10,000 lakes Bassin

I got out for another long day today on a different lake. Biggest went 18.5” and just shy of 4.5lbs. Also got a 31” pike that gave a good fight.

Let us know how it treats you!

Ive been waiting for it for over six months! 😃

I went out for 10 hours and caught a 20” prespawn female that weighed 5.2lbs as well as some 4lb fish in the 18” range and lots of smaller ones. Great day on the water. Water temps 55-60 degrees.

I’ve always been the type to keep my soft swimbaits in their original clamshells but at this point ive got so many keitechs, swammer, and other clamshell swimbaits that it’s taking up too much space. I’m thinking about throwing them all in a 3700 box. I’m wondering if I can mix and match different brands in the same box and separate them with the dividers or if that wouldnt be enough and the different plastics would react to each other.

You’re going to make me buy more tackle….

I think @softwateronly said something very similar to this in a different post. How big does a bait have to be and how small does a bait have to be in your experience?

12-20ft is crazy to me, not saying I disagree but ive just never heard anyone say they spawn past that 10 or12 foot range. Lots of lakes around here have water visibly 8-15ft so from what you’ve seen they could spawn almost anywhere. Im also interested in what you were talking about water temp/time of year for the spawn. With ice half the year and warm water in the summer everyone has talked about a quick, less dragged out spawn in the north. You’re saying that there might be more to this?

How deep of water are you referring to?

I hope to hit a couple smaller lakes on the weekend and a bigger lake sometime during the week when there’s less traffic. It seems like we’re getting our July weather in mid may. The ice just came out a few weeks ago so I was hoping to get in on some early prespawn but with the weather like it is I bet we missed out on most if not all of that.

What size EWG do you run for the 7” version?

I picked up one of these locally on sale for $30. It was the model that came with cull tags too. I just looked on TW and it doesn’t have the best reviews. Curious if anyone has used this scale.

Huh I wonder if it will hold more memory then, I might try winding it back onto the spool.

Thanks! After I fish it a bit any of the tiny memory left over should go away? If I did something like let out my line behind the boat going at a slow speed and then reel it back in would that make sure it wasn’t an issue?

Using new braid and not paying attention I just spooled some suffix 131 the wrong way on a couple of casting reels, with the spool vertical and the braid coming out of the bottom of the spool. I was always under the impression that it didn’t matter which way you spooled braid because it has no memory but after looking online it seems like everyone says it does matter which direction braid goes on. I’m also wondering if the 131 will have more memory because of its sinking design and g core fiber? Not exactly sure what I should do now. Wrap the line back on the spool the way it came off and then flip the spool over and put it back on the reel?

Ive heard lots about that bait. How does it walk in a little bit of wind? Ive heard that it’s more of a glass water bait.

I got the Zillion 7’2 yesterday. It feels really nice and it balanced about 1.5in above the locknut with an empty JDM zillion. One thing I am concerned about is the size of the guides. I noticed right away that they looked small compared to my tatula elite 7’3 multi purpose that this rod is replacing. I’m worried that they won’t be able to cast a leader knot well especially with heavy line. 40lb braid to 20lb fluoro is what I’m going to use. Tatula elite (non ags) 7’3 on the left and a zillion 7’2 on the right

Anyone know if this will be an issue? I’m not sure the exact size of the guides and if they would be a problem. Like I said 40lb braid to 20lb fluoro is what I run.

Warmer water/time of year. Basically 55 or colder it’s a dead action for me. Anything warmer and it’s something with some kick. Rage plastics are winners for a more lively trailer.

My 7’2 H showed up in the mail today. My first impressions are somewhat mixed. The rod seems awesome but the first thing I noticed was the size of the guides. Im not sure how small a guide has to be to be considered a micro guide but I’m set on running 40lb braid to 20lb fluoro ( FG knot) and I’m not sure how these guides will work. Zillion 7’2 on the right, tatula elite non AGS 7’3 multi purpose ( my former jig rod) on the left.

I’m excited for it too! I know it’s a crime to not put a zillion reel on it but I’ll see what it balances better with, a met 100 or a JDM zillion sv tw. Like I say it will probably have a 1/2-3/4 oz pitching jig, swim jig or t-rig on it most of the time but with its bit slower action it might open it up to some other stuff too. Curious to try a 6in magdraft. Maybe a 3/4oz bladed jig.

The zillion 7’2 is in the mail.

I was able to find the Omnia rod bending for both the Steez and the Zillion 7’2H From this the zillion looks a good bit softer almost to the point where I’m wondering how well it will pop jigs through grass and if it will be able to drive in a heavy wire 3/4oz jig hook on a long cast. This is pretty much on par with what I’ve heard about the Zillion line in general. Slower tapers than other Diawa lines. Here’s the Steez: And here’s the Zillion: I know that a test like this definitely isn’t perfect but from watching the videos (Texas rig rod bending and jig rod bending part 1) I think you can get a decent idea of the action overall. I do think it’s important to mention that 2 different guys were bending the rods, and that the guy bending the Zillion was a good bit taller do he could probably get more leverage from that angle. He was also using both hands on the rod unlike the guy bending the Steez.

@Kevhead19 I’m curious if you’ve fish any Expride rods and if so how you’d compare the sensitivity of the zillion.

That sucks to hear. Hearing you say that there’s little to no noticeable difference between it and the Steez makes me excited to pick one up. I really hope it’s a power pitch action for $200 less.