Banned User

Thanks for the feedback yall, I'll add that I was standing both times. I think standing also made me let up on the hook set a little early so I wouldn't tip, which I definitely almost did a couple times. Wind blew me sideways and I was looking for cover/beds. @Choporoz @Functional what is your whole set up using light wire hooks? Why not use braid with heavier hooks?

What are your thoughts on mono with single hook baits from a kayak? I lost a few good size bass with awkward hook sets from awkward angles on the kayak. 12# Big Game on a 7'3 MHF rod, with a spinnerbait. Idk if it was the distance and the mono, or just generally the awkward angle or maybe I didn't reel down first. I expect that 12# Yo-Zuri Hybrid will be a little more firm on the hook set, but maybe I just need to remember to reel down first? Thoughts? Tips?

Keep me posted on the build bro, components and performance of finished product...

I'm feeling a lot better about having this blank in my basement waiting for a build, gonna make it my BFS build

So they just skipped spawn and went right to.post spawn thus year huh,hate when they do that

I haven't even seen more than like 5 beds over the span of 3 waterbodied - if they spawned already they did it sneaky and deep

Makes me question all my recent tackle purchases

6 hours last night from multiple banks from about 8:30p-2:30a. 2 dinks on a chatterbait. Saw a couple small bass on what looked like prepared beds or borrowed sunfish beds. They were afraid of everything I threw at them. Scattered immediately and would barely come back to check out my lure. Brutal But I did see a couple big snapping turtles and some monster Carp - had to be at least 36 inches. Now I'm looking into Carp fishing haha I hate that I moved to the North Shore

Alright man, I'm gonna put some more time in to do some casting battles. You ever do a side by side between reels all else being the same? I do sometimes, maybe I just should always haha

I had the line wrapped around the spool multiple times before tying it on, there's no way it could be the line. I appreciate all your input I pit 12#Big game on my Zillion sv tw and my Elite. I brought them to a spot that has a bouy marker a ways out from the dock, about a max cast distance give or take. I casted the same lure on the same rod with the same line, the only variable being the reels. I did this for about an hour and. Half switching back and forth. I used a half ounce buzzbait as the test, since this is literally the sole purpose I purchased the Elite for. I used a 7ft MH MF rod (feels a bit more Medium MF) to compare. [I also casted the Elite a bit on a 7'6 HF and it did get more distance in general, but I never tried the zillion on it because I ran out of time] On the 7ft MHMF rod - Without a trailer, the zillion got about the same distance as the Elite, but with a bit more control. With a trailer they both casted close to the same distance, but when everything went smoothly the Elite did gain about 5-7ft. The Elite had to stay at around an 8 and have some occasional fluff on a crosswind, there were a few manageable nests as I flirted with the break limits. The zillion had significantly less nests when skirting that absolute bottom break setting. Zillion stayed around 6/7 on the dial I'm gonna go back when I can to try them both in the 7'6. The Elite got about 10 ft average more on that rod. @FryDog62 it could certainly be me, but I'm wondering if it's just the nature of a buzzbait catching wind that is limiting the Elite. You throw bareback buzzbait with the Elite? You ever do a side by side with your Elite and Zillion? I'm tempted to compare other lures, but like I said - the buzzbait was literally my motivation for the purchase.

@FryDog62 also, you ever have any drag slippage? Was adjusting my drag and it just kept pulling even as I tightened it. Each time I thumbed and reelednor tugged it slipped, even though it shoulda been pretty tight. Also, I'm gonna try some 50# braid with a 40# diameter and hopefully that helps with my fluffy snap offs

North shore dam or south shore?

Which spools and where'd you get'em? @FryDog62 what line are you using in the Elite? I snapped of a brand new one of a k8nd custom spinnerbait tonight in 30# PowerPro with my Elite. Took me by surprise, didn't really huk it, but maybe I lifted my thumb just a tad too much? Idk, the Elite is definitely a fluffy reel

What part of MA? I feel like most of the north shore us still waiting to warm up. Was thinking of trying some smaller bodies of water that might have warmed a little quicker

@Sputterbug she's a fatty! What did she hit?

Interesting, I'd imagine a buzzbait requiring higher braking than a swim jig. I was chuckin a giant blade 1/2 oz spinnerbait on 7 today, basically no wind. The Elite handled it well, 30 pound PowerPro on a 7' MHXF. I also threw a half ounce giant blade bladed jig on my Zillion. It freakinzingedthedangthing! I think it was on 5/6 This had 50# Sufix 832 on a 7' MMF. The rod feels whimpy with lures that big, but it's just what I had at the ready. From out the box you ever adjust the tension?

What weights you throwing? I brought it down to about 5/6 for 1/2 chatterbait @wonkyrig what do you mean "bogged down"? You can feel a .374 oz difference between them? Thanks for the input yall

If you wanna cover your spread cop a medium light spinning set up or a medium fast casting set up. Hit that finesse bite with the spinning set up or some lighter not quite finesse with the casting set up. Could even do some light cranking on the medium using mono. I would use mono leader, that little extra gice can make allnthe difference.

I want to throw some black plastics, but I'm looking to be versatile in my purchases. Could I Sharpie a lighter swimbait or fluke black and have it last long enough to be effective?

What are next week's holidays?

I caught Get Bit gouging once, they raised their price for a rod building kit by like 150 bucks, then advertised like $50 off or something for black Friday. I got it on sale for half of the new sale price, blew my mind. I had purchased the exact same kit like 2_3 weeks prior and was shopping for my next build. I called them out and after they said they'd look into it they just went ghost. I've never ordered from them again

Great thread bro, keep it coming. I'm considering a Rodgeeks, Eternity, or Point Blank build later in the year. I still can't figure out if I prefer extra fast but slightly lighter power, or slower but slightly more powerful blanks for most techniques. You ever build on NFC?

You didn't even answer the question, so common knowledge meaning what? Was that rhetorical or just a flippant comment Spence? @corey90 I don't have direct experience, but I've researched and asked this question myself. My understanding is that C4 would be more like an SJ style from other manufacturers (typically on the faster side) and B4 would be more like a MagBass style (little more give in the tip but a little more umph in the butt).

Ya know bro you were one of the driving forces for me to pull the trigger, I remember you talking the Elite up quite a bit. I did feel it casted quite a distance, did fluff a bit, and then I I really wanted to test it so I swung for the fences and nested - snapped my braid. But, I think if I didn't go for the green monsta the fluff had been manageable. @FryDog62 what settings Do you think it shines on? I already tightened up the zero adjuster a bit, it arrived pretty sloppy.

We're those digitaka or AE? You've had good luck with name brand stuff on AE?