TimTheGearNerd

what kind of cover are you throwing in? Pretty heavy cover usually? football jig? I’m trying to find ways to make this rod really stand out. It’s sensitive for sure, I’m just trying to find how others are utilizing it.

Which dark sleeper do you throw on 853? Is it the 1/2 oz?

I’ve had a NRX 894 for a long time and it’s not getting a ton of time on the water. Today, I tried to throw a 1/2 oz dark sleeper and I think that might be a perfect fit. Curious to see if anyone else tried this. I assume the OG NRX is similar enough to the NRX+ and it should fish about the same. I had a Daiwa T3 on there that was able to cast that 1/2 oz dark sleeper a mile due to the length. I fished it like a jig and felt everything on the ground which is expected for an NRX but since the rod is tip heavy, swimming the Dark sleeper tip down worked well too. Originally, I wanted a rod to throw 1 oz Caroline rig but found the rod too stiff to get good distance. I ended up using my Dobyns dx745 instead which had a softer tip. With the heavier tip on the 894, I didn’t use it as much for pure tip up presentations. It wasn’t as comfortable as some of my other rods but with the dark sleeper, it felt like a good fit for this swim bait & jig type presentation.

I found I don’t really use all these rods so I paired a few that I like and I have a bunch of gear waiting in the bench for when I need them. • USA destroyer Daemos (7’3” MH MF) – Good for Swim Jigs + Zillion SV 7:1 (31 IPT) – 12# Fluoro, 1016 Spool • Cranker 2 (7’3” MH M) + Lexa 5:1 – 12# Fluoro • Expride (7’3” XH) – Frogging & Punching + •Bantam 8:1 (35 IPT) – (Line 50# braid) • DC736 (7’3” HF) – A-Rigs + Tatula 6:1 (26 IPT) – 25# Yo-Zuri • Orochi XX (6’10” MH Mod) – Jerkbaits + Metanium 6:1 (26 IPT) – 10# Fluoro • Tequila Baccarac (7’ Mag Heavy Mod) + team Daiwa zillion 7:1 14# mono Dobyns suf700c + Conquest 8:1 (28 IPT) – 6# Fluoro for bfs Kistler KLX 6’9 HF + • T3 SV 8:1 (33 IPT) – 12# Fluoro expride 7’w ML spinning + Vanford 2500 Reels: • Steez A 6:1 (26 IPT) – 14# FC Sniper • T3 6:1 (26 IPT) – 20# Fluoro, 1016 Spool • Curado 50E 6:1 (25 IPT) – 8# Mono • Chronarch MGL 7:1 (30 IPT) – 14# FC Sniper • T3 7:1 (30 IPT) – 10# Fluoro, SV Boost • Curado K 7:1 (31 IPT) – 30# Braid • Spinning (, Stradic, Ultegra, etc.) – Used for finesse techniques Rods • DX745 (7’4” MHF) – • NRX 894 (7’5” H F) – • BuCoo Micro (7’ MM) – • DC735CB Glass (7’3” MH Mod) Dobyns xtasy drx 724c DObyns champ extreme dx702sf

following! Great video. Btw

@Darth-Baiter have you got any old spools size 34mm? for heavier stuff, I swap the 1016 spool for the SV. It’s fun to tinker and try that out. I had an old T3 and those had nice spools that fit well. It might be fun for those Mexican green monsters and 1/2+ oz lures. -21 Zillion SV TW • Steez SV TW Series • T3 Series • TD-Z 103/105 Models • SS SV Series • Ryoga 1016 I think getting a zillion was a good chose for what you were looking for. I really like my 20 Met but it’s just not an ATV style of reel for me. It does a few jobs way way better than any other reel. I throw jerkbait on it and it can outcast anything. The feel of a shimano cast is just different. If you know what I’m talking about and you like it, there is no comparison. that tiny reel is more cozy in my hand if the technique is wrist twitching or tip up all day long. That bantam is likely super similar, just more heavy duty.

I started watching THEREELTEST before he started to put the annoying bible verse in his intros. I liked that there were some quantitative data that I couldn’t get elsewhere and I loved reel porn and gear talk, I do trust Bass resource gear advise more for sure. I often don’t feel like the reel test knows how to set up his reels which results in crappy results so I stopped watching. I don’t trust TheReelTest I am a huge fan of PunchFishing for entertainment purposes. His videos are just fun to watch. I’ve 100% purchased gear because he pushed it only to find I don’t like the same things. I do agree with his opinion about Daiwa Reels but I still enjoy Shimano reels more. I did buy a Zillion when I kept seeing praises pop up on the rod and reel forum. So far, cool reel but not blown away yet. Perfect click bait title, I’m glad you did it. These posts are great.

I was a big fan of both companies. bottom line, the Helium is more sensitive and lighter. I’d go with Helium for your purpose especially if you see that sweet deal they had for under $100 bucks. I own a 7’2 MH Fast helium. I have a handful of dobyns mostly XP and HP. I have a DX745 which is closest to what you’re considering. It’s heavier but well balanced so weight isn’t really a factor and it’s got more aesthetics and a great tip for versatility. This is always true about Dobyns. As some have said, I don’t know what’s going on with Dobyns the company so I’d be careful when getting these rods and just purchase the rod and don’t expect any backing from the company or warranty. I can answer any specific questions you have.

Appears to be just spool size

If I were buying reels for tournament I’d get the same reel because that would help me win and have more time with line in water. I have the 20 Met and a steez. Sometimes as wind picks up or I retie a different lure on the Met, I’m more prone to having backlash. Steez doesn’t cast as far but mag breaks are just fool proof. Punchfishing on you tube has a good video & compare. Your JDM Zillion has aluminum gear vs USDM has brass gear. Maybe you like USDM zillion better, can’t say that explains everything you don’t like about the zillion. if you’re curious about what else is out there maybe try one at a time on used market when you see a good deal. Don’t like it, just sell it. I have the Bantam too. It’s heavier and for some long rods like my 894 NRX it balances way better. Seems like the Bantam should be something for you to try as well! My favorite is my 20 Met but I wouldn’t bet my entry fee on it.

It makes sense to up the braid size. I thought my casting set up would be similar to a jig set up. Interesting to know folks up size to something more like 50/56 pound. I have 20# YZH on now. Might try heavy braid if I get issues with the YZH line.

Broken a few in ten years. first rod was broken standing up in a kayak and the rod got broken by a over hanging tree. then I found one with tip broken off after pulling out of rod mule another rod had an eye pop out of of guide and got a free replacement rod. I had a Cheap academy spinning rod break twice on hook set. Same rod back to back. Must have been that rod. I do have a few megabass. I heard those will explode after a few years. Time will tell

Recently, I got into throwing 6 in swimbaits and a-rig on a 7ft XXH rod. I’ve been preferring 20# copoly or Flouro over 30# braid with leader. I know the braid cast further and I have less risk of line breaking from bird nest but for me, braid will bird nest once and become a nightmare. The line starts to dig into itself and I get a ton of break off on cast from Braid getting stuck. I think I spool the braid correctly. I put a ton of tension on the braid when spooling up. For my heavy casting lures I’m choosing not to use braid. I feel better about casting a copoly line harder too since I won’t have this braid line getting stuck in spool problem. Anyone else run into this situation?

This topic is still relevant! Zillion is still great value but if we’re talking about JDM, I can’t see how the Zillion beats out the Bantam or the scorpion DC. Both shimanos are cheaper on Digitaka.

I don’t own one but I’ve always wanted to try it out. I would totally be down to own one! Couple things happen over past few years which led to my never buying one. Some time around when the new reel came out I had a job that had policy which paid for a steez A. This was basically a more expensive made in Japan version of the zillion reel. I also ended up getting spinning reels and a Conquest BFS from Japan. I already have a solid line up. Between the Curado K, Bantam, Met MGL, and OG tatula and OG zillion, T3 SV. I never found a place for the new zillion. Based on the steez A and my T3 SV, I think the zillion would be good for moving baits and the mag breaks would be great for changing out lures often and SV spools super easy to use especially if it’s windy. For heavy stuff and frogging I like the core solid design on Shimano. I also find, I cast farther with Shimano stuff. I hope you get one and Share your thoughts.