5 minutes ago, NorthernBasser said:

No, these aren't the same US $500+ Exsence you're thinking of. If so the $240 they're listed at on Digitaka (and the $180 he paid) would be a CRAZY steal and I'd buy 10 of them. Lol.

Ya, there's a difference - Magnesium frame on the base Exsence, CI4 frame on those.

 

Though the 'more expensive' one is only $343 on Digitaka.

1 hour ago, KP Duty said:

Here are 2 colors of the OSP 110 that I think will get struck...

 

This dude needs help so badly ?

 

Also, will you adopt me? 

7 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Ya, there's a difference - Magnesium frame on the base Exsence, CI4 frame on those.

 

Though the 'more expensive' one is only $343 on Digitaka.

Right. The one he got is $233 right now on Digitaka. From everything I could find a while back the 18 Exsence CI4+ is very similar to the old Stradic CI4+.

Some more random colors of roboworms and some hooks and a sleeper gill.

I found a MegaBass Levante locally for 200, so even with BF sales I doubt I find one any cheaper.   I had to finally get a rod for the new Certate.   The combo is almost to pretty to fish with ?

 

@AlabamaSpothunter I agree that is one awesome looking combo ?. Can’t wait to see/read how it does on your beloved spots. 

5 minutes ago, Eric 26 said:

@AlabamaSpothunter I agree that is one awesome looking combo ?. Can’t wait to see/read how it does on your beloved spots. 

Thanks Eric!   You nailed it, this one is for targeting Spots.    

 

About to spool 8lb Invizx on it.    Bought some Real Magic with the line hoping it makes the Fluorocarbon play nicer with the spinning reel.  

 

 

8 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Bought some Real Magic with the line hoping it makes the Fluorocarbon play nicer with the spinning reel.  

Return that for a refund and get KVD instead...that's the only thing I use, and it makes InvizX 8# behave itself on spinning reels.

10 hours ago, NorthernBasser said:

Beautiful reels. Are these pretty much the Stradic CI4+?

I'm sure it's similar to the stradic, with a couple more bearings (9+1).  I'm happy that they are smooth, and that I couldn't get the stem to flex at all, so I doubt a bass can.  I'm going to pick up an abu Veritas 6'6" MH mod-fast for jerkbaits to pair the low gear model with.  

20 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Return that for a refund and get KVD instead...that's the only thing I use, and it makes InvizX 8# behave itself on spinning reels.

I second that. Get the KVD line conditioner. It works. 

This Invizx is easily the most manageable flouro I've used to date......lays better on the reel than mono seemingly.   

 

14 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

This Invizx is easily the most manageable flouro I've used to date......lays better on the reel than mono seemingly.   

 

I'm a Sniper guy myself but I been wanting to try Invizx just to compare. Maybe I'll spool a few reels this year with it. 

26 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

This Invizx is easily the most manageable flouro I've used to date......lays better on the reel than mono seemingly.   

 

I got gifted a spool of Tatsu 15#, put it on my bottom contact rig. That stuff is even better than InvizX for manageability - that's comparing it to 12# InvizX. Yes, KVD on that too - only line in my arsenal that doesn't get KVD is braid.

12 minutes ago, NorthernBasser said:

I'm a Sniper guy myself but I been wanting to try Invizx just to compare. Maybe I'll spool a few reels this year with it. 

Haha, I went with the intention to buy Sniper because I've been wanting to try it, but they only had it in 10.  

 

For heavy stuff I really like the P Line Ultimate Fluorocarbon and likely won't go away from that.   But I love trying all these other highly touted brands.     FC Sniper and Invizx are the two I hear the most love for.   

1 minute ago, MN Fisher said:

I got gifted a spool of Tatsu 15#, put it on my bottom contact rig. That stuff is even better than InvizX for manageability - that's comparing it to 12# InvizX. Yes, KVD on that too - only line in my arsenal that doesn't get KVD is braid.

Never tried it, but I always read and hear it's the king of fluorocarbon lines.   So expensive in a class of already expensive lines though.    

1 minute ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Never tried it, but I always read and hear it's the king of fluorocarbon lines.   So expensive in a class of already expensive lines though.    

If I didn't already have spools of InvizX in the #-tests I wanted - I'd pick up some Tatsu...you can find it for decent prices occasionally...like what InvizX's retail norm is.

1 minute ago, MN Fisher said:

If I didn't already have spools of InvizX in the #-tests I wanted - I'd pick up some Tatsu...you can find it for decent prices occasionally...like what InvizX's retail norm is.

I think I recall you talking how JDM spinning reels are preferable to US ones because of lower capacities.....would agree 100%.   Unlike most of my baitcasters that I can get two refills in a standard spool, this new reel still holds 150m of #8.    The spools come in 183m.    So now this leftover spool is leader material lol.     $25 to spool up a reel essentially.   

4 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

I think I recall you talking how JDM spinning reels are preferable to US ones because of lower capacities

Not just capacity - but retrieve rate as well. The Miravel 2500 I got from Digitaka has a 29IPT, the USDM version has a 36IPT.

 

I also back all my reels with cheap mono...spinning reels get Zebco Cajun 6#, enough so that I only put 60-70 yds of mainline on...that's 3 fills per 200yd spool of FC.

2 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Not just capacity - but retrieve rate as well. The Miravel 2500 I got from Digitaka has a 29IPT, the USDM version has a 36IPT.

 

I also back all my reels with cheap mono...spinning reels get Zebco Cajun 6#, enough so that I only put 60-70 yds of mainline on...that's 3 fills per 200yd spool of FC.

Nice that's what I'll do next time, drop 50 yds of cheap backing on it.   

3 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Nice that's what I'll do next time, drop 50 yds of cheap backing on it.   

To expand on @MN Fisher's advice, I do this to really optimize the spool of line, especially pricey fluoro:

 

With a 200 yd spool, walk off, or measure off, 65 yards or whatever you like, then mark it and rewind it back on to the filler spool. A cordless drill gun and a nut-bolt for an arbor works well here.

 

Now tie your mainline to the spool, wind the line on up to your mark, then cut it. Make a connection knot to your backing, then wind it on until the spool is filled. Use a spare filler spool and the cordless drill/nut-bolt arbor trick and remove all the line from the spool. You'll need another filler spool to reverse the line onto one more time so that the backing can be tied to the arbor. Do that, then wind the line onto the spool. This isn't as laborious as it sounds, and you'll have 3 fills of mainline from one 200 yard spool plus a bit of leader material left over to play with if you like. This isn't only for spinning reels. My bait casters with plastic/fluoro mainline get the same treatment.

 

Personally I use braid for backer because I got a 1500 yard spool of Okuma 50 lb 8 strand for peanuts.

1 minute ago, PhishLI said:

To expand on @MN Fisher's advice, I do this to really optimize the spool of line, especially pricey fluoro:
(and other stuff)

I basically do the same - but with a line-counter and spool to the reel. Mainline first...measured with the counter...then the backing to fill. De-spool to an empty, transfer to second empty to reverse, then spool up the reel.

 

Easy-peasy.

11 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

I basically do the same - but with a line-counter

Always meant to get me one of those gizmos, but I'm kinda thrifty.

5 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Nice that's what I'll do next time, drop 50 yds of cheap backing on it.   

I have a giant roll of cheap 12 lb mono I use for backer on all my reels. I don't like fishing a reel that is half full so it makes sense to keep a full spool and not waste good line.

Received my lightning rod from pure fishing ($39/clearance).  It's a 6ft M.  Should be an awesome jerkbait and topwater rod...wish I'd have purchased 2.

 

My next two Victorys are here.

 

Made an offer for $75. Doesn't look like it's been used to me. Clean on the inside but a little dry. I'm going to pick up a 7'3" MH/F Daiwa Aird-X for it.