5 minutes ago, OHBuckets said:

I fish the Citizen Micros - they are cool, very nice subtle colors, and I love the action on a weighted swimbait hook (I prefer the 2/0 size). I've fished the same one for multiple sessions and find the durability excellent; it's been weedless without having to tear up the top by skin-hooking, and it has not slid down the hook except when setting it on a fish. I'm a fan, but to each his own. Probably have spent more than that on Keitechs in the same effort.

 

Maybe if I caught more 5 lbers I'd tear them up more, but they've held up well on my dinks through 3s.:)

 

Accidentally casted into a bank shrub one day (bank fishing), and when I pulled it free into the water it made a nice bass so hangry that it bashed, butted and rolled it no less than 6 times before inhaling it. I was trying to retrieve it steady but was laughing so hard at how determined that bass was. Pure joy.

 

 

 

Here's my backpack box

Spro KGB mini arrived today, hopefully I can give it a workout this weekend.

@Peacedivision That's cute. It'd look alot better with some teeth marks on it. I've got to get me a school of those. Goodluck breaking it in.

On 11/5/2025 at 1:30 PM, Rockhopper said:

I have tried them.  MAJORLY overpriced for what they are.  Do they work? Yes.  Are they worth it compared to other cheaper offerings?  Absolutely not.  Durability is ok...I would say average.  6" and 7/8" Megabass and Bass Mafia swimbaits work just as well at one third the cost.  4" Mayors work just as well as the micro's, and are also cheaper.

 

They are cool, but definitely not worth the price.  They are not some magic swimbait that is better than others.

I'm fishing a big soft swimbait so much I'm trying about everything. IMO the presentation of the 7" WCZ is a lot 'bigger' than the 7" bass mafia because it's tall and thick. Most of the brands are using trout-shaped molds, and my primary forage is big texas gizzard shad. So it'll probably be a bust or just the same, but worth a shot anyway. 

 

I had high hopes for the zman swag LT (love a line through, love the material) but it's just not that big of a bait. 

 

My favorite so far for big presentation on a soft swimbait is the Hangover. I love how much everyone hates it, they are on sale everywhere. I just hope they don't stop making them.

 

When you fished them did they have the new nose harness that replaces the CPS on the beast hook? 

 

Will definitely report back. 

 

On 11/5/2025 at 12:18 PM, HawkeyeSmallie said:

 

I wonder how those would work in a lake where bluegills are the primary forage?

 

They look pretty good.

 

Hope they are DURABLE.

 

You guys will have to let us know how they work.

 

I think they will look like food and get bit. However... If I was in bluegill-only waters I'd be fishing the 6th sense super sweep. They are just light enough to cast on a heavy rod, take the 7/0 6th sense hook perfectly. Big profile because they are tall. Point is, inexpensive to try, nice gill colors, and I know they work on weedlines with gills - I have one tied on right now.

12 hours ago, txchaser said:

I think they will look like food and get bit. However... If I was in bluegill-only waters I'd be fishing the 6th sense super sweep. They are just light enough to cast on a heavy rod, take the 7/0 6th sense hook perfectly. Big profile because they are tall. Point is, inexpensive to try, nice gill colors, and I know they work on weedlines with gills - I have one tied on right now.

Just picked up another 25 year old Shimano Stradic 2000FG for $30.

 

 

And I bought a like new Shimano Miravel 4000XG for $40 - with a $130 rod tossed in for free. I have never tried a miravel. Have not heard much about them either. Hope its a good reel for the price.

 

I didn't realize that the bait monkey was also a miner.  He helped me strike Gold !

Alien Gold . . .

A-Jay 

22 hours ago, txchaser said:

On 11/5/2025 at 1:30 PM, Rockhopper said:

I have tried them.  MAJORLY overpriced for what they are.  Do they work? Yes.  Are they worth it compared to other cheaper offerings?  Absolutely not.  Durability is ok...I would say average.  6" and 7/8" Megabass and Bass Mafia swimbaits work just as well at one third the cost.  4" Mayors work just as well as the micro's, and are also cheaper.

 

They are cool, but definitely not worth the price.  They are not some magic swimbait that is better than others.

 

Will definitely report back. 

Got bit some today. No giants, and no way to know if it is 'better' than others. Early signs are good though.

 

I did notice three things though:
1) the body roll and tail wag... ugh it's really good.

2) fishes deep, real deep, with a 10/0 3/4oz beast hook. Which I like a lot. 

3) seems tough - wasn't torn up from a few catches. I think the custom nose CPS it comes with, and the way the belly is built helps. We'll see with more time. 

 

 

9 hours ago, FloridaFishinFool said:

Just picked up another 25 year old Shimano Stradic 2000FG for $30.

 

 

And I bought a like new Shimano Miravel 4000XG for $40 - with a $130 rod tossed in for free. I have never tried a miravel. Have not heard much about them either. Hope its a good reel for the price.

 

Although I’m extremely jealous I feel this should be posted in the rod and reel monkey purchase thread😉

Thanks for letting me know. My apologies for posting in the wrong thread. If this one is for lures, the bait monkey got me there as well.

 

 

Zoom swimmin' Fluke bulk bags...

 

And a few old trusty rapala HJ-8's, suspending lures in various colors...

17 hours ago, FloridaFishinFool said:

Just picked up another 25 year old Shimano Stradic 2000FG for $30.

 

 

And I bought a like new Shimano Miravel 4000XG for $40 - with a $130 rod tossed in for free. I have never tried a miravel. Have not heard much about them either. Hope its a good reel for the price.

 

Coincidence;  I just sold a Stradic 1000 I bought in 2001.  $30 to a friend;  looked to be in better shape than yours, but I hadn't used it in 17 years.  I also have a size 2000 from 2001 which still sees occasional use.  I wonder what I paid for those reels back then compared to today's market.  Would one of you Reel Service guys comment on the quality of old vs. new?

With Fishmas 2025 coming up, I had to buy a few things…

 

When you buy blanks from alternative lures, Luis generally throws something in for free. This time it was a DRT Police KO. That thing dives nearly 50’! I don’t know if I have anywhere deep enough to try and fish that!

 

 

hey

just picked up some things to try out that arrived today 😎

 

 

I just received the Kistler KLX Rod from the 50% off sale. I must say, looking at the workmanship I am impressed. I just might be a Kistler fan in future rod purchases. I can't wait to try it out.

The bait monkey jumps for joy.

Last week my buddy was crushing Alabama Bass with a Spro Rock Crawler so I had to buy one.  With the water dropping 5* since last week it might not work.  Also bought some chartruse J and Js Magic.  The last hard bait I bought was a Rogue Jerkbait several years ago.

On 11/12/2025 at 11:15 AM, Smirak said:

With Fishmas 2025 coming up, I had to buy a few things…

 

When you buy blanks from alternative lures, Luis generally throws something in for free. This time it was a DRT Police KO. That thing dives nearly 50’! I don’t know if I have anywhere deep enough to try and fish that!

 

 

School me on blanks. Are they clones, or factory blanks that somehow made it to a 3rd party? I'd be interested in buying some and painting my own of the action is the same/close enough to the real ones. Have any experience with the vision 110 blanks?

20 minutes ago, NRJ1988 said:

School me on blanks. Are they clones, or factory blanks that somehow made it to a 3rd party? I'd be interested in buying some and painting my own of the action is the same/close enough to the real ones. Have any experience with the vision 110 blanks?

They are what’s called “KO” blanks - knockoffs. Not actual blanks sent to the factory (maybe it is, don’t know). Anyway, most of the time they are good quality and such. No experience with the 110s, but I know it’s a staple for a lot of folks. Check out the sub forum here for the tackle making. 

Taking advantage of copper state 30% off missile baits sale to stock up some essentials.

Got me again…..jk, but we did get some stuff via birthday gifts and wife was on her game this year. 

 

Not pictured : St. Croix Premier Split-Grip Casting Rod with shimano SLX 150hg 7.2

 

(this was a “just fill up a box with $XXX.xx worth of stuff,” but got some awesome stuff on there.)

 

 

2 hours ago, Peacedivision said:

Taking advantage of copper state 30% off missile baits sale to stock up some essentials.

Scooping up a couple of the Huddleston’s while they’re marked down, but while I’m there, which missile baits do you like to keep on hand?  

@MississippiPug spunk shad, d bombs, magic worms, baby d stroyers, mini swim jigs, warlock heads.

BFS glides and top water.

 

On 11/13/2025 at 1:25 PM, Angler Andy said:

I just received the Kistler KLX Rod from the 50% off sale.

Welcome to the club. I’ve been using Kistler for about 10 years now. I use a 6’9” medium KLX for a jerkbait rod (over an Expride A that a popular YT’ber says is the best available).

 

Wait until you get your hands on a MH Helium for a jig rod.

 

ADD: Get some cork seal for it.

 When it comes to jerkbaits, I've had some success leaning towards somewhat subtle patterns with just a touch of color. Might be a clear water deal.

Going to see if a few of the resident brown bass might fancy this one.

Megabass calls it GP Baby Kingyo, which, according to Google, translates to "goldfish" in Japanese.  I'm not seeing that.  Either way, digging it already.

A-Jay