2 minutes ago, NorthernBasser said:

But TW includes St. Croix, Shimano etc. too. Megabass too I believe. 

Ya - which is why I have 2 Victorys in my wishlist there already.

I just went to Edge Rods in Woodland for the early Black Friday sale and talked the Gary Loomis.  I picked up three rods. They are running a 30 percent off sale with free shipping right now. I saved a bunch.  The Epitome are not quite done.  The floor model was amazing.  The monkey owns me.

1 hour ago, Columbia Craw said:

I just went to Edge Rods in Woodland for the early Black Friday sale and talked the Gary Loomis.  I picked up three rods. They are running a 30 percent off sale with free shipping right now. I saved a bunch.  The Epitome are not quite done.  The floor model was amazing.  The monkey owns me.

I have a First Strike 806 crankbait rod and love it, so I ordered a Black Widow 733 due to the sale, the monkey is definitely getting more into Edge rods as he gets his grubby hands on them.

1 hour ago, Columbia Craw said:

The monkey owns me.

That’s funny!  Resistance is futile.  Succumb to the chimp’s pressure.

3 hours ago, Columbia Craw said:

I just went to Edge Rods in Woodland for the early Black Friday sale and talked the Gary Loomis.  I picked up three rods. They are running a 30 percent off sale with free shipping right now. I saved a bunch.  The Epitome are not quite done.  The floor model was amazing.  The monkey owns me.

What's the deal with these rods, the pricing looks excellent, and I'm a sucker for carbon fiber.

 

You talked to Gary Loomis in person?    What's the connection between G.Loomis and Edge Rods?   Sorry for all the questions....need a few more rods.

 

FWIW.....Alpha Angler is having an excellent sale currently, their rods are amazing sans one major thing.....their QC sucks!   That said, they'll send a new one out immediately and they are a stand up company.    

Yes I talked to Gary Loomis.  The last we spoke was 42 years ago. We’ve both aged.  He’s still the most cordial guy ever.  He autographed a hat for me which was pretty special.  What a down to earth guy.  The COVID issue was a huge impact on NFC/Edge.  The company is back on track after recovery.  The fact they opened their pro-shop today and had the grand opening gave me the opportunity to visit and go hands on with most all SKUs in the various bass lines. The new Epitome is impressive.  It won’t be available until mid January.
 

I got to see some of the production processes.  It was a fun time and a treat to meet a Fishing Icon again.  Good news is production efforts are running back up to full capacity.  The place was full of slimers and I felt outnumbered?

I don't have any personal experience with them, but trust all the people here that talk highly.  2 Ark Lancers for $119 seems like a great way to start or fill out your gear.

 

https://www.sportsmansoutfitters.com/products/ark-rods-lancer-pro-series-rods?ref=tylerberger

 

scott

13 hours ago, Columbia Craw said:

Yes I talked to Gary Loomis.  The last we spoke was 42 years ago. We’ve both aged.  He’s still the most cordial guy ever.  He autographed a hat for me which was pretty special.  What a down to earth guy.  The COVID issue was a huge impact on NFC/Edge.  The company is back on track after recovery.  The fact they opened their pro-shop today and had the grand opening gave me the opportunity to visit and go hands on with most all SKUs in the various bass lines. The new Epitome is impressive.  It won’t be available until mid January.
 

I got to see some of the production processes.  It was a fun time and a treat to meet a Fishing Icon again.  Good news is production efforts are running back up to full capacity.  The place was full of slimers and I felt outnumbered?

Wow that's really cool, and thanks for the reply.    Caught more fish on Loomis rods than any other.  

 

He sounds like a guy I know who started a gun company in his basement and is now winning major weapons contracts from the DoD, and is considered like a "G Loomis" in the industry.   The man is incredibly humble, and hard working.  He's a brilliant engineer as well, and I suspect Gary Loomis is as well.  

On 11/11/2022 at 11:20 PM, Columbia Craw said:

 The new Epitome is impressive.  It won’t be available until mid January.
 

 

Is that for regular orders or including the pre-order rods? I pre-ordered one at the beginning of August and it said 8-10 weeks for delivery. Contacted them in the middle of October as my wife and I bought a new house so wanted to change address and they said end of October, which was obviously not true. If they're not shipping til mid January I may just cancel it and get something else on Black Friday. 

The Hook Up has a crazy St Croix deal. ~45% value if the rod back as a gift card. Just picked up a 74Hf Victory for 200 shipped with a $100 gift card. Also have a ton for sale at 15% off with USA code.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sportsmans Outfitters has  Z-man Mini Max Chatterbait for $5.49.   I found it a much better chatterbait for smallmouths. 

2 hours ago, webertime said:

The Hook Up has a crazy St Croix deal. ~45% value if the rod back as a gift card. Just picked up a 74Hf for 200 shipped with a $100 gift card. Also have a ton for sale at 15% off with USA code.

 

 

 

 

 

It truly is a crazy good deal! I feel like we should pin it to the top of the forum. Too bad I am not in the market for any rods at the moment. 

On 11/13/2022 at 10:30 PM, newapti5 said:

 

It truly is a crazy good deal! I feel like we should pin it to the top of the forum. Too bad I am not in the market for any rods at the moment. 

They almost got me with that one, butbatvthe end ofnitballbits really only 30% off - because you have to spend $300 there but pay full price for the rod which is $200. I haven't seen enough desirable sales there to think I'll end up saving more again later with that gift card. Their sales always seem a little weak when I look, hasn't been a lot but enough to be unimpressed.

 

I cam close though, but instead I'm hoping Rodgeeks will have a sale on blanks and I can just customize a croix rod my way.

On 11/13/2022 at 7:03 PM, webertime said:

The Hook Up has a crazy St Croix deal. ~45% value if the rod back as a gift card. Just picked up a 74Hf Victory for 200 shipped with a $100 gift card. Also have a ton for sale at 15% off with USA code.

@FishTank talked me into a 7'2" M Legend Glass so thanks to both of you! 

If you're thinking of ordering JDM from Digitaka - better do it soon...exchange rate is dropping. The Miravel 2500 I paid $90 for less than two weeks ago is now up to $101.

5 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

If you're thinking of ordering JDM from Digitaka - better do it soon...exchange rate is dropping. The Miravel 2500 I paid $90 for less than two weeks ago is now up to $101.

In all of my hobbies as an adult, the JDM exchange rate along with just how amazing Digitaka is to do business with as an American is the best "sale" I've come across.

 

Second place was a few years back when Wal Mart went anti 2A and decided to blow out all their handgun, and "non hunting" rifle calibers.....a.k.a. 5.56/.223 and 7.62x39.   Deals were the stuff folks on the forums still talk about years later........the JDM/exchange rate deal will be the same way.

 

I'll regret not buying more just like with the Walmart ammo deal, but I'll take comfort in knowing I bought all I could "responsibly" buy.      

 

2 Jackal big Swimbaits saved me 25

Zillion SV TW saved me 80

Zillion TW HD saved me 120

Certate LT 3000 CXH saved me 170

 

That's almost 40% off the best price I can find USDM on the Certate.....not to mention most sales exclude Daiwa, Shimano, and other high end JDM stuff.     

 

I highly doubt you're gonna find any BF sales that have Daiwa or Shimano reels 30-40% off

 

 

2 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

In all of my hobbies as an adult, the JDM exchange rate along with just how amazing Digitaka is to do business with as an American is the best "sale" I've come across.

 

Second place was a few years back when Wal Mart went anti 2A and decided to blow out all their handgun, and "non hunting" rifle calibers.....a.k.a. 5.56/.223 and 7.62x39.   Deals were the stuff folks on the forums still talk about years later........the JDM/exchange rate deal will be the same way.

 

I'll regret not buying more just like with the Walmart ammo deal, but I'll take comfort in knowing I bought all I could "responsibly" buy.      

 

2 Jackal big Swimbaits saved me 25

Zillion SV TW saved me 80

Zillion TW HD saved me 120

Certate LT 3000 CXH saved me 170

 

That's almost 40% off the best price I can find USDM on the Certate.....not to mention most sales exclude Daiwa, Shimano, and other high end JDM stuff.     

 

I highly doubt you're gonna find any BF sales that have Daiwa or Shimano reels 30-40% off

 

 

I'm also happy that most of these cheaper reels are manufactured in japan.  Culturally, they seem to be keen craftsman and am happy to benefit from the workers caring.  

 

scott

Just now, softwateronly said:

I'm also happy that most of these cheaper reels are manufactured in japan.  Culturally, they seem to be keen craftsman and am happy to benefit from the workers caring.  

 

scott

Most of the cheaper Daiwa and Shimano reels aren't made in Japan I've noticed though.  The Zillion SV TW is one of the cheapest models on Digitaka I've seen that was made in Japan.   A number of 200+ reels are made in Malaysia, and Tiawan IIrc.    

 

I only point that out because it matters so much to me when buying a reel.   Every reel I fish with is made in Japan.  Either Shimano, or Daiwa and this goes back to before I even heard the term JDM.

 

I'm a huge fan boy for Japanese reels, they are just works of art.......perfection in functionality and aesthetics.   The designers of the flagship Daiwa spinning reels that are made in Japan even hated to see visible screws on the reels and designed away that aspect.   That go to the ends of the earth to create something that you feel special owning and using.  

13 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Most of the cheaper Daiwa and Shimano reels aren't made in Japan I've noticed though.  The Zillion SV TW is one of the cheapest models on Digitaka I've seen that was made in Japan.   A number of 200+ reels are made in Malaysia, and Tiawan IIrc.    

 

I only point that out because it matters so much to me when buying a reel.   Every reel I fish with is made in Japan.  Either Shimano, or Daiwa and this goes back to before I even heard the term JDM.

 

I'm a huge fan boy for Japanese reels, they are just works of art.......perfection in functionality and aesthetics.   The designers of the flagship Daiwa spinning reels that are made in Japan even hated to see visible screws on the reels and designed away that aspect.   That go to the ends of the earth to create something that you feel special owning and using.  

 

My "cheaper reels" comment was in direct reference to the jdm pricing/exchange rate not quality.  I look through those pics on digitaka till I see the sticker on the reel foot.  made in japan usually seals the deal for me.

 

scott

1 hour ago, softwateronly said:

 

My "cheaper reels" comment was in direct reference to the jdm pricing/exchange rate not quality.  I look through those pics on digitaka till I see the sticker on the reel foot.  made in japan usually seals the deal for me.

 

scott

haha.....yeah the reel foot pic is the first one I click 

On 11/24/2021 at 4:02 PM, Glenn said:

The TW sale is now open to EVERYONE!

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/BlackFridaySale.html?from=BASRES&utm_campaign=211126_black_friday_sale

 

I clicked on last year's link.... ??

1 hour ago, JustBassinThru said:

I clicked on last year's link.... ??

Pretty awesome that brought up the sale. For kicks I threw some things from my wish list into my cart and there was a discount... bummer is it's currently defaulting to a 15% discount and the additional 10% for those listed brands doesn't factor in either. Probably for the best though, otherwise I would have been up way too late tonight! 

5 hours ago, NorcalBassin said:

bummer is it's currently defaulting to a 15% discount

St Croix is only at 10% - I'll wait to see what others have it discounted to.

BPS BlackFriday ad has been out a minute. $50 off the Johnny Morris Platinum rods and reels.

 

Also relatively steep discounts on the Extreme and Formula combos. And 20% BPS soft plastics.

 

Wish they had a deal on the Pro Qualifier reels, instead.

I am so on the fence hoping I can pick up a Kaden for a better deal. Tempted to grab the Kaden I want and then try a Maverick that is one step heavier for like 212. Or do I just grab 2 kadens? Spending a bunch more money to jsut save an extra 5% seems kind of dumb though.