I finally got the chance to go out on the water again for 2 days in a row...
Day 1
Fished for a bit over 2 hours, hooked 6 fish, boated 4 - 3 largies, 1 smallie. Very windy conditions, very grateful for spot lock. Didn't take any pictures given how little time I had and how windy it was.
Combo 1: Roman Made Torero / Lin 258 - 110 jerkbait
Combo 2: C40 HDTS Cliffhanger Evolution / Milano Block w/ IS Honeycomb spool - Ned rig, Spark shad
Combo 5: Steez Bottom Contact II / Lin 10 25th Anniversary - 1/2 oz jig / Texas
Damage came on the jerkbait, Hunts and lipless. That Raven RS keeps growing on me, what a fun little rod!
The Milano is also a joy, this one has Ian magic all over it, so many mods - Clicking drag, new line guide, worm shaft mod, IS Honeycomb spool, etc, etc. probably warrants a separate post just for the mods. The Cliffhanger HDTS is very nice too but very parabolic for a supposed single hook rod. The Evoluzion rods always felt better for me with treble moving baits. Each blank has a small amount of glass in it (and titanium...).
And I really want to like the new P5... But everytime I try one, it's very "meh". I'll put more time in with the Dark Sleeper as I really want to like this rod but my first date with it was a dud.
Day 2
A bit of a bummer of a day but, hey, fishing is always fun. My go-to spot was hosting a tournament so there were 20 boats crowding the ramp when I arrived. I decided to head somewhere else and it turned out to be the day all the ski boats / jet skis / pontoons decided to come out... Oh well. Still managed to get 4 hours on the water. It had been a while since I felt the boat still rocking when back on dry land... Also took only 1 picture. Was a decent day nonetheless but it was the invasion of the red eyes. 1 smallie, 1 largie, and 30(?) rock bass *sigh*
Combo 1: Serpenti Del Gesu (zig-zag) / Exist 22 - OSP Dice Rubber (what do they say, fish double stupid stuff, catch stupid fish?)
Combo 2: Serpenti Spider Spin / Lin 258 - Wacky
Combo 3: C40 HDTS Cliffhanger Evolution / Milano Block w/ IS Honeycomb spool - Ned rig
Combo 4: C40 HDTS Diablo Spec L / Steez TWS SV - Various cranks
Combo 7: X7 Super Elseil / Steez Limited - Spark shad after the multitude of birdsnests....
This was the day of the washing machine wakes and birdsnests. Cast 1 with the Milano, HUGE birdsnest. Cast 1 with the Kirisame, HUGE birdsnest. Cast 2 with the Diablo Spec L, HUGE birdsnest... Got a bit overconfident after fishing the night before in the wind, I guess, lol. No other birdsnest the rest of the day 😉
I gotta say, the X7 Super Elseil never disappoints. What a cool versatile rod. I wouldn't use it for bottom contact but pretty much everything else between 1/4 to 3/4 goes.
That Serpenti Del Gesu (the one with the zigzag guide pattern) is such a fun rod. There are a lot of great dropshot rods out there but this one feels a bit different. It's light / thin / solid tip. Not sure the zigzag does anything besides adding to the coolness / fun factor. Super sensitive and great taper. This rod will definitely make my shortlist for light drop shot and general light duty spinning. I finally got to fish the OSP Rubber Dice on the zizgzag. Caught a largemouth on it and 10ish rock bass. One Dice lasted all day and is still in good shape for the next outing. Like the old saying says, fish double stupid stuff (zigzag + dice), catch a heapful of stupid fish (10 rock bass in this case). Here is the only pic I took of the red eyes and I am rocking the father's day bracelet....
Awesome outings mango, and STELLAR gear! I love catching rock bass, they are feisty and fun (and delicious if you like panfish)...I like using a light or ML spinning rod for the red eyes.
Sounds like a good time! Nice line up too! Gotta love the father's day bracelet. My little one said happy father's day and gave me one of her pens. A few hours later she asked for it back... lol
Sounds like a good time! Nice line up too! Gotta love the father's day bracelet. My little one said happy father's day and gave me one of her pens. A few hours later she asked for it back... lol
Sounds like a good time! Nice line up too! Gotta love the father's day bracelet. My little one said happy father's day and gave me one of her pens. A few hours later she asked for it back... lol
Hahaha...welcome to being "daddy".
Love it...😎🙏♥️💪
Yup. My daughter asked me to help her make a card for her mother for mother’s day. Then she decided to keep the card for herself because she liked her drawing and asked me to make another card for her mother. 🤣 🤣
Combo #3: Evoluzion HDTS Diablo Spec L / Steez SV TW - Woodream balsa crank with Roman Made wrap
Combo #4: The “@rise special”, lol. Sedition Cristobal (not the limited) / Zonda 68 with MB honeycomb spool - 3” spark shad with 1/8 oz okashira screw head
Well, first off, No birdsnest! Boated 7 fish in 3 hours, and lost 4 (the little ones were aggressive and jumpy today). In the boat were 6 largoes and 1 smallie. To quote my friend @blksheepfishing, “no red eyes in that lake”.
I am continuing to love the zigzag rod 🥰 not because of the zigzag but because it’s a super sensitive solid tip and I love the taper.
The Cristobal may become my new 3” spark shad rod. I can really bomb them with that 7’2” length. I personally prefer the “regular” Cristobal to the limited (I own both) because of the bigger grip but it’s not as rare so not as cool, lol…
The jury is still out on the Diablo Spec L. It’s a big clunky stick. It probably felt more clunky because I kept handling finesse rods, but no way this rod can throw 1/4 oz. It’s a very powerful rod that’s not as parabolic as i would have hoped; I tore through 2 smaller bass with the 5/8 oz crank and they came off. Definitely the rod’s fault or the hooks’ fault, not the fisherman’s fault, lol.
The osp dice continues ro deliver and I’m on the same dice since Sunday. The 3” spark shad is just my old reliable. Doesn’t guarantee giants but it always puts fish in the boat. And with the “Greg special” combo, it’s a cool setup all around…
Going out again tomorrow morning for one more outing before my wife and older daughter return from their trip to my in-laws… It will be all finesse tomorrow!!
What a great read but I must admit, i read zonda and was just a curious to know which spool ( the honeycomb or the finesse ) was your favorite of the two?
What a great read but I must admit, i read zonda and was just a curious to know which spool ( the honeycomb or the finesse ) was your favorite of the two?
The honeycomb is the more versatile one, imo. More line capacity and doesn’t feel as finicky as the finesse one. The finesse one I use on the dainty bfs rod with light baits and I have to be really careful not to overcast or it feels like it will easily birdnest.
The honeycomb feels like a very good all around spool for lighter duty but doesn’t feel bfs, if that makes any sense. I hope this helps.
@rise Thanks brother. Getting out fishing 4 days out of 5 is unheard of in my situation… I am very grateful and privileged to be able to have done it!
My last day was a good day as well. I was planning to do all finesse fishing but the plan changed after an hour of getting nuthin’… The heatwave made the fish lazy and they wouldn’t chase anything. Managed 4 fish in 3 hours, 3 nice largies and a decent smallie. 3 on jigs and 1 on a Z3 crankbait. They were all “one off” fish, all in different locations on specific pieces of cover. Feels like the lure had to be exactly in their grill for them to grab it.
Key Takeaways from my 4 days on the water. These are just my personal opinions on how I experience gear for my style of fishing. I do not spend enough time on the water to do true in-depth reviews, these are more “impressions”, so please take it with a grain of salt. Hopefully this is helpful for somebody…
Stuff I love:
Evergreen Black Raven RS: Great for pitching 3/8 oz jigs at isolated cover
2015 Kirisame all-solid baitcasting rod: BFS before BFS was a thing…
Zonda + MB honeycomb and finesse spools: See above
Sedition Cristobal
Steez Reels (TW SV, Limited, CT TW)
Exist Reels
Evergreen Serpenti De Gesu rod for dropshot. It requires something stupid as a lure like a dice
X7 anything - Super Elseil, Super Eiger, Shading X - I wish they were all a bit longer but they never disappoint
TD-Ito reel with a BE spool - Long live the old guys!!
I was also super impressed by the Evergreen Cougar Elite RS as a treble moving bait rod. Could cast a 3/8 oz Z3 a country mile and has superb double taper for landing a nice fish. I was hoping to use this rod as a swimjig rod but tbd if it has enough oomph. The feel and taper really reminds me of the X7 Super Elseil. To be continued but super sharp rod.
Things I was a bit disappointed with / am TBD on:
Steez The One spinning rod. As much as I love Steez reels, the Steez rods don’t seem to match well with my fishing style / expectations
P5 Dark Sleeper. Need more time with it but I put it down after 5 casts. I just wasn’t feeling it.
C40 HDTS Diablo Spec L - It needs a personality. It’s a super beefy rod but not parabolic enough for treble moving baits, imo. Maybe I’ll try it with heavy jigs? Don’t know.
Luxxe Oltre B69MH - I love the B70H, so my expectations were likely a bit off… But I much much preferred the Raven for pitching 3/8 oz jigs. I’ll give this rod more time as I love the B70H so much… This is probably more a plus plus for the Raven than a knock on the Oltre.
Here is a pic of the gear I started with although I switched it all up after an hour of sleepy casting.
Sounds like a good time! Nice line up too! Gotta love the father's day bracelet. My little one said happy father's day and gave me one of her pens. A few hours later she asked for it back... lol
Hahaha...welcome to being "daddy".
Love it...😎🙏♥️💪
Yup. My daughter asked me to help her make a card for her mother for mother’s day. Then she decided to keep the card for herself because she liked her drawing and asked me to make another card for her mother. 🤣 🤣
@rise Thanks brother. Getting out fishing 4 days out of 5 is unheard of in my situation… I am very grateful and privileged to be able to have done it!
My last day was a good day as well. I was planning to do all finesse fishing but the plan changed after an hour of getting nuthin’… The heatwave made the fish lazy and they wouldn’t chase anything. Managed 4 fish in 3 hours, 3 nice largies and a decent smallie. 3 on jigs and 1 on a Z3 crankbait. They were all “one off” fish, all in different locations on specific pieces of cover. Feels like the lure had to be exactly in their grill for them to grab it.
Key Takeaways from my 4 days on the water. These are just my personal opinions on how I experience gear for my style of fishing. I do not spend enough time on the water to do true in-depth reviews, these are more “impressions”, so please take it with a grain of salt. Hopefully this is helpful for somebody…
Stuff I love:
Evergreen Black Raven RS: Great for pitching 3/8 oz jigs at isolated cover
2015 Kirisame all-solid baitcasting rod: BFS before BFS was a thing…
Zonda + MB honeycomb and finesse spools: See above
Sedition Cristobal
Steez Reels (TW SV, Limited, CT TW)
Exist Reels
Evergreen Serpenti De Gesu rod for dropshot. It requires something stupid as a lure like a dice
X7 anything - Super Elseil, Super Eiger, Shading X - I wish they were all a bit longer but they never disappoint
TD-Ito reel with a BE spool - Long live the old guys!!
I was also super impressed by the Evergreen Cougar Elite RS as a treble moving bait rod. Could cast a 3/8 oz Z3 a country mile and has superb double taper for landing a nice fish. I was hoping to use this rod as a swimjig rod but tbd if it has enough oomph. The feel and taper really reminds me of the X7 Super Elseil. To be continued but super sharp rod.
Things I was a bit disappointed with / am TBD on:
Steez The One spinning rod. As much as I love Steez reels, the Steez rods don’t seem to match well with my fishing style / expectations
P5 Dark Sleeper. Need more time with it but I put it down after 5 casts. I just wasn’t feeling it.
C40 HDTS Diablo Spec L - It needs a personality. It’s a super beefy rod but not parabolic enough for treble moving baits, imo. Maybe I’ll try it with heavy jigs? Don’t know.
Luxxe Oltre B69MH - I love the B70H, so my expectations were likely a bit off… But I much much preferred the Raven for pitching 3/8 oz jigs. I’ll give this rod more time as I love the B70H so much… This is probably more a plus plus for the Raven than a knock on the Oltre.
Here is a pic of the gear I started with although I switched it all up after an hour of sleepy casting.
So much goodness and beautifully broken down. Bud.
Just a suggestion…try the B69MH with some heavier/bigger Nekos, 3/16 T-rigs, Itö Shiner/110 (yes you read that right 😆), larger walking baits, and 1/4oz swim jig with a light weed guard…heck, even toss a chatter around with it. It’s VERY versatile and will show you what it can do with fish on the other end of the line. Awesome stick that can be deceiving due to its unique taper.
