FryDog62

Yes, very familiar with Yo-Zuri Hybrid... @Roadwarrior has used the 4 lb a lot and based on his recommendation a few years ago, I picked up a spool back when I could find it that size. The 4 lb has the diameter of most 8 lb lines, but it is pretty strong, abrasion resistant and good knot strength. I have some 7 lb Sniper I would probably try before buying 6 lb Tatsu. Valid point, any perspective on what size braid would or would not work on the BFS reel Daiwa Air Stream?

Been thinking more about this point which is valid... however, as I think about it more - would the higher density give more weight when casting a light 1/16 oz hair jig and actually help get more distance?

Thx!

Thx, but need something transparent for clear water, also I’m not sure if BFS baitcasting reel can use braid...

True, they are non-braid... I'll add the caveat that this will be used in gin clear smallmouth waters so needs to be low viz, i.e. mono/co-poly/fluorocarbon. And Ultra finesse micro guides that braid/leader won't go through.

What mono/co-poly/fluorocarbon 6 pound line do you get best casting distance from? I’ve heard that Gliss casts a country mile, but that it’s too fragile. What else do people like?

Anyone have a current coupon code for Digitaka, JPAngler or other reputable JDM sites?

Thx, I better save up some yens ?

Air stream preferred over Air TW, or do you mean starting price of stream is better?

How do you think the Alphas CT SV would work with that rod? Wondering if it will get enough distance with light hair jigs..

I have ordered a Dobyns 740 Ultra Finesse rod to use for throwing 1/16-1/8 oz hair jigs for smallmouth. May use as a Ned/DS rod some too. I have a Daiwa Alphas, but odd as it may sound I will experiment with a Tatula Elite too. The Elite is not BFS but I have used it on a 7'1" Phenix Feather MLF and honestly get better distance than the Alphas. Elite can be a little touchier, but once dialed in I can cast a light Ned about 10-20% farther than the Alphas.

I switched my jerk bait set up from a Tatula SV TW to an Elite this past year. It is so much easier to get distance on lighter, high profile lures with the Elite. Big difference. I like a higher speed reel to pick up line when I'm jerk baiting - I think 7.1 or 8.1 would be fine, I have the 8.1.

I have just about all of the SV Daiwa reels - but picked up 3 Elites in the past year to help me get more distance on higher profile/light lures like buzz baits, jerk baits, etc. I have struggled at times adjusting to them because they cast so far. After fishing SV's all day and picking up the Elite, I have launched some buzz baits well into the upper deck on shore. Seriously, it launches...

I ordered a Dobyns 7’4” Ultra finesse baitcasting rod... I want to focus more on 1/16-1/8 oz hair jigs for smallies at certain times of the year here in MN... so far I dabble with Marabou, but the light went on this Fall, just needed the right rod;)

I’ve been intrigued but haven’t bought the 6 inch Fat Straight Tail worm for Shaky Head or Neko rigging. Was ready to purchase some last summer but my local store sold out. Do you find the tail to float well enough? I know the action is good... I don’t always like the worm floating straight up but somewhere between 45-90 degrees seems to work best for me.

White Bass like them too - -

1) Kalin's 5 inch Wac-O-Worm (Baby Bass) Weightless T-Rig for wacky 2) Maxscent General 4 (drop-shot wacky style) or 5 inch regular wacky style 3) Grande Bass 5 inch Airtail Rattler Neko/Shaky/T-rig 4) 7.5 inch Culprit in black/blue T-rig 5) 4 inch Roboworm for DS (if I'm out of Creature Hawgs) "The Wiggler"

Alberto is one of the strongest and thinnest knots when tied correctly. It has one primary flaw if you can avoid will make it nearly bullet proof. You must go back through the original loop the same direction as you came in or it will pull out upon tightening. I try to be very careful but out in the wind and a rocking boat I still go the wrong way from time to time and it is frustrating...

Once you get out on the water, try to focus on a rig that skips easiest and build confidence from there. A wacky worm is good, but one of my favorite you can actually get to "ski" even more than skip is a 4 inch Biwaa Craw on a 1/8 oz jig head... will make you feel like a pro!

Cool, will have to get your feedback if you get the new Zillion... I have high hopes for it. Yeah, not a huge rush to get a skipping combo this time of year in MN. Although if you did it now out on the ice you might set a Guiness record for longest skip under an ice house..!

I have not used the DC, but talked to a guy I know that does. He says it’s definitely better than the other Shimanos he skips with but not as smooth or as much distance as the Daiwa SV. That said I’m sure both are great reels. Are you talking about the new Zillion set to come out or the old one? A new release is planned with significant upgrades. I had a Zillion a couple years ago and it was nice, but I think the Tatula SV that came out last year kind of leap-frogged the Zillion. Which makes me think the new release of the Zillion will be even better. For me, I’d wait and at least compare... I think the other thing he does right is more of a stand straight up and roll cast. He kind of calls out the guys that crouch down baseball style and sling it side arm. That was absolutely me when I started out skipping and I had some epic blow ups!

I got a ticket parking there this summer - ha!

The light went on for me when Daiwa came out with the SV spool 5 or so years ago. I had been trying to master skipping with other reels for a few years prior that usually ended up in a lash. I now use a variety of SV spools (Tatula, Alphas, Steez) and would say I’m 98% backlash free when skipping now. The acid test was going back to my Lews, Curados, etc now that I had the technique refined. With those reels I’m better but still backlash often enough that I don’t use them for skipping at all... not worth the headache. I wouldn’t even consider anything but an SV for really light or weightless lures like wacky or Neko worms. I also started out with shorter rods (6’6”) and they were accurate but I could not get the distance I could with the same length spinning rod. I use 6’-10” to 7’1” bc rods now. Accuracy improves with a longer rod with practice, but I found out you don’t get more distance no matter how much you use a shorter rod... it makes you overthrow to get distance and that will cause lashes even with an SV spool. It was an expensive mistake for me to start with short rods and then sell everything to buy longer ones. I also like a high speed reel, and use 7.3 And 8.1. When you skip to a target, you’re only in the strike zone awhile, the you have to reel back fast to cast out again. Slower speed reels get very tiring. I do prefer 8.1’s for skipping - so I ended up adding longer handles to my 7.3’s because Alphas and Steez don’t come in 8.1 unfortunately. Light and weightless lures I throw on 20 lb Sufix braid + fluoro leader. At a 1/4 oz and higher I use either 10-12 lb Yo-Zuri Hybrid or 14-17 lb fluoro as main lines.

Welcome! Also from MN (Plymouth).

5.83 LMB caught on a fluke skipped under a marina dock while waiting for my partner to show up. Also experimented more this year with a Berkley Snap Jig. It not only catches smallmouth, but other stuff too even though on the same ML rod, 8 lb test line and no net makes it a bit more challenging. Will never question the strength of Fusion hooks again! That epic battle will air on the Outdoor Channel later this month.