Family photo...

 

On 5/23/2019 at 9:05 PM, mrpao said:

Sometimes the seller measures the entire length of the handle from end to end.

The correct measurement should be from center post to center post.

I have asked them before how they measure the handle if I'm not certain.

The handles from Rays studios are usually really good. They measure theirs the correct way.

The Kawa handles are pretty decent too. And they take daiwa knobs.

I think they just make the number up. It’s not just the Ali Express ones, it also happens with brand names, like Abu, Shimano and Daiwa.

Just finished this guy last night.  Boca Lightning bearings, Carbontex drag, 6.3:1 gears, Gator Grip handle, and a new clutch washer to accommodate a pair of CS Rocket brake blocks.  Built for throwing light stuff on a budget.  

 

I like the 2500SHG Vanquish enough that I ordered a second one, this time in the compact c2000SHG, to go on a Megabass Addermine that is destined for Ned Rig and weightless Wacky duty.

 

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On 12/3/2009 at 8:32 AM, skunked_again said:

Sweet. ❤️

 

2019 Megabass Levante Jerkbait Special paired with a Daiwa SV103H.  Matches perfectly.

 

4 hours ago, Big-Bass said:

 

2019 Megabass Levante Jerkbait Special paired with a Daiwa SV103H.  Matches perfectly.

 

That’s a thing of beauty right there. I really want to try out one of the new levante rods. Unfortunately I’m afraid most of them are a little to long for most of the banks I fish. 

2 minutes ago, BaitFinesse said:

There is a shorter rod JDM line of the new Levantes.

Thanks I’ll have to look into that. 

It's here
Sweet reel, nice and smooth.
I did just order two bearings to add to the spool and spool shaft from hedge hog studio, had to also get 
rid of that T-knot and add a Megabass handle knot.

51 minutes ago, Yumeya said:

It's here
Sweet reel, nice and smooth.
I did just order two bearings to add to the spool and spool shaft from hedge hog studio, had to also get 
rid of that T-knot and add a Megabass handle knot.

Where did you get the Megabass knob?

1 hour ago, punch said:

Where did you get the Megabass knob?

The Tackle Trap.

 

 

Not JDM stuff but a colleague gave me a first gen Caenan he won and used once or twice !

I then decided to customize it with some leftover parts !

I used it all day yesterday and ordered some cork knobs and another nut and screw/lockwasher to dress it... Might keep the handle and just change the knobs/hardware as it performed ok this week-end !

 

 

Baitcaster, broomstick, bream.  This is my most expensive combo, and I know the price pales in comparison to a lot of the reels and rods you guys own, but I'm very proud of it.

23 hours ago, Hook2Jaw said:

 

Baitcaster, broomstick, bream.  This is my most expensive combo, and I know the price pales in comparison to a lot of the reels and rods you guys own, but I'm very proud of it.

You should be proud it’s pretty sweet. What rod is that. 

@Derek1, it's a Daiwa DXSB 8' HF.  It's a little tip heavy, but that kinda helps me to rest the butt against my forearm or under my armpit while fishing.  I haven't thrown it all day yet, but I plan to do a write up for it here when I do.

Looking forward to it. 

Managed to snag another Studio Composite handle on Ebay from Japan.  These are the nicest handles I have ever seen or used and have become very hard to find.

 

I have been looking for a combo to throw smaller 6"/2-3oz swimbaits on for a while now and had never found a rod that I really like for it.  I didn't want a super long rod with a super long handle as I fish these lures from the bank and prefer accuracy to distance.  I didn't mean to go quite this crazy but I got offered the rod at a price too good to say no to and the reel followed a few months later.

 

The rod is a Megabass Super Red Demon and the reel is a new Ryoga 1520h.  Right now it's spooled up with 25lb Sunliner Defier Armilo mono and the spool holds about ~80y, which is enough for my needs.  The reel was very tight out of the box but after about 4-5 hours trying out a bunch of lures it loosed up a ton and my casting distance jumped way up from where it started fresh out of the box.  It's still silky smooth and my only complaint is that the knobs feel a little dainty.  I want to get a second spool for it so I can have a heavy braid option on hand for running larger "fast" paddle tails through cover.  

 

The rod is a monster and will put to rest any nagging doubts about the hookset issues I have been having with some of the larger soft swimbaits, with the SRD I know it's an issue with my technique, not a lack of power in the rod.  What drew me too it was the reported sensitivity.  I spent most of last winter throwing a 68Special on a Fury 795sb and I got almost no feedback slow crawling it across soft-bottomed ponds. This made it really hard to stay focused for bite-less hours and the few bumps/hits I got were all missed due to my mind being firmly somewhere else.  The SRD is vastly more sensitive and I could not only feel everything the Hudd bumped into, I can also feel the tail thumping even at a very slow crawl so I have high hopes for my small-pond swimbating this winter.  

 

46 minutes ago, fishwizzard said:

I have been looking for a combo to throw smaller 6"/2-3oz swimbaits on for a while now and had never found a rod that I really like for it.  I didn't want a super long rod with a super long handle as I fish these lures from the bank and prefer accuracy to distance.  I didn't mean to go quite this crazy but I got offered the rod at a price too good to say no to and the reel followed a few months later.

 

The rod is a Megabass Super Red Demon and the reel is a new Ryoga 1520h.  Right now it's spooled up with 25lb Sunliner Defier Armilo mono and the spool holds about ~80y, which is enough for my needs.  The reel was very tight out of the box but after about 4-5 hours trying out a bunch of lures it loosed up a ton and my casting distance jumped way up from where it started fresh out of the box.  It's still silky smooth and my only complaint is that the knobs feel a little dainty.  I want to get a second spool for it so I can have a heavy braid option on hand for running larger "fast" paddle tails through cover.  

 

The rod is a monster and will put to rest any nagging doubts about the hookset issues I have been having with some of the larger soft swimbaits, with the SRD I know it's an issue with my technique, not a lack of power in the rod.  What drew me too it was the reported sensitivity.  I spent most of last winter throwing a 68Special on a Fury 795sb and I got almost no feedback slow crawling it across soft-bottomed ponds. This made it really hard to stay focused for bite-less hours and the few bumps/hits I got were all missed due to my mind being firmly somewhere else.  The SRD is vastly more sensitive and I could not only feel everything the Hudd bumped into, I can also feel the tail thumping even at a very slow crawl so I have high hopes for my small-pond swimbating this winter.  

Very nice combo, I have been fishing the same reel with a similar rod as of this year. It's quickly becoming my favorite reel.

6 hours ago, Fried Lemons said:

 

Very nice combo, I have been fishing the same reel with a similar rod as of this year. It's quickly becoming my favorite reel.

Yea, I am excited to get it out to Widewater or RG where I can let it stretch it's legs.  

Budget setup, I love these rods.

 

Tools bouncing around the bottom of an old aluminum boat...

 

15 minutes ago, EllisJuan said:

Tools bouncing around the bottom of an old aluminum boat...

 

That’s like my old car, where the tackle was worth more then the vehicle.  

8 hours ago, EllisJuan said:

Tools bouncing around the bottom of an old aluminum boat...

 

That's a significant down payment on a nice boat right there, haha.

1 minute ago, RichF said:

That's a significant down payment on a nice boat right there, haha.

Haha!  I was a with a buddy that lives on a private lake that is electric only...although I am pretty sure I have more money in the rod locker of my Tracker than the value of the boat, but she works for me.  ?