JohnFromLisbon

Got a couple of deliveries this morning that should keep the monkey quiet for a while

I have the Split Shot frames with the Prizm Shallow Water lenses. They give great contrast and are super light. They're definitely better than your average polarized lenses. I want to get a pair of Costas to compare, but I really like the Oakleys. The only downslide for the Oakleys has to do with that particular frame, since the original leash started to rust a bit.

@TcRoc not much... From what I could find, apart from the grip and missing hook keeper, everything else is the same. Same line and lure ratings, same actions.

@jbsoonerfan my JDM 6'10 medium got here a week ago and it's totally worth it. I was kind of annoyed that Shimano only offered the JDM models over here in Europe because of the whole detachable handle and no hook keeper design, but the blank goes down to the reel seat, right about where the blank would be exposed, and it's super solid. I'm a sanded blank and cork guy, but I really like how it feels in hand. Balances great, especially with a Curado MGL. And the whole "carbon monocoque" butt thing amplifies any touches on the blank. I tried to get a 7'2H, too. But by the time I got mine and checked back with the store, they were all gone.

I’ll always be a Brady fan, but it will never *not be* weird seeing him in a Bucs jersey. P.S.: not really rooting for the Bucs, and I actually like Mahomes. Enjoyed KC winning last year. So I guess go Chiefs

Oh yeah. I've been watching it every year since 2009 and under normal circumstances I'd be watching with a couple of friends, playing Madden until kickoff. Even in town a handful of bars would stay open, despite the 5 hour difference. We even have an amateur football league over here.

Thanks @kingmotorboat It’s okay, I’m used to it by now. Last week we had our call, this week it’s the Super Bowl. More often than not I find a reason to stay up late. But I did take the week after next off l, so any day of that week is fine for me ?

I got it from a local store. Shimano actually pushes some JDM stuff in the European market, like the Zodias and the Expride, and some reels like the Vanquish. Everything else is straight from their USDM catalog. They're hawkish in controlling everything though their own distribution channel, so much so that on Tackle Warehouse stuff like Shimano reel covers or t-shirts, or even spools of Power Pro, can't be sold overseas because Shimano North America won't allow it. And over here FedEx makes us pay duties and fees on delivery, as per EU rules ?

It's finally here! I needed (well... wanted, really) a dedicated jerkbait/small topwater setup. Got myself the JDM Zodias, 6'10M. For some reason Shimano decided that we can't have the USDM model over here, but I'm pretty sure they're the exact same rod - the only differences being this one detaches at the handle, because reasons, and lack of a hook keeper. Oh, and it comes with a rather nifty carrying thingy. It'll pair up nicely with the Curado MGL, just need to spool it with 30lb 832.

I like his stuff, my only issue is usually the way he presents it. The monotone voice is okay for short videos, but makes it harder to watch longer ones. I don't mean he should go full Mark Zona for every video, but it would help to break down the script into clear sections and vary the tone from time to time. There's a reason why I can stick with Matt Allen for 40 minute clips and don't feel like I'm doing my homework, the dude just knows how to talk to an audience - but this is the kind of thing you can improve. I mean, just look at his early-early stuff. Same goes for Randy Blaukat's videos. The man is a veritable source, but those recently-divorced-dad-dashboard-videos are not the best way to keep me engaged.

I'd go with frogs (not the super big ones though), but at 7'6" that depends on how you feel about it. The other thing it could do fish heavier jigs in deeper water.

Even before it got this bad I started deleting all of my social media. The only account I have is a Facebook account because I need it for work (creating test users for mobile games, etc.), but I don't have any friends on there and I don't follow any pages. I just don't trust Facebook as a platform and don't use any of their products. I talk to my friends on a Signal group chat (we recently killed off our WhatsApp accounts) and I call my folks from time to time. I tried going back to Twitter recently because I missed some of the bass fishing folks on there, and interacting with the guys on Zona Live for example. That account lasted 6 hours before I deactivated it. YouTube is trickier to quit, but I'll try to "curate" my suggestions to keep it acceptable. As for actual news, I'll read a couple of local (Portuguese) newspapers, and I subscribe to two US ones, too.

I'm building my jerkbait setup now - in fact I'm expecting the rod to arrive today. I'm putting a Curado 71 MGL on a 6'10 medium Shimano Zodias. I'm going to spool it with 20 lb Sufix 832 and switch leaders from - say - 10 lb fluoro to 12-15 lb mono depending on whether I'm using it for jerkbaits or smaller to medium topwater baits.

I'm subscribed to the Shimano Japan YouTube channel and they uploaded a TON of videos yesterday. Shimano North America is showing some of this new stuff later today:

The Bait Monkey strikes again

Good thing you used PayPal. It's always a risk, but it's one of the best things you can do. I had no idea the demand for the PS5 would be this big, it's insane. But yeah, I'll wait a while longer for sure, and to be honest none of the next gen games that have come out since launch has really made me go "WOW". Maybe when Gran Turismo comes out later this year

Still waiting, too. Stay strong, don't give in, don't let the scalpers win. Also, it's been so cold that my PS4 hasn't sounded like a 747 when booting up Red Dead Redemption for a while now.

I love it. I love planning before I go. I love spending hours looking at Google Maps and weather apps the days before. I love making a checklist of stuff I want to take for that particular situation, picking baits and making go-boxes, making double and triple sure everything is ready. I love the time I spend making a playlist for the early morning drive. I love it when the alarm goes off and after the fog clears I realize I'm going fishing. I love taking that early shower while the coffee pot fills up. I like hauling everything downstairs and loading it in the trunk like a game of Tetris. I love the early morning drive listening to the playlist I made the night before. I love it when Willie Nelson's On The Road Again starts playing, even though I know exactly when it's coming. I love sipping coffee from the tumbler on those long straight roads where it's only me and the occasional truck. I love it when I slow down, pull on the parking brake, and try to figure out what I'm going to throw first. I love the whirring of the reel on my first cast. I love watching and feeling a new bait and figuring out a new presentation. And then there's the bite

Loomis makes the JBR in spinning, too. It's an 812, so a 6'9 2-power (medium). I've been looking at it but the weight range seems too narrow, they're rated from 1/4 to 3/8 only. I've just ordered a 6'10M Zodias for jerkbaits and smaller topwaters. That 1/4 to 3/4oz range seems like the sweetspot for this stuff. They make a Zodias 6'9 medium in spinning, too. Also, have you tried left hand retrieve casting reels instead?

The Shimano Curado 7'2 Heavy rod. I had handled the MH, and it felt fine. But the 7'2 was noticeably tip heavy - even with a Curado reel on it, which is weird considering they were literally made for each other. Ended up selling it. I still have an old 7'3 Loomis, the 875 MossyBack, that balances better and is slightly lighter too, even with one more guide on it, and can handle a bigger range in weights. In short, I don't miss it.

Hey, I've been stuck at home for a while. I've even been watching those "how to spool a reel" videos that folks put out from time to time, even thought I've been spooling reels since I was 9 or 10. That's how bored I am ? My next goal: learn the FG knot

Considering how light it is I went with the 2500 for the line capacity. Also, @Bass_Fishing_Socal there might be something wrong with your reel. The 2500 is super smooth, buttery smooth, none of that gear-y feel. The 2000 shouldn't be any different, even on the higher ratio models. Mine's an HG and there's no difference in feel.

Me too! Hopefully I can make the jig a confidence bait for me this year

My Black Friday order finally arrived (and only 50+ days later!). Apparently they were completely overwhelmed with parcels that had to be cleared by customs, partly because - y'know - 2020, but also because they decided it was the best time to switch representatives from an old Portuguese company to TNT, which is actually owned by FedEx. Usually I can get my stuff from TW within 2-3 days from their warehouse to my door here in Portugal. Anyway... Here it is. It just got here. I barely had enough time to lay everything out on the desk like it was a drug bust made by local police.

Hey guys! Sorry, won't be able to make it tonight. Work's been hectic and I have an early morning tomorrow. This whole timezones thing, I tell you... ? Besides, all I'd do is mention places none of you have ever heard. I'll try to catch you on the next one! @MN Fisher hoping everything's okay.