FishTank

I went to my local Cabela's and they were out of almost everything despite the store's fishing section having (supposedly) it's best year yet. I asked about this reel while I was there and they only had a few left in stock. They said they were slowly getting stuff and they have been filling internet orders as well on occasion. Most new incoming stock was held up in customs.

Great bait. I have used on occasion over the years but tend to catch more fish on the Berkley Power Worms and Strike King Anaconda. I use a 5/0 EWG or a flipping hook with a 1/8oz or 3/16oz bullet weight.

I have the Rapala white grip listed above and they have worked well for me. I have used the other style for salt water and it works on big fish (grouper, tarpon, redfish) but on smaller fish (bass, small mouth, etc) I struggled.

If I understanding this correctly..... you can see the bass and as stated above they can see you around weed beds. So what time of day is it? It may be that they you are just to late to the party and fish have shut off for a bit. I would suggest 30 minutes before sunrise and go from there. Senkos will catch anything.

Instead of the Avid X 7' MH Fast..... the regular Avid 7 M' Fast. This rod is more versatile to me and fishes more like a MH. It also seems more sensitive and less tip heavy but the MH is not too bad when it comes to being tip heavy. You just need the correct reel.

12lb Tatsu.

St. Avid X would be my pick. I have the regular versions of the rod you are looking at and it still is the best bang for the buck out there. I am also a big fan of Loomis rods but the E6X series has not been my favorite. I personally have no experience with the Champion XP and don't know of anybody that has one.

I set mine to 2 for most everything and I am using 12lb Invizx. For whatever reason all of a sudden 3 seams to give me the most issues with FC. I use 4 for wind and 1 for long casts if the bait is around 1/2oz or heavier.

Lucky Craft CB 001, 50 and 100 Megabass Flap Slap (around 4ft depth) Manns baby -1

That is a thing of beauty. Good luck finding a rod to match with it.....

Sunline Defier. Great line.

I have enough equipment so I can exercise patience and save for what I want. I know if I save up $300 for a combo, $600 is also possible and so on. I try to get the best bang for the buck though and never pay full price.

I have the left hand version from Japan and it is one of the finest reels I have ever used. If you have used one the older Antares/Calais this reel is nothing like it. Everything about it is better. I am currently using it on a NRX 853C for T-rigged soft plastic, spinnerbaits, and my favorite, Dark Sleepers. If you can get the JDM version since it's cheaper, I would highly recommend it.

If I was just tournament fishing I would set it up this way with 5 St. Croix Avids and 5 Curado K's. Each would have their own use. I would get the following rods..... 7' M Mod > Crankbaits 6'8'' M X-Fast> Light Jigs, Spinnerbaits and T-rigged softplastic 7' MH Fast> Heavier T-Rigged Softplastic 7' H Fast> Topwater and Frogs 6'6'' M Fast> Jerkbaits

I have the JDM Left Handed version of the Antares 70A, two of the Antares 16's and the Daiwa Steez SV TWS. Out those four reels I tend to like the 70 the best but the Steez is probably the best overall reel as far as practicality goes. Which do I think will last the longest> the Antares and it some how keeps getting better with use Which one casts the furthest> the Antares. I can empty the spool Which one handles adverse conditions (wind, cold, etc.)> close to a tie but the Steez Which one is the smoothes> the Antares Which is the lightest> the Steez by a bunch Which one palms better> tie Which reel is easier to work on> the Antares but both are complex Which one handles light baits the best> slight edge to the Steez but both are great Which one has the fastest spool (if it matters to you)> the Antares Which one has the smoothest drag> the Antares but the clicking drag is weird Which reel pitches better> the Steez Overall the Antares 70 is different from any reel I have fished. The quality is outstanding and is nothing like the older Antares 16'. I don't know if I would call it a game changer but it sort fixes the small things bugged me about the older versions.

Simmons Sporting Goods on Ebay as well as American Legacy. Some others.... Asian Portal Fishing and Samurai Tackle both out of Japan but shipping can be hard to deal with since Covid 19.

This (from Tackle Warehouses website) might explain it better than I can but it sums up the same thing I said about a casting rod. In short, I would not use a Mod. Spinning rod for techniques you mentioned for the reasons listed below. Also, when they say Medium or Medium Fast they actually mean Moderate and Moderate Fast.

I am never out on water without sunglasses or some type of eye protection. I have seen too many accidents at work and out on the water. The best set of eye protection I have seen so far is from Smith (own several pairs now). I don't own this particular pair but I have seen guys with them out on the water and at work..... the Operators Choice Elite. They are like bullet proof sunglasses and are the same fit as their popular Guides Choice. They are ANSI compliant, anti fog and scratch resistant but they are pricey > $239 retail.

It's been windy here in Indiana as well. In the early morning it hasn't been too bad but around 11am it's getting pretty windy consistently. Being out on a kayak in open water is almost impossible.

Couple of favorites.... 17lb CXX, 17lb or 20lb Abrazx (my favorite at the moment), 20lb Invizx and new to me this year, Sunline Defier Armilo 22lb.

A ML Mod. rod (casting I assume) would be great for 3/16 and 1/4 oz crankbaits and depending on manufacture you might be able to get up to a 3/8oz crank. Personally, I like fast rods for jerkbaits, topwater and some soft plastic and x-fast rods for jigs and senkos.

I think I have tried them all and have yet to find a knock off that compares to the original senko but they have gotten pretty expensive so like others I wait for sales. I have found them at Dicks clearance out for about $5 a bag and with a coupon it brings them down to about $4. I stocked up last year and bought about 30-40 bags at that price. They will last me a few years. The only one I might recommend is the General from Berkley but it's actually about the same when comes to durability.

My guess.... Anything they already make for the Japanese market will probably arrive hear rather than new models or updates. A few possibilities .... the Calcutta BFS, the Calcutta Conquest DC, something like the Scorpion BFS or the Aldebaran MGL 30. BFS reels are big in Japan now. I have a feeling they will make it over here eventually.

Cals and Shimano drag grease work great. I have also used Ardent Reel Butter but have since moved on.

Check out Simmons Sporting Goods on eBay. I picked up two of the KVD Tour Rods from them and they are not bad but not the greatest. They were definitely worth the money.