Cgrinder

Honestly new reels are so good out of the box these days that I'm not super excited about messing around with spool swaps to create monsters anymore and I've ceased to recommend it to others. Last year a Bantam replaced my SV103 and now my PG spool is homeless. The new Tatula SV made me retire an Alphas R that was a monster in its own right. Yeah, the new reels need I-shape knobs and would love an RCS handle, but doesn't everything? At 20% off, the new Tatula SV is a stupidly good buy. The Elite may be even stupider; I don't have the long cast version to compare.

Neat. Today I Learned.

Pitzen. San Diego Jam but fewer steps.

Some folks swear a magnesium reel gives them a little extra sensitivity. However literally no way you can go wrong with the new Met. I'm really excited to see what magnesium does with the two piece frame. I flip half ounce jigs on the 7'2" H Expride. Feels good. It's also fine with 3/8 and a beaver. I would go Braillist though if I could manage a 7'5 rod regularly (shorebound and buskwhackin). Honestly I would spend less on the reel and more on the rod. The Tatula Elite is an excellent jig reel for around $250 and that leftover scratch will get you a lot more from the rod than the reel. You do you though; if you want the Met, buy the Met.

Sniper is also pretty stretchy. Definitely will take some getting used to swapping from braid.

843 MBR, new Tatula SV, 12 lb Assassin. I don't really have a favorite; anything with a bullet head and a good hook in a bluegill pattern. Favorite trailer is a Little Dipper.

Have one. Smooth and quiet. Good distance. Nice reel for throwing baits that go stupid mid cast (looking at you spinnerbaits).

Bantam on a Megabass Power Versatile or Tatula Elite on an NRX. Diminishing returns in reels kicks in a lot sooner than in rods. Not a lot of reasons to go above $250 these days. Midrange reels are getting pretty good. Plenty of reasons to own a high end Loomis, St Croix, or custom rod though.

Yeah respool that braid tight. Toight like a toiger. I've gone low as 10 lb braid on casters without issues. Well other than cutting both hand and leader knot.

Squarebills work on a lot of rods. Lure weight, line type, cover, how you like to fight fish, what you had for lunch, etc are all variables in the equation. If what you have works, don't change. I like a moderate rod with fluoro or copoly in more open water and something stouter with braid if I am trying to rip grass or need to get fish out of junk in a jiffy. As long as you're able to keep pressure on the fish without your rod unloading you'll be aight.

I have a friend who makes his money on a chatterbait and he throws them on a 736 glass with 20 lb fluoro. I, a filthy casual, do not throw a chatterbait. I threw a Siebert Fogy once on a 7'1 MH brand I'm not allowed to mention. It was alright.

I would not be surprised if the ban on anything that requires lining up at a boat launch came straight from the DNR. The press release about them closing the Tippy Dam area had a "this is why we can't have nice things" vibe to it. Here's hoping for a return to normalcy soon. Stay safe out there.

Conquest MBR 843 of course. You work hard. You deserve it.

The Elite has a couple nicer components. I really like the knobs on the flippin Elite. The new SV is maybe not a bomber but it feels a lot less restricted compared to other SV reels or spools. I haven't fished the Curado DC, though I would like to, but I have had a lot of time with some higher end Shimanos. I think the Tatula SV is a solid workhorse type reel at a workhorse price with the added bonus of a little more control. I think we're at a time in reel production where a lot of the good has trickled down the price points and I don't feel like you're missing out on much compared to the higher end unless you want a magnesium frame (which you want, because they are sick).

3/8 oz jigs or below, NRX. Half ounce is "fine" but not ideal. Where the 853c really shines is Senkos and Ikas, IMO.

Almost certainly. On topic, which JDM rods are you looking at?

USDM doesn't mean made in USA. Like Macho Man says, nothing means nothing.

I like the Pitzen or 16-20 knot a lot. It's a San Diego Jam with fewer steps.

I have no issues with half or 3/8 oz jigs on the 72H. 1/4 and chunk is not bad either but not great.

Shows how different opinions are. I feel like my 7'2 Heavy is kinda soft and pretty versatile.

Very sad but probably for the best. Kensington Metro has been hoppin' lately.

I like the Shimano Expride a lot at that price point.

If you can swing a Bantam MGL, buy it. It feels like a round reel in a low profile package; a pleasant fish-winching experience. On the Daiwa side, I just received a Tatula Elite and an SV TW 103. I know quite a few folks bought one or both recently so in the next couple weeks there will be a lot of first hand info posted. I have very high hopes for the Elite.

My favorite production reel is the Bantam MGL. I have the XG for frogging/punching and it is just a winch.

If you can find one, the second gen Power Versatile from the Black Jungle series is an amazing heavy cover rod.