10,000 lakes Bassin

It’s gonna be a loooong 3 1/2 months. I sure think it’s silly that we still have a closed season at all, just set a catch and release only period from ice out to June 1st if you want to protect spawning fish.

Something to match whatever they are eating. Siebert outdoors makes some killer jigs, and in about any color you could want. I'm curios why not? Have you not had good luck pitching? or would you just rather swim a jig instead?

One time I skipped a bladed jig and it got wrapped around the dock railing like 500 times. I couldn’t unwrap it because it was way too shallow for the boat, and I didn’t want to pull break the knot to risk it flying back and breaking the boathouse window behind it, so I had to leave it and cut off about 50 yards of line. That’s about the only time I’ve changed line on the water 🤣

okay thank you. For some reason I was thinking that reel was only for heavy punching and stuff. If the HD has brass gears, a better handle, better looking paint, the same casting distance and is only slightly more $ why are people buy standard zillions?

Not like BFS light, something like vision 110 jr. will the stock spool handle that?

I haven't pulled the trigger on a Zillion HD because for some reason there is a hang up in my brain when I hear the Heavy Duty and I don't think it will cast lighter baits well. Others on this forum have said that this isn't an issue but I'm still worried about it for some reason...

Good to know!

Ok perfect! A little deeper spool is good. I’ll grab one of them and see how I like it compared to a Zillion HD.

Thanks, does the met 100 have a 100 size spool, and the regular JDM have a 70 size?

So the JDM has a lower line capacity? Does it hold enough 17lb fluoro to use it as a bladed jig reel?

So the only difference is the warranty, not like the USDM zillion that has brass gears?

I've never owned a Metanium, but before I go all out on buying Zillions I figured I should try one out to see how I like it. Looking on Digitaka they have the Met 20 for about $250. On Tackle Warehouse they have the Met B for $450. What's the difference between these two? looks like they both have an MGL III spool, so what's the $200 gap in price? I'm also curious about the Met 100 they have on Digitaka, and how it compares to the other two. Finally, should I hold off to get anything because Shimano has a bunch of new stuff coming out this year? Thanks everyone.

Any suggestions for a rod for 3/4-1.25oz bladed jigs and 1oz swimjigs? Ideally under $350.

Get on the water more, and start local tournaments.

Curious what you don’t like about Expride and St. Croix rods?

Thanks. If anything it might be even softer than the NRX because it’s made out of a cheaper blank? This would be even better with braid I would think.

I’ve been looking at this rod also, in the imx pro line. @FishTank would you still recommend this rod if I was planning to use 30lb braid to a leader for chatterbaits and spinnerbaits? I’ve got nothing wrong with fluoro but I like braid more.

I think you’re suffering from success! I wish I had enough expensive gear that people would get jealous of my collection!

Oh I understand now, your saying that if I throw crankbaits on a chatterbait rod with enough backbone to drive in a jig hook, it will handle a crankbait similar to how my MH/F did, and I’ll not have good luck. Sorry I wasn’t following there for a second. Thanks!

low hookset average? I'm not exactly sure what you mean. I haven't handled that specific rod yet, but depending on how much backbone it has id throw a standard jig on it if I didn't have a chatter bait tied on.

Thanks. Yeah I understand that crankbaits and chatterbaits are very different, but from what ive heard some people will go for a slower for bladed jig rod being that they are a moving bait. (not saying that this is the "right" rod for bladed jigs). I was wondering if a slightly slower taper like the imx pro 883 bjr would work okay for the occasional times I'd throw a mid depth crankbait.

This is definitely something I'll consider being that I don't fish deep cranks much, and I need a swim bait rod. @Dwight Hottle You don't have issues throwing 1/2oz crankbaits on a rod with a minimum rating of 1oz? If a swim bait rod is what I used for 1/2oz and up, what would you recommend for 3/8 to 1/2oz? I'm not a big crankbait guy like I said, so could I just throw them on the IMX pro 883 BRJ that I'm planning on getting for my chatterbait rod? I know that this would not be ideal and less moderate that you would probably want but in a pinch it might be okay?

I am by no means a big crankbait fisherman, to be honest my crankbait box is normally the last one that comes out on a rough day on the water. But one of my best days came from throwing a crankbait on a lake where I didn’t know there was a crankbait bite to be had. I was throwing them on a 7’3 MH/F with braid, and as you can imagine I landed only ~50% of my fish. I’ve been shopping for a crankbait rod to throw stuff from a DT6 to a 6XD, figuring that I’ll need a whole different set up for deep divers, and that I could throw small squarebills on the 6’10 medium I use for jerkbaits. Would this be the way you’d go about it? If so what rod would you recommend? I was looking at the Shimano zodius 7’6 medium heavy moderate, Shimano poison Adrena glass 7’2 MH on sale at tackle warehouse for $250, and a couple of the dobyns champion XP rods. I also saw @A-Jay review the St croix legend tournament 7’4 medium heavy moderate, but that’s a bit more than I’d like to spend. Thanks everyone.

Looks like a little more than once in a while! 😄 Nice ones! How heavy was the one on the measuring tape? That fish had plenty to eat!!

Thank you! Is this also the rod you use for bladed jigs and spinner bait?