting a bottle but fish inshore far more often this time of year.

Check your spool tension knob. I had the same issue with my curado dc as I tried setting it up like my Daiwa reels instead of reading the instructions and setting it up correctly. Once I had the spool tension adjusted correctly the issue went away and I've had no further problems with it.

Yo-zuri hybrid is buy one get one free as well.

I used to use the double uni due to it being so easy to tie, but after getting some rods with micro guides I hated how much the knot banged when casting. A buddy in the local kayak fishing club I'm in showed me the "Shin Fukae" knot and that's all I've used since. Much thinner than the double uni, easy to tie and have had no break offs.

I made my first order with them Monday, order was shipped Tuesday and should arrive tomorrow.

I ordered a rod from them around Christmas time when they were running a 20% off sale and had no issue. Would order again with no hesitation. And yes they have been sold, I believe twice now if I remember correct and are now based out of Ohio.