Latest Tackle Purchase Thread (Bait Monkey Victim Support Group)

[Peacedivision]

Monkey bit me one last time for 2023. Took advantage of the rod sale at TW, and purchased a gift card for 10% off to pay. Brought the out the door total down to $230.40

[NorthernBasser]

Few new rods. Daiwa Tatula Elite (2023 model, non AGS). 7'4 MH/Mod. Wanted another crankbait rod (and maybe bladed jig in open water). I plan on mostly throwing lighter cranks/flatsides on this. These new Tat Elites just feel so nice. I bought the 7' ML/Mod. casting rod earlier this year and just love it. It's a fun little rod for throwing squarebills and lighter lipless. They have really improved these from the previous version. Lighter, better-looking (IMO) and the new reel seat is extremely comfortable. The rod weighs only 4.32 oz, which is great for a rod that size. I'll likely pair it with Tatula SV TW that I already have.

 

The Dobyns is the 744 "Jig Rod Special". I didn't need another jig rod, but figured I'd give this a shot. Definitely feels more like an open water/rocks jig fishing rod than flipping/grass. Not sure what reel I'll stick on here yet. Right now I slapped the Tatula Coastal on it just because it looks so purdy. But I make pair it with a Curado 150 MGL.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[RipzLipz]

@NorthernBasser Dobyns’ Xtasy DRX-753 & 754 are my favorite jig rods by far - so light & sensitive. Really like their rods after years of using Falcons. Champion XPs are fine rods as well. I feel their CB Champion XPs are awesome for most moving baits & topwaters. I wish they made some XPs in lower power rating for smallmouth applications. Granted, I’m typically not hunting DDs so a 4 power doesn’t seem too underpowered to me. 5 power would be slight overkill for most of my fishing locally but I still have a few for those "just in case" trips/situations. Great people at that company IMO.

[NorthernBasser]

I was looking at the Xtasy's and Extreme's. Before this the only Dobyns rods I have is a Sierra 734 and Kaden 715. Oh, and a Fury 795 SB rod. How are the weights on those Xtasy's? I know Dobyns rods run heavy (but they balance very well) but I'm assuming at that price point they have to be quite light?

 

I've heard good things about the XP CB rods as well. I was actually looking at them before I decided on this Tatula. 

[RipzLipz]

@NorthernBasser I can tell a difference in weight with the Xtasy being very light IMO. I also have a Champion Extreme HP but the tip is quite a bit softer IMO compared to the Xtasy. I didn’t like the Extreme HP as much - just too soft of a tip & made me feel like I had to really set the hook harder to get a decent hookset. The Xtasy is a shade stiffer.

 

With that being said, I’m often sitting (due to boat used) when I fish so I usually am not able to get a powerful hookset compared to someone who fishes standing up. Both are very nice rods, I just liked the stiffer feel the Xtasy seemed to have. It’s also worth noting in both cases I use the split grip versions & they balance just as well as the full grips IMO. Very nice looking rods, too.

[gim]

Anyone familiar with Bagley lures?  I won this in a raffle.  Its a Bagley Rumble B 09.  The container says its runs 8-10 feet deep.  I like the perch color.

[swhit140]

I've never fished their jerkbaits before but I have a half a dozen of the Bagley Balsa crankbaits. Many times you can pick them up on some good discounts just because they aren't as popular as other brands out there. They are based out of Minnesota part of Northland Fishing Tackle.

[gim]

Guess I didn't even realize is was a jerkbait.  I thought it was a crankbait based on the shape and size of the front lip.

 

Either way, it will definitely at least get tried next spring.

[swhit140]

It is a crankbait, didn't pay too much attention to the lip, probably would be a good trolling bait for pike & walleye.

[swhit140]

Picked up my new rod lineup, Powell had a BOGO deal on the Naked rod series on Cyber Monday. Also found a $60.00 off/per rod on the (2) Max series rods. 

 

 

 

[KP Duty]

That's a '23 Tat Elite?  TW photos look darker...

 

[NorthernBasser]

Yeah. The lighting on the TW pic is just darker (and lighting in the room where I took my pic was bright), that's all. Here's the new model on the left vs the old on the right. And a pic off Daiwa's website.

 

 

[softwateronly]

I love the Xtasy 755.  Everything about it feels like a MH, especially the weight, but it has serious backbone.  I also love that a full handle is so balanced, that I can be comfortable with any weight reel on it, 6-8oz.  I don't pitch/flip much but this is the rod I like best w/ smaller profile baits.  Great big worm, heavy swinghead, and heavy swim jig rod as well.  I find it just as sensitive as other higher end production rods, ie conquest, steez, p5, it's just the feel is slightly less sharp.  I never feel like I'm missing anything that a rod would compensate for.  I haven't ever fished an extreme.

 

scott

[RipzLipz]

@softwateronly I am of the opinion most of the Dobyns rods are lightweight, sensitive & have plenty of backbone, at least from the Champion XP line on up (price-wise). Their XP 704CB is an awesome topwater rod, especially for smallmouth. I wouldn’t be afraid of a 703CB for smallies. Their 5 power rods could easily handle 8+lbers in moderate cover IMO. Good looking rods, too.

[Mbirdsley]

so i’m keeping things very basic this year.  only real things on my shopping list are lipless cranks and deeper +1 and +2  jerk baits.  i’ve got twins on the way so i don’t really know how much fishing i’ll be doing past june.  

 

plan building one bass spining rod and walleye vertical jigging rod which, i already have reels for. 

 

these all came from walmart In St.johns.  that OG6 is a replacement for one i lost on the titabawassee last year.  

 

bottom to top

 

googan lipless 1/2 oz 

rat l trap  1/2 oz 

shad rap rs-7 in perch 

shallow shad rap -7 in perch 

og-6 in silver black back. 

 

i’ve got some lucky craft 3/4 lvo’s on thier way which i win on ebay. 

 

 

On 12/21/2023 at 10:31 AM, gimruis said:

Guess I didn't even realize is was a jerkbait.  I thought it was a crankbait based on the shape and size of the front lip.

 

Either way, it will definitely at least get tried next spring.

i used to catch a lot of fish using jerk baits as cranks baits.  when I am small stream trout and smallie fishing that is how i still fish the smaller rapala’s like f5-7 and the j-7 jointed rapala’s. 

[MassYak85]

 

Been a couple years since I added a new setup. Finally pulled the trigger on a dedicated "cold water" setup for jerkbaits mostly.

 

Diawa Alphas 800, Phenix Feather 7'1MH with 40lb Daiwa Samurai. 

 

[Derek1]

That’s a sweet little haul when you know what you’re looking. Congrats on the twins. Get out when you can. 

[FishTank]

I took this masterpiece (Conquest 101 and a Megabass P5 Z-Crank) out for its first run and it was a blast.  My wife confiscated this set up for Christmas and I've been wanting to fish it for quite some time.  I tried a jerkbait, a shallow crankbait and a topwater popper at my local pond.  I caught one on each. 

 

This one has that magical feel to it. The reel is amazing but the rod is perfect for 110s and 110jr's. 

 

 

[RipzLipz]

@FishTank …with a Megabass jacket as well? (Noticed the cuff).

[FishTank]

Got it last year. My wife wears it all the time as well.  Great jacket but it is JDM sized. It blocks wind and is good in the rain. It's a stretch fit and is good in 40-50 degree weather. 

[Eric 26]

@FishTank This would be me in that jacket 😉😆

[Tarpon Hunter]

Oh geez! I didn't really need another bait caster but when I saw this Daiwa Coastal I just had to get it. I didn't know it existed. I have a few Tatulas and a Zillion already. My wife saw this and I had to get her one as well. Lord, stop me before I buy again!

[NorthernBasser]

The main differences between the Coastal SV TW (there's also a Coastal 80) and the Tat SV TW is it's larger handle (100 mm vs 90 mm) and deeper spool. And color, obviously. Where you getting your Coastal's from? 

6 hours ago, Eric 26 said:

@FishTank This would be me in that jacket 😉😆

Man, I miss Farley. 

[FishTank]

1 hour ago, NorthernBasser said:

Man, I miss Farley. 

 

When I buy a new rod my wife tells me.....

 

[Eric 26]

@NorthernBasser Me too😉

@FishTank I literally laughed out loud when I saw this 🤣😆