Latest,Rods & Reels Purchase Thread (Bait Monkey Victim Support Group)

[FishTank]

I found a deal the Bait Monkey couldn't refuse.

 

I've been fishing it for a few days now. I have it paired with my old 2019 Steez SV. The Daemos is probably the most accurate casting rod I have used. It's pretty sensitive and loads a 3/8oz jig amazingly well.  Together with the Steez, it's a deadly combo. Only downside is that it's soft.

 

[KP Duty]

On 10/25/2024 at 6:13 PM, FishTank said:

 Only downside is that it's soft.

Yeah...that 8lb lower line rating let's you know what you're in for.  

[FishTank]

2 hours ago, KP Duty said:

Yeah...that 8lb lower line rating let's you know what you're in for.  

 

Megabass' rod ratings for line are kind of strange to begin with. For instance,  the Madbull is rated 10-25lb. I don't see myself ever throwing 25lb line on a crankbait rod. 

 

The Daemos though, I bought it for 3/8oz jigs and swimjigs but I was hoping as Megabass stated that it was good for Senkos and spinnerbaits. So basically a junk fishing rod for 3/8oz baits. Comparing it to a G.Loomis x-fast, it feels like a sponge.  It's closer the 843C MBR but even softer at the tip. Once you get to the middle of the rod, it's pretty powerful. Also, I'm not getting the quick hook sets I'm use to with this rod. You really have load up on the rod to drive a heavy wire hook home but a jig with a thinner wire hook, like the OSP Hunt,  is money. I will probably go braid to leader on this setup next year.

[ABU is overpriced]

I got the 7' MH Daiwa Black Label in 5pc.

[Bass Rutten]

Couldn't resist, $148 on sale, Kistler KLX incoming...

[Motoboss]

St. Croix Premier Casting Rod
 

been looking for a short creek rod and it is now almost impossible to find a pistol grip rod. This St. Croix is 5’6” med/fast, 8-14# line and 1/4-5/8.

Looking forward to putting it to use,,,,,,soon.

[NorthernBasser]

9 hours ago, Bass Rutten said:

Couldn't resist, $148 on sale, Kistler KLX incoming...

 

I got another Chromium. $98! 

[Bass Rutten]

3 minutes ago, NorthernBasser said:

 

I got another Chromium. $98! 

Nice! This will be my 4th Kistler. Which one did you get?

[NorthernBasser]

Just now, Bass Rutten said:

Nice! This will be my 4th Kistler. Which one did you get?

 

I got the 7'0 MH/XF. I already have the 7'2 HMH which is the 'frog/toad rod' that I use when not frogging really thick stuff. It's no longer on their site though. Just 3 models are available, so I wonder if these are going away or what. It's one of their newest series. 

 

What KLX did you get? This will be my 5th Kistler. I also have a Helium, 2 Feel N Reels and the 2 Chromium's. My Helium and Feel N Reels are the previous model that used the North Fork Composite blanks. I used to have a KLX too, but sold it. Great rod, just wasn't using it much. 

[Bass Rutten]

Cool, I ordered a klx 7'3" heavy/mod-fast, it's the a-rig/deep cranker rated for 3/8-2oz. Planning on using it mostly for chatterbaits and swimbaits, but I'm curious if it has enough power for punching and frogging too. It's funny but lately I never know how a rod will end up being utilized, sometimes they wind up being better at something I didn't anticipate. Supposed to be here Saturday.

 

My last one was the helium 7'3" hmh, I'm loving it. I also have a helium ml/f and a lmh/f, both 7'0" casting.

[NorthernBasser]

21 hours ago, Bass Rutten said:

Cool, I ordered a klx 7'3" heavy/mod-fast, it's the a-rig/deep cranker rated for 3/8-2oz.

Nice, I'm sure you'll love it. The KLX I sold was also a 7'3 H/Mod-Fast. But it was only rated up to 1 1/4 oz. It was labeled as their Frog/Jig/Creature/Worm rod. I'm sure you'll be able to frog/punch with the one you ordered.

[FishTank]

I found another deal on a Megabass P5 I couldn't pass up on. I debated on what reel I wanted to put on it. I considered a Daiwa Exist or an Airity. Then I took one look at my Shimano Twin Power and thought for money, I wasn't going to beat it so I got another one.  

 

 

 

I've been fishing it for about two weeks and the Windbuster is like a Swiss Army knife. I fished a crankbait,  jerkbait, senko, free rig, a topwater popper, and a jig on it. I caught fish on all and it did well with each bait. The sensitivity is good but not NRX+ good. It can cast a mile though.  It's versatility makes it a great rod for kayak fishing and bank fishing.  If I am going to take only one rod, this might be the one. 

[NorthernBasser]

11 minutes ago, FishTank said:

I found another deal on a Megabass P5 I couldn't pass up. I debated on what reel I wanted to put on it. I considered a Daiwa Exist or an Airity. Then I took one look at my Shimano Twin Power and thought for money, I wasn't going to beat it so I got another one.  

 

 

 

I've been fishing it for about two weeks and the Windbuster is like a Swiss Army knife. I fished a crankbait,  jerkbait, senko, free rig, a topwater popper, and a jig on it. I caught fish on all and it did well with each bait. The sensitivity is good but not NRX+ good. It can cast a mile though.  It's versatility makes it a great rod for kayak fishing and bank fishing.  If I am going to take only one rod, this might be the one. 

 

[Eric 26]

I wound up purchasing a second Dream Tackle Design reel from A/E last week to pair up with my medium light BPS Crankin Stick. I paid $108.00 to my door and they’re currently showing them for $91.10 vs the $150.00 I paid from Amazon earlier this year. As a gift they included some plastics I’ve never heard of.

[Smirak]

Technically not a purchase, but I warrantied a mojo bass and upgraded to a Victory. All in, $60. I paid $120 for the MojoB and got $180 in credit for it. I’m secretly hoping something will happen to my 7’10. The value on it is $260. I gave $120 for that as well. Had some discounts stack at Cabela’s about this time last year… 

[Motoboss]

Got the 5’ 6” pistol grip St.Croix creek rod in today.
Put on a Shimano SLX BFS XG reel, 10# braid with a 8# fluro leader. Set it up for throwing small moving baits; swim/chatter/spinnerblades. Probably going to go straight braid but the leader was already tied on, so……

 

It cast easily and accurate! Think I’m gonna like it.

edit: Funny thing, I had one twenty five + years ago and never imagined it would be so difficult to find another pistol grip rod nowadays.

[Columbia Craw]

How in the heck did these get here and who’s this guy, Gary Loomis??

[bulldog1935]

@Columbia Craw very nice rods - they're actually Shimano - Gary Loomis hasn't been involved in his company for 40 years.  

[Jweller]

3 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

@Columbia Craw very nice rods - they're actually Shimano - Gary Loomis hasn't been involved in that company for 40 years.  

don't think Edge Rods are Shimano..?

[WRB]

6 minutes ago, Jweller said:

don't think Edge Rods are Shimano..?

Fenwick

Tom

[Bass Rutten]

Edge is not affiliated with Shimano or Fenwick to my knowledge and is owned/operated by Gary Loomis and uses his own NFC blanks. Would love to know how they compete at their price point.

[WRB]

2 hours ago, Bass Rutten said:

Edge is not affiliated with Shimano or Fenwick to my knowledge and is owned/operated by Gary Loomis and uses his own NFC blanks. Would love to know how they compete at their price point.

You are right I was thinking Eagle Fenwick.

My friend has a set of Edge Black Widow rods and loves them, very light weight.

Downside is waiting 6 months for delivery 

Tom

[Columbia Craw]

Just note:  the full grip is a First Strike MBR694-1C.  The split grip is an EFX Pro MBR 696-1C Hybrid.  Both were in stock and I was able to jump the gun on an upcoming promo not yet posted.

 

Gary and Susie Loomis own NFC Edge and have so from the outset.  Trust me, there is zero affiliation with Shimano or G Loomis. Finally,  on many models they are a bit over three months out.  When the upcoming promotion hits that wait might not be unbearable. Just saying.

[TimTheGearNerd]

I found my people here. 
 

I have to confess the bait monkey has been running wild this year. 
 

just to name a few and the deal that made the Bait Monkey perk up. 

Calcutta conquest BFS

- from digitaka when yen was low savings $200

Dobyn’s Sierra BFS

-trade in deal at Dobyn’s. Savings $100

p5 tequila baccarac

-ship from Japan savings $ 150

Kistler chromium 

-got that sale savings $200

expride 7’3 XH

-Alf crazy pricing savings $100

expride 7’2 ML

-bait monkey said, replace the rod that was sacrificed to the lake gods. No savings. 

Vanford FA

-found a price match. Saved $50 bucks. 
orochi XX jerkbait special. 
-got that recent deal savings $100

 

Just thinking about these combos made me smirk. Nothing to see here I guess. Just a guy with more combos than space. Carry on. 
 

 

[ATA]

 

Bait Monkey now days, Thanking TW 😅