FishTank

If you are looking at the Metanium, you could get the Antares 70A JDM version for about the same price or the Steez SV JDM. Both of these reels are power houses and will easily cast a 1/4 oz, with the Antares being just slightly better in distance.

On the right. On one of the main lakes I fish I always start out counter clockwise so I am casting to my left. It does get in the way eventually. I plan on adding a longer control arm in the future.

That new bait smell...

I wanted to update my thoughts on this since picking up my PA 14, which I haven't used yet. I did take another look at the Autopilot yesterday and the place I stopped at figured out the issue. It was a piece of tape or clear mylar that wasn't allowing the signal to be sent. Just the protective stuff they put on when new. Anyway, it worked and I was blown away. I think for me though, the way I fish and how I am on the water, the Hobie, I hope, is more my speed but wow the Autopilot is an evolution in how you can fish.

I have used several over the years and make it a hobby to try out a new line each year. Short version, almost all lines are good under certain conditions but I have my favorites and few I don't care for. My personal favorite is Sunline Defier. Great line, last longer than most but pricey. Sunline Supernatural is good but comparable to other lines. I also like XL, XT, CXX, Big Game, Siege, Elite and an Amazon brand called Runcl. I have had mixed results with Sufix Advance, Pline and Stren. Berkley Sensation was bad for me though.

Call St. Croix. They have a few options for your rod. One is an upgrade program. There's a fee of course but you could get some value out of your broken rod.

I took a look at it and gave it a hard pass. It's not worth the cost.

I have the 853C NRX and was in the same boat last year. I ended up getting the 904C MBR NRX+. So far this has been nothing short of perfect. I have used it for just about everything except crankbaits. I wanted to do the 854 but it was out of stock everywhere as was the 844C. I really like how MBR's feel in the NRX lineup.

You can get a JDM Antares 70A for that amount. Great reel. Flawless except in cold weather. It's like palming an ice cube. I would highly recommend this one.

This guy has been good. Can't explain why.

Thanks. Anyway you could post a picture so I have a better idea of what it looks like?

Picasso. Works great. Only downside is that they get dirty fast.

I am always searching for a Senko replacement. I hate paying the price for them. I have tried Dingers, Ochos, BPS's version, Generals, a couple of private hand poured, etc. I have come to the conclusion that nothing yet performs as good as a Senko. So I find them cheap or on clearance and stock up. I buy whatever dark color is available in either a blackish blue or purple and then in a green pumpkin. In the stained water I fish, the bass don't seem to care. On a side note , I am trying 99 Strikes version this year. Just as expensive as Senkos but something different.

My daughter has one and she is skin and bones. I always worry she will be out and the battery will die. Other than that, she likes it. I wouldn't were one for fishing though. I would invest in a good base layer shirt from Smartwool or Icebreaker. My wife has Adison's and is cold all the time. She will were one year round if she can't get warm. Doctor told her hands, feet and neck are the best to measure her body temp and to keep them covered in extreme weather.

I just picked one up and haven't had it on the water. I can tell you that it's a tank. Its heavy and big but I can get it in and out of the truck pretty easy. You just have to be careful about how you do it. It has a ton of storage and I have put ten rods with rod sleeves in the vertical holders just to test. The seat from just sitting in it for a few minutes is super comfortable. I don't know what it will feel like after fishing all day. So far the big down side is the cost of the H-Rail accessories and Hobie's accessories in general. I haven't bought any yet but it will probably cost me $75-100 just to put a fish finder holder/mount on it. The ones I have seen a lot of guys buy are the big tackle bin and the bucket for the middle hatch.

Weightless, 15 feet. With a bullet weight, up to 3/8oz maybe 30. 50 feet would be pushing it. Another method I like for deep senkos is the free rig.

Yeti cooler, Leatherman, glue, duck tape, towel, a first aid kit, sunscreen and also only on the kayak, I take a heat blanket, rain gear, and a change of clothes.

Again kind of new to electronics but I believe the units can get wet but not submerged. Not sure of a head unit that can get dunked but the Hobie PA 14 I have is almost the size of a small barge. It looks more stable than some of boats I have been on.

I agree. The St. Croix Avid rod I spoke of was from about 18 years ago. I hated the hump it had. With today's rods, I believe, and again it's a personal feel, that by putting a light reel on a heavy powered, xfast or even a fast rod, it can feel tip heavy. Another example would be the G.Loomis 895C NRX and a Shimano Aldebaran. It was popular combo based on a line review. A lot a guys bought it and sayed that the rod felt tip heavy. I put one of these combo in hand and I would agree, it felt tip heavy with a 3/4 oz jig. I put a my Shimano Antares on it, problem solved.

Just an example of a good knot. What I probably should have said was.... a good knot like the Palomar. No symbols.

I have tried them in the past on the first St. Croix Avid I had. It was series that had the big hump near the reel seat. I also had a rod (can't remember who made it) that had the brass coins in the bottom of the rod. Neither really did it for me. I think I have reached a point were I am lucky enough to have several rods and reels to choose from that I can mix and match with what rod I want to use. This way I can get that "just the way I like it feel" with both rod and reel. For example, the new BB1 you sent me the great price on is paired with a Levante Jerkbait Special and it has that WOW factor when combined together. I tried a few other reels but this match does it for me. On other end of things, I tried the BB1 on my Megabass P5 Super Destroyer and it didn't feel right.

No need to be sorry. I just hear and see it a lot with Heavy rods used for flippin and pitchin. Like I said, it's a challenge to get the proper balance and feel for a big rod. After fishing one all day, it can be tiresome if it doesn't feel just right to you but sometimes you have to make do with what you have and adapt as far as the rod and reel are concerned. To give an example of a tip heavy rod with an odd reel..... I have a St. Croix Premier 7' H Fast which is quite tip heavy. When I first got it, I paired it with an older Metanium MG7 and it wasn't bad but it felt off. So I tried it with a Curado DC which is about 2oz heavier. It improved the overall feel of the rods balance. Again, this is just personal preference but I like to find the sweet spot for my set ups.

Where is this fishing fantasy realm? Those are some beauties.

What reel did you put on it? It has sort of become a cliche with..... "I bought this "Insert Brand" X-fast Heavy Pitching rod and it feels tip heavy." Most pitching rods will feel tip heavy if you put a light weight reel (7oz or less) on them. Most are designed to be sort of stiff to begin with. Then when you add maybe a 3/4oz jig with trailer, it will really feel tip heavy. I guess for me it's just a personal feel that I am use to but getting the right reel on a heavy rod can be a challenge.

For heavy cover 40lb or 50lb Smackdown or Power Pro. 832 is another good choice. Also, for swimjigs make sure to tie a good knot > Palomar.