UmairF

Used to think that too but here we are neck-deep! 😂

What would your top 6 high-end rods be? Looking to hear what you guys consider “gems” and what you use them for. Can be a mix of casting and spinning. Curious to hear from the NRX+, P5, and Daiwa Steez AGS lines.

If you’re a Pro member you can add it to your cart and use the code CURADO. It knocks 25% off. I also had a bunch of omnia credits which I used towards and got a steal

I ended up grabbing a Curado 200M off Omnia since they got a deal going on right now for Pro members. Thinking to replace my 150 mgl with it that’s currently paired up with a 7’3 XH Expride B for frogging primarily. Secondary applications I was thinking if using it for are punching with 1oz+ into thick mats and larger single hook swimbaits.

I use the plano guide series 3600 with the magnetic top. Best bag Ive ever had for co-angling. How do you guys store soft plastics? Dont really like the idea of a bunch of bags all over the place

Been co-angling for a couple years in my local club. Got to meet/fish with a bunch of great guys and learned a lot. Not a stranger to fishing behind people and co-angler etiquette. What are some strategies depending on the situation you guys use during tournaments in the following? - Docks - Weedlines - Open water behind FFS I’d call myself a dynamic angler. I think I adapt pretty well to the situation I’m given. One thing that hurt me last season was bringing too many options of the same presentation. (Ex. Too many colors/styles of the same presentation, too many “backup baits”). Going to focus on keeping it more simple this year. Looking for more of a methodical response to approaching these situations from your guys’ experience. Anything “sneaky” you guys do to be more efficient on the water? Always looking at more ways to get as many casts in a day as I can. Also, curious as to how you guys select rods/organize tackle into a compact package. I don’t like bringing more than 5-6 rods TOPS and end up catching most of my fish on maybe 2-3 of those rods anyways lol. I’ve been loving the Plano 3600 Guide Series bag with the magnetic top. So easy for me to have things ready to go and leave sitting out to dry since it won’t fall off. Usually bring 3 tackle boxes: - Terminal - Jigs (bladed jigs and swim jigs in here as well. Will stuff a few spinnerbaits if needed here too.) - Hard bait box (topwaters, trebles, etc.) Hardest thing for me to organize last year was my soft plastics. Stuffed my dropshot/ned rig plastics into a roboworm bag, bunch of senkos into a GYB senko bag, and craw trailers/flipping baits into a small bag. This could also be another reason why I felt the need to bring so many options for soft plastics… I can still fit another 3600 size tackle box along with the existing 3 and just organize my soft plastics into there as well instead of the multiple bags but want to hear your thoughts too.

Heard the Winbuster is THE free rig rod. Not to say the 872 wouldn’t be great at it too. I personally love the secondary action that P5s have when fighting a fish. The 852S is my go-to shakey head/shallow water finesse rod. Grabbed an 803S for close-quarter finesse fishing in docks and pads. P5 Addermine is my dropshot/ned rig rod, and 852 is more of an all-around rod. That’s why I figured the Windbuster would be a great addition for my arsenal. Hope that helps

The 7’3 XH is my frog rod. I will say it doesn’t do too well with the lighter frogs like the kaera but will def do the job. Doubles as a great single hook big swimbait rod too from what I’ve heard. For pitching jigs and texas rigs into grass I picked up a Steez AGS BC2 so I’m looking forward to using it next season. Also, I think I’m in a similar situation as you with the additional spinning rod. I asked a similar question here: Thinking my next move is going to be a P5 Windbuster. Best rod out of the ones I had mentioned for soft and hard baits. Plus I’m really starting to get into the free rig after having some success with it last year…

In water deeper than 15 ft, it’s either mush bottom, sparse grass, or gravel bottom depending on the season and how much the grass has grown. I got to feel The One in hand at the fishing expo a couple weeks ago. Was comparing the bend to the NRX+ 872s and they’re different rods to me. I think The One is more comparable to the 902S which I ended up trading away since I didn’t care for it much but I heard that The One can do a lot more like you’re saying. As a Co-Angler, the versatility of The One sounds really appealing. I was debating between the 842 and 803 for shallow water applications like docks and sparse pads. Ended up going for the 803 since I figured I can probably put that through heavier stuff with that 3 power, and make even more precise pitches with the shorter length. How would you compare the 842 to the Windbuster? Seems like they handle the same spectrum of baits that you listed. I’ve thought about the Windbuster so many times. I like how the secondary actions of the P5s are when a fish is on. Something you don’t feel in a store handling the rod in hand. Anything in the 7’4/7’3ish length and under feels a lot easier to imagine myself liking. Don’t really use anything longer than that regularly. Okay so based off what you guys have said, I think I might be leaning towards the windbuster at the moment. Are there other comparable rods? Was thinking the 872S would be comparable but not sure if it’s as versatile as the windbuster. Also, anyone have any input on the X10 Medusa? I know it’s primarily a minnow/scoping rod which I don’t really throw but not sure if it’s a technique I need to add to my arsenal. Was thinking I can have that technique ready in situations where my boater is zoning in on a specific depth range at a slow pace offshore and I can follow up with it behind them. Don’t really run into that situation often though. Are any of my current setups able to handle mid strolling? If not, would the windbuster be able to? Thinking the Addermine I currently have might be able to fill that gap, maybe not the best but just enough, without having to think about the X10 Medusa. Thanks, Umair

Debating on whether or not to add an additional spinning rod to my lineup. I am a finesse fisherman primarily so I spend a lot of time with my spinning gear. Debating between the following: -NRX+ 872S JWR -Daiwa Steez AGS 7’6 The One -P5 Windbuster -X10 Medusa Here’s what I currently own: -NRX+ 803S JWR paired with a Twin Power FE 3000 (shallow water finesse) -NRX+ 852S paired with a Vanford A 3000 (overall versatile rod) -P5 Addermine paired with a Daiwa Exist LT 3000 (dropshots and ned rigs) I fish in primarily in S.E Wisconsin and the Madison chain during the tournament season. Fishing as a co-angler and we fish a lot of weedlines, docks, and offshore occasionally. Don’t know if the 3 rods I listed on top would be beneficial or not to have. Not saying I need to bring all of them at once, but I do feel like I’m missing a spinning rod dedicated for deeper water applications. What do you guys think? Any other suggestions in that price range? Thanks, Umair

Yeah unfortunately the water is still hard where I’m at. I will end up posting a more detailed review after getting some solid time on the water with it maybe at the end of this year, just so that I can give an accurate description of how it performs after a season of use.

Any info on this rod? What do you use it for? Thinking of grabbing one for dock skipping/pitching into pads with soft plastics. That way I don’t have to constantly re tie my 852S. I like having multiple spinning rods out so I can switch on the fly. I fish behind people a lot so really just looking for a 1-2 punch. My go-tos in shallow water are wackys and shakeyheads. I already have the 852 which is phenomenal at both. Was thinking of either grabbing another 852, 803, or the 872 in the NRX+ line. Not sure which would be the best option/most versatile. I originally was leaning towards the 872 but then heard about the 803. 872 would probably help me in deeper water applications more than the 803 but the 803 seems like it would dominate with the 852 alongside. What do you guys think? Also, it has been a challenge finding the 803 used. If you know anyone selling this in good condition please let me know!

I did and it feels great in hand! Not sure I’d pay full retail for it though (not that I’d ever recommend anyone buying things full retail). I posted a video on my initial impressions of it if you guys are interested: Daiwa Steez A II Unboxing – Is This $700 Reel Worth It?! https://youtu.be/X6bFiJFuqfM

Looking for a used one in good-mint condition. Please reach out to me if you have one thanks!

Interesting! So the 803 is obviously more powerful than the 852 but when you say it flicks better for skipping, do you mean the tip section is a little softer than the 852? Sorry about the confusion. What were your intended uses for the 802? Would you be happier with an 803 based off of @FishTank response?