Rockhopper

I have that luck during baseball season.

I use the 7'1" mojo bass "plastics" rod for this exact purpose. It works incredibly well as used.

I spent the last two or three years buying a bunch of gear. I am pretty well set for a few years to come unless something new and awesome pops up that I just have to have. The only baits I buy now days are to just replace what has been used or lost. Although, I am in the market for a swimbait rod, and am slowly going to continue replacing rods with higher end models when I have money burning a hole in my pocket.

You and I palm a reel the same way, though we differ in casting. But you are spot on. Trigger between the 4th and 5th digit with just one small portion of the palm resting on the grip right near the reel seat. I don't mind a taper, but that first inch or so of grip needs to have some beef to it before it starts to taper. Those two look like they just taper right away from the start of the grip/end of the reel seat. This: Opposed to this:

You are correct that I like those grips for their diameter. I am specifically speaking to the diameter of the grip, not the length, and that is a great example. If you compare that grip style on the older mojo to say the smaller, skinnier diameter grip on the newer LTB series rods...that is what I am getting at. The more narrow diameter is really fatiguing to me and makes the outside of my hand hurt after any extended period of time fishing. I get decent pain in the area of my 5th metacarpal and wrist, and it shortens my fishing experience due to that. Hopefully that makes sense. The way I palm a reel, my palm/wrist/pisiform bone usually just has one point of contact with the grip in the area circled. It "rests" there if that makes sense. Thus, diameter here matters to me. Grip length beyond that not really at all as far as my hand is concerned.

Currently using a stout 7'6" heavy with a fast action. It is just a rod I have on hand that gets used mostly for salmon fishing. I have not purchased anything specific yet as I did not know what I really wanted in a swimbait rod. Now that I have an idea, I am looking for something a little longer than what I currently use with a nice parabolic bend. A moderate rod or possibly a mod fast. And it needs to comfortably throw baits in the 2 oz to 6 or 8 oz range. Don't need to break the bank on this one since it is not going to be used much, but looking for something semi quality at the same time. I hear good things about the Loomis Imx pro 966c, but don't really want to shell out $400 for a swimbait rod that will see minimal use. I like a fatter grip and cork. Cork vs whatever would not be a deal breaker on this one though. BUT I don't like thin skinny grips. That fatigues my big paws. Probably looking for a handle length in the 18"ish range. Suggestions?

Keep an eye on the line at the water entry point. It can tell you a lot about what is going on down there.

One of the better glides you can get. I wouldn't hesitate. Threadfin and bone are the only colors needed.

Lol already did that 🤣

8lb 11 oz. Smaller than the one caught Saturday.

8 lb 11 oz LMB caught today Washington state record on Google 12.53 lb 8.69/12.53 x 100 = 69.35

My trick is simple. Spend more time on the water.

I think considering inflation for the past 5 years or so the best VALUE in rod lines right now are the Shimano Exprides when they go on sale. They fish like a high end rod, but can be had at the $225 price point on sale. A $200 rod today does not get you what a $150 to $200 rod would 5 years ago imho. Other than that, I would turn to St Croix at the $200 given price point.

Oh man that is a tough question. I guess if I had to pick only one best Shimano baitcaster from my last 40 years of fishing to cover all types of fishing...I guess I would probably have to go with the '22 Bantam. The Curado 50/200e were killer, the Curado 150 mgl is killer, and the Curado 70 mgl is just fantastic too. The 20 Mets are absolutely fantastic, but I do not LOVE them enough to justify the price. What the fishing world needs as mentioned in a post above...we NEED a 22 Bantam with a magnesium body like the Met. That would be the best reel they have ever produced. Hello? Shimano? Are you listening?

medium heavy moderate fast if I could only have one. St. Croix makes some nice blanks with that taper. As does Loomis with their 843 mag bass series.

My most productive jig by far is the Riot Baits Lil Creeper tungsten jig matched with a Reaction Innovations Smallie beaver or a Riot Baits Little Fuzzy beaver. It is compact, but not finesse size. I buy them a dozen at a time. I can't even tell you how many bass I have caught on that setup. It flat catches fish. It is made well, and has a super stout hook. Siebert Outdoors, Pepper Custom Baits, and Dirty Jigs are the only other jigs I use. For a full size jig, I definitely prefer Pepper Custom Baits to all others I have tried. https://riotbaits.com/products/lil-creeper-jig https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Pepper_Custom_Baits_Pro_Football_Jigs/descpage-PEPFBJ.html

Any difference in the JDM and USDM Bantam's?

Well, that is only two fish in about 30 hours of fishing. I guess I did catch some trout too, but that doesn't really count. The water temps are still too cold here. And the lake I frequent is about 4 feet above normal full pool. Some of the flats around the lake shore have about a foot of water on top of them that are normally dry. It is currently like trying to figure out a whole new lake. I am fishing in places that I have never seen under water in the 10 years I have been going there. Kinda weird.

What is even better is that is the very first time I used a chad shad, and the very first fish I caught on a big glide bait. 2025 has been a slow start for me regardless as I have caught only two fish. But they were both pretty quality fish. A four pound smallie and this beast.

I would have been a contender from the fish I caught this weekend. State record is 12.5.

Thanks all! I tell ya, it was an awesome experience, though. This particular section of lake had overhanging blackberries down to the waters surface. Threw that Chad Shad up in a small hole and it didn't even hardly hit the surface and everything exploded! I could immediately tell it was giant. Gave me a good fight for awhile and I was able to lip her and get her on the yak.

I'm so mad. This is going to sound like fish story. Landed my first DD of my life today. Estimate between 10 and 11 lb. I've caught an official 9 before, and this was much bigger. Hooked it on a Spro Chad Shad in threadfin color. Had it on the kayak. Reached around to open my bag to get my scale out and flop flop and she was gone! Knocked my rod in the water on the way out of the boat too! Luckily I was in about 2 feet of water at the time, so I was able to retrieve my gear. My new bantam and rod and swimbait was all laying on the botom! But I'm so d**n mad I couldn't get an official weight on her. She was an absolute unit.

Welcome!

It's an art for sure. And as stated above, it's all about the immersive experience as a whole. No other form of fishing is as satisfying to me than being a mile or two up a small creek away from the world and people. Just me, my rod, nature, and the elusive fatty that could be waiting behind every ripple of water. That's as close to nature that I've ever felt in my life. It's greatly satisfying.

It's a '79? I am confused because the thinner upper side trim looks like an '80, but the grill itself looks like a '79. I know there were round eye '80's, but the grill isn't 1980.