Update on the Dobyns Kaden 713: Loving it! Great all-rounder for lighter presentations. Definitely a fast action but still a soft-enough tip to load finesse jigs, mini-max chatterbait, small T-rigs, paddles tails. Best $80 I’ve spent in a long time. Same dude I bought it from now selling a Kaden 68...

They have looked like bankruptcy for at least a year now. Most stuff is discounted, but nothing is in stock, website hasn't been updated in over a year. I've been concerned myself, because I love their quality and consistency.

Lol @ Van!

That's a no for me. I hate gimmicks.

Fwiw, the slx I had was the xg model. I've had more issues with high-gear reels of all brands than lower ratio models.

Does anyone know what the spool side plate is made of? I think the US ct sv was all magnesium (frame, both side plates), but the JDM was zaion (mg frame+gear side). A TW II is zaion as well I think. Last Steez to have mg palm plate was the EX version. Palm plates on US and Japan versions are both i...

The reason I mentioned my Tatulas is that the SLX I had went geary before the end of last summer. I just ran a lipless bait(and a squarebill) with it, so no logical reason for that to have happened. I bought it for $65 and sold it for $50, so I wasn't really out anything, but I'm still puzzled as to...

The new slx mgl better be as fun to use as the slx dc xt or it has tough competition against a small packaged reel like the tatula 70/80. Those reels are quite impressive for what they are. And the Tat 80 can be had for $110 from aliexpress, while the Tat 70 SV is about $165 there. Which do I prefe...

#11F Rapala minnow, silver/black back.

Black and white.

I like those. I used to have jointed red zone rat-l-traps similar to those, but not exactly the same. Long since discontinued, though.

Its not enthusiast-level, but the FXtreme XAS 610H is a fantastic frog rod. It is light and very well-balanced. Another plus is the shorter than average rear grip makes walking a frog tip-down a breeze. I've used it for 3 seasons now just like you describe, and it doubles as a jig rod for me when I ...

If you really want to be cheap the Johncoo Ares would be a good beater 200+ capacity reel for salt. You'll need to grease and oil as they come dry and crunchy/geary out of the box. I have 2. $48 aluminum frame and double aluminum side place double pinion suppored 9.9 oz 200/300 size reel. It's big ...

The HD and (USDM) Zillion have a brass main gear vs standard JDM Zillion has an aluminum main gear. The HD is available in 7.1 or 8.1 ratio. The standard Zillion is available in 5.5(JDM only), 6.3, 7.1 and 8.1. The HD is a Mag-Z boost spool and is a little deeper. The standard Zillion spool is SV bo...

If you really want to be cheap the Johncoo Ares would be a good beater 200+ capacity reel for salt. You'll need to grease and oil as they come dry and crunchy/geary out of the box. I have 2. $48 aluminum frame and double aluminum side place double pinion suppored 9.9 oz 200/300 size reel. It's big ...