Hogsticker

I've owned both. Couldn't tell a lick of difference. I think they're the same rod.

I just make adjustments based off what I can actually see happening. Short strikers, followers, etc. I always start my day with a 5/8 Oz lipless crank and vary my retrieve. Then I'll downsize to a quarter ounce. I'm always looking for the size of the foorage and baitfish. My next stop will be a 4 inch Keitech, then a 2 inch. Fast, slow, let it drop, etc. Once I cycle through those two bait styles I assume they don't want anything moving to fast. If the cover is right I might try banging a crankbait around but I usually move on. My go to baits at this point will be a flick shake on an Owner 3/32 wacky head, a weightless 4 inch Senko either wacky or Texas, and a 3.5 and 2.5 inch tube. If I'm coming up nada I'll dead stick some soft baits if I know fish are present. I'm primarily a smallmouth angler, but during the winter I use these same baits for brown trout. Other days I'll get a hair up my butt and throw jerkbaits all day. I can always catch something slimy on a jerkbait, plus it's my favorite bait to throw. That said, I start every morning tossing a Pop X around cause it's just fun.

Sunline Reaction, Sniper, and Assassin all make good cranking lines if you prefer fluorocarbon.

Okay, let me rephrase. A rod that will handle any bait type or size effectively and efficiently. Your lightning didn't do everything. How many 2 ounce swimbaits did you chuck on it? Did you throw 1/16 ounce jigs with it? Drop shot? What one line were you using? Find me a rod I can pull a 25 foot diving crank, retie, and throw a weightless finesse worm on. Should I use 16 lb mono or, 8 lb fluoro, or 60 lb braid on it cause I want to flip and pitch with it too.

Daiwa is just trying to get you to purchase another reel!

Perhaps I'm wrong, but my understanding was when people went to order through American Legacy they actually did not have them in Stock, though the Web site showed otherwise. I think someone called Daiwa and was told they should hit the shelves December / January. It also hasn't been confirmed that the SV spool will drop right in without adding spacers. Nobody has one yet to confirm. That's the last thing I recall reading anyways.

Bingo. I can't tell you how many rods I've gone through trying to find what I consider perfect for jerkbaits. Finally found it with the Mhx high mod series popping blanks.

Casting or spinning? A medium heavy Phenix Maxim can handle a lot of things. If you list the primary baits and techniques you plan on employing, you will get more accurate responses. You will never find a single rod that will do it all. It doesn't exist.

Lots of variables to consider here!

If I had to choose one manufacturer for all my hook needs it would 100 percent be Owner.

The nice thing about fluoro is the different characteristics you can get from it. You just have to get the appropriate line for what you're trying to achieve whether it be sensitivity, handling, etc. Braid will always be braid,and on a super windy day I'll take a pass. I agree with a few comments like don't start with a cheap fluoro and trying Sunline Assassin. Fluoro can be a nightmare and there's a lot of people who don't like it. I got burnt out on braid and made the switch to all Sunline Defier, Sniper, and Assassin.

I've handled both rods and have a few custom Phenix builds. The medium light you refer to will have a sweet spot around 3/8 Oz. If you're fishing anything much heavier on a shaky head, plastic included, I would opt for the medium. Phenix blanks tend to run lighter than advertised. The medium fast will also be slower in action than the average fast action rod. It's a Phenix thing. On a side note these Maxim blanks felt great for the price. I don't think you'll be disappointed. Plus sic guides - bonus!

Are you getting the Viola or the Rosso? The 1010 spool in the FX68 has a sweet spot around a half ounce. If you're looking to cast anything lighter the Alphas SV will perform better.

If you're fishing 1 day a week, 3 times a month, 5 months out of the year, a lesser expensive reel can be fine. None the less, there is a difference between cheap and garbage. If you fish often, year round, a better quality reel will be beneficial. As already stated, it will be made with better materials, components, better precision, tolerances, and quality control which all directly relate to longevity. And while you may not find a huge difference in casting distance, what you will find is a more fluid ease in which it does so. The difference between spools in a 200 dollar reel and a 50 dollar reel will be night and day in that regard, especially when casting baits of the lighter variety.

Which handle is this Norm? Thx

Dry Creek has a tube for every occasion, and they are awesome sauce. Check them out.

I believe the handle on the tat is 90 mm, so if that's busting knuckles you must have some man paws. Tackle Trap sales the 100 mm Steez handle I think. Avail also has some that length. You should be able to find some 100 carbon handles on flea Bay for 50 60 bucks.

Phenix has a 6'10 in the Maxim line. It's a medium light rated fast, but the blank flexes pretty deep. It's definitely more of a moderate fast. It should cast and load the light stuff very well. I fondled this exact rod in a local store and the blank felt fantastic for a hundred dollar rod. Plus it has SIC guides.

Yo Zuri, spro, and Ima Flits are my stand outs.

Hold out and wait for the SV103 to release imo. I have high hopes for this reel. OG Zillion with an SV spool. Only Usdm Daiwa I've been interested in for what feels like forever.

Very colorful!

The new Speedstyle has the new Pts reel seat. The Acs seat sucks for moving baits, but I don't mind it, kinda prefer it for finesse techniques. It's terrible with large framed reels. The majority of those Japan boys are fishing small, slow offerings, and if I had to guess that is the reason Major Uses the Acs seat.

68Camaro - If you're getting hung up or to much gunk on your bait to present it correctly, I suggest the following two things. Try using a small 2 / 2.5 inch grub or paddle tail type bait on a 1/16 Oz swimbait style jig head. Swim it just above the algea. This will take some trial and error to get your retrieve just right. Remember you will need to speed your retrieve up the closer you get to shore as your fishing an incline. Also try a flick shake trick style worm on a 1/16 Oz wacky head. Most of the time the fish will grab this on the drop as it's coming to them. Once you feel you're on the bottom, pick it up and cast to a different spot. This is still finesse fishing and you can get your finesse fix. I recommend 25 to 20 pound braid for this as fluorocarbon will speed up the rate of fall and I assume what you're fishing is relatively shallow.

Yes, thank you detective.

I believe it's posspossible that mistakes are being made with Daiwa assembly. My understanding is they are having some turnover. When I received my SS SV, much to my surprise it had 4 bushings in the handle. Call me crazy, but I've never seen a black plastic bearing and I know no bearings were in there. Nobody is going to convince me otherwise.