1 hour ago, RichF said:

Didn't get to do a ton of fishing this year so my purchases reflected that.  Got a St. Croix Legend Tournament, Legend Glass, and few other odds and ends not pictured as well.  I just got the Bantam from Japan Lure Shop.  Such a sweet little reel. hopefully I get a chance to use it in  a couple weeks.

Gotta love the JLS 'free gift'.  Shipping usually costs less than the vision 110 he sends you.  Is the Metanium smooth?  I've read mixed feelings about it.  

10 hours ago, KP Duty said:

Gotta love the JLS 'free gift'.  Shipping usually costs less than the vision 110 he sends you.  Is the Metanium smooth?  I've read mixed feelings about it. 

My first Vision! Pretty exciting!  And yes, the Met is really smooth! I like it a lot but I think I might like the Bantam more. Such a great feeling platform, these reels.

Parents gave out the Yule gifts early - so I've already started this year's buying spree.

 

Don't have it in hand, but it's been ordered...snipped from the confirmation e-mail.

 

Haven't posted lately, but the Spotted Tackle Monkey has been on a tear.   To be honest I'm exhausted researching and trying to figure out how to best fill holes and arrange a "starting lineup" since I started back fishing heavy.       

 

The stuff I get from JDM, or Digitaka.....basically the reels, perfect.   No headaches, no QC control issues, just amazing products.   At this point I've gone full Japanese monkey if it's an option.  

 

On the other hand I fell in love in with a small rod builder Alpha Angler with their Chatterbound rod purchase about a month ago.    They are a QC nightmare after buying an additional two rods, only one of which I'm going to keep and sadly am moving on.    So many things I loved about their company and rods, but they seem to be having problems building a consistent product.   That said, their bladed jig rod, and big swimbait rod tailored for hard baits with trebles have a magic in them when it comes to pinning fish I've never had in rods before.     Maybe one day I can re visit them.   

 

Most recent Digitaka order.....a Zillion TW HD 1000H, and a Jackall Gantarel in Ghost Gill, and a Jackall Chibitarel in Spawn Gill.    These are the most beautiful baits I've ever laid eyes on.  

 

Got a really pretty 6th Sense Trace last week that was the prettiest.....big swimbaits are really cool baits lol 

30 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Haven't posted lately, but the Spotted Tackle Monkey has been on a tear.   To be honest I'm exhausted researching and trying to figure out how to best fill holes and arrange a "starting lineup" since I started back fishing heavy.       

 

The stuff I get from JDM, or Digitaka.....basically the reels, perfect.   No headaches, no QC control issues, just amazing products.   At this point I've gone full Japanese monkey if it's an option.  

 

On the other hand I fell in love in with a small rod builder Alpha Angler with their Chatterbound rod purchase about a month ago.    They are a QC nightmare after buying an additional two rods, only one of which I'm going to keep and sadly am moving on.    So many things I loved about their company and rods, but they seem to be having problems building a consistent product.   That said, their bladed jig rod, and big swimbait rod tailored for hard baits with trebles have a magic in them when it comes to pinning fish I've never had in rods before.     Maybe one day I can re visit them.   

 

Most recent Digitaka order.....a Zillion TW HD 1000H, and a Jackall Gantarel in Ghost Gill, and a Jackall Chibitarel in Spawn Gill.    These are the most beautiful baits I've ever laid eyes on.  

 

Got a really pretty 6th Sense Trace last week that was the prettiest.....big swimbaits are really cool baits lol 

In terms of ergonomics ,palming and overall size,  which Shimano reel is comparable to that Zillion? From the pic it looks a little on the wide side, but i'm interested to see what actual owners of the reel have to say. I'm pretty much a Shimano guy, but I am open to adding more Daiwa reels to the line up.

19 minutes ago, SproDD79 said:

In terms of ergonomics ,palming and overall size,  which Shimano reel is comparable to that Zillion? From the pic it looks a little on the wide side, but i'm interested to see what actual owners of the reel have to say. I'm pretty much a Shimano guy, but I am open to adding more Daiwa reels to the line up.

I don't own any new Shimano reels, but it's the same size to the naked eye as the Zillion SV TW, and not that much bigger than OG BFS Steez model.   

 

These Zillions are much more ergo, palm and weight friendly verses my last older Shimano still in the lineup....a Calais 100.    

 

I really like both companies, and they are the only companies I look at for reels, but these Zillions are really amazing reels.    Lot of performance for the money.    The SV TW is the most user friendly, smooth, overall just awesome baitcaster I could imagine for it's current price at Digitaka.   I just love it.   

1 hour ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Jackall Chibitarel

Oh... I like that thing.

8 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

I don't own any new Shimano reels, but it's the same size to the naked eye as the Zillion SV TW, and not that much bigger than OG BFS Steez model.   

 

These Zillions are much more ergo, palm and weight friendly verses my last older Shimano still in the lineup....a Calais 100.    

 

I really like both companies, and they are the only companies I look at for reels, but these Zillions are really amazing reels.    Lot of performance for the money.    The SV TW is the most user friendly, smooth, overall just awesome baitcaster I could imagine for it's current price at Digitaka.   I just love it.   

I may just have to pick one up.Thank you.

Emergency order from Japan. 

A few months ago, picked up a closeout prop-tail shrimp plug in 2 colors to round out a line, leader and lure order from Plat.jp. 

In a recent week of coast kayak fishing, the Sunrise color was my best Sunrise topwater plug, taking both speckled trout and my 24" trip-fish redfish. 

But fumbling both trebles from the mouth of the next red, lost the lure from my snap into the bay. 

Every place I checked was OOS, but I went back to Plat and got the last 3 Sunrise on closeout, and added a black dark. 

Ahhh.  

Threw in the reel stand / hook keeper for my buddy who set us up in his travel trailer

On 10/31/2022 at 9:51 PM, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Most recent Digitaka order.....a Zillion TW HD 1000H,

What an absolute pleasure to fish with. I bought two, and I'll tell ya, if I were starting over, this reel would be on all my moving bait rods with the exception of finesse stuff. I like my MGL 70's for those. Not super small, but very comfortable, long casting, not the least bit finicky to adjust, and butter smooth. LOVE those handle knobs, wish all my reels had 'em.

13 minutes ago, T-Billy said:

What an absolute pleasure to fish with. I bought two, and I'll tell ya, if I were starting over, this reel would be on all my moving bait rods with the exception of finesse stuff. I like my MGL 70's for those. Not super small, but very comfortable, long casting, not the least bit finicky to adjust, and butter smooth. LOVE those handle knobs, wish all my reels had 'em.

Yeah these Zillions are ruining me because of how user friendly they are.    Never had reels even come close to being this easy to setup.   I love high end Shimano reels, but I hate how un user friendly they are.  Also, the smoothest reels I've ever owned by a significant margin.  Clicker drag is another killer aspect to them.    The TW HD's handle is truly awesome.   Daiwa killed it on these reels all the way around.    Everybody who gets one says the same things.   

 

The SV TW for $230 or whatever is still the best deal in premium fishing kit imho.  They need to put a metal drag star on it like the TW HD...only thing that gripes me.   

 

 

My Digitaka order has arrived.

Ordered Mon @4PM arrived today at 12:30

I love Digitaka a little too much, they need to screw something up before they end up with all my money ?

35 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

I love Digitaka a little too much, they need to screw something up before they end up with all my money ?

Amen Brother. I've only placed three orders with 'em, but all three have arrived within 3 or 4 business days. Lots of sellers here in the USA don't get me my stuff that fast.

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

My Digitaka order has arrived.

Ordered Mon @4PM arrived today at 12:30

That’s a good price! Just looked it up. Most models are out of stock. Let me know what you think of it when you get to use it. Might be placing an order. Being retired on a fixed income plus having just bought a travel trailer and paying for one of our pups to have surgery has left me more budget conscious than anticipated. ?

2 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

   I love high end Shimano reels, but I hate how un user friendly they are. 

Agreed. I don't have any high end, but my curados and scorpions will launch a bait. Your thumb better be paying attention, and your casting technique better be on point though. No herky jerky allowed or you'll have a mess on your hands. 

11 minutes ago, sdw215 said:

That’s a good price! Just looked it up. Most models are out of stock. Let me know what you think of it when you get to use it. Might be placing an order. Being retired on a fixed income plus having just bought a travel trailer and paying for one of our pups to have surgery has left me more budget conscious than anticipated. ?

It'll be next spring before I get it out on the water...but bench-testing - I'd put it above my Supreme. Very smooth, lube-job seems set right out of the box  unlike the Pfluegers that I seem to always have to flush and re-grease/oil when new.

 

I like the fact that the JDM version is available in the 5.0 gear ratio for 29IPT vs the USDM at 6.2 and 36IPT....I don't need a reel that fast.

23 minutes ago, sdw215 said:

That’s a good price! Just looked it up. Most models are out of stock. Let me know what you think of it when you get to use it. Might be placing an order. Being retired on a fixed income plus having just bought a travel trailer and paying for one of our pups to have surgery has left me more budget conscious than anticipated. ?

Hope the pupper is pulling through, vet bills can be super stressful given they pop up randomly.

 

Bait Monkey takes backseat to the Pupper Monkey ?

Agreed! Wife had to take him back due to complications so no telling what will happen next.

On 10/29/2022 at 8:14 PM, RichF said:

Didn't get to do a ton of fishing this year so my purchases reflected that.  Got a St. Croix Legend Tournament, Legend Glass, and few other odds and ends not pictured as well.  I just got the Bantam from Japan Lure Shop.  Such a sweet little reel. hopefully I get a chance to use it in  a couple weeks.

They just clipped me for a fuzz over $300.  I couldn't believe all the stuff I got. I also ordered a Daiwa Tatula 80 for a buddy of mine...... $106. Still mystified.  Nice haul though.

 

I have a Met as well.  It has become my favorite jig reel ever. 

2 hours ago, sdw215 said:

Agreed! Wife had to take him back due to complications so no telling what will happen next.

?? For your pup. All you guys are killing me when I see the deals everybody is grabbing ?.  I’m still paying for a dumb move I made that shall never be spoken of again, the bait monkey is so mad he won’t even speak to me?

2 hours ago, sdw215 said:

Agreed! Wife had to take him back due to complications so no telling what will happen next.

As Eric said, prayers for your dog.    Our animals in many ways are far better than we are as humans.  

Well a small bit of stuff from me again.

1 spro rock  crawler 55 in cell mate

1 spro little John 50md in cellmate 

1 spro little John 50 md in bluegrass craw

 

I have been wanting to try some spro cranks, I guess I just finally got around to buying some. I need to work on cranking, drop shot, spinner baits this coming year is my goal.

 

this tax season I plan on putting some electronics on my kayak, I will definitely drop some money there. I am not really into fish finders, have always done good without them. I mainly want to just know the cover that’s in the lakes I fish and the depth and contours. This should be the next step to improving my efficiency and knowledge. I will probably do livescope more than likely.

After pouring over the digitaka website I’m wearing a bib. Too much drooling and it’s embarrassing for a 66 year old youngster. They really seem to work harder to beat local prices and their shipping is phenomenal. My daughter asked me for ideas for Christmas so I’m bookmarking pages now. ?

1 hour ago, sdw215 said:

After pouring over the digitaka website I’m wearing a bib. Too much drooling and it’s embarrassing for a 66 year old youngster.

I hear you there - I turn 63 later this month and it has me like a 2-year old screaming "I WANT IT!"