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Zenaq Biwa Special meets waterfall smallies

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dragon1
(@dragon1)
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Posts: 688
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Walter Hill dam....they are finally back up from the rains and receding waters.  The 3.5/3.75 (Boga 15 lb increments) fought like a 6-7 + largemouth in this current!  Longest was almost 22", look at that tail length...and look how short my leader ended up being after the first couple on this combo...it's imperative to retie when they dog into the rocks and fray it up. That's 20lb Sufix Elite mono.

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pkn8
 pkn8
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River smallies are the best!

Review on the rod? Constantly interested in this rod but never hear a full breakdown from anyone.

Always learning...


   
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dragon1
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@pkn8 

Thus far, this is my favorite rod for bigger 3/8-3/4 oz swimjigs and bigger/bulkier trailers, with braid + leader.  This rod just has incredible sensitivity, perfect taper for hooksets and keeping fish pinned, and plenty of power.  It also loads and casts well with 1/2 oz +.

It is a perfect MH+ Mod-Fast that is built rugged.  It is a bit heavier finished weight than other high end rods, but I can tell it has thicker blank walls and the reel seat and components feel more rugged.  It is also very sensitive for how the taper fishes and could easily be used for slack line techs with fluoro.

Also, if you are frogging open water up to light/medium cover, I think this rod has about a perfect taper and power for that as well.  

3/4-1.5 oz wake baits would also excel with it, as would spinnerbaits.

If the timing was right, I would pick up another in a heartbeat.


   
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dragon1
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FWIW....

The big smallie today in that fast current was as strong pulling as the ~8/9 lb flathead I caught (slow rolling a black spinnerbait) at night a few months ago. Albeit it didn't have the weight to stay down and the overall fight stamina, it had more spirited runs and lunges and dogged down into the rocks and current with a mean and onery attitude that only smallies possess in these parts.


   
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Kickerfish1
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Good looking fish and gear brother! I am still waiting for you to hang the hammock by the waterfall rapids so I can catch some Zs while you serenade me to some Taylor Swift tunes. 


   
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dragon1
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@kickerfish1 

LMMFAO...the hammock is doable, but barfing a Swiftee tune?!?  Dat be the day I am spiritually castrated by the bubble gum Machine.

Ain't gonna happen so long as I breathe.


   
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Kickerfish1
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On a side note it would be a blast to out your way sometime for some TN area fishing for smallies and whatever else we could get our hands on 


   
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RISE
 RISE
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Bruddah!….👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🤙🏼


   
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dragon1
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@kickerfish1 

Yessir, for sure. Even fishing in the winter here is good.


   
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dragon1
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Posted by: @rise

Bruddah!….👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🤙🏼

Glad to see you have been slaying some toads as well.

 


   
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RISE
 RISE
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@dragon1 👊🏼🙏🏼…I’m back at it again this weekend. 3 in a row for me. The bite has been outstanding.


   
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dragon1
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Posted by: @rise

@dragon1 👊🏼🙏🏼…I’m back at it again this weekend. 3 in a row for me. The bite has been outstanding.

Hellz Yeah bruh!  Git 'em while they're hot!

 


   
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dragon1
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Adding some more on the water feedback...

The Zenaq Blackart 72MH Biwa Special is the best overall big spinnerbait rod I have ever used (I used 15lb CXX).  To load and cast best, I feel you will need to be around  3/4-1.5 oz total weight and it's best if the spinnerbait has a big hook, as the power of this blank will mangle a light wire and rip out a smaller hook.  Also, IMO this rod model doesn't load well enough with a true 1/2 oz total weight, so a 3/8 oz spinnerbait even with a trailer is a little light for this blank.  Based upon several hours on the water, a 1/2 oz spinnerbait + trailer in the least is best on this blank.

This rod is like an MBR 845 but at 7'2"...it's a heavy powered tip with mod-fast+ taper and a heavy + backbone.

Change the line to braid + leader and swimjigs with bigger gauge hooks and 5"-6"paddletails or bigger craw trailers, are about perfect on this rod.  Also, the 6" factory Magdraft with belly hook would be great on it with whatever line type you want to use.  I also feel heavier straight braid to a 6" Magdraft Freestyle with an 8/0 beast hook is easily handled by this rod, both casting and hook setting.


   
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RISE
 RISE
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Posted by: @dragon1

Adding some more on the water feedback...

The Zenaq Blackart 72MH Biwa Special is the best overall big spinnerbait rod I have ever used (I used 15lb CXX).  To load and cast best, I feel you will need to be around  3/4-1.5 oz total weight and it's best if the spinnerbait has a big hook, as the power of this blank will mangle a light wire and rip out a smaller hook.  Also, IMO this rod model doesn't load well enough with a true 1/2 oz total weight, so a 3/8 oz spinnerbait even with a trailer is a little light for this blank.  Based upon several hours on the water, a 1/2 oz spinnerbait + trailer in the least is best on this blank.

This rod is like an MBR 845 but at 7'2"...it's a heavy powered tip with mod-fast+ taper and a heavy + backbone.

Change the line to braid + leader and swimjigs with bigger gauge hooks and 5"-6"paddletails or bigger craw trailers, are about perfect on this rod.  Also, the 6" factory Magdraft with belly hook would be great on it with whatever line type you want to use.  I also feel heavier straight braid to a 6" Magdraft Freestyle with an 8/0 beast hook is easily handled by this rod, both casting and hook setting.

 

Outstanding breakdown, brother! Thank you for sharing that info. The Zenaq offerings are very special, and this is one other model I’d like to add to the stable. I think I’m sold. 👊🏼💥

 


   
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dragon1
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@rise 

It's a very versatile and powerful blank, and plenty sensitive enough as well.  I bet that it would also do well with frogs and big topwater wake baits, as well as the 5-7" bull shad type baits in the 1.25 - 2 oz range.


   
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