Camelback

There are a few schools of thought with bladed jig fishing. One is rod type (graphite vs glass vs composite), another is action (fast vs mod fast), another is line type and another still is reel speed. I honestly really struggled when I used braid to FC on a composite mod/fast with a 7.1:1 gear ratio reel. I was working it too fast. I switched to all FC and a 6.x:1 gear ratio and have done so much better. For me, my fishing style (i.e. I am spacing out during some of the casts), using a 7.1:1 gear ratio made my mindless winding go too fast and the braid to FC, with it's limited stretch likely was ripping the lure out of grass too much. So your experience will vary, as well the day, the time of year, what you are fishing, etc. I really like my 6.x:1 gear ratio and using straight FC. You may have better focus than I do and can ensure that you are reeling slow enough to just keep the blade moving just barely.

Not sure on Daiwa specifically, but I know they raised prices here. I will say Digitaka started to implement a surcharge on top of the tariffs - presumably for fuel costs. Conversely, the yen is at like all time lows against the dollar so that helps offset any price increase otherwise.

As my buying pattern would have it, I had shipments this week from USPS (Ground Advantage), FedEx (2 day), UPS and Amazon. Every single one was delayed beyond the initial estimated date (after it started moving). Ground Advantage is the worst offender, but the others aren’t spectacular either.

The 3 exprides I have cover what you’re looking at. I have the 72ML 610MSB and 610MHSB. For what you’re looking to do, yes those are the correct. I use my 72ML as more of a threaded drop shot. It’s the most sensitive rod i own to where even bluegill pecking feel like a 4 pounder. I got the 610 vs 72 solid tip because I liked the idea of having a shorter rod to flick a minnow out there. I don’t regret that at all. If I had to do it all over again, I’m not sure I would have 2 of 3 nicest rods I own be specialized. Don’t get me wrong, they have been great. I would encourage you to start with the non solid tip first and try minnow shaking on that one. It will get you 90% of the way there. And you can decide from there.

I watched this a few months ago, Drew Gill seemed adamant that while it interests bass enough to eat it. They only do it once. That was enough for me to resist the monkey for now. I don’t need a pile of $15 soft plastics that won’t work in a year.

Believe he means instead of an O-Ring on the worm (not on the hook)

Finally had a productive trip north and was able to get a new PB for myself, 5-02 and my dad 5-11 as well. Wish we would have spent more time there. Already looking at 2027!

Reviving this old thread for a similar issue. With FFS in general you want to head into the wind for boat control. I find that trying to throw a vision 110 into the wind on 12lb FC even with a good rod and reel I either blow up the spool by having the breaks too loose or can't cast very far because the lure either dies in the wind or is short and curves off. Is this operator error or any tips anyone can offer?

I ordered a Stradic April 8th and it didn't require a signature. I ordered two more with their sale and it says it required a signature, so I diverted it to a FedEx print and ship location so I could pickup without delay. I wonder if it's a total price

Looks like there’s a bit of an “oops” sale at FishUSA currently. the new 2026 zodias is listed for $259-$279 msrp but is listed for $219-$229, so about 15% off. They charge a $5 surcharge for a rod shipment though + sales tax.

I’m sure you’re right. Never shipped one. I was being hyperbolic. My point is, Scheel’s took $600 in losses in damages because they didn’t use a tube and are now surcharging - somewhat selectively I may add, because the mega bass spinning rod didn’t surcharge for it.

Before the price increase in the Expride, I bought one from Scheel's last fall. There was no shipping surcharge at the time and it arrived as an unintentional 2 piece because of how it was packed. They were apologetic and said they would ship this one correctly and very quickly sent me another one, packaged the same way - which was 2 rectangular boxes taped together. That also had the tip snapped off by the time it arrived. They gladly would have kept doing that until I depleted every single Expride they had or one finally arrived without breaking - but I decided to spare them and just had them refund me. So my hope would be for a $20 surcharge they send it in a $1.40 shipping tube.

From the best I have been able to figure out, the only spinning rod the JDM market has is the 2610M-S, which I believe is the same as the EXS610MSB here. I've asked the vendors (JDM Tackle and Digitaka) and neither seem to know what I'm referring to. Curious if anyone has explored the same thing and if there is the EXS610MHSB available in a JDM version. Even with tariffs, the weak yen still makes this attractive enough to consider giving up the Shimano warranty.

Pretty sure. I tried the reel on the fury when it worked better

Here’s my situation - I have 7’1” MH Mojo Bass that for whatever reason I really struggle to cast anything with. I was messing around pitching a 1/4 oz and 3/8 oz d bomb and couldn’t get anything further than 10-15’ and it’s really hard for me to load the tip right to roll cast accurately. I tried it on a 7’3 dobyns fury heavy and it was so much easier, but that’s my spinnerbait rod so it’s kind of spoke for already. I have an expride spinning rod which I love, so I’m stuck between buying another Dobyns (likely champion) or 7’2” expride MH. But the expride 7’2” MH is rated for 3/8-1oz (which is what the mojo bass is rated for that I’m struggling to pitch with).

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Several things to try next time.

I am relatively new to bass fishing and still trying to learn a lot of what I don't know. I am in Central Ohio and generally speaking the lakes around here are chocolate milk and are extremely woody, and not dense in vegetation. I meet my old man in the finger lakes and in Canada (glacial lakes), which have minimal structure (comparatively) and a ton of weeds. I fished Conesus Lake over the weekend and couldn't crack the code. They weren't really sitting on docks (not that skipping is a particular strong suit of mine) and the weed edges were incredibly thick hydrilla, some patches with snotgrass mixed in, others without. The grass was about 8-12" from the top of surface and fishing a bladed jig through it was extremely difficult because it would get hung regularly. Any sort of finesse presentation would as well. I tried fishing a 1/2 oz jig through it, but didn't truly commit to it long enough. It was also very windy, so visually trying to see holes or changes was difficult. Also tried a fluke over the top, but not sure that was the right idea because if they get it on the "pause", the 2-3 seconds was enough time for it to get deep in as well. I tried flipping a 3/16oz creature bait as well (and this is a "me" problem), but I really struggle to flip lighter lures without backlashing. Does anyone have any recommendations they can share on how I can be more effective?