dk2429

Daiwa Kage spinning reel. First spinning reel I’ve ever owned that’s above a Shakespeare combo you buy at Walmart. Couldn’t find much info on them, what I could find is that they are basically a beefed up Tatula than can only be sold face to face in Daiwa dealers. Got it on clearance for $165. Feels nice! Falcon Expert rod on the way from Omnia.

Literally doesn't matter, it's grease. I use Lews Super Duty grease on all my reels (Daiwa, Shimano, Lews, etc...)

I got this binder style thing about 4-5 years ago and it's worked really well. Problem is now, I have so many bags of plastics that it's getting to a point I can barely zip it up. I have each ziplock bag inside the binder labeled for different baits (lizards, trick worms, creature baits, senkos, etc... the list goes on) I don't want to just store them in gallon zip lock bags and throw them in the boat box. I also don't really want to have 10+ different of those plastic $2 storage bins piled up in my box. Don't have that kind of storage on my boat. Do y'all have any suggestions? I'd prefer for all of them to be contained and organized in one or two containers.

Medium moderate should be perfectly fine.

when I have the urge to get another rod the swim jig will likely be next. Not sure what I’d use it for but I hear how awesome they are

Falcon Cara. Not sure which model to recommend you because I don’t have one for that technique. I’m sure you can find that answer here though Or call Falcon and talk to Adrian. Dude is top notch and will get you setup well

Well there’s a simple explanation… I’ve cracked the system. Japanese reels and American rods. Perfect combo. I don’t most people’s philosophy, but mine is simply that I prefer my money going to the US, Japan, or South Korea. I like to avoid China WHEN POSSIBLE (obviously can’t be avoided completely, as I type this on a phone made in China)

This. Falcon Cara HCJ and don’t think twice. Don’t let the name fool you. I was skeptical at first but i throw 1/4oz t rigs on it with a zoom plastic no problem. Ive thrown 3/8oz jigs on it too and it’s awesome. This guy was the one that kinda convinced me to do it and it was a good choice. I’ve never used an Expert, in fact I just ordered my first one a few hours ago. But I’ve handled them in store and they feel really nice. But like mentioned, they don’t have the HCJ in the Expert lineup. The Amistad would be a good choice

Make sure they are sold AND shipped by Amazon. If so, you’ll be fine.

Saw that exact same rod on TW and I looked into them too for the same application as you. They are made here about an hour from my house. Let me know if you get one and how you like it. I ordered a Falcon Expert instead, just because I’m more familiar with Falcon

Yeah I went ahead and ordered the Expert Finesse Jig. Got it on Omnia fishing for $187 shipped with a discount code. I’ve never REALLY used a spinning setup since I was a young kid so maybe I’ll figure that handle out after I get out there and use it. Worse case scenario, sell it or send it back. I called up Falcon this morning and spoke to Adrian, just to see if maybe their website wasn’t accurate and if they had a Cara Medium Spin they could ship me. He said they’re all out of Cara spinning rods and don’t expect any for a few months. I’ve got some trips coming up this month starting next week so I just went ahead and got the Expert. Might trade in for the Cara if I feel the need once they get stock in

Massive ripoff is the correct description....

Thanks for this. I'll take that into consideration. When I went to buy my reel earlier (Daiwa Kage), the tackle store I went to so happened to have that Expert Finesse Jig. Sales guy let me put my new reel on it and what not. I loved the feel of it.. nice, light and balanced. You could tell the blank was crisp too... BUT THEN...... As I mentioned in my original post you were looking at; the way the grip is designed on that thing just doesn't make sense to me. I tried holding it in every which way possible and wasn't completely sold on it. If I held it the comfortable way (basically holding it by the reel seat), the d**n exposed threads would dig into my hands. Not terribly, but enough for me to question why I should deal with that on a $219 stick. If I held it strictly on the cork, then I felt like I had to hold my arms out further in front of me to be able to reel sufficiently. If they would have just put the grip under the reel seat like on the Cara or any other spinning rod, I would have been completely sold. The grip being above the reel seat is just crazy to me. Maybe it's something you adapt to, who knows

Will a higher end put more fish in the boat? Nope. Will a higher end rod put a bigger smile on your face and make you want to use it? YEP. I caught my current PB (10.5lb LM) on a $99 Falcon Bucoo. Ever since I've stepped up to a bit more higher end rods, I haven't caught a fish near that size. But by God are they a joy to use. I don't think I've caught a fish over 2lbs on my Falcon Cara yet, but MAN do I love using that rod. At the end of the day, it truly is just matter of if you enjoy using higher end gear with nicer components. It doesn't have much to do with catching more or bigger fish... (to an extent of course.)

If y'all don't keep your mouth shut about them JDM stores, then they ain't gonna last much longer for us. Get enough people ordering from Japan tackle stores and someone is gonna change the rules before you know it. I mean this in both a joking way and a serious way, as selfish as it may sound.. lol

Right, I remember you commented on my post. I got the reel taken care of, was gonna go Dobyns KD713SF for the rod but I realized I can get an Expert spinner for d**n near the name price. It’s hard to find much info on Falcon spinning rods. Which BFS rod are you talking about? I don’t see any BFS for the expert

Any of y’all have any experience with their spinning rods? The Expert Finesse Jig to be specific

Falcon is lacking in the spinning rod department from what I’ve seen. I actually just got home from checking some out. The way the grip is designed is asinine. Terrible idea in my opinion. I also checked out the St Croix Black Bass that was mentioned earlier in this thread. I thank whoever that is for their input, I just can’t figure out how y’all like St Croix rods. They all feel like a giant fiberglass whipping stick On another note, do any of y’all have a Daiwa Kage? The tackle shop I just got back from had the 2500 Kage LT on sale for $165. Felt like a nice reel, just can’t find much info online about them.

Ready to make this purchase, just one thing I ran into.. For that JDM Stradic several of y’all suggested (the 2500SXG to be exact), am I reading the line capacity correct at 8lb mono for 76yds? I plan to use braid/fluro leader but that doesn’t seem like much line capacity at all.

Thank you all for your replies!!! One more question, about the Ultrex actually. With the Ultrex, I wouldn’t have to do any of that crazy cable rigging to put a Garmin transducer on the bottom like you would on a Terrova, correct? Mount a GT52 on the bottom just like you would any cable steer/hand control?

Same way for the transducer on the bottom? You got them running in the same sleeve?

Is the 2D sonar good with that built in transducer? Also, what about the LiveScope transducer? I’m guessing on a separate pole..

The built in transducer won’t do down imaging though correct?

I used to be a Daiwa hater too. As of recently, Daiwa or nothing. I got a Tatula Elite to try because it was on sale and it changed my mind. Every real purchase since then has been Daiwa and I plan on snagging a JDM Zillion soon. That Tatula 100 is superb reel and definitely nicer than my SLX XT. Can’t speak for the Curado though

I currently have a hand controlled Minn Kota RipTide on my boat. 97% of my fishing is bass fishing the lakes here in Texas. That small 3% I’m chasing trout/redfish on the gulf coast. Im ready to move on to a new trolling motor with spot lock and foot control capabilities I’ll start by saying this… As much as I would like to get an Ultrex, it just isn’t a feasible option for my boat. I run a 22ft Majek Xtreme. It’s a fantastic bass boat/bay boat, but the front deck simply isn’t configured to realistically permanently mount the Ultrex foot pedal. Plus on top of that, I’d like to be able to remove it on a quick release mount that I can reinstall my Riptide on if I decide to go hit the bays. That wouldn’t be possible with an Ultrex. With that said, I do believe my best option is going to be a Terrova with the foot pedal. I can get a Riptide Terrova that I can use in both fresh and saltwater. Im just curious if any of y’all on here use a Terrova for bass fishing. My main concern is steering with the foot pedal. I haven’t used a cable steer TM a whole lot, but I have heard that the Terrova isn’t nearly as responsive to steering commands as an Ultrex. My biggest concern is coming in hot up to a bank/dock/stump and not being able to swing her around in time. Wondering for those that use the foot pedal on the Terrova how well y’all can run a bank line. Is it something that’s just terrible no matter what, or is something you adjust to? Also, I do have an echoMap up front with a GT52 transducer. I’ve seen that absolute mess of wiring people do on the Terrova to mount a transducer to the bottom. Is there a better method of doing this yet? I do NOT want those ridiculous aluminum bracket things hanging off the ends of the shaft. Trying to mount a transducer to one of these things just looks and sounds like a giant headache, especially with spot lock engaged. Sorry for the long read. I’d just like to hear y’all’s experience with bass fishing on a Terrova before I ultimately made a decision on one. I put a pic of my front deck to show the current setup. That trolling motor is already on a quick release puck.