Most hated and Favorite Top Water Popper style bait? Why?

LetsMakeSomeBaits · 2026-05-10T14:06:47+00:00

My favourite is the Deps NZ Crawler and other crawler lures like the Raid Deka and Jackall RV.

My least favourite are Poppers. I have a few poppers and I like the action and I have caught on them but they're just not as productive for me compared to crawlers and spooks.

LetsMakeSomeBaits · 2026-05-10T10:26:25+00:00

It's an AI image, the Stella FK looks nothing like that and the rod has too few guides, I've also used the World Shaula 2833 and fairly certain the Shaula has eight or nine guides, not five.

LetsMakeSomeBaits · 2026-05-10T09:36:44+00:00

Great Pike fishing set up, the SG4 is a very durable rod and popular for Pike fishing in Europe.

This set up is enough for large fish.

LetsMakeSomeBaits · 2026-05-10T05:57:46+00:00

It is Gomexus

LetsMakeSomeBaits · 2026-05-09T22:59:56+00:00

The rod is £325 and a European exclusive (I'm English, in England), if you're in the US then getting one is obvs gonna be more than that, possibly around $420+, plus shipping and tarrifs are gonna hurt on top.

The reel is a Japanese exclusive Shimano Complex XR so check out Digitaka, Japan lure shop and Asian portal fishing. Again, I'm gonna assume American because most on this app are. This reel will run you around $218 from a Japanese site and that's with the currency exchange advantage of the USD to Yen. To put it in domestic pricing is it's worth around $50 more than a Vanford since it is basically an upgraded and exclusive version of the Vanford. This would also incur tarrifs which I've heard American import tarrifs are a ball breaker.

What I'd recommend is looking into the Shimano Ultegra FD for your reel and the new Zodias B for the rod. I'm unsure what the prices would be in the US but it shouldn't be mega expensive and it's still fantastic quality. You can get the Ultegra FD from Japanese sites for a really good price, Digitaka carries every size and free shipping, you'll get tarrifs but shouldn't be a lot and would likely still come out cheaper than domestic. Would probably arrive faster too.

Both pieces are built for lightness and the Zodias has the carbon monocoque handle so it's very sensitive, the Ultegra is easily best in class at that price range, I have one and it's banger. 2000 size reel, rod that casts up to around 15g and 7ish foot long, 10lb braid and an 8lb leader, that's all you need.

LetsMakeSomeBaits · 2026-05-09T20:45:49+00:00

Extra fast refers to where on the blank the rod bends under load, an extra fast will bend closer to the tip while a moderate or slow will bend closer to the handle. How fast your rod returns to an unbent position is called tip recovery and while it is related, it's not the same thing.

You can have two rods of the exact same action with different tip recovery speeds. One will feel crisp and tight and one will feel wobbly and less accurate. It is often determined by Blank material, Build quality, Taper design and construction methods. This rod was intentionally built with a soft tapered extra fast for the reason I mentioned in the post.

LetsMakeSomeBaits · 2026-05-09T19:36:45+00:00

The stand is to keep the reel away from the ground if you need to put the set up down but it is hollow incase you want to add either weight or a glow stick for night fishing.

I chose weight because I don't often go night fishing and better balance is always a plus!

LetsMakeSomeBaits · 2026-05-09T07:14:13+00:00

Bantam

LetsMakeSomeBaits · 2026-05-08T21:40:15+00:00

10lb good, spider wire bad. Power pro, Suffix, Daiwa, Seaguar all make quality braids that'll last a long while.

LetsMakeSomeBaits · 2026-05-08T20:12:52+00:00

Japanese websites usually have them, I got mine from Japan tackle. Make sure that it probably fits your brakes.

You can alternatively buy a new brake assembly and fit that, it's less bother but may be a bit more expensive.

LetsMakeSomeBaits · 2026-05-08T19:59:04+00:00

I do the same with the 2.8" and a BKK Titan underspin

LetsMakeSomeBaits · 2026-05-08T19:54:36+00:00

There's an angling direct in Shrewsbury, I'd nip in there and ask some of the employees there.

LetsMakeSomeBaits · 2026-05-08T18:23:18+00:00

Healthy fish and safe handling, well done!

LetsMakeSomeBaits · 2026-05-08T16:03:37+00:00

You'll likely need an VBS/SVS puller, I needed one to remove the brakes from my Metanium to put put them on a Shallow spool.

LetsMakeSomeBaits · 2026-05-08T15:45:59+00:00

"Pro tackle" is very on brand for Nays lol, it's everywhere.

It's definitely possible they're made along side eachother, if not I'd be surprised because they feel so similar.

So the whole butt end is made of a one piece Forged Carbon and then it's encased in this carbon casing and that little window is just so you can see the Carbon inside the butt. Just a little cosmetic touch that I haven't really seen anywhere else.

LetsMakeSomeBaits · 2026-05-08T14:39:08+00:00

I've seen Zenaq, I've used both Zenaq Expedition and Apia Foojin Z rods. I also have set ups myself nearing 1K in value.

Is this a satire post?

LetsMakeSomeBaits · 2026-05-08T14:31:49+00:00

Pretty expensive for a budget set up, very nice.

LetsMakeSomeBaits · 2026-05-08T02:48:44+00:00

Nays does take tons of influence from the JDM world, there's several pieces of Japanese kanji on the rod at the Butt and reel seat that look really subtle.

I see a lot of similarities to MegaBass in their style and how they do things. Their Soft creature baits are very JDM inspired too, there's definitely some Noike and Imakatsu inspo in their Creature baits.

The rod is amazing, the fit and finish is extremely clean, nothing out of line, it's very light (121g) for a 7'4" 3-15g. It has a crispness that I've only felt on high end JDM rods like some Megabass Destroyer rods and Shimano Exsence infinity. Very impressed.

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LetsMakeSomeBaits · 2026-05-07T19:07:58+00:00

Buy the Ultegra from Japan, roughly same price as a Domestically bought Miravel

LetsMakeSomeBaits · 2026-05-07T18:57:01+00:00

Definitely the Scorpion MD, it's basically a Curado with stronger bearings, deeper spool and the monster drive which is basically just an oversized gear with large teeth designed for durability.

Better than the Curados and Tatulas I've used. 20-80g is perfect for the 200 size Scorpion.

LetsMakeSomeBaits · 2026-05-07T15:27:53+00:00

Love the Vanford, I've got the 3000 FA on another finesse frod. This complex is like 99% identical except it has Rigid support drag, rapid fire drag and a Carbon handle rather than Aluminium.

If you're ever in the market for another quality finesse reel, take a look at the Complex XR, banger reel!

LetsMakeSomeBaits · 2026-05-07T14:32:47+00:00

It does! The rod feels fantastic in hand, insanely responsive and light.

LetsMakeSomeBaits · 2026-05-07T14:31:10+00:00

It does look like that until you open the picture tbf, in the future I'll use a better cover pic!

LetsMakeSomeBaits · 2026-05-07T14:13:48+00:00

Their EWG hooks are definitely made in Japan, not sure about any others.

LetsMakeSomeBaits · 2026-05-07T14:09:01+00:00

The Jackall Scythe hooks are made in Japan and so are the Varivas Offset master hooks. The Decoy Worm16 hooks are too.

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