Bigbox99

1st gen Steez Skyray

If you are a scent believer then these baits are worth a look. Most scents on baits are there to mask the scent of the plastisol so anglers will buy them. It's why the scent disburses in the air and can be picked up by the human nose. That scent is there for us. Any scent made for fish will dissolve in water and release over time from the bait. You look at that maxscent baits and they are made from a spongey plastic that is saturated with a Gulp like liquid scent. They really seem to be taking the scent thing seriously. I don't use them often but I can acknowledge their effort. I use non serious Monster Java scented SK plastics alot like the caffeine shad, whatever my JDM plastics smell like and whatever anise is supposed to be.

Highly unlikely. It almost 100% some operation making cheap look alikes with a cheaper brittle plastic and without the fancy weight transfer systems that use a magnet or soft tungsten ball. If you get one with a weight transfer it will be a steel ball rolling around inside the bait. You're better off just buying a Bearking jerkbait from Aliexpress for a few bucks than trying to buy a bunch of blanks to paint to save money. You should paint baits because you want to because you enjoy it or have a super special color you can only get by painting it yourself. https://www.aliexpress.com/store/1102515286?

Probably a Zillion SV, Zillion HD or Megabass IP/Zillion J Dream. I have to be able to skip a weightless 5" senko and cast multi oz swimbaits on one reel. I own those 3 and they all can do it.

Its the same size as the Curado 70. The Curado is the export market Scorpion.

In the spirit of blue Tatulas its worth adding that there is a PE special last gen Tatula 100 reel also with hyperdrive gears for $200. The Saltist 100 PE Special. When I saw this in 2023 I assumed the hyperdrive gears were referencing the Saltist 80 SV but after seeing this Tatula X with them I checked back on the Saltist 100 PE Special and it has the same hyperdrive marking on the handle side plate. There is also the 80 SV, 150 and 300 Saltist PE Special if anyone is interested.

"Graphite" or "carbon" reels are actually plastic. They are made from graphite powder reinforced polymer and everyone conveniently omits polymer part. The video below tests various cast carbon methods including a carbon fiber reinforced polymer, Onyx, that is identical to what "carbon fiber" fishing reels are made from. Keep in mind this video shows cast carbon which is inferior to carbon fiber construction using layers of carbon cloth sandwiched into a form which is what we associate with things like carbon fiber fishing rods, reel handles, bike frames ect. A simple analog using wood would be: Plywood = layers of carbon fiber cloth Chip board = cast carbon fiber MDF = carbon fiber reinforced polymer

Both the Magforce Z and SV versions have hyperdrive gears according to the "hyperdrive" written on the handle side plate.

Counter point: track down a racing design or real control in Japan if you want a steez rod with AGS guides. Also, do your homework on AGS guides 1st since you won't be able to rely on a US warranty to replace them of you break them. You are going to have to know if those guides and how you handle rods are compatible.

Maybe it does have a deeper 34mm spool. The TW pics seem to suggest a 34mm spool. This would give the reel the similar capacity to the Tatula 100 but maybe a bit more with the smaller arbor. It looks like it will have similar capacity to the deep 34mm SV spool found in the Coastal 150 SV and Tatula 150 SV. I wonder if this is even the right reel pictured on Daiwa US's site? That pic clearly shows a smaller diameter spool (note the flat spot area in the frame above the spool rim. You see this with reels designed for a bigger spool are fitted with a smaller one). Also the presence of the line on the middle of the spool you only see with SV spools indicates this is not the same reel that is on TW. This looks like a SV version of the reel. I'm guessing a non Boost SV variant will be released along side this new Tatula at some point maybe at $199 MSRP.

It looks like it has a 32mm spool like the Tatula SV so its capacity should be well below a Tatula 150 with its old wide spool 34mm or current gen narrow 36mm spool. Never trust the stated line capacities of reels. They are always made up garbage numbers.

What's the topwater king these days? Is the Otomat is still highly regarded as the best? https://jdmfishing.com/vault/f4-5-71x-otomat-2019/

You want the 610M. The MH is a brute that won't even load with 3/8 oz. The MH is the $50 jig, frog and punching stick. That tip is super stiff and slow loading like something off an XH swimbait rod. Awesome hook setting power for 1/2 oz jigs, frogs and punching but far from an all arounder. Even if it is too stiff for what you are looking for, get it anyways and use it as your heavy powered rod. It's great for $50. I have a 1st gen silver blank MH and it has a frog tied on right now.

Interesting. Thats a last get Tatula 100. I thought they were killing off that platform but it looks like they are going to keep it along side the new one. I wonder if we'll get a cheaper Fuego too or if they won't bother?

There is the new Tatula 150/200.

The Shimano seem to like to put thinner knobs on reels like the Aldebaran and Metanium and save the big chunky knobs for the Bantam. I've wondered why this is and assume it has something to do with offering more feel. Not so much to offer more feel of the inner workings of the reel but I assume it is to get more sensitivity and feel of the bait. The USDM Shimanos get the big chunky knobs on basically everything because we'll complain otherwise and bigger knob = more gooder in the US market. Even Daiwa did it with their Zaion flat knobs for their finesse reels and tiny cylindrical alloy finesse knobs have been a thing for ages when modding a finesse reel like an old Aldebaran or Pixy/Alphas. There is something here the Japanese understand with feel and finesse knobs that's completely lost on the US bass fishing scene.

I love a good period correct pairing like that. Especially when the rod and reel are immaculate and the reel is tuned up a bit with period parts. The closest I have this this thing. An old Megabass Destroyer with a lefty flipping frame TD-X. A keen eye will notice the Tatula spool tension cap but it looks like a period acorn style clicking knob and that's good enough for me.

You can also just hook the bait to the frame if the 1st guide.

Lol with my truck with a 5.5 foot bed I put my tailgate down with the kayak stern to the back of the bed and run a single ratchet strap across the kayak from the two rear tie downs in the bed. The strap runs in front of the front seat posts behind the side handles. Tightening the strap drives the kayak back and down into the bed. I also have mine in the bed instead of on top like that. If I want to put it on top of something I car top like this. Even in the shortbus I can put it in the back with the tailgate down and it doesn't stick out that much.

Bass smell the water so I am quick to believe that any scent that we can smell in the air is ment to catch us more so than the fish. I imagine any scent for a fishing lure designed to be effecrive at disbursing in water would be water soluble and release over time and probably smell like nothing to us using our noses taking in air. Something like a gulp fluid or those pastes you ooze out a glob onto a bait.

What a treat. It's like someone stuck in a time bubble from 1990 somehow gained asscess to the internet and then made a post about shimano reels. Very wholesome.

Take this back. I thought the Lews was the last gen LFS. Either way it will be perfectly functional bass fishing reel for $60.

Also a depth finder. I don't use one on mine but there is a dedicated recessed pocket to mount a transducer.

A long paddle. It's a tall ride. It's a good stable kayak that is easy to transport because of how light it is. Durable too. I've been draggling mine across rip rap and boat ramps for 5 years. I'm only now getting to the point that I want to flip my skeg/rear keel guards around and go another 5 years before replacing them. It's a barge to paddle and very slow but it's an awesome bass fishing platform for a kayak with that high seat and low sides. Pitching seated is surprisingly easy.

That has me sold. I witnessed this earlier in the season when a song bird had fallen in the water. I saved it with my paddle and saw that a huge bass was shadowing it ready to take it.