MediumMouthBass

Berkley is owned by PureFishing. Same with Abu, Fenwick, etc etc.... Ive made several orders from them, takes awhile to get orders out. The savings ive gotten from ordering through them make up for it.

The XT and SLX MGL frames are standard 100 size. Same as the regular SLX. The only reel comparable to the SLX MGL is the Zillion from Japan. And the Tatula SV TW. Both Daiwas are also about $50-80 more. (depending on currency and sales) I have several dozen casting reels from all the major brands, to me nothing comes close to the SLX MGL 70, not the Zillion, definitely not the subpar Tatula SV thats also $60 more MSRP.... The Tatula SV and Zillion are the only reels in that same category the SLX MGL is that i own, if my Zillion performed like everyone elses it would be a 50/50 tie between the two. But i just love the size and color of the MGL more. And the Zillion has difficulties casting light lures far, the MGL embraces it and casts a mile. The Tatula SV is really the closest option, (especially in frame size) and was my first choice. Its a nice reel, i paid $100 for it new. Id be very upset if i paid the $210 MSRP. Its no where near the Zillion or SLX MGL, still a nice reel, just not for what its priced for. The Zillion from Japan is a great option if you want a multi purpose high quality reel, but if you want to fish lighter stuff like weightless soft plastics, think a senko. Then add another $30-50 for an aftermarket spool. MGL is ready to go out the box. Me too, i only buy when theres a sale. Last year they cleared out last gen SLX MGL 70s for $100, that was the time to buy. The new ones are $150 and with holiday sales you might be able to get one for around $120 give or take. I only buy reels if i can get them between 30-50% off or more. The SLX MGL (last gen) is the only reel i would ever pay MSRP for. Check JDM prices on all reels.

Throw it on really thick mono that floats well. It wont dive further than a wake bait then.

Ill be the one to say it. #1. You will never get better at casting if you buy a reel that does it for you. And you wont learn. #2 Because of this you will limit yourself to only certain reels. #3. You will always be learning and working on your casting no matter how good you are, even the pros practice after decades (and they are better than most of us), because like any sport, hobby, etc, they still arent good enough. Because theres always going to be something to be improved. An SV reel wont teach you how to cast, will it be a great experience? Yeah. If you want to learn and learn quick, go the opposite way. Get the cheapest piece of junk for sale. Within a month-3 youll be able to cast anything but an old school Ambassadeur, but thats for another time. And a SV spool isnt game changing either, it still requires a thumb. Atleast mine do? Or they backlash the same as every other reel.

Not really. I used a 6'6" MH spinning rod for years when fishing for creek trout, lake bluegills, and ned rigs/paddle tails for largemouth. Worked fine, the key is to make sure it can load the weight and cast it. If it can load the rod and fling it out there its good to fish. However if you are using very light weight stuff and it doesnt work, then maybe use it for jerkbaits. (since that rod would fit the need for it perfectly)

Strike King 2.5 wake bait is alright, but i prefer Strike King Hybrid Hunter on really thick mono instead. The Fishlab Bioshad wake baits are my favorite, theres a small one and a giant one that requires my swimbait rod. Small one works great on regular casting gear.

If they weigh the same, id rather a longer bass every time. PB has two meanings, weight and length. Well atleast for panfish and trout the length applies. Bass for me is the same. I still remember when i first started bass fishing my PB bass was 19", had no clue about weight back then.

Megabass is 90% marketing. They make a fortune by doing limited release special color runs, among marketing themselves as a premium brand, hence the prices of their products. Having a bunch of guys from shops, or youtube channels to praise the brand constantly, definitely helps them. But their free publicity is there real money maker, think of all the guys on here and elsewhere who arent paid to promote their brand, but do. You pay them $25, and then work for them afterwards as a unpaid salesman for them. Its genius. But unlike every brand that does this with their company, brand, etc, their products actually work. And work better than anything else on the market in that lure category. Are they worth the steep price they cost? To me no way, id rather buy 3-6 jerkbaits from other brands for the same price as there 1, the bass i fish for have no issue with the cheap Strike Kings, Berkley Stunnas, Rapalas, or Lucky Crafts. They are feeding for SURVIVAL, they arent inspecting every millimeter of a lure, and thinking "i dont know if this lure is expensive enough for me to bite it". Nor has a bass ever called me poor and told me if i spent more money it wouldve bit. But if it gives you confidence and you have the money to afford them, or to afford replacing them if you fish pike/pickerel waters then thats all that matters. And for many this is the case, it is a high quality, fish catching gamechanger lure for some, or a dud for others. They really alienated a big portion of bass fishermen with their line of jerkbaits though, when you get off this forum and go to the real world, most guys dont have endless budgets, bass boats, and thousands into rods and reels. Most people that fish would never spend $15 on a Jack Hammer, let alone a $25 jerkbait. It would be interesting if they every released a value line, i think their brand would get even bigger then.

I have only broken 3 rods fishing my whole life, almost 2 decades. 1 by stepping on it with boots, 2 by slamming them in the truck bed. The 2 Daiwas only need the tip replaced however so not exactly broken.... I dont think rods will break while fishing them unless high sticking them at a steep angle with alot of pressure being applied at that time, or theres a rod defect and the pressure causes it to snap. Rods made recently though are a different story, cheap parts, cheap quality, 0 quality control. A few brands are having this happen more than others, but nothing is built like it once was....

Sales this year were meh at most. And not just for fishing gear. However i did get a Lews LFS for $22.50 new. But all the places ive ordered from hundreds of times only had 20% off at most. Which is still considered MSRP to me. No thanks.

As a person with many paddle kayaks and a boat with just a basic trolling motor/outboard too, having spot lock would be a dream. Speed means nothing, and i have a kayak thats meant for speed (not a fishing kayak sadly). Whats the advantage of getting from point A to B fast, just to get blown to point C in 20 seconds?

Picked up a Lews LFS reel for $25 including tax at my local DSG. LH and RH are insanely cheap for all retrieves, but its pickup in store only. No shipping. Ranges from $22-38. Lews TP1X rods are also around $30-40, but again only whats left in stock at a store.

I only have SLX's from Shimano, so to me as a Daiwa and Lews user a 150 is a swimbait or punching reel. Arent Shimanos 150's Daiwas 100's? The SLX 70 is great for any lure where long casts arent needed, most versatile and nicest reel i have. And since its still the same size as the other SLX's it fits my hands. The new Tatulas from Japan i think are around $100, Zillions $200, etc... Both have great reviews. And the Zillion is considered by most the best reel you can get. Almost any higher priced reel from Shimano or Daiwa will do anything (except the BFS reels, cause you know they are for BFS). For the baits you mentioned any reel will work, its all about your preferences on color, grips, etc, and your budget. For me thought 100 is the standard. Multi purpose. 150 swimbaits under 2oz, flipping, frogging. 200 swimbaits under 3oz. 300 swimbaits under 5oz I dont use 70 sized reels, too small and my hands cramp (again why i like the SLX 70 MGL since its a regular SLX frame). But since Shimanos weird i think 150 is 100 and 200 is 150? Or something like that.

If the modern day man was sent back in time decades, hundreds, or thousands of years the human race would be extinct. Weve been eating fish for survival since our existence. Hunting, fishing, and gardening are the only reasons we are alive today. Yet we have turned all 3 into hobbies, and forgot how much we need them. And now people are against gardening in your yards, hunting, and eating fish. What a time. Point is bass are food, they arent going to go extinct if a few are eaten. And for the original topic, selective harvest is the best way to improve any fish population. Too many fish (doesnt even matter the species) results in poor fishing. Too little fish results in poor fishing.

The places i fish have a grass/slime/junk mixture. Anything with bulk brings back tons of it, even on a t rigged creature bait there will be inches of slime hanging off it. Ive tried various jigs, nothing works. Its just a mess that looks like a swamp creature. So ill just go over to the part of the lake thats rock bottom, or cleaner atleast and fish them. Is the entire lake you fish covered in grass?

Theres been a few people who have fished jerkbaits on cranking rods, while it isnt the best for their action they didnt loose as many fish. Which is why they switched. Some people also like using Chatterbaits on them as well, and smaller line thru treble hook swimbaits. But probably the most lures used that arent cranks are going to be treble hooked topwaters.

I spent years just fishing 2-3 rods for everything. Then spent alot of money on technique specific gear, and had 6-8 combos on the kayak. Im now back to just using 2-3 main rods for everything. Its simple, effective, and a jack of all trades kind of thing. It works for me and it seems its working for you.

Shorter kayaks turn faster, and maneuver better as well. River kayaks may be something to look at. Take your weight, your gears weight, and the kayak you are interested in's weight and add it up. Ex, a RVR 115 has a 425lb weight capacity, your weight + 15lbs of gear +85lb kayak comes out to 350. So pay attention to their weight capacity to find out if what you are looking at is too much or not enough for what you need. Hull design is a crucial part too, speed, stability, maneuvering, and even getting or not getting blown around by the wind is all from this design. I personally dont like Old Towns (paddle), they are nice kayaks especially for fishing and i have one. The things are built like tanks, heavy, wide, and slow. Super stable though, but again way to slow and heavy for my liking. But if you are looking at a peddle drive they are fantastic for the price, even better used (just make sure everything is working). Probably the 10'6" would be something you may be interested in. The Crescent Shoalie is another option, out of the 3 i have this is my favorite and the only one i feel like was made for me. its not too heavy (but still no where near as light as a canoe or cheaper kayak). Its 11'10, fantastic handling, corners great, speed isnt as fast as my Light Tackle, but its miles above the Old Town, stability is odd. Its still very stable but more so has alot of play in it (its a river kayak). Bonafide has several good kayaks on the market too. As well as Nucanoe, but they are more like skinny boats.

Ark has a small one that dives shallow. Strike King has the Hybrid Hunter JR. 13 Fishing Warthog 60. These are good around wood and grass, dont dive farther than 4ft. Have some really good colors too. Theres a ton of others though from Berkley and Strike King that i also have but cant remember their names since i dont use them.

I would have the entire car inspected thoroughly before making that decision. Most vehicles ive been around have had or needed engines replaced before at or after 100k. But these are mostly performance cars, and driven hard. Then the idiots who use cheap oil in them also plays a factor too. Although ive seen alot of regular commuter cars need new engines as well. You can spend $15k on a used car, but within a few months might need to replace that transmission also, or more. Buying used cars today is like ice fishing on a half inch of ice on a warm day. You know how your car was taken care of, that its got minimal rust, and just redid the suspension, so maybe spending some money on it will be worth it. It all depends on how much the quote costs, and what you can replace it with. Then your return comes in to play, you spend x now and with the miles going up higher and higher you might not even make a small fraction of it back.... You can take a car worth 10k, add 10k worth of work to it. Its still a car worth 10k. But add 100000 more miles, its worth 3k. Theres alot of factors, and things to think about.

Their QC has taken a hit, like every brand nowadays. Myself and several others had brand new Elite Evo chatterbaits come out of the box with the ring opened and the blade can be pulled right off.... Some of them in stores you can see it with it still in the box. Cant really blame them though, as long as they take care of their customers and make it right is all that matters. Let us know how that goes.

I dont. It feels so odd, and i dont have as much control over the rod. I will use tungsten weights and occasionally braid for line, that gives me all i need for feeling bites. Personally i think it matters as much as wearing certain color shoes will help me catch bigger bass, but if it gives you more confidence thats all that matters. And keep doing it. But for the hookset part, i definitely think it does impact it. The second or 2 it takes to move your finger back to the rod and rip the rod to set the hook is enough time for a bass to spit a bait out.

I love the military, but the their firearms training isnt as great as Hollywood makes it out to be. I have seen over and over again numerous civilians handle guns better as well as shoot better time and time again. Now units with more money and dedicated training (SOF) yeah they will be some of the best shooters on the planet. But thats a small fraction of the military. Most MOS or rates are support, staff, etc, what they do is still very important but more than likely they will never need firearms training more than what they had in basic. And what they had in basic is just that, basic. I understand your point about recoil, best thing to do would be dry fire. After doing it alot theres less flinch, and fear of it. Also helps a great deal with accuracy. And saves alot of money on ammo costs too. I dont understand why so many underestimate women, and think they are fragile and unable to handle recoil. I met a woman once who carried 2 1911's in 45acp. Of course she worked at the range, but still. What she carried packed more punch than what most men carry, just times 2.

Nice Legion! I get a laugh out of guys asking what guns to buy for their wives. Most women are more than capable of handling recoil, and honestly recoil for most guns is nothing. They arent short barrel 308's.... The military has standard issued sidearms, regardless of the soldier, sailor, airmen, etc's gender. The best picks for carry (for men and women) are S&W Shields (if older the EZ models are great), Sig p365, XL, and even the Macro, slim line Glocks like the 43x and 48, Walther PDP F, Glock 19. Theres a ton of other options too, but these are the most known. Best thing to do for your wife is to learn about carry laws, along with taking carry classes. Plus range time and a good holster, not the one from Amazon for $15.

The bigger the kayak, the harder it is to maneuver, and the slower it goes. But maybe you want stability over speed/handling. Maybe not. Theres alot of preferences that make up a kayak purchase. Fill out a list of exactly what you want the kayak to do and go from there. Every kayak gets blown around, hull design may reduce it but it wont eliminate it. I bought a new Lite Tackle, after 2 months i bought a new Shoalie to replace it, and gave the Lite Tackle to my mom. I thought it was enough for what i needed, but after a few trips on the water i realized it had more speed than i needed, and not enough stability. It didnt have enough space to hold lures and tackle bags either. When im on the Shoalie it feels like it was made for me. Several of us went through a few or a few dozen kayaks to find the one for us. Again write down everything you need and want, then go to the dealer and see which one checks all the boxes.