Received my 2 new rods yesterday.

 

On 7/29/2020 at 12:01 PM, thunderblack said:

It's not the LT SS but a JDM procyon IM. Very similar in looks though.

Saw that soon after I posted that in your For Sale post.  Nice looking reel regardless!

Subtle, classic, finesse...

On 7/31/2020 at 9:04 AM, BaitFinesse said:

Is that a Ray's TD Zillion spool?

Not sure if it's a Ray's.  Wouldn't be a zillion spool though since this is a TD-Z (34mm) and a Zillion is a 36mm spool.  I bought two off of someone on TT.  They are really nice spools!

On 8/1/2020 at 11:08 AM, BaitFinesse said:

Looks the like one of the older Ray's Studio spools to me in 34mm.  

Cool...if it is (as I am not familiar with the older spools), how do they perform?  Thanks!

Latest reel purchases. I wrote about them earlier but that post was deleted. I guess I should have posted it here instead of latest tackle purchase thread. That is no longer for rods and reels I suppose. Anyway, here they are. Brand new in the box Citica 200e, MINT condition 13 Met and a clean Chronarch 50e

 

Just picked up this beaut yesterday. 

 

A little on the heavy side but size is perfect for me and it casts better than any reel I've ever used before.

I was debating on changing the handle over to a carbon fiber not sure yet though. Anyone know how to take the hand grips off the handle?

21 hours ago, Greeneye8181 said:

Just picked up this beaut yesterday. 

 

A little on the heavy side but size is perfect for me and it casts better than any reel I've ever used before.

I was debating on changing the handle over to a carbon fiber not sure yet though. Anyone know how to take the hand grips off the handle?

Chrome caps just pop off exposing screw. Be careful when removing knobs as there's a thin shim under the ball bearing. As far as swapping out the handle in the first place I would leave it be. Stock handle is no heavier than CF and looks great.

1 hour ago, The Bassman said:

Chrome caps just pop off exposing screw. Be careful when removing knobs as there's a thin shim under the ball bearing. As far as swapping out the handle in the first place I would leave it be. Stock handle is no heavier than CF and looks great.

I agree. I had a Avail handle on my Antares and ended up putting my stock handle back on. 

Some more older Shimano goodies. Chronarch ci4 in excellent condition I upgraded the knobs and spooled it up with 12lb Sufix Elite and put it on a 6'10 Cumulus rod I picked up. I think this is going to be a great 1/4 oz or 3/8 oz spinnerbait set-up.

Got another combo put together today. Chronarch 50e with a 96mm handle from a Chronarch G XG and upgraded knobs with bearings, put on a brand new, plastic was still attached, Crucial 7' M. I put 40lb Sufix on it and it is going to be a dedicated Popmax combo. I only tossed it around in the yard, but it feels really nice.

8 minutes ago, BaitFinesse said:

Round reel time.  Plastic low pros can eat it.  She's all metal now on the outside.

Hate that it's a righty. Love everything else. Handle is bomb.com.

45 minutes ago, iabass8 said:

Hate that it's a righty. Love everything else. Handle is bomb.com.

And that's a big auction site GoMexus handle.  Aren't the nice for the price!

Another St. Croix rod and Daiwa reel to add to the collection.

 

Legend Elite 7ft6 MH Moderate Fast

Steez A JDM 5.3:1 Crazy Cranker

 

Main use 1.25 oz Jackhammers

Secondary uses

medium to deep diving crankbaits.

LV500'S.

3/4 -1 oz foot ball jigs.

Carolina rigs.

Spinning:

5' St. Croix Ultra-Light, F, Shimano Sedona 500, 4 lb. Spiderwire Mono

6'6" Bass Pro, Pro Qualifier 2, MH, F, Shimano Sahara 1000, 15 lb. Berkley X5 Braid, 8 lb. Trilene Fluro

6'6" St. Croix Triumph, Shimano Sahara C 3000, 12 lb. Trilene Fluro

7' IRod Air, ML, MF, Okuma Inspire 15X 40W, 10 lb. Sufix 832 Braid, 6 lb. Trilene Fluro

Can't upload the picture of my baitcasting rigs, but they are:

7' St. Croix Premier, H, F, Johnny Morris Platinum Signature, 8.3:1, 65 lb. Spiderwire Braid, 20 lb. Seagaur InvisX Fluro

7'6" St. Croix Mojo Yak MH, F, Team Lews Pro TI, 7.5:1, 50 lb. Sufix 832 Braid, 15 lb. Seagaur InvisX Fluro

7' IRod Genesis 2, MH, M, Okuma Helios SX 8.1:1, 20 lb. Spiderwire Braid, 8 lb. Trilene Fluro

7' St. Croix Premier, MH, M, Bass Pro Pro Qualifier 2, 30 lb. Bass Pro Hyperbraid, 12 lb Trilene Fluro.  

 

I just started bass fishing this year.  Yeah, kind of a gear freak.  St. Croix was my go to as I used to fly fish St. Croix rods.  The top two baitcasters are excellent rigs (I particularly like the 7'6" rod reel for flipping and pitching).  I got the Okuma reel on sale, thought I would try it out.  Birdnested the crap out of it until I got it set up correctly.  It is beautifully smooth casting and casts incredibly far.  I almost exclusively use if for Crankbaits.   

Here are just some of the classics that are in my lineup among others.  The fully mint or nib versions of each haven’t left their boxes.  ?

Added some recent blue to this Ito/105h hybrid.

Got my new Zodias ML out for a test run.

How does the new handle shape feel?

How does it compare to the old Zodias?

4 hours ago, mrpao said:

How does the new handle shape feel?

How does it compare to the old Zodias?

It's very comfortable. I never fished the older style. The back part of the grip disappears on my forearm, it's also very sensitive. The only thing that throws me about theis ML rod rated for 4-8lb line is that it seems heavier than that. It feels more like a rod rated 6-10 or even 12lb line. Nice taper. It has quite a bit of backbone for a medium light rod.

Started off the week by ordering a Curado K online since all the shops around here are sold out. Yesterday when talking to a friend he told me there's a place about 20 minutes from where I live that has a few bass rods, even though it's a surf and inshore fishing shop.

 

Drove down there this morning, got a great deal on an NRX 802S and a Curado 7'2 H, one of those "I can't pass this up" deals.

 

Strangely they had an E6X 893C for 100 EUR (~120 USD) over the regular price, so not sure what's going on there.