JN94

I appreciate your insight. I agree with you 100% on the Dragger taper. Looking at it originally I didn't think it would have any issues fishing jigs, t-rigs, etc. but maybe it is just a hair slow for those applications. I was actually throwing 5" paddletails on an exposed hook jighead with it last time I was out, which makes the losing fishing thing that much more confusing. I hooked 4 fish, two got off within a few seconds of hookset, one made it in no issue, and one popped off as I was pulling him out of the water. Drag set properly, keeping tension on line, not horsing fish etc. I will continue to play with it and try some different techniques. I love the feel of the rod so will definitely do what I can to keep it in the lineup

Talking 3/8-1/2 total, so I think the LMH is more up my alley. Throwing squarebills, 1/4oz jigs + plastic, topwaters, etc. All top out around 1/2oz or so I considered the FJ actually not too long ago. I think you and I had talked about it previously actually. I ended up buying a 6'10" Poison Adrena that I'm still trying to figure out if I like it or not. It's super light and comfortable to fish but I do prefer cork handles to the carbon monocoque. I also feel like the Adrena is maybe just a hair heavier than what I'm looking for. Doesn't feel like it casts ~3/8-7/16 quite as well as I'd like. I didn't go with the FJ bc I was concerned it was too moderate of an action. I own a Cara Dragger 1 and have had some issues sticking fish and it's rated as a fast compared to FJ's mod fast. Really strange, can't figure that one out. I have a Dobyns Sierra which is a similar taper (maybe even a hair slower) and have stuck tons of fish on it with no issue. Could have just been a bad stretch of luck on the Dragger. I need to do some more experimenting with it but had the majority of my fish pop off when I last took it out. Didn't have that issue with my faster tapering Zodias/Exprides. Likely user error

What do you not like about it specifically? Is it too moderate?

Looking at buying a Kistler Helium, specifically the 6'9" light medium heavy. They have it rated for 3/16-5/8 oz lures, which is pretty much perfect for what I'm looking for (throwing 3/8-1/2 oz lures total weight for smallmouth creek fishing). I've never owned a Kistler or held one so I've got a few questions. Are their action ratings pretty accurate in your experience? I've found that I like a slightly thinner grip than what some manufacturers offer (Dobyns for example, does their grips just a hair too thick for my liking. I really like Shimano's grips that are just a little thinner). Can anyone comment on Kistler's grip size? Also any general thoughts, comments about your experience with Kistler rods I'd love to know. They seem to get awesome reviews from other posts I've searched. Most of my rods currently are Dobyns and Shimanos, but also have experience with Falcon and a few St Croixs if that helps from a comparison perspective. And if anyone owns this specific rod, would love to hear your thoughts on it Edit: Just noticed, these rods are on sale for $257 right now on Kistler's website. They retail for $400. I've heard Kistler's are on sale constantly. Is this as good of a deal as I can find? Or are there better ones out there?

Looks sexy

I used the double uni for a while but never had any issues with knot damage. I ran most of my leaders in the 4-6' range. I now run the FG with 8-10' leaders and also have zero issues with knot damage. I also don't throw super heavy lures though across the board, which I've been told has a drastic effect on how much punishment your knot takes coming through the guides

Hmm. Well I guess I somehow missed that they did have it on there ??. Surely that's not all they're bringing with the K going on sale. If so, that's pretty disappointing. I wanted to pick up the new L!

I saw on Shimano's IG someone commented saying bassmaster spoiled their new products. Mentioned poison Ultima and a new stradic specifically. I just now went on BM and didn't see anything. Is this what you're referring to?

I've done this on all my plugs and will never go back. I run just a single rear inline on my crankbaits. Hook up and landing ratio is great

Those rods look sooooo ugly

Shorter rod for sure with working a frog. 8' is pretty unwieldy imo, and 7'6" is long for a frog rod as is. Especially if you're only fishing muskie a few times a year

I don't have a need for anything super heavy where I fish so the highest my rods are rated is up to 1oz. For my Shimano rods, that's a MH. I have a Falcon that they rate as a heavy that is rated for the same weight range. I feel like outside of the extremes (big swimbaits, a-rig, punching, etc), I can do pretty much everything needed with a rod rated up to 1oz. Especially with braid

Maybe they felt their new product lineup was a little underwhelming (I would agree) and didn't want to get overshadowed icast week when everyone else was announcing their new stuff. Sounds like Shimano is about to roll out a bunch of new stuff

What have y'all found to be the easiest/best way to sell your used rods? I have sold one rod before on eBay and it was a nightmare to ship. Only certain carriers would take it due to its size and the shipping cost was nearly as much as I sold the rod for. Do y'all sell them locally? Post on Facebook groups? Sell to online retailers (American Legacy, etc)? Any help would be appreciated. I've collected quite a few rods over the years now that I have no use for and would like to recoup some money and put it towards new gear that will get used

Z-man hook looks awesome!

I too only fish baitcasters and go 30lb braid so I don't get any line dig. Would for sure go lighter if line dig wasn't a thing. Always run a fluoro/mono leader

I'm in Tennessee and fish creeks and rivers for smallmouth exclusively. Throw a lot of walking topwaters, squarebills, 3-4" paddletails, finesse jigs (swim and pitching), Ned rigs, mini max chatterbaits. Occasionally will throw flukes and drag football heads with small creatures

I throw a lot of paddletails. For jigheads with exposed hooks, I use a M power fast action up to 3/0 in size. Mostly throw 2/0 though. Those are for 3-4" paddletails and 1/8-1/4 in head weight. For 4-5" paddletails, I step up to a MH F. Generally using 3/16-3/8 head weights and 4/0-5/0 hooks. I also tend to throw any EWG hooks on the MH setup, just due to the additional power needed for hookset versus an exposed hook. At the moment I'm using a Poison Adrena 6'10" Med Fast and a Zodias 6'10" MH Fast for these, but specific rods are interchangeable as long as they have similar ratings Edit: I also fish braid to leader

Zodias or Expride 7'2 MH fit that range and are the two I use for jigs/t-rigs. I also have a falcon cara dragger 1 that I like. I do prefer both the expride and Zodias to it however

What prominent lure will they rip off next? So far they've done the chatterbait, vision 110, magdraft, and whopper plopper. R&D team hard at work waiting on other companies to make new stuff they can steal ?

I think met outcasts the Curado by a hair but it's pretty negligible imo I'm aware of JDM and own a few JDM reels. They have small changes to their reels that I don't like (smaller handles, smaller knobs, aluminum gears, etc) so I don't buy them anymore

I love my BFS setup. Use it regularly. I also hate spinning gear though. I would recommend giving it a go if you're interested and just seeing what you think about it.

I own both and honestly would go Curado. I absolutely love mine. I also love my Metanium, but I don't think it's $200+ better. I likely won't buy another Metanium, but will buy more Curados.

Great to know. Exactly the info I'm looking for. Thanks!

Interesting. I've fished heavy wire hooks on medium powered rods for years and never once felt like I didn't have enough power. Keep in mind a heavy wire 2/0 and 3/0 are not super thick. In particular the 2/0s. I also do absurd Bill Dance hooksets and fish braid though. So may have something to do with it ?. Glad to hear Zodias is treating you well!