13 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Somehow the bait monkey found out that I've started collecting SSBs.

I've been doing pretty good keeping it on the down low,

but I think he hired a Private detective monkey to take a deep dive into my finances.

Either way, he finally nailed me . . . 

 

Daiwa Tatula MQ LT Spinning Reel 3000D-CXH   Qty: 3

St. Croix Avid Series Spinning Rod 7' Medium   Qty: 3

Tackle Warehouse Spinning Rod Sleeve Black Qty: 3

FREE Tackle Warehouse Sticker Orders Over $50   Qty: 1 $0.00

Seaguar Smackdown Braid Stealth Gray 15lb 150yd   Qty: 3

 

At least he got me next day air shipping, 

A-Jay

How do you like the Smackdown? I finally started setting up my spinning reels with braid now instead of just fluoro. 

45 minutes ago, Texas Flood said:

How do you like the Smackdown? I finally started setting up my spinning reels with braid now instead of just fluoro. 

Have a great history with Sufix 832 on spinning gear.

Tried Smackdown a couple of years ago and I really like it as well.

Especially in the lightest tests - it's 'softer' than 832.

Have it on good authority @Dwight Hottle that the Sufix 131 is very good,

although I have yet to make that jump.

A-Jay

Stopped at Farm and Fleet and picked up this reel for my number 3 Musky/Bass Swimbait rod. Nothing special but it should get the job done. 

Went to Walmart to get candy for kids basket and I made a pit stop at fishing section, To get some cranks and garlic(they are hard to deliver).

I picked up another Prorex rod. This one makes #6. I've been very impressed with them so far. Went with the 9'5" XXH this time around for throwing big rubber and big blades. I swore when I started this muskie thing that there was no way I was gonna be throwing pounders, but... here we are. Sorry tendinitis afflicted elbows and old broken wrists. We're all just gonna have to put our big girl panties on and suck it up together.

 

 

On 3/28/2024 at 12:21 PM, A-Jay said:

Have a great history with Sufix 832 on spinning gear.

Tried Smackdown a couple of years ago and I really like it as well.

Especially in the lightest tests - it's 'softer' than 832.

Have it on good authority @Dwight Hottle that the Sufix 131 is very good,

although I have yet to make that jump.

A-Jay

I'll second Dwight on that one A-Jay. 131 is super smooth, and handles great. Not sure it's worth the $$$ though. Fins XS comes pretty close to it performance wise IMO, at a price I like a lot better. Fins is made in the U.S.A.

Edit to add: Fins Infinity is also outstanding. It's colorfast black, and also very smooth 8 strand. It's more supple than the XS Big Game. 

Been eyeing a Vanquish for years after reading so many great reviews, and when Amazon Japan had it $100 less than everyone else I couldn't pass it up. Putting it on an NRX 822SYR for microjigs and light shakey heads.

 

Also had to pick up some tackle from Omnia's recent sale.

 

 

13 hours ago, NorcalBassin said:

 

Also had to pick up some tackle from Omnia's recent sale

 

What is that creep 65 lure? Looks like a soft plastic? How do you fish it? (I use hard baits and stick baits almost exclusively) You've piqued my interest with that unique one. 😄

23 minutes ago, IcatchDinks said:

What is that creep 65 lure? Looks like a soft plastic? How do you fish it? (I use hard baits and stick baits almost exclusively) You've piqued my interest with that unique one. 😄

It's also from Beast Coast - a good size up from the (personal favorite) Miyagi

Was in the market for a new scale, and saw that Academy is running a promo on their H2OX lures, buy 4 or more and get 25% off. Picked up an extra chrome jerkbait, a walking bait that was posted in the Found Lures thread had my interest piqued so I snagged one, then a few squarebills. Also time to respool so I picked up some Seaguar Basix to try out; never been a fluoro guy aside from leader material so we'll see.

 

 

Also saw Academy has a bladed Alabama Rig under their H2OX line now, but I can't find it on the website so it must be pretty new. Only 10 bucks, I was tempted but A-rigs from the bank sound like a recipe for snags.

 

 

I threw some upgraded hooks/split rings on that topwater and rigged it up, going to throw it tomorrow and see how it does.

 

 

Edit - Walked out back just to see how the bait walks, it definitely works lol

 

@Aaron_H I’m with you on not being a fluorocarbon guy but I spooled a Tatula 80 with the Seaguar Basix (10) pound last season and I was pleasantly surprised with it. Give us an update when you try it out. It stinks that we don’t have any Academy stores by me although it may be a good thing 😉 

2 minutes ago, Eric 26 said:

@Aaron_H I’m with you on not being a fluorocarbon guy but I spooled a Tatula 80 with the Seaguar Basix (10) pound last season and I was pleasantly surprised with it. Give us an update when you try it out. It stinks that we don’t have any Academy stores by me although it may be a good thing 😉 

 

Their website ships! Haha

 

I'll post my thoughts about the Basix for sure, this is for my lipless rod which I don't like to experiment with, but for 10 bucks I figure why not try and learn something.

@Aaron_H I’ve actually looked at their website way more than I should have and dang near pulled the trigger more than once 😬 I have the Seaguar/Tatula on a rod I use for Z-Man mini max chatter baits and 1/4 ounce swim jigs and really enjoyed it for what it’s worth. 

Picked up a couple of spools from Ali-x for my Tatula 80's.  A 6.2g Gomexus spool (black) and a 7.2g KKR spool (red).  Gomexus- $20 KKR- $28.

 

 

18 hours ago, Aaron_H said:

Was in the market for a new scale

 

I have that one.  Its compact, easy to read, and has never failed.  But full disclosure, hang on to it tight when you're using it because there's no handle.

2 minutes ago, gimruis said:

 

I have that one.  Its compact, easy to read, and has never failed.  But full disclosure, hang on to it tight when you're using it because there's no handle.

 

I appreciate that vote of confidence, some of the reviews online were very unfavorable, but lemons happen with anything. I don't typically use the handle on the scale I use now, so no worries there. If anything I can wrap some grip tape around the bottle opener at the top to make it easier to loop a finger in there. I don't drink anything but water while fishing, so a bottle opener has zero use for me. I like the idea of the high contrast screen, taking pictures of a scale in the harsh FL sunlight can be tricky at times. Hopefully mine is good to go!

Few re-stocks and a few new baits I wanna try out. I think the new Zoom Shimmer Shad is gonna be a nice vibrating jig trailer. Nothing ground-breaking. Only 5 in a pack, though. Looking forward to throwing the 6" Mulletron line-thru. If this thing holds up like other Elaztech baits, it is going to be a STEAL at that price. I'm gonna take a black marker and turn that thing into a perch. The Strike King Tungsten Thunder Cricket has such a tiny head. I'm gonna call him Beetle Juice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The top photo is a little blurry there @NorthernBasser.  That's not like you.  Usually your photos are very detailed and crisp.  You just roll out of bed or what?

3 minutes ago, gimruis said:

The top photo is a little blurry there @NorthernBasser.  That's not like you.  Usually your photos are very detailed and crisp.  You just roll out of bed or what?

I wish I just got out of bed!

2 hours ago, gimruis said:

The top photo is a little blurry there @NorthernBasser.  That's not like you.  Usually your photos are very detailed and crisp.  You just roll out of bed or what?

Shopping fatigue.

2 hours ago, NorthernBasser said:

 

 

 

BTW, I should mention that I trimmed the trailer down a little. It was a little longer than I usually prefer. 

A little of this and that, or should I say what caught my eye at least.

I have never bought a higher end spinning setup for bass fishing so today I changed that and picked up one of St Croix's new Physysx rods.  I paired it with a Shimano Vanford 2500 I picked up a couple of weeks ago during BP's trade-in days.  Not a deal of a lifetime but I saved $30 on the rod with a recent coupon and $50 off the reel trading in an old Shakespeare $20 trout rod.

 

 

 

Can't wait to fish it!

@Craig P 

New Tranx 401HG on the way. I'm clearly not responsible enough to possess both a credit card and the interwebs. 🤦‍♂️ Dealing with the Bait Monkey is easy compared to the Muskie Gorilla.