MontclairDave

Yup, for $100 I’d get Shimano SLX any day of the week. Or save up another $30 for the XT, which has external dial. But for $63 I figured it’d be good for topwater/mono setup. What mono do you use? I’ve been a Berkeley Trilene XL guy for years. But all of my fluoro is Sunline or Seagar so thinking of trying one of theirs…they both make good stuff. Can’t beat the price of Trilene though… $7 on Amazon for 300 yards!

Good point, thanks!!

That’s good information they gave you. But it’s not the information their customer service rep gave me. I wish he had: I would have avoided the wasted time of mailing it back to them.

No owner’s manual. I returned it. We shall see what I get back. Basically, whatever I get back I will use and not obsess over my $63 purchase. But this will probably be the last reel I buy from TW, especially if the packaging I get back is more thorough, meaning something shady happened with the first one. At least I got someone on phone quickly—that’s a lot better than some sellers out there. I also agree that as a site advertiser it’d be nice for someone at TW to respond to this thread. Now I’m going to fondle my Zillion to wash away the frustration over all of this.

Well, I think that’s kind of ridiculous. How much does it cost to slap a plastic bag on the reel so i at least know I’m the first one to use the thing? I called TW and the guy said it sounded weird… and that I should send it back for an exchange. Now from what I’m reading here I may be wasting my time and will just get another exposed reel in an otherwise empty box. I guess I’ll find whether it makes any difference. Still leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Never had this before with any of the Shimano, Daiwa, Quantum or Abu reels I have.

Nope. Clearance/new. Rumor has it they are coming out with updated version at iCast so clearing out current stock.

TW had great deal on this reel: $63. So it comes today like this; no plastic bag, no schematic, no warranty card, etc. Seems sketchy to me. Reel feels/looks fine otherwise. Should I be worried?

What size and type hook do you use for the 7” burner worms?

Wow! Just grabbed one of these, thanks for the heads-up! Don’t really need another reel but this is too good a deal to pass up. Been hearing about for years as one of the best $100 reels on market (along with Shimano SLX, which is not on sale).

I’ve got the Falcon Expert and it can handle frogging and punching for what passes up north as moderate to heavy cover. But in Florida I agree the Amistad may be a better choice.

Yup. Why deal with the hassle of straight fluoro? Alberto knot takes about 5 minutes to learn how to tie, never fails, and if you want the experience of straight fluoro without the hassle, just tie a 15- or 20- ft leader. But know that occasionally that can be a bit springy. I’ve found it’s fine in lakes but less so on rivers where I am fighting current and any bit of line management issue becomes magnified. Then I go with a short leader (3 ft or so). Also: you can afford to get a higher grade of fluoro because it lasts so much longer when you are just using it for leader. Invizx is my fav. Now, having said all that… as noted in another thread… I’ve been using straight braid on both spinners and BC a lot more lately!! Not seeing a whole lot of difference in murky water. Just sayin…

This is more and more my approach. Used to use a LOT of braid-to-fluoro and after a few trips where I forgot my leader box and fished straight braid and straight fluoro I noticed no difference in catch rate regardless of what line I use. But I fish weedy ponds with pretty murky water like the OP. In Michigan or other clear water fisheries, I can see straight braid being a problem.

x2. I’ve been tying the Alberto for about the last 5 years because it’s (for me) a bit easier than the double uni. Never failed me. Gotta be something else causing the break offs.

Invizx and Sniper are the first 2 I’ve tried, and I’ve had zero issues with either of them. Then I tried Seagar Red Label to save some money on applications that don’t need the highest-quality line/sensitivity, like reaction baits. I’d say a good value so far; no breakoffs (some have had that problem with Red Label). I’d buy all 3 again, no hesitation.

Ha! As a Falcon fanboy that is definitely the way I am leaning. I’ve got a few rods I don’t fish anymore so I think I’m gonna do the American Legacy Fishing trade-in program to help lessen the bite of the baitmonkey.

Looking to get a new baitcasting rod for 1/4-ounce finesse jigs along rocky banks and moderate cover. My medium rods are all a bit too moderate and frankly budget-oriented for moving baits, so not very sensitive. And my MH rods feel just a bit too overpowered for this presentation. My dilemma: I can’t decide if a fast-action higher-end Medium or Medium-light is the way to go. $200-$250 is the range I want to be in. Benefit of Medium-light is that it could double as a BFS rod (yes, on heavier end of BFS range) for bass in small ponds. I just got a new BFS reel, hence my thinking of a double-duty approach. But I’m not married to that—it’s more important to get something dialed in for finesse jigs at this point. Been catching a lot of fish on them but feel like I may be missing some bites with my current rod (Falcon HD Medium). And yes, the Falcon Finesse Jig rod (Cara) is on my short list!

Link to thread please, thanks!

You don’t find the micro guides a pain?

Bingo!!!! Thanks!!

You know, I thought it was a Seibert but I couldn’t find one with those two long tails coming off it. But I’ll tell you what the real secret of this jig combo is: the River2Sea D Walker 100 trailer. Makes the head shake and gives jig amazing secondary action. So I’m sure I can pretty much recreate the effect in case I lose this one.

Tell me about it. Now that am used to how crazy smooth the Zillion is, it is the new standard. But that 150 mgl is definitely on my short list for my next reel so thanks for the review, great job. And boy would I love that Loomis rod. That’s definitely NOT in my budget, baitmonkey or no.

Caught my PB on this a few years back, thought I lost it. Found it buried in bottom of tackle bag and caught 3 fish in five casts after skunked on chatterbait, spinnerbait, Senko for 3 hours. But I can’t remember who makes it! Anyone recognize it?

Ha! That’s quite a long short list. Looking forward to seeing the replies. BFS is definitely my next reel and rod purchase.

Falcon HD casting rods for about $80. I always have the Medium 6’ 8” or 9” near at hand. Cranks, small Texas rigs, finesse paddletails, 1/4-ounce mini-max chatterbaits, finesse jigs, small topwaters, it can do it all.

Don’t have any experience with Dobyns rods but love my Falcon HD. For $79 I can’t imagine a better bang-for-the-buck rod, especially for moving baits. I have the Medium and it has a great tip for target casting and handles smaller chatterbaits and spinnerbaits well. Even can handle small jigs and t rigs. But not a good heavy cover rod. I fish weed lanes and pockets so I don’t get too bogged down in slop. Good topwater also. Pretty sure it’s a moderate fast action. Rated at 1/4 to 3/4 but you’re really pushing its limits at 3/4.