Rods:

1) Daiwa Tatula Elite AGS Spinning Rod TTEL761MLFS-AGS: Hair Jigs, Finesse Swimbaits (Sparkshads, 3" Keitechs), Finesse Underspins (Sneaky Underspins)

2) G Loomis 902 NRX+ Purchased last fall but only used on 1 trip: Neko rigs, wacky Senkos, tubes, shakey heads; I have a 1st edition Steez 761 and that rod and the 902 will be used with a lot of overlapping presentations. I haven't used the 902 enough to designate it to a certain presentation yet.

Reels

1) Daiwa Zillion SV TW G 100: Will become my #1 plastics/Sleeper reel; to be paired with a 7'3 MH Steez rod

2) 2 Tatula 3000: One to replace a retiring reel (Emblem X 2500) and the other to put on the Tatula above

I also ordered a really big tackle box too. How say you?

4 minutes ago, Junk Fisherman said:

I also ordered a really big tackle box too.

Bet it floats ~

Congrats

A-Jay

I added one spinning combo and one casting rod (already had the reel).

6’10” M+ XF Poison adrena solid tip with a stradic

6’10” Falcon Cara Head turner (threw a low retrieve rate metanium on it that I had here)

The first is a dedicated minnow shaking rod. I’ve been dabbling in it for the past 3 years and moving to the boat last year really gave some opportunities i couldn’t get in the kayak. I enjoyed it so I made a dedicated setup for it for the bigger minnows that I throw.

The second is another head turner. I have one in the expert lineup and it’s probably my most used rod between vibrating jigs and spinnerbaits that go on it. More than a few times I’ve wanted a second in the boat to be dedicated to the other of those two baits. I tried last year with the Bucoo SR version of that rod which I’ve had for 5 years now, but it wasn’t crisp enough for what I wanted it to do. So i used the sale and TW 10% off gift cards to get a Cara for $191 before the MSRP jumps to $299.

Aside from those on the hardware side, I’m trying out some Tatsu (on the HT mentioned above), I’ve got an ultra thin braid for the PA solid tip, and added some fresh planos to replace a couple that have been around a while and were distorting/breaking in places.

A few jerkbaits.

Some soft plastics for bottom feeders.

And a new knife.

A-Jay

A number of new Katana blanks by AnglersResource/Fuji and and a power wrapper from HFF Custom Rods. :-)

Son 6lb test yo zuri,

A few bags of soft plastics

Some storage containers/bags for tackle to go in the boat

A new scale

New knobs for my jdm Zillion HD.

Stocked up on OSP and Deps baits.

New mono for the catfish rigs.

Edge 7’ 708 H/m Swimbait Rod

Several, several soft and hard swimbaits, Zaldaingerous, Bucca, Trick Shad, etc……a few Seibert spinnerbaits as well.

Mainly soft plastics, several clamshells (30) of Rage Menace Grubs & Powerbait Speed Boss 7”. Yamamoto twin-tail grubs 5”. A few bags of Powerbait 3.5” Smoke w gold flake tubes & several bags of regular old plastic 7” ribbon-tails black w blue flake. 8 LC 1.5 crankbaits & 2 6” Trick Shads. 4 rattle baits.. one large bottle of Ibuprofen 😆💯

Just a handful of new cranks and some components from LPO for making muskie spinners.

I usually stock up on line, weights, plastics, hooks, and sinkers in March during the annual spring sale when I get my reels re-spooled.

Considering I didn't get out much last year, I didn't use much. No need for restocking here....which is good cause I got no money to do so.

Big ticket items were two rods I purchased when The Hook Up Tackle had their "Buy one, Get one Half Off" deal -- combined with some gifts cards it brought the total into a range I could manage -- other than that I have continued to search the used market -- which can be hit (a nice price on a quality Stradic) and miss (a Vanford that is having bail arm issues) -- and a mix of hard baits/soft plastics from some of the BOGO/ "Buy Three - Get Three" type sales various shops had

G Loomis 852 spinning rod with a Vanford 3000 reel and PEX8 braid line.

Seaguar Smackdown braid on sale.

Just waiting for the ice to move out of the river.

Dobyns MBR-836, bulk spools of 16# and 20# super natural mono, bulk 20# daiwa fluorocarbon, bunch of combat rats, hudd 68s, a savage gear scandal that i just know the pike are going to love 😭and a couple bucca resin baits. Don't judge, it was a long winter.

No new rods and reels but I am in the process of pairing some that have yet been used. I do need to stock up on some hooks. Although not needed, I want to pick up some Zoom Z-Craw to try as a trailer after watching a video on them.

EDIT: Forgot about the PE#1 WPX1 Xbraid I picked up for trying BFS.

Loaded up on both braid and leader, trying a spool of tatsu for the first time. Loaded up on ballhead jigs through various sales, trying some of those 6th sense tungsten 1/2-3/4oz 2/0 ballheads and bkk in 3/0 to keep bottom contact in 20+ fow with current. For that same water, got a few nishine 3/4oz football jig to try and a few packs of 2.8 bellows gill elastomer. I hope to grab another Alphas 800s and possibly another longer 2 piece ML-M salt rod to replace an MC rod that I destroyed late last fall through carelessness.

scott

Found an excellent condition Pixy PX68L from used JDM last month. Will pair it with a medium rod for spring jerkbait fishing.

Also right after the new Antares came out, and right before the tariff went up, took the chance and grabbed a mint condition 19 Antares. Haven't configured out which rod to pair, probably my 7' Legend Elite MH.

Finally got this new rod from Edge Rods two months ago, Delta 7' BFS rod. Seems to be a good pair with the Aldebaran BFS, but have to wait till open season to find out.

I got an Abu Garcia Ambassadeur 2500C IAR reel for light baitcast fishing and some Swibo knives to clean the fish that I keep.

It was an expensive trip to the New England Fishing Expo this winter.

A couple Douglas Outdoors rods (LRS-C795F, DXS-7104F), a FX Customs spinning rod (WSJ74MLF), a Lews Super Duty 300 and Custom Lite spinning reel, and (LASTLY) an Old Town Sportsman PDL 120 Pro.

ADD: I forgot to mention the handful of Beast Coast OW Sniper jigs and two Vision 110's that followed me home too.

Now all I need is some open water .... 😐.

8 hours ago, softwateronly said:

Loaded up on both braid and leader, trying a spool of tatsu for the first time. Loaded up on ballhead jigs through various sales, trying some of those 6th sense tungsten 1/2-3/4oz 2/0 ballheads and bkk in 3/0 to keep bottom contact in 20+ fow with current. For that same water, got a few nishine 3/4oz football jig to try and a few packs of 2.8 bellows gill elastomer. I hope to grab another Alphas 800s and possibly another longer 2 piece ML-M salt rod to replace an MC rod that I destroyed late last fall through carelessness.

scott

You use all that fancy stuff while I mostly stick to Z Man and Max Scent! I need to up my game!

I ordered some plain jig heads - 10ea 1/4 oz. 10 ea 3/4 oz and 10 ea 3 oz. I just finished painting and tying bucktails on them to add to my saltwater gear.

1 hour ago, Junk Fisherman said:

You use all that fancy stuff while I mostly stick to Z Man and Max Scent! I need to up my game!

1 hour ago, Junk Fisherman said:

You use all that fancy stuff while I mostly stick to Z Man and Max Scent! I need to up my game!

I spend 85% of my big lake smallie fishing from one rock! I need to diversify a bit when I cast 82 times at the same 6 fish. I hired Whitacre for a guided day in fall of 24, he does more than just fine with maxscent and z-man. You’re in good company. I’m really interested in the bellows as a jig trailer on these heavier jigs I’m using. It feels like a little float on a short but chunky profile with a single tail might be worth it. We can schedule a rock rendezvous if you wanna give one a shot.

scott

Picked up a cashion element z2 frog rod, falcon lowrider finesse jig, and an expride 6’10 ml. Also got a Vanford c3000 and a Steez sv 1016 with a bfs spool on the way. I got some various soft plastics. I still have $50 in bass pro gift cards and need some line, and I also am going to buy some more bfs baits.

A three piece JDM Metanium Variety Pack:

• Metanium 70

• Metanium 70 Shallow Edition

• Metanium DC 70 A

2 @ Curado 150M XG

Megabass Oneten Stick

Daiwa Tatula Elite Seth Feider Jerkbait Rod

Daiwa Iprimi LT2000S

A couple 600 yard spools of Sunline Sniper (8 lb and 10 lb)

Some Plano Edge tackle storage boxes

Some knobs for a Daiwa Tatula 100 my dog decided to snack on

Some Karashi replacement rear tinsel adorned trebles

Extra small split ring pliers

A lure or two. . . .