FrnkNsteen

For poppers and small paddletails it sounds like it will be used for, I agree with the dobyns, but would suggest the 733 instead of the 734. Don't get me wrong,.. I have both, and like them both. I just think the 733 works better for those techniques, and can also be used for weightless senkos, flukes, squarebills, and even a jerkbait in a pinch. Love the versatility of my 733s!

Moderators need to close this thread. It started out as a trashing session, to calling most bass fisherman too stupid to check their oil, down to this. IMO,... This thread was negative to start with and has gone downhill from there.

LOL!! ?? They do offer a lot of different options! Here is my take on things: I see the Zillion as an upgraded Tat SV TW. Frame is slightly smaller and lighter. I believe the Zillion has an aluminum handle side plate the Tat doesn't. Zillion also has the free floating spool. As for Alphas SV and Tat 80, I think the same improvements are in place on the Alphas over the Tat 80. Alphas has SV spool and is free floating while the Tat 80 has a spool shaft that goes through the pinion. If the smaller frame is desired, I would xhoose the JDM offered Alphas over the Tat 80 given the benefit of a good exchange rate, i think you can still buy the JDM Alphas cheaper than the US marketed Tat 80. In my opinion, the JDM Zillion at today's echange rates makes it a better deal than the Tat SVTW

The OP first post literally asked about dedicated weightless WACKY senko rod! LOL! ?? For what it's worth,... For texas rigged, I use an older Fenwick Techna AV 7' medium rated 1/4 - 1oz with an old Shimano Scorpion Metanium MG7 reel. Light reel on a light sensitive rod,... Works well for me!

6'9" ML Fenwick Elitetech Smallmouth with a 2500 Fuego. LOVE that rod!

Great!?! Now I have more places ti check out! I live in Indiana and run down to Cincinnati with aome friends to Bass Pro for the Spring Classic sale every spring. Guess we will have to make a run north to Chicago some time!

I have one of the '17 Tat SV's and two of the '20 Tat SV's. The '17 SV is on MH Fast rod I use for skipping jigs. One of the '20 Sv reels is on a Medium Fast Techna AV that I use for pitching light craws on belly weighted twist lock hooks around cover. The other '20 SV has a Ray's spool in it and I have it on a Dobyns Sierra SUF740c throwing light stuff around 1/8oz or so. Very versatile reels thar work well for a LOT of things!

Can't comment because I don't have any of those reels, but folliwing because I've never even heard of an SV lite!

Seemed like reasonable questions. OP said he may already have the right rod, so seems reasonable to ask what rods they already have and what they like to pitch. Seems like people are sensitive in the middle of the night!

^^Agreed^^ If I notice I'm getting bit away from the cover and on the way back to the boat, I typically switch to a reaction bait like a swimjig, crank, or other moving lures and fish a little further out off the cover. As others said,.. The fish are telling you what they want!

I'm sure that probably happened!! ??

I bought the Lews Pro SP for pitching and skipping as it was intended for, but didn't like the centrifugal brakes for those techniques. Tried it for BFS on a Dobyns SUF740c and it did pretty well, but decided to try a Ray's BFS spool in a Tatula SV though and liked it better,.... so I sold the Lews.

Prices just keep climbing. We were just looking at the new Bass Pro 2023 Bass Special flyer that came in the mail.... 2023 Ranger Anniversary Edition Z521R,.... $109,995. 0% interest for 12months, then 9.99% interest after that! ??? That's Crazy!! ???

I was going to say the little price bumps everything has seen would help bump things up into the next trade-in bracket, but I just looked at the flyer and noticed they bumped up the bracket ranges too, so you don't save any extra,... Possibly even less. The old bracket was like $0-$49.99=$10, $50-$99.99=$15, etc, because I remember a $99.99 Fuego being a penny short of the next bracket, or a Tat SV being a penny short of the next bracket. Now the bracket lines are $120, $175, $220, and $500 so the price increases only benefit them. I don't do the trade-in program anymore. I just wait for a good sale and buy what I want.

I've run into that before. I then started going in and confirming they had what I wanted before trading in my things. If they did, I have them hold them and run out to get my trade-ins. Keep in mind that if you are at Bass Pro and also have a Cabelas in the area (or vice/versa) you can take your trade-in coupons over to the other store and get stuff there. We go to Bass Pro in Cincinnati and there is also a Cabelas right down the road. We've traded in at one, and if they didn't have what we wanted, we ran over to the other and appkied them there to items.

Yeah, I wasn't too impressed either. Some decent sales on some of the baits and tackle. I stopped doing the trade-in program when I started realizing it only equated to about a 10-15% discount. Figured I can get that deal elsewhere and keep my old stuff to give to family or friends. Don't get me wrong,... I still go with a couple friends. Makes a fun day to hang out, look at fishing gear, and grab some lunch. Just don't make as big of purchases as I used to.

Aesthetics are secondary to me, but I have to admit that if all things are equal, I will match up colors, just not if it doesn't work well together. I like cork and I think the Phenix Ultra MBX rods are gorgeous, but I put a reel on it and didn't like the feel l, so I passed on it. Function first, then start considering how they look!

I don't think it's weird. I'm not a fan of long heavy spinning rods either. The longest spinning rod I have is 7' and even then, I prefer my shorter 6'6" to 6'9" ML and M rods. My absolutely favorite spinning setup is a 6'9" ML Fenwick Elitetech Smallmouth rod with an old school Pflueger president with the wood knob.

Assume you are talking about an H20 Express Ethos reel? ... Good observation that it happens in the same handle position on every turn of the handle. That helps narrow it down to something on main shaft, as anything on the levelwind or spool axis (pinion or spool) would happen more often due to gearing ratios. The problem with bringing a reel like that in to someone, or mailing it into anyone, is the cost to even look at it would be half the reels value or more,... If you have to replace anything, you eat up even more of the value. If you are mechanically inclined, it my be worth watching some good videos on reel maintenance and carefully dig into the handle side to see if you can find the issue. It may just be dry and need a little lubrication. I've never torn one of those apart to know if they have bushing or bearings on the main shaft, or if they tend to be over lubed or assembled pretty dry. Depending on how old it is,.. Some reel maintenance might just do the trick. In my limited experience, the Academy H20 reels aren't too bad. Had a couple of the H20 Express Mettle reels and they were pretty decent for the cost!

I use a bit of a variety to try to "match the hatch" but when fishing smallies up in northern Minnesota or Ontario, I tend to default to Mizmo Green Pumpkin Fizz or Blue Craw if trying to mimic small Northern fry or bluegill. Other options are smoke w/black fleck or Powerbait green pumpkin.

I remember Scheels from when I lived in Fargo. They were a small store with two locations. One in north Fargo and one in south Fargo. Always liked them. Then moved own to Minneapolis area and went to Fleet Farm, Capras, Thorne Bros, and eventually Gander Mt. I think you will like Scheels. I still order from them occasionally and my wife ordered my Drotto kit for the boat trailer from them. She said they were very helpful in helping her get the right one for our Stratos.

I agree,... I have a couple of each and honestly don't see a big difference either. The Curado MAY hold up longer, but hard to say. Haven't fished them hard enough to know. Can't say for sure if I would spend the extra money for the Curado again. I got all mine used from ALF. Got the SLX MGL reels first and then picked up the Curados.

I also have both. Currently have a squarebill on the 703 and a Fluke on the 733. Very versatile rods and fish like a heavier medium to light medium heavy.

AND one of the few stands at the show. I was disappointed in the lack of availability of rods and reels. There were only a few vendors that had much of anything to offer. I was hoping to see some offerings of rods like Okuma, Ark, and other rods getting some attention lately, but didn't really happen. That stand you mentioned by far had the best selection to see though, and they DID seem very helpful. We saw Billy McDonald there talking to some people for a while.

For the record,... Shimano reels have been starting to climb in price too recently.