FishTank

It was a good day on the water. Probably the last one for the year.

I fish primarilly both Daiwa and Shimano. In Shimano's line up if you go JDM , I like the Metanium. In the US, it would be the Curado. Good reel but the Metanium is a big step up and at the current price, it's the best value. As far as Daiwa goes, I have had no issues with any of the current platforms but I am not huge fan of the Tatulas. The new Zillion though may be the best reel I have ever used. Another to look at in the JDM line is the Alphas. I don't own one but hear enough praise from members here that I think it would be a good one to consider.

Save up some cash and go with the JDM Zillion. I would say it's the best bang for the buck and kind of a no brainer. If your concerned about having cash, skip the Power Pro braid and get mono or go JDM braid.... same goes for the baits/tackle. A lot of stuff can be found for cheap on the JDM sites. For example, my last order from Japan Lure Shop would have been over $600 in the US but with the exchange rate, I was around $300.

My wife saw the box and asked what kind of wrapping paper I liked. So this is my Christmas Bait Monkey purchase. I will have to wait until the ice melts before I can use any of it.

I would pass on the EX6. Some guys like them but to me it doesn't feel like a Loomis rod. I have several that are from the MBR series. One (783c GLX) is about 15 years old and is still as good as the day I bought it. I don't think of the MBR rods as multi taper though. They do transition differently than say a comparable St. Croix Fast rod. If you want true multi taper rods, you should look at Megabass. I have a few from that can pretty much fish any lure well.

I have been using Duo Realis Nano Trebles for all my BFS lures. They hold up way better than I expected and the sizes and weights tend to match up really well. I thought for sure this guy would bend a hook but they looked perfect afterwards.

I think road to the Super Bowl for my Colts is heading straight to the draft. Meet our new head coach.....

I am not 100% sure but the handle for the Zillion HD should fit the Tatula. You would need the nut, cover and screws. That handle should cover pitching pretty well. Another one to look at is Gomexus. There are nice and affordable.

I've tried it but no luck with it. As a chatterbait trailer, it's great. I have also used them with a Scrounger head and that has worked pretty well.

Here lately nothing in my neck of the woods will bite a paddle tail swimbait. I had pretty good success with them last month but yesterday, zero bites. I caught fish all day long with anything I could drag on the bottom but a swimbait. I tried pretty much every depth available too but nothing hit on it. Jigs, tubes, and wacky rigged senkos were working but not much else.

I have the Vapor and haven't had this issue exactly. I did have issues with the side plates on both sides not fitting correctly which would cause the issue that you are having. Quantum sent me new plates twice and a new reel. Between all of it, I have a reel that works great. I would start with checking to see if the brake side cover is closed, then back out the spool tension, take brake side plate off and put it back on, making sure that the open/close latch closes properly, tighten up the spool tension and re-check everything.

I don't see this being practical for fishing. Some people might think it's cool but it's not for me. I would invest in a boat first.

They just clipped me for a fuzz over $300. I couldn't believe all the stuff I got. I also ordered a Daiwa Tatula 80 for a buddy of mine...... $106. Still mystified. Nice haul though. I have a Met as well. It has become my favorite jig reel ever.

The Bantam would be great.

Ned baits and some BFS baits need FC to do their thing. But when you get to that 1/8 to maybe 1/4oz jig with trailer, like the Strike King Itsy Bitsy jig, I could see braid being a positive factor. Also lighter swimjigs would be a possibility, especially if used around grass.

Same. For example, I don't think a 1/2oz jig with a trailer is going to fall any different on mono, FC or braid. Somewhere there is a video on this but couldn't find it.

A couple of things.... I have fished both as dedicated lines for jigs over the years and found that for general jig fishing FC works best for me. With braid.....backlashes for me are almost impossible to get out, I fish around a lot of timber (braid saws into it and gets stuck), I often miss fish on hook sets (can't explain this one), I feel it doesn't casts as well under windy conditions and in muddy water I believe the fish see it and feel it (just personal opinion) . I do like braid for vegetation, grass, lily pads, and any punching scenario. The big thing to me though is the number of casts I can make in a day during a tournament. With braid I am constantly managing the line, taking up time. With FC this is not an issue.

That is my project for when cabin fever sets in. I bought a few 110s from Japan and they came without split rings. I had few random oval ones in a tackle box and put them on. I liked how the bait worked better. I can't tell you if it lead to more fish but I liked it. What size did you use?

OK. Why? I do see that the 842C is rated heavier than my 802C. When I held the 842C it didn't feel that much different but maybe there is something I'm missing. The 783C has been great for jerkbaits. I can't remember how many fish I have caught on this rod in past 12+ years I have owned it. Are there better? Probably. Again with jerkbaits Megabass has this down to a science.

I don't have the Conquets 783C or any rods in the Conquest line. Maybe in the future but I have been attached to my old 783C GLX for a long time. I think for jerkbaits that a supper sensitive rod is not always necessary but that's just up to you. Bass tend to slam jerkbaits and when they nick one, it often hooks itself. The most important thing to me on a jerkbait rod is the tip. It has to work the bait properly. I would try the 3 you have in the 783 (casting and spinning) and see which one you prefer. On a side note, I would try the 842C NRX+ with small swimbaits (Easy Shiners) and for shakey head. The 802C I have is great for 1/8oz jig heads with finesse worms. I love the Owner Shakey Head jigs and a 6in Roboworm.

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My advice.... Don't use the 842C for 110's. It's too light. I have the 802C, it's shorter cousin. I would use the 783C. I have used the GLX version for years and it perfect for 110s. The tip is softer but it has enough strength to keep the fish pinned. Other rods to consider.... any of the Megabass 110 Specials or their Jerkbait specific rods and the St. Croix Legend Elite 6'8'' M Fast. I would also ditch the braid to leader and go either Invizx 12lb or preferably mono around 10lb, (I like Sufix Siege or Sunline Defier).

That was my thought. Not sure if this is the issue but I have seen guys (including myself) reel down on fish, pull supper hard like their swinging for the fence, get a few cranks on the fish, and it magically pops off.... It just too hard of a hook set combined with fish not closing its mouth around the hook so it can penitrate. The only time I really set the hook this way anymore is when I'm jig fishing structure.