Kasrkin

Yeah, maybe I am weird. It’s a “feel” thing. the Bantam on the other hand, feels like a Brock Lesnar handshake.

I bought several 80s and 100s for around $100 shipped from Japan in 2024. There is a seller on eBay that has 80s in 6:1 for $119.99. The 80 is an absolute gem of a reel. Solid, tiny, huge spool capacity for such a small reel, and it launches light baits a country mile. The SLX and Curados are good reels, but feel plasticky and cheap to me. There are better more solid options for the price.

I’m the complete opposite haha. I don’t like cork grips.

I usually take out the side plate, grease the gears, and put a drop of oil on all the bearings.

I haven’t seen any videos breaking down this lineup. Is anyone fishing these?

The entire Tatula XT line is outstanding. Light, sensitive and tough. The only 2 exceptions would be the 7’3”H and 7’6”H models, which are too tip heavy for my liking. I own 5 XT sticks and use them interchangeably with my Rebs. The glass XTs are the real darlings of the line up. Incredibly light for a composite rod.

Every 3 months or so. I like fresh line.

What I wanna know is if we’ll ever get those new black label rods in the US. 6’3” frog rod. Sign me up.

I got my Zillion HD around a year ago for $275. For the money it’s hard to beat. the mag-z boost on that reel is my absolute favorite braking system ever. I hear the Bantam is pretty good too. But I just don’t like the flapper brakes

Pitching a 3/16oz t-rig on a flipping stick and big line with a big straight tail worm is hard to beat for me. least favorite: weightless anything. Flukes, senkos, etc. Don’t have the patience.

Zillion HD

The tatula 80 is an incredible reel for $120. It launches baits a country mile. I would pick it over the 70

I used to use KVD LC on fluorocarbon. I stopped using it some time ago and see no difference in line management.

I don’t ever want to fish a really nice rod, because I’m afraid I might like it. Most all my rods are under $200. I spend premium on reels, but rods I bang up too much to shell out $1000 for a rod that I’m gonna snap in half with my fat foot.

I think it all comes down to personal preference. I couldn’t really tell a difference in sensitivity with Sniper, but I also don’t own any high end rods or finesse fish. I live in 15lb-20lb FC 90% of the time

Another vote for Sunline Supernatural. It is cheap, thin and high quality. Just for comparison, the 25lb supernatural has the same diameter of 20lb Invisx. love the 25lb for topwater

Tatsu is a great line but super stretchy. I ran it for a while alongside Invizx but just couldnt get used to the stretch, so I moved on. I prefer stiffer lines.

I tested over two non-contiguous days on 200+ fish days. Water clarity was pretty high. 2 rods with same bait, same rod, same reel, only variable was line. 30 minute intervals back to back. Lines were 16lb Sniper and 30lb power pro on the two rods. Bait was a Zoom Junebug Speedworm, with 3/16oz tungsten weight and 4/0 WRM956. I averaged between 15-20 fish per 30 minute period with FC. And around 5-10 fish with braid. Then I tied on a 7’ FC leader to the braid and so no discernible improvement from straight braid. It is important to notice that a speed worm is a moving bait. So it might have not been so much the visibility of the line, as much as the sound of the braid cutting water that might have had an effect. If there was any bias on my non-scientific testing, it was favorable to braid. As I wholeheartedly wanted braid to win. I’m an engineer and had to do this test for ME. Results may vary for other people in other parts of the country, so I encourage people to test this out in their own waters.

South Florida guy here: Sunline Sniper FC in 90% of my rods. FX2 for frogs and Supernatural for topwater. I A-B tested straight fluorocarbon vs braid, and fluorocarbon got me considerably more bites when I tested. Hated the results of my test because I was hoping I could run straight braid. So now braid is more of niche line for me, and most of my rods get fluorocarbons. zillions and Tatulas, no spinning in my boat.

I’ve been using Sunline Supernatural in 25# for topwaters and it’s awesome. It’s thinner than all other monofilaments and thinner than most fluorocarbons. It’s strong and supple. I've used 12#, 16# and 25# and they are all great. If you like Armilo, Supernatural and Machinegun Cast are the closest you’ll get. i would stay away from Trilene. Their line diameters are ridiculous

Don’t overlook ALX rods. They make a lot of technique specific rods. The Zolo Toadface is a very popular stick. i have a tournament buddy that has the entire lineup and loves them.

It’s possible. It’s definitely one of those deals where it makes me question my sanity. Because I’ve been fishing FC Sniper for a while, and I know what the line feels like. And it feels different. The 20# does too. The 16# I have to retie so much, because it’s abrading so quickly.

It’s happening to me on a 660yard spool of 16# FC Sniper. I am pretty sure Sunline switched resin vendors in 2024. The line feels different.

2022 Zillion TW HD is the answer. This is one of the greatest bass reels ever made, and quite possibly the greatest baitcaster of all time, depending on who you ask. Deeper spool, casts a country mile, 100mm handle and brass gearing. It’s the perfect reel for you. $290.05 shipped to your door in 4 days from Digitaka.

Gamakatsu uses a softer steel that some of the higher end competition. In return, the hooks are more prone to bending and deformation, and have a tougher time holding an edge. I’ve used their entire line-up for decades, and was always bending hooks on light line (16lb and under). Which forced me to go to Superline for finesse applications. I didn’t realize until I started using good quality hooks like Hayabusa and Ryugi, that their medium gage hooks hold up as good as Gamakatsu’s super line. Now, I can flip on 20# fluoro with WRM956 and never bend a hook, where I was bending Gamakatsus all the time. i’ll step up to WRM959 for 65# braid or heavier flipping applications.