FishTank

A local shop had these on sale during the 4th of July. The rod and reel were $75. They sold out quickly. They are really nice for the money. Way better than what you could get at that price 5-10 years ago.

If you keep your eye open to the JDM sites you don't have to pay $25 for a Megabass 110. Also, the 110 Jr +1 the past few years has been better for me. They run $20 at the regular price. For an alternative, I like the Lucky Craft Pointer. With the Megabass 110 and the Pointer, they are sort of a one two punch when it comes to jerkbaits. If one isn't getting bit, the other one will. Another I like is the Ninshine Erie 115 MD. It has a weight attached to it that can help with getting it to suspend or sink depending on the water temp. One more... The OSP Veruna 110 SP. I fish this one fast with small quick pops. It's almost like a straight retrieve but not quite. It tends to roll and flash. It gives off a totally different look than other jerkbaits.

I was debating on leaving a comment but...... I have the Chronarch 51e. It's pretty much the same reel as the Curado 50e with a few more bells and whistles. One of the reasons I stopped using braid years ago was because I put 50lb 832 on this reel. It was none stop frustration. With that said, I really didn't have an issue with 832 on any other reel. In the years since I have owned it, I have found that 10lb fluorocarbon has worked the best but I have tried other braided lines and mono on this reel. Last year, I tried YGK Upgrade #2 and really liked it. No issues but I was using leader on it. Since then, I have gone back to fluorocarbon because the main lake I fish has a forest on the bottom and braid just gets dug in tree stumps and limbs like crazy.

I've been using this on gears as of late, Cals for the drag, and TSI 321 for the bearings. So far so good. All are relatively inexpensive and one purchase of each should last a lifetime.

I caught a few but the bills broke on all the ones I had except one.

So far this year I've been using the Shimano Calcutta Conquest 31 Shallow Edition for jerkbaits. It's small, palms easy, and I like the flat drilled spot on the frame.

I like it but it needs more blue to fall in line with other so called electric shad baits. Looks like a winner though. I'll definitely pick one up on my next order.

The ponds and lakes I fish all get pretty hard. I go with BFS gear or something finesse. I like the Shimano Tiny Macbeth, Evergreen PC-5 and the Megabass BFS Griffon for crankbaits and I like small trout minnows, like the Megabass GH Humpback 50. Also, down size your line and your gear if possible.

Zillion HD would be my choice. Plenty of spool capacity, great drag, and lots of power. It has worked great the past two seasons.

I can confirm that they have it all backwards. I took the chance and ordered a 1000 yard spool but I received a 200 yard spool. Luckily I am able to return it and the drop off place is located within walking distance of my favorite pond. It was worth a shot.

In shallow water, around 3 feet, I use a regular wacky hook. In anything deeper, I use either 1/16 or 1/8 wacky jig head.

I would guess about a third or more of the members on this site have ordered from a JDM website. The downside is, no warranty but the value and quality are great. What you see when you check out is pretty much what you pay unless PayPal charges you a currency conversion fee. Good sites to order from..... Digitaka and Japan Lure Shop.

I have the best luck with a wacky rigged Senko. My buddy fishes a 7in Power Worm. By the numbers (when we fish together), I out catch him 5 to 1, and that's being generous. There are days when he does catch some good ones and does catch more than me but those days are inconsistent and few. I just wish he would switch up when the bite slows down on that bait.

I charge mine as needed but also charge it at least once a month in winter in my heated garage. I haven't had an issue yet. I can say from my experience and two fishing buddies, don't charge them when they are cold. I don't know why but it ruined two of ours. Dakota sent my buddy a new one which took months. Also dont store them in outside in the cold or on a cold garage floor. Also, I'm not sure what the OP charger does exactly but mine says to charge lead and lithium separately.

Avoid large bodies of water with big boats. The wakes will put you into the bank. Also, fast moving streams. The risk of puncture is greater with moving debris. Wind will blow those things a mile. Pay attention to the weather. Buy a kayak specific life jacket. Limit the amount of gear you take. Have a patch kit. Think safety first and have an emergency kit as well.

One of my all time favorites. They also had one with a black and blue flake body and a blue tail. Both colors are killer. The closest I have found is this guy from Geecrack. They are not round like the Ika but oval.

I think inexperience is the real culprit. Plus the lake I usually fish has a forest below the water, especially in the shallow spots.

I stole this Pic and I can't say FFS was involved but I have seen it happen a few times. Guys watching the screen, turn thier trolling motor up full blast and snap or damage the shaft on a tree stump. Stump whiplash is real.

It depends on how and where I am fishing so I usually take long rods and short rods, up to 6 total. They range from 6' to 7'6''. If it's a short trip, I might only take two or three. Those rods will be more all purpose rods and less than 7'.

I have both. The smoothest and furthest casting too me is the Antares. It's also great to work on despite the tight tolerances. Downside is the finish. When it's cold it's like holding an ice cube. Otherwise, it's a pleasure to fish. On the other hand, the Steez AII is a workhorse and it feels more like a big lure reel. It's definitely a bigger reel. I liked it so well I bought two of them, one for deep diving crank baits and the other for heavier Texas rigged soft plastic and some topwater. In the end, if I was only buying one, I would probably get the Steez but if I was looking to add a pleasure reel, I would go with the Antares. I would also think of which reel would fit your needs better and which reel palms better for you. To confuse things some.... day in day out, you should also consider the Metanium. Great reel as well.

A plastic ribbon tail worm. It's usually a summer staple for me but nothing this year. Also, a big spinnerbait. Not a single bite. A smaller, compact spinnerbait has caught a few but it too has been slow.

I finally gave in and bought a fanny pack from Fishpond. Looks goofy but it works great. It has a ton of room. I also use a sling pack for longer trips and on my kayak short runs. I am retiring my 7 year old Simms pack and got this one. For short pond trips I take a small pocket size box. It holds some terminal tackle and few small baits.

I just got them and haven't tried them yet. I plan to Free Rig the 4in and fish 5in weightless.

Some more 4th of July sale stuff.

I have two of them now. I was going suggest the JDM Zillion but at that price, in mint condition, this would be a good deal. Great reel. It's smooth, easy to cast, perfect for deep cranks and built like a tank but still light. The new price is pretty low as well on these. Around $300