MDbassin

I got a tournament coming up in Connecticut we can fish Candlewood or Squantz. I’ve been up here pre fishing but can only hook into rock bass. Never fished for smallies and I never have fished water this clear so I’m way out of my element here. I’ve hooked 2 small largies but other than that it’s been a bunch of rock bass. Any tips for these water bodies would be greatly appreciated. Not expecting to win as there are a lot of locals fishing the event but I would like to be able to catch some since I made the trip lol. Honestly only came up here cause I wanted to hook my first smallie

Tatula ct, tatula sv, curado I, curado k, curado DC, chronarch mgl..... thats what I love about the lews is the palm agility of all the lews even there super duty is a very palpable reel. But its like what was said lews just don't hold up year after year like the shimanos and daiwas

I have tried daiwa in the past, I always wind up buying a daiwa reel just to sell it the next year, I love daiwa reels the technology and innovation of daiwa is amazing, super smooth and love the brakes but my problem with daiwas isn't performance its the fit. The daiwas I've had always felt bigger and blocky in my hand and was just uncomfortable... shimanos are still big but not blocky feeling... enter the lews there LFS frame feels smaller and comfortable and then you go to the SLP frame and its amazing i love the feel of a lews in my hand but let's be honest lews isn't exactly cutting edge stuff. I really want to like a daiwa I tend to like the performance of a daiwa over any other is there a daiwa reel that frame is smaller and more low profile like the lews without sacrificing line capacity to much... the lews SLP fits 110yd of 12lb line most other reels that feel that compact in hand are more like 80yd of 12lb. The daiwas I've had experience with are the tatula CT, Tatula SV (not this years model but the original tatula sv)

I notice theres some spinnerbaits where the blades are pretty much right on top of one another and others the one blade is half way down the wire. Any advantages to one or the other?

I'm determined to throw a spinner bait more this year as I've always opted for other techniques... since I've never really paid attention to them before I dont know what makes a good spinnerbait and who makes a good spinnerbait.... I've used terminator in the past.... what are you guys go to spinnerbaits?

Already got my order placed..... even ordered some brush jigs and sniper jigs along with the tungsten. Thanks yall

I sent him am email and hes already got back with me. Thank you

Can I order just jig heads.... I have plenty of skirts to use already

I'm in need of some tungsten jigs..... or at least tungsten jig heads.... I usually use the Beast coast but the date to get them back in stock on TW keeps getting pushed back.... what's yalls favorite tungsten jig brand?

If y'all could use 1 size swimbait like the keitech style for all around use for like chatter bait trailers, belly weighted hook, open hook jig head, etc. What would it be....3.5"? 4"?

Lews contacted me and left me a voicemail. I have to call them back on my lunch break but the service tech said it was line pinching. Dont know how that's affecting anything and if it is kinda strange its affecting 5 hypermags and 3 tournament pros lol

Everything is there. No parts missing. I've owned several lews before and never had the spool tension knob locked down before. All lews I've owned before usually the spool tension is actually backed out a bit before the lure starts to fall. But all these hypermags I have it has to be locked down and even then it's still falling

It's a lews hypermag the spacers are enclosed inside the little clicker plate thingamajig

They are brand new this year

Is it normal to have a 3/8 oz lure fall pretty fast with the spool tension knob locked all the way down haha

I picked up a 7'5 Heavy pitching LTB for a good price and compared it to the closest dobyns I had which was the Champ xp 765 flip and even tho the dobyns balance point is closer to the reel seat the st.croix isnt that much further away. And I weighed both and even thos the St.croix is 1" shorter it weighed in a little over an oz lighter than the dobyns. I just wish they didnt use micro or mid micro guides whatever size they are. My leader knots get stuck everytime I wouldnt go that far for the price there are more sensitive rods but the feel and how they fish makes up for it. I just want more sensitivity to me Sensitivity > Balance I'm not a fan of the tapers on ALX rods

My only problem with megabass is no hook keeper. That's not picky but still. I'd live to get my hands on a Expride butvthey are on backorder all the time and for months at a time. As far as Phenix goes I've never heard anyone talk about them really and I have absolutely no experience or way to get a ahold of one in person

I honestly dont care if a rod is balanced. I'm all about the sensitivity. If I can feel a fish fart then the fact that a rod balances 3 inches in front of the reel as opposed to 2 is negligible in my eyes. Would you say the LTB are more sensitive than the Champ XP or Champ Extreme HP? I cant get my hands on them to try all they have around me is the mojos which I already have a few and to be honest I grab for my mojo more than my Champ XP

I've read some good reviews on the Abu Fantasia and its caught my eye. I'm a fan of the very open reel seat it has and it looks like a lot of companies are starting to trickle in that kind of reel seat. And its refreshing to see it seemed like rod companies all used the same fuji seat for a while....at least the brands I've always looked at I even tho its marketed as a "exposed blank" reel seat you can only get your pinky on it. The new reel seats I'm starting to see like that fantasia. The arks have it (at least the invoker pro does) you can actually get 2 or even 3 fingers in contact with the blank. And on the spinning side of things the reel seats on the fantasia, the st.croix LTB, etc. Those spinning reel seats I really like how they feel and for how most of us hold spinning reels almost your whole hand is in blank contact which i think even tho sensitivity is ultimately all in the blank material amd construction having more blank contact with your hand just adds to that sensitivity and overall feel of the rod

I'd love to get ahold of the Exprides but they are always sold out. I've handled St.Croix before and I love there rods. I just have a hard time switching from dobyns as I get 30% off from them. But I just know theres gotta be better out there. My dobyns are sensitive but it's a dull sensitivity. I feel the rocks, I feel this and I feel that but I just feel for the price the dobyns should be crisper. I dont know it's hard to explain. My only complaint about megabass and shimano is the warranty when compared to Dobyns and St.croix. I'm thinking of giving the St.croix legend tournaments a try I have a couple mojos and I really like them especially for the price so I'm interested to see how much better the LTB's amd even tho it isnt lifetime warranty like dobyns its 15 years and let's be honest within 15 years something new and better will be out so who would need a warranty that long lol

I have a reinforcer and I like it probably more than my dobyns. But my worry/gripe is the same as TT and that's the guide train. I posted a whole review on it and comparing it to my dobyns Extreme on here a couple weeks ago

I currently have a lineup of Dobyns Champion XP and Dobyns Champion Extreme HP and was wondering if theres anyone out there with experience with these and others and preferred the other over the dobyns. I'm not saying I dont like my dobyns but if theres better, more sensitive, lighter rods for the same price than I'm always all ears

I like the owner cover shot hooks for when I texas rig the bait so I figured I'd try the owner mosquito for nose hooking. So far tho the Gammies are my favorite all around get the finesse wide gap in size 2 for drop shot and 2/0 for wacky rigs that are an amazing hook

I've been using different drop shot hooks the past couple years.... trokar, gammies, mustard. The one I havent tried is the owner mosquito hooks. But I see 2 different ones the regular mosquito and the light mosquito. Which one is everyone talking about when they refer to the owner dropshot hook?

Tonight was just a quick down and dirty since it's dark by the time I get home. This weekend now that I got it working I plan to actually measure them out