FishTank

Should be. I have an old Calcutta from 15 years ago that still has a bottle of Bantam oil in the box. I used it on this reel last year. Worked great.

This was tonight's accidental fun. Went into DSG and I had a $10 coupon. They had buy 5 get 5 free on clearance. I spent $12. 

GYCB website has 30% off with code HOLIDAY30. I have too much as it is but thought I would share the code. Enjoy

Sure you are not thinking of the Donkey Rig? The set up I am thinking of started in saltwater fishing when I was a kid like 35+ years ago. I hadn't seen anybody use it ever besides me until I saw one random guy fishing it over the summer.

The double wacky rig. My guess it will catch on eventually. I saw I guy using it and it was just bizarre. That's all of it I will share at this time....?

When they went about 50% off with their Cyber Sale, they were gone in a few hours. Too big for what I fish but a great deal. What about the Slideswimmer 250? JLS has them for $56 but you have to pay for shipping and the PayPal conversion rate up charge. It would probably be $65 when all said and done.

So the CBR line is crankbait specific, especially the Deep Flex. The regular line has a moderate fast taper. I like the 903C I have for chatterbaits and squarbills but nothing else. I look at the MBR line as a softer jig and worm series. It's great with jigs, some topwater, big tubes, paddle tail swimbaits, and Texas Rigged soft plastic. The JWR is just that to me, jigs and worms, with the exception of the 2 power rods. They seem softer and work well for lightweight plastic like a shakeyhead or a Damiki Rig. I use the other JWR rods I have for jigs and worms when I want a quick hook set. They tend to be better at short strikes or when a bass just lightly slurps a bait. A few rods to note in the NRX+ line.... I like the 904C MBR for jigs, the 873C CCR is great for jigs as well but I like oddly for spinnerbaits and the 895C JWR (still new to me) has just started to be my flip/pitch/heavy cover/punching rod. Lots of power and it's really sensitive for a big rod.

I have few rods of each line and the MBR rods would not be my first choice for crankbaits but the shorter 783 makes for a nice jerkbait rod. To me the taper of the rods does not go well with setting the hooks on cranks. I also have the two rods in the IMX Pro CBR line and they are really good but I tend to like the Legend Glass rods from St. Croix and the new Legend Tournament crankbait rods. The 903 CBR I have, is great for shallow running square bills and chatter baits. I just picked up the 866 CBR Deep Flex as well. I am still trying to figure this rod out but my first impression is that it is going to be a great deep running crankbait rod. With all that said, the MBR rods are the most versatile of the bunch. If I was going to carry just one rod in the Loomis line, either the 783C or the 843C would be my choice. If you are looking for "the" most versatile rod, you might look at the Megabass P5 Super Destroyer. This rod can do it all and it's fun to fish. Another one from Megabass that excels at versatility is the Valkyrie line of rods. They are a glass composite. Some are a little heavier but are designed to fish a large variety of baits.

I have ordered 3 so far from Japan with no issues. Each was shipped in a PVC tube and arrived in perfect condition. The downside to ordering is, for the most part, no warranty. Also, from what I can tell, JDM rods that separate at the handle are just like any two piece rod. They are designed to be transported or shipped easily. It should not effect how sensitive it is.

Just ordered about $140 worth of baits from Purefishing. It came up to $42 when I checked out. Crazy. Jigs were around $1.75. Happy Fishmas to me.

Nice. Good picks and colors. This would be great for anyone that's just starting out.

I back all my reels with whatever I have left over so based on the puzzle you have...... 20lb for backing > 30lb braid as main line > 12lb Tatsu for leader I have tried backing my reels with braid and I didn't care for it. This will also save the Tatsu for your regular fishing and it will give some more versatility with bass and trout.

I clean my reels every year and some twice. I don't always do a complete break down but I do take the side plate off and clean and lube the main gear and the pinion. A few of my reels are 15 years old and still work good as new. I also work on a few reels each year for people I fish with. This may be my slowest year as some guys have stopped fishing, many have just purchased new reels or switched brands and some just didn't fish much last year and don't need service. With that said, I can tell you that for fisherman with around 5 reels that fish once or twice a week, their reels need serviced once a year. Think of it like an oil change but the insides of the real is the oil filter. Except in our case, we are filtering the water we fish and for the reel to perform like new, the reel needs to be clean, inside and out.

I have the Dobyns Sierra Ultra Finesse 700 and it will work with those weights just fine. Any BFS reel will do the trick. I would not use the Mojo mentioned. To me, it would be too heavy for 1/8oz lures.

As long as it not used, $400 is a good deal. IMHO, the 70A, put on the right rod, is best long casting reel out there. My only complaint with this reel, its like holding an ice cube when its cold outside but other than that, its amazing.

Which Antares is it? If its the 70A, good deal. If it's the DC, even better.

I have received a few as well and bought one in an odd JDM only red/gold/yellow color that was only available in the Type R High Float. I fish it like most other jerkbaits but I let hit the top of the water, I pull hard on it once, a soft jerk after that, then let hit the top of the water again and repeat.

For you Lews fans.... Sierra has a few Custom Pro LFS-X5 rods for $130. I think they run about $250 regular price.

Used it to pick some jigs and soft plastic. This has been a good season to find bargains. Thanks

That's how this whole Monkey thing works.

Good question. I didn't buy a new one for it yet and not sure if I will. I put an Abu Garcia Revo Winch Gen 4 on it and it's not bad. I was able to take it out yesterday for about an hour. I only caught one on it but the rod is just weird. I was thinking when I ordered it, since it is rated up to 1 3/8oz, that it would be a big heavy duty rod but it has a very thin light blank. In hand it feels like a Med. (2 or 3 power in Loomis's other lines) and not a Heavy. It does have a lot of bend in it, more so than a glass rod. I am going to try few other reels I have to see what feels good. More than likely it will be a Curado DC. If not, I may order another Zillion. We will see what new stuff 2023 brings as well.

Couldn't resist and... . Just kidding....

Christmas came a little early and the Monkey dropped off a few things....

That's kind of how I feel about the 821. I also have the 803S NRX+ and I use it for wacky rigged senkos mainly but I have tried a spark shad with a 1/16oz head on both and the 803S will out cast it. Weird. For the Ned Rig and Dropshot the 821S is fine. I have a suggestion (but not a recommendation).... BFS gear. I have a few rods in upper price range but this set up will put you under the cost of an NRX+.... Dobyns Sierra Ultra Finesse 700 and a Shimano Aldebaran BFS. This set up has been a lot of fun for me for finesse fishing. The rod can do whatever in the light finesse category and the reel seemed like a cheaply made toy at first but it has proven to me that it can handle all sorts of stuff. Also, why I say just suggestion instead of recommend. It's different and something I would research before going that direction.

I have not fished the 901 but a local shop had one a few months ago and I was able to hold it in hand. It was definitely a nice rod but I wouldn't describe it as a do all finesse rod. The tip is very whipy. I don't think I would use it for jerkbaits, spybaits or small swimbaits. I could see it being good for ned rigs and tubes (not sure about drop shot) but from what I was told at the shop and from what I have seen online, people use it for hair jigs like the Marabou which to me says smallmouth. For the stuff you have described, I have been using the 821 NRR with the exception of the 3in Spark Shad/Keitechs and finesse jerkbaits(Nanahan size and smaller). I have switched to throwing those on BFS gear. The only thing with this rod is that I think it would be almost exactly like your Expride. Which makes think..... What's wrong with using the rod you have for those techniques?