Guiding You In Your Quest For More And Bigger Fish
One component of fishing that can make a huge difference in everything from angler fatigue to hook up ratio, having the ability to present a bait properly, casting distance and accuracy as well as myriad other concerns is a good, balanced rod.
Yes, the stick you’re using can, depending on which one you’re throwing, either help to elevate your time on the water or make it much more of a chore than it should be.
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Daiwa introduced their Tatula series of reels several years ago beginning with the original Tatula 100 and 100 Type R.
We’ve had every major version update since then including the CT Type R and the SV. We obtained the new Tatula 100 some time last year and have been fishing with it ever since.
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With the cold water season already in full swing in parts of the country, we took a look back and discovered that we have not to date reviewed what has become for us, a staple in our cold water arsenal.
That being the Z-Man David Walker’s Crosseyez Power Finesse Jig.
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Daiwa has been on a tear in recent years. They have introduced new reels and rods that are designed for the mass market but are feature rich in technologies that, in the past, have been reserved for the higher end consumers.
The result of this is, those who are on a more modest budget can now acquire top quality gear that simply was not available in these price ranges in the not too distant past.
We obtained the new Daiwa Tatula Elite Spinning rod to mate with the Tatula LT Spinning Reel. The specific model we’ll be reviewing is the TAEL701MLFS. This rod is the 7’ Med Lt Meyer. It’s lure rating is 1/16-3/8 with a line rating of 4-10. A finesse rod for sure.
We’ve reviewed more than our share of paddle tail swimbaits because, this style of bait tends to be versatile and catch fish year round.
(Please forgive the first photo, we just got to using and enjoying them so much that we failed to take a pic with a full pack. There are six baits in a package)
Yes, for the most part, every soft plastic manufacturer has their own version of a swimbait. There are hollow body, solid body, different tails and body contours, etc. Most are very similar to each other with small, sometimes indistinguishable differences.
However, at ICAST 2018 we ran across one that we hadn’t used before that does have some enticing features. After speaking with the folks from BioSpawn about their ExoSwim swimbait, I really wanted to give these a go around our local waters. [Read more…]
We’ve reviewed th
e new Quantum Smoke S3 casting reel so it only follows that we should also give the Smoke S3 Casting rod some attention since it too has been completely redesigned and reengineered this year.
Before we get into the specifics of these sticks, if you’re actively looking at the series, you’ll notice that the lure weight recommendations appear to be fairly narrow as you go from model to model.
This is a trend these days for a lot of manufacturers. It allows the angler to more precisely choose a rod for a given technique. That being said, it doesn’t necessarily define the only weights that you can use with a particular rod.
We obtained the Smoke S3 SMC706F casting rod. This rod is their Medium Heavy, fast action model. The line recommendation is for 8-17#, lure weight 1/4 -1/2, handle length is 15-1/2” and for guides it has 9+ tip.
One of the most important but least talked about components of any rig is your fishing line.
You can have the best rod, reel and finest lures available but can wind up being completely frustrated with everything if your line isn’t up to snuff.
For some applications you’ll want to throw a fluorocarbon line. You may be fishing gin clear water, need to get a little more depth on your crankbaits or you’re faced with fish that are completely line shy.
Whatever your reasoning, the next step in the process is choosing a fluoro that you have confidence in.
Vibrating jigs or chatterbaits have found a place in most bass angler’s tackle boxes by now. Some have been good, others not so good.
The trick is of course identifying what it is you are wanting from the lure, then finding the one that checks all the boxes.
The Z-Man/Evergreen JackHammer Chatterbait is a collaborative effort involving two companies. But is it unique enough or does it perform better than other baits in this genre?
The construction of this bladed jig starts with a head that has a flat bottom, 3D eyes, a thin but strong stainless steel blade, a Gamakatsu heavy wire hook, a double trailer keeper, hand tied skirt and a heavy duty snap. All of this in a more compact package than a lot of chatterbaits out there.
It’s available in two sizes, 3/8 and 1/2 ounce, with 10 skirt colors almost all of which utilize a painted blade to match or complement the rest of the colors of the lure.
As much as some folks would like to have nothing but bait casting outfits, it is now abundantly clear that there are indeed situations where a spinning outfit is a much better choice.
Not one of the ungainly heavy versions from just a few years ago but rather a light weight reel with all the capabilities an angler needs to target bass.
Last year Daiwa introduced their Tatula LT series of spinning reels which feature the new Zaion housing, machined A7075 aircraft-aluminum DigiGearing, Air Rotor, Air Bail as well as the new design and graphics.
The emphasis with this series is on weight reduction while providing a solid, durable, easy to use reel. [Read more…]