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

[Hulkster]

On 1/24/2025 at 12:04 PM, Marty-WI said:

New addition to my team of modest bait casting rods/reels.  Added to the jerkbait lineup.

Initial feel of Shimano Expride B 6'10" Medium is pretty amazing.   I can see why it's highly suggested.  Paired with Shimano Curado DC.  Long time before able to use, but pretty pumped.  Expect the rod to be a performer.  Hopefully the reel will be too.

 

Kudos to Tackle Warehouse for super quick delivery.  Ordered rod Tuesday and got Thursday.  

Can you put the reel on the rod and show us the full frontal?

[GreenPig]

On 1/17/2025 at 7:09 PM, NorthernBasser said:

 

Who wants to tell him it's only January 17th? 

That's a long time to deny the Monkey.

[softwateronly]

I'm still in my anti-spinning stage of life, so I added a 2nd BFS/salt rod combo.  I got the Abu Kurodai 7'3MLS/BF w/ a Zillion//roro x-27 on the rec from @bulldog1935 last year and decided to add the 7'9LT version for this year.  Figure it'll be a good addition, double up even, for jig and minnow, hair jigs, and small spoons, maybe neds and microjigs too.  New spool is still traversing the ocean.

 

scott

 

 

[bulldog1935]

@softwateronly

The 7'3" is simply an all-around rod - I would recommend it for any bass fisherman.  

 

Late last year I added the 8'3"L for shore fishing, and like the previous rod, I modified the grip for my long fingers with cork tape and X-shrink

I fished this at the end of last month in lightest 3-g microjig niche, where it excelled.  Compared to my Yamaga Blanks BCIII 82/B, with its long moderate mid, the long fast mid on the Abu Baitfinesse gives up just a bit of distance, but it's excellent for working lures.  The Abu Protytpe series really stands out.  

[softwateronly]

57 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

@softwateronly

The 7'3" is simply an all-around rod - I would recommend it for any bass fisherman.  

 

 

 

I wholeheartedly agree.  The 7'3ML is so useful and versatile I almost doubled up on it instead.  I debated my asian portal cart for a week.  I'm hoping the extra length of the 7'9 plays out in a little more distance on the lighter end.  Even if it doesn't, I found myself often swapping rigs and or baits with different weights and profiles trying to entice the summer fry chasin schoolies and the fall shad massacre.  It quickly became a way for me to improve my catch rate and size at specific, difficult, times of year.

 

scott

[Bankbeater]

I was at the BPS Spring Classic sale this morning.   I had been looking at heavy rods for a while now since my old H/F Daiwa is around 30 years old.  I walked around the store trying out the tip action on different rods and many of them felt more like a x-fast than a fast.  I settled on a Carbonlite rod because it had a little more tip action than the others, and I already have a m/f Carbonlite spinning rod.

[MassYak85]

Destroyed the levelwind on my oldest Tatula reel during it's annual cleaning (bearings were rusted beyond saving) so I "had to" order a brand new one 😄

[cadman]

On 3/11/2025 at 4:15 PM, MassYak85 said:

Destroyed the levelwind on my oldest Tatula reel during it's annual cleaning (bearings were rusted beyond saving) so I "had to" order a brand new one 😄

So what kind of reel did you replace it with?

[MassYak85]

1 hour ago, cadman said:

So what kind of reel did you replace it with?

The newer model Tatula. They've been super solid reels for me and easy to work on it was totally my fault for putting it away wet and waiting too long to service it. 

[WhatJustHappened]

Stradic FM 2500, and Procyon 2000D.

Both Spinning reels, to go with Perigee2 M-MH, and Fenwick Elite MH...Both 7' 2 piece.

The Stradic FM 2500 is MUCH Smoother than the Diawa Procyon 2000D.

Any day now I'll test them OTW.

[Eric 26]

6 minutes ago, WhatJustHappened said:

Stradic FM 2500, and Procyon 2000D.

Both Spinning reels, to go with Perigee2 M-MH, and Fenwick Elite MH...Both 7' 2 piece.

The Stradic FM 2500 is MUCH Smoother than the Diawa Procyon 2000D.

Any day now I'll test them OTW.

I don’t have the Daiwa Procyon but I do have a Shimano Stradic FL 1000 and a Daiwa BG 1500 to compare. I absolutely love my Shimano Stradic but my Daiwa BG at $70.00 cheaper feels every bit as top end with perfect line lay albeit a bit heavier at 2.0 ounces heavier but I would highly recommend looking into it.

[WhatJustHappened]

These reels are supposedly the same weight according to specs, I wanted Aluminum frames after dealing with the CI4+ Flimsiness...I hated that reel IMMEDIATELY after having big/tough reels that never flexed enough for me to feel it(Why I didn't do Vanford).

The 2000D is not as smooth as the Stradic FM, this was apparent IMMEDIATELY, but it's still pretty darn smooth, like real smooth.

I'm certain I will love them both for many years, and I won't know which one I like better until I get them in the field and beat the **** out of them.

 

Aluminum...TYVM.

[Eric 26]

I will add I’m going to look at the BPS Johnny Morris Platinum Signature Series  spinning reel this weekend which I believe is based on the Procyon.

[WhatJustHappened]

I haven't used it yet, but that Procyon AL is pretty smooth...

It cost me barely above 100(was watching it), so it was a deal I couldn't refuse....it was about 169 or so when it came out, with many great reviews and In field videos.

I'm guessing I'll be happy with it, but I think I will like the Stradic FM better... we'll see, I don't care, I own them both, and have no allegiance to either.

[fishinnont]

Bantam XG and St Croix Victory. The new st croix is going on my zillion and the bantam is going on a dobyns fury 734c

[Eric 26]

I went to BPS last Saturday for their/my annual spring trade in sale and wound up getting a Carbonlite 7’-0” medium heavy spinning rod and a JM Platinum spinning reel in 2000 size along with a handful of baits which along with a handful of Wal Mart clearance baits should keep the monkey happy for awhile. Also for what it’s worth I had 2 BPS employees tell me the Platinum series spinning reel is a different colored Daiwa Fuego with mag seal. I should also say the Daiwa Alphas was a JDM purchase as a B-Day present to myself.

[MiceNReets]

38 minutes ago, fishinnont said:

Bantam XG and St Croix Victory. The new st croix is going on my zillion and the bantam is going on a dobyns fury 734c

That victory rod is amazing.   It’s one of my fav rods and always with me when I go fishing.  I have it with a zillion SV using 12lbs YZH and it’s awesome.   Going to try my Antares 70 on it this year.