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I@spartyon8 I think you're moving in the right direction. The same issue with buying rods exists with buying blanks, you really don't know what you're getting until you actually get to handle it. I'm with you on the overwhelming selection, but that will eventually become a benefit in building, you can really nitpick power and action. I have no idea about those CB rods, but I've heard that 765 neo is, like @spoonplugger1 said, unbelievably versatile from deep cranks to half Oz chatterbait and lipless cranks and spinnerbait. Some evin jig with it You could split the difference of the 2 worm and jig blanks you listed and go with x-ray SJ736 if you like faster, or MB736 for a bit slower. I know people who make custom rods for tournament anglers, the SJ736 is their number one seller for bottom contact, makes converts out of doubters. I actually grabbed the 804 delta to throw spinnerbaits from the bank, haven't handled it yet but looks good on paper. I've heard the zentron blanks and APFG make good moving bait blanks. Spoon, Chris, and mick pointing you in the right direction.

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Well I'm glad to hear you think highly of the quality, I have a couple x-ray blanks to build on. I believe there's an x-ray 709 and if your buddy could cut a blank you could go x-ray 7109. They have 708 and 7108 but since your looking for beefy I went right to the 9s. A number of people on that forum will be able to give you some direct feedback about those blanks.

For each bait respectively (add your preferred weight, feel free to add any lures I missed) what would you consider a long cast? Jig: Crankbait: Ned rig (1/16oz+plastic): Buzzbait: Spinnerbait: Jerkbait: T-rig:

Interesting... nice play on the exposed blank front grip (not really a foregrip anymore, that's a second grip haha) I bet that would make for a stellar long spinning rod for any species that can bomb casts but then balance well and give ultimate control and feel. I'm thinking 7'6-8ft finesse spinning rods, but have to experiment to figure the most ergonomic length for reel seat and front grip. Good stuff

My question for you @steve22i is even though you didn't like the action/power compared to the NRX, how did you feel about the quality/sensitivity in comparison? @spoonplugger1 it would appear your right, that SJ736 IS true to itself, being a good representation of a MHF(maybe kissing extra fast... like a cheerleading captain in the 80s) It sounds like @steve22i is looking for beefier, sometimes beefier rods hide their action behind their power so what feels fast is really just a strong moderate fast know what I mean? I'd recommend your friend get familiar with this info here https://www.rodbuilding.org/read.php?2,552531,page=5 It looks like you might be looking for an NFC IM or HM MB709, MB739, maybe SJ765, could even extend an MB669. NFC has new grips the essentially extend a blank, I havent tried it yet but would bring the length right to where you want it and make it feel pretty fast as it would push the bend profile further away from your grip. Let us know which way you go and the results man

But is there really any benefit to pro? Sounds like they compiled freely available data, free is never a bad deal don't get me wrong, but seems like a bit of a stretch

Well if it can cast anything like the zillion SV TW then a 3/8 oz jig will take the spool from about half to almost empty using 40# Suffix 832. I'm sure you'd have plenty line left with most jerkbaits.

@benburkefishing nice fish my man! I'd like to add if I may, that once a fish hits that 5#ish mark its best to keep their bottom jaw in line with their belly rather than holding it at an angle and leveraging their body against it. Once they get that heavy hyper-extending their jaw can damage it. They'll swim off fine and you'll be none the wiser that they actually may have gotten hurt and may or may not recuperate.

Set up: Zephyr, 10#ezbraid (I'll never put that on a spinning set up again)[didnt realize how little line was left so there wasn't much line on the reel] 6'9 MHM Fitzgerald Vursa - but this thing is pretty whippy and wimpy to be called a MH. First impressions: even with the rod not quite being the right fit it felt good. I competed casts with my 7ft light set up with Pflueger Supreme XT with 10# spider wire ultra cast They casted equally distant with 1/16 plus a TRD (not the crawz or tacklers but one of their smaller creature ones) and a 1/8 with regular TRD. Accuracy suffered a little with the zephyr with 1/16 but it was also windy and I think a more suitable rod would help. It cast as far with 1/8 but I hit the end of my line, so might even cast farther. Certainly not a refined reel, I can feel every turn of the knob, but if it can keep my line twist from becoming much of an issue I'm in. Plus the high ratio gears definitely gets the lure in quicker, which can come in handy sometimes. Brakes were at 3.5-3.75 on the dial and had barely, if any, side to side play. Spinning rod did have a leader tied on, I'm going to tie either a leader or a full cast length of leader on the Zephyr and see how that feels. It didn't like overhead casts, I definitely nested a couple times with the 1/16, but I was practically casting into the wind a good chunk of the time. One thing I noticed was the line guide sits pretty low relative to the spool, keeps the line constantly in contact with the top of the line guide. More line will only increase that angle and tension, but we'll see how it fishes when I get a little more time on it. I'd say it's performed well enough to keep it around, gonna try to give it some more time over the next couple weeks and come to a conclusion, but I'm already excited. Doubtful I'll bump into any fish though, bank fishing in MA in winter is basically just practice casting. I'll report back when I get more time with it.

I think @Tatulatard is my favorite person. If you lived in MA we would be friends. @all any more feedback on the zata casting?

What about for lure Bodies and spinnerbait blades? Lurepartsonline.com seems to be down, haven't been able to access their site in a few weeks Looking to paint or stain some jerkbaits and lipless cranks, plus a few of the other general stuff. Looking for decent affordable spinnerbait blades This actually reminds me I need to make another post

@redmeansdistortion that's about 3x the amount I paid for the Zephyr, I'm gonna spool it up and see how it feels. Maybe I'll grab one of those BFS spools for my TatCT Also I don't wanna lock up my zillion (the nicest reel I own and will never buy another like it) as a BFS reel, or ever have it as BFS when I'm probably gonna want my zillion to be a zillion every time I fish ya dig, @BC VC basser thanks for sharing your experience with it bro, I'm gonna give it a fair shake. I'm thinking 15# j-braid 8

@Aaron_HThanks man, I happened to bump into that today and grab it. Any more feedback on it?

Ya know man I've felt that way literally up until today haha. I'm just over the line twist, wind knots, and the process of casting and retrieving to the next cast of a spinning reel. Especially with a missed fish and trying to cast right back to a spot. I feel I've at least got to at least try the BFS experience, hopefully not have to deal with 20 ft of leader popping off my spinning reel. @A kid from Canada I appreciate the heads up, I'm just trying to get a taste to see if it's worth the investment. Maybe I'll give the Zephyr a go and return it if there's any doubt or an inkling that a spool in another reel would be better.

Thanks for the feedback y'all, and for the PM @bulldog1935 Nobody have anything to see about the Kastking Zephyr?

Anybody have any experience converting the black max to BFS with a spool change? I'm assuming it's the same as the Max Ultra Spool is like 30 bucks, Kastking Zephr is $54 with clicker. Worth 24 bucks more? Other BFS Alternatives? Have SLX MGL Tatula CT Tatula sv103 Zillion SV TW (21)

What was the deal if you don't mind, I've been curious to try an affordable BFS reel. Any more time on it?

@A-Jay Idk why but it's saying you can't receive messages

I appreciate all the input y'all, I think I'm just gonna keep my money and try throwing my buzzbait on my old tatula CT. I'll throw some 40# braid on and see what happens. Or keep it on my Zillion, I throw buzzbaits more than anything so why not use my best reel I guess... maybe 10-20ft loss in distance with the SV but it might as well be used the most

Was gonna grab some stuff off pure, but twice my cart has been emptied on me. I'm not going through all those pages again. Their garbage website probably just did me a favor anyway.

Precisely, I will not be making a TW purchase this year. I don't need $50 worth of line one week and then $50 worth of terminal another week... hopefully this backfires on them and they don't do it again. But honestly, I've been going to Omnia and Bait-wrx more and nore now anyway. TW is the new Building 19

@PhishLI okay cool, maybe I'll try a buzz on my old tatula CT. Maybe I dont need a new reel. Maybe I just saved a hundred bucks. Maybe I owe ya one Thanks Maybe 😉

When the bass are hard to find, I don't mind a chunky snot rocket. Put up a solid fight yesterday Bouncing a Ned rig. Lost my new favorite jerkbait today, an old Rapala Husky jerk, pink and white, small, had for a couple years and just never used till this winter... gone... might try a couple more night trips until it's too cold to bear