Your favorites, and why?….

In regards to the Luxxe Oltre rods....did they only make (4) different rods?

1) B67M

2) B69MH

3) B70H

4) S63L

I was recently lucky enough to hold the B70H in my hands (OMG !!) and now I need one....hopefully it fishes as good as it looks and feels...

I would imagine you have all of these rods in your arsenal and you have fished all of them. Can you provide your feedback on each?

I am giving this a lot of thought that may take several parts:

Rods:

As much as I would like to say Megabass is my favorite brand of rod, I cannot.  Although I have had more Megabass rods since 2003, I would have to give the nod to Evergreen.  I had few of the JDM Daiwas, Steez and Battlers.

I never got into any of the other mainstream JDM rods, Jackall, Gamakatsu Olympic, Boroughs(?).  Sometimes, I'm a middle of the roader, no deep cuts.  I think it's because I know what I like AND the bodies of water I fished were basic, veg, wood, not a lot of depth or extensive cover.

My favorite Megabass rods would have to be:

1.  Reservoir Dog F2-57X - topwaters

2.  G-Ax - pitchin and heavy veg

3. Megabass F5.5-68ti Diablo 

My favorite EG rods would have to be:

1.  Spin Cobra 6'3" 

2.  Pantera 6'2"

3.  Dengeki(?)

Reels:

Daiwa, nuf' said.

I never had the greatest experiences with Shimano, USDM OR JDM, although I did like the Antares DC and Calcutta Conquest standards.

Favorite Reels:

1.  Megabass Itö 103 upgraded to 6.3:1

2.  Steez A II

3.  Zillion 1000 SV TW

4.  Steez 105 LTD -  This is the most surprising to me.  It found it to be light and toyish BUT extremely comfortable.  I upgraded to a 103 size spool.

LURES TO FOLLOW

@blksheepfishing I will be happy to do so. Just give me a minute (couple of days), and I’ll start a new thread on this topic. 🙏🏼👍🏼

Posted by: @blitzdr

↑

I am giving this a lot of thought that may take several parts:

Rods:

As much as I would like to say Megabass is my favorite brand of rod, I cannot.  Although I have had more Megabass rods since 2003, I would have to give the nod to Evergreen.  I had few of the JDM Daiwas, Steez and Battlers.

I never got into any of the other mainstream JDM rods, Jackall, Gamakatsu Olympic, Boroughs(?).  Sometimes, I'm a middle of the roader, no deep cuts.  I think it's because I know what I like AND the bodies of water I fished were basic, veg, wood, not a lot of depth or extensive cover.

My favorite Megabass rods would have to be:

1.  Reservoir Dog F2-57X - topwaters

2.  G-Ax - pitchin and heavy veg

3. Megabass F5.5-68ti Diablo 

My favorite EG rods would have to be:

1.  Spin Cobra 6'3" 

2.  Pantera 6'2"

3.  Dengeki(?)

 

Reels:

Daiwa, nuf' said.

I never had the greatest experiences with Shimano, USDM OR JDM, although I did like the Antares DC and Calcutta Conquest standards.

Favorite Reels:

1.  Megabass Itö 103 upgraded to 6.3:1

2.  Steez A II

3.  Zillion 1000 SV TW

4.  Steez 105 LTD -  This is the most surprising to me.  It found it to be light and toyish BUT extremely comfortable.  I upgraded to a 103 size spool.

 

LURES TO FOLLOW

 

 

 

 

Good stuff…look forward to your lure manufacturer preferences. 

@rise looking forward to it.

Thanks

After wading through a swamp of EG RS, Steez RD, MB everything post X7 and many more, here is my top 3. I think this list largely represents my style of fishing which is usually on the lighter end of the spectrum. 

Bass Rods/Reels:

#1 Designo DLR-C611ML/MHRST2s Racing Tuned by KAMIYA 90 Spiral 

Other than having the longest name in rod history this is a spectacular unicorn of a rod. Built for backhanded long pitching and skipping with an incredible multi stage taper. Absolutely gorgeous build with cork handle and red accents. 

Favorite teammate: Daiwa Steez CT SV 7.1 with Red KTF spool

#2 Studio Composite ID Custom Paradox 7603 

A do it all tank of a rod for anything between .75 to 1.25oz. SC has been a true leader in the utilization of carbon and it is evident that each rod is made with Japanese pride and craftsmanship lakeside in Kochi, Japan. I've slayed 9lb bass, 15lb Stripers and a 40lb Tarpon with this sword. 

Favorite teamamate: Antares A with a Backlash Edition Studio Composite Handle

#3 Luxxe Oltre 6'7M

As others have mentioned this series was a triumph of innovation, beauty, and functionality. A nimble rod, with incredible sensitivity and black tie styling. What is not to love. 

Favorite teammate: Daiwa Steez CT SV 8.1 with Purple KTF spool 

"For the money" honorable mentions:

Olympic Vigore series- I don't think that there is a better upper tier cost to performance/materials rod made. If you have never watched the Olympic movie, do yourself a favor. An incredible operation that highlights Japanese pride and craftsmanship in a manufacturing setting. 

Saltwater Rod

-Tulala Harmonix Staccato78MHSS-HX

Hands down best branding in fishing, which is a Squirrel busting a nut (or is it holding a fishing rod?)  This rod brings more to the table than the tough as nails reputation of Tulala. A one off in the vast offerings of the brand, they chose to make this particular rod in Japan with handmade level craftsmanship. Titanium/Torzite guides with PE "straw setting" makes for incredibly long and accurate casts. A deep blue blank with light blue wraps makes this baby pop and match perfectly with a Daiwa Certate 4k

Favorite fishing line (freshwater)

VARIVAS Monster PE Si-X VAMOS- hands down my favorite braid. Often overlooked because of cost and for the longest time it just came in 65 meter spools. A couple of years ago they finally came out with 130m spools. Longest lasting, best handling braid I have ever used. I just wish they made a size down from 2 PE. 

Favorite Lure

OSP Do Live Beaver- I was pissed off when Tackle Warehouse started carrying this bait. I wanted it all to myself via a shop in Japan that carried every size, in every color at a great price before it landed in the US. Incredible action and so many ways to use it, including my favorite on a Kaishin Blade Bait. 

I'm not going to even get into my new trout gear addiction in this thread. It makes premium bass gear seem like nickle slots. haha

Rods, hmmm…. currently own one or more Gan Craft, Megabass, Evergreen, Deps, Roman Made, Palms, Daiwa, Souls, and Zombie. Oh, plus a couple customs and a collection of I don’t care what happens to them of Loomis, Lamiglas, Dobyns, St. Croix, etc that I let friends use. All of which are nice sticks. But I crave that good old fashion feeling of yesteryear when ‘new’ meant unique and different and built to last. Disposable sucks, and since we live in modern times, I also want modern performance with. Dammit. Stepping off grid probably 13-14 years back I took a chance on Gan Craft and have not looked back. I was initially enamored with the sales statement “The Double O Winding Check is custom made by a Japanese jewelry store from real 925 Silver and can be cleaned with a “silver cloth” when darkens.” For real, how bad could this be? It’s jeweler grade concept. Any manufacturer going to such extremes, it had to be nice. Coupled with “The composite with extremely strong and then very good sensitivity” talk about honest advertising. Elegant, classy, comfortable, the most reliable sticks I possess. I no longer have interest in other brands. Not saying I won’t drop coin on another brand if the price is right, just that I’ve been around long enough to understand health and happiness rule above all else and this is my happy place.

Reels, get real…. Megabass owns the category. Buddy and I talked about this a few days ago, my #1 is Megabass LIN10 Origin. Strictly a super mag lipped cranker for me, it only comes out in specific situations. And if having to choose a #2 I’ll say Megabass IS71 Crack Purple simply because it’s pimped like no other. Note to the psycho among us, there is currently one NIB lefty listed on ebay. And don’t think I haven’t been thinking about it either. But I've already got a NIB backup. And, of course, I love the Gan Craft SLP T3 Mago, call me crazy, but .5-1.5oz these are casting demons and, frankly, loads of fun to deploy. They make me smile. All T3 do actually. So, in essence, anything Daiwa related. I’ve owned other and some Shimano, still do. Nice, not thrilling, but nice.

Baits, my most coveted has to be KRR. I only have 3 thus far, frankly the cost these tend to run is absurd. Take that back, I have 5 forgot about the OG’s. But for nostalgia, it must go to hand pour Reapers. Yeah, I get it, odd. Though worms are can’t miss all year around here, my tendency the last decade plus has been hardbait. If you can figure out what’s wrong with me, please let me know. And a big fan of primary model Megabass 110’s, these are literally the only Megabass baits I trust and I’ll throw them in all weather. Not the newer deeper variants, they do not possess the same tunable magic. Don’t hate me, just being honest. And I have a favorite Gan Craft, if I had to choose only one hardbait manufacturer this is it. Let’s see, the vaunted Deps Buzzjet is the best bait they ever released. It’s okay, you can admit it. A staple item in my stand/sit on floatation platform with motors and stuff, I keep a tray on the ready. Could probably list half dozen others but no point to it I figure. Very subjective topic here. Good reading though.

@aquaftm that’s good stuff. Olympic/Graphite Leader definitely needs to be mentioned…good call. Incredible value for your dollars, much like Major Craft, whom probably also deserves honorable mention in that “bang for buck” arena. 

I can wholeheartedly tell you that I’ve stayed away from trout/true bfs stream gear on purpose…for exactly the reasons you mention. A huge rabbit hole I’ll avoid for as long as possible. That said…I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before I’m deep in it, as my GFs father lives next to the Rouge River with countless streams nearby.

UL pack rods have been calling my name this past year. 

Would love to see some of what you’ve acquired. Please share. 🤙🏼

My favorite lures:

I actually have a long history with JDM lures starting with Team Daiwa lures No.1063 #B-2　TEAM-DAIWA　T.D.CRANK, conservatively back to 1992, possibly earlier.  It was a fire tiger pattern and was an out and out producer.  The local tackle shop guy also had a few customers from Japan who got him connected to Megabass lures by the late 1990s.  The stock was limited and expensive but the quality of components meant you didn't have to double your cost for better hooks and hope they ran true.

About that time, I was a subscriber to The Inside Line, Gary Yamamoto Baits magazine and there was a full article about Japanese tackle.  I bought my first Megabass rod off ebay in 2002/2003, which arrived broken but the insurance got me a new one from Jun at Japan Tackle, when he also sold rods.  I never looked back!

Got my first TD Z, although I was a Daiwa reel guy from my first TD 1 Hi in the late 1980's.  But back to baits, Lucky Craft was not a gateway drug for me.  Megabass was first.  O.S.P came second.  I've had my picture on the old O.S.P fan foto page a couple of times going back to 2007.  Megabass were my topwater baits of choice, O.S.P were my crankbaits and wakebaits.  Megabass and O.S.P were also my soft plastic baits of choice.

I tried Jackall hardbaits but didn't work out too well but Jackall soft plastics were very good in NJ but not too productive in SC.  I like Evergreen for topwaters in SC, actually replacing MB.  I like Gan Craft, always did but not practical in NJ.  It may work in SC.  Imakatsu makes great light jigs but the hard baits are too "Tim Burton" for me, bizarre!

A "new" one I'm liking is RaidJapan.  The components are quality.  The finishes are top-notch but need more pattern choices.

So baits by name, no particular order:

Megabass - Pop X, Vibration X Ultra (If you have PM Pearl Mica you'd like to sell ...), Cat's Kill Worm (possibly discontinued)

O.S.P - If it says "Blitz", it's a hit!  HPF is another good one.  Do Live soft plastics, Zero One Jig

RaidJapan - Level Crank Goriller, Level Crank 

Evergreen - One's Bug, Justine 95, Shower Blows 77.7

Imakatsu - Abe Rubba jig

Gancraft - Jointed Claw

Intial list, expect additions

Brand:

DRT. Everything and anything DRT. Big bait, soft bait, handle, knob, rod, towel, glove, whatever. Innovative. Creative. Not driven by the market. I will continue to support them as they are always looking to do something new and something cool. One day I will own an Artex series rod...

Rods:

Megabass X7. Fell in love with the Super Elseil and never looked back since. Simple design, crisp action, sensitive, and has that "Old School Cool". P3s are probably nearing the same level of love from me but I haven't fished them enough to fall in love.

Designo. Did some research a few years ago and just had to have them. Now I have 4 rods with hopefully a 5th on the way. The design is sleek, powers are perfect for how I fish, and they are just the right amount of "obscure".

Reels:

Daiwa. From the old stuff to the TW stuff, they just fish better to me than Shimano stuff. I tried basic Shimano stuff like the Bantam and Curado but the Steez just kicked it's butt every time for me. I feel like Shimano only does well for me on the really high end items like the Conquest and Antares. Everything else feels basic.

Baits:

DRT VTS7. See thread.

DRT K9. It was hard gaining confidence in such a big bait when I first got it. Throwing it out there felt like I just chucked a boulder into the lake. But after catching many fish with it and learning the bait, it's pretty much with me wherever I go. It's my starting point now.

Posted by: @blitzdr

↑

My favorite lures:

I actually have a long history with JDM lures starting with Team Daiwa lures No.1063 #B-2　TEAM-DAIWA　T.D.CRANK, conservatively back to 1992, possibly earlier.  It was a fire tiger pattern and was an out and out producer.  The local tackle shop guy also had a few customers from Japan who got him connected to Megabass lures by the late 1990s.  The stock was limited and expensive but the quality of components meant you didn't have to double your cost for better hooks and hope they ran true.

About that time, I was a subscriber to The Inside Line, Gary Yamamoto Baits magazine and there was a full article about Japanese tackle.  I bought my first Megabass rod off ebay in 2002/2003, which arrived broken but the insurance got me a new one from Jun at Japan Tackle, when he also sold rods.  I never looked back!

Got my first TD Z, although I was a Daiwa reel guy from my first TD 1 Hi in the late 1980's.  But back to baits, Lucky Craft was not a gateway drug for me.  Megabass was first.  O.S.P came second.  I've had my picture on the old O.S.P fan foto page a couple of times going back to 2007.  Megabass were my topwater baits of choice, O.S.P were my crankbaits and wakebaits.  Megabass and O.S.P were also my soft plastic baits of choice.

I tried Jackall hardbaits but didn't work out too well but Jackall soft plastics were very good in NJ but not too productive in SC.  I like Evergreen for topwaters in SC, actually replacing MB.  I like Gan Craft, always did but not practical in NJ.  It may work in SC.  Imakatsu makes great light jigs but the hard baits are too "Tim Burton" for me, bizarre!

A "new" one I'm liking is RaidJapan.  The components are quality.  The finishes are top-notch but need more pattern choices.

So baits by name, no particular order:

Megabass - Pop X, Vibration X Ultra (If you have PM Pearl Mica you'd like to sell ...), Cat's Kill Worm (possibly discontinued)

O.S.P - If it says "Blitz", it's a hit!  HPF is another good one.  Do Live soft plastics, Zero One Jig

RaidJapan - Level Crank Goriller, Level Crank 

Evergreen - One's Bug, Justine 95, Shower Blows 77.7

Imakatsu - Abe Rubba jig

Gancraft - Jointed Claw

Intial list, expect additions

 

Still have some TD Cranks and Woofers in rotation that I absolutely love. 

Outstanding list. 

Posted by: @pkn8

↑

Brand:

DRT. Everything and anything DRT. Big bait, soft bait, handle, knob, rod, towel, glove, whatever. Innovative. Creative. Not driven by the market. I will continue to support them as they are always looking to do something new and something cool. One day I will own an Artex series rod...

Rods:

Megabass X7. Fell in love with the Super Elseil and never looked back since. Simple design, crisp action, sensitive, and has that "Old School Cool". P3s are probably nearing the same level of love from me but I haven't fished them enough to fall in love.

Designo. Did some research a few years ago and just had to have them. Now I have 4 rods with hopefully a 5th on the way. The design is sleek, powers are perfect for how I fish, and they are just the right amount of "obscure".

Reels:

Daiwa. From the old stuff to the TW stuff, they just fish better to me than Shimano stuff. I tried basic Shimano stuff like the Bantam and Curado but the Steez just kicked it's butt every time for me. I feel like Shimano only does well for me on the really high end items like the Conquest and Antares. Everything else feels basic.

Baits:

DRT VTS7. See thread.

DRT K9. It was hard gaining confidence in such a big bait when I first got it. Throwing it out there felt like I just chucked a boulder into the lake. But after catching many fish with it and learning the bait, it's pretty much with me wherever I go. It's my starting point now.

Agreed on those P3s...they don't get mentioned enough and are OUTSTANDING rods. 

Good stuff, Nate. Thanks for chiming in.