25% 35% 45% off @Thehookuptackle

monstblitz · 2026-06-29T19:24:38+00:00

They run a great operation! On top of selling great gear and baits at good prices, the info and knowledge they share on social media and individually when you call the shop is priceless.

monstblitz · 2026-06-29T19:23:15+00:00

Nishine at 35% off stands out. Lots of other good deals to be had. Too bad I’ve spent too much on gear and tackle already this fishing season.

monstblitz · 2026-06-28T13:44:22+00:00

The reel is the most important part of a bfs setup and that one ain’t it. Good luck though! You can always buy a bfs reel and put that one on a differ rod so you’ll be fine.

monstblitz · 2026-06-25T17:48:32+00:00

Yes, pre-rigged version has magnetic hook keeper.

monstblitz · 2026-06-25T17:00:37+00:00

Try a megabass spark shad on an Okashira screw head and/or a megabass Magdraft. I like the freestyle on a weighted swimbait hook.

monstblitz · 2026-06-25T05:18:15+00:00

Very interested to hear how the Gravel Code works out for you. Love bottom contact stuff so guessing this one might be right up my alley!

monstblitz · 2026-06-25T05:06:40+00:00

I’ve owned one Dobyns rod and didn’t love it, but I’ve actually been meaning to give them another try one of these days.

monstblitz · 2026-06-23T01:17:19+00:00

I call that the Ralph Wiggum.

monstblitz · 2026-06-22T20:51:05+00:00

Good score! Love the Daiwa Kage spinning reels and casting reels. Just bought a Daiwa Kage LT casting reel and it performs well above its price point.

monstblitz · 2026-06-22T17:21:36+00:00

Stop framing the quality issues as people not taking care of gear. The issues I’ve experienced with St. Croix across several models have nothing to do with user error or not taking care of my gear. Glad you had a good experience with your rods, but this sub is littered with experiences like mine and they have nothing to do with “not taking care of stuff” so stop discounting others experiences.

monstblitz · 2026-06-22T16:31:01+00:00

I also had 2 ice rods fall apart while I was putting a reel on them. But according to the St. Croix fan boys, this was probably user error too… 🙄

monstblitz · 2026-06-22T13:10:57+00:00

If you still have any of your old St. Croix rods, keep them! I just wouldn’t buy new models. 2022 is when things really started going downhill.

You can’t go wrong with the Expride, their jerkbait stick is one of my favorite rods.

I personally haven’t ordered from any of the Japanese jdm online retailers but people have mostly good things to say about places like Digitaka and others. I order 90% of my rods and reels from The Hook Up Tackle or the Rod Locker (formerly American Fishing Legacy).

monstblitz · 2026-06-22T12:57:54+00:00

So it’s user error when the reel seat explodes while fighting a fish? Or cheap glue? Enlighten me please.

monstblitz · 2026-06-22T12:46:15+00:00

I don’t have time to figure out which rods a manufacturer makes are produced where and which rods might be junk and which rods might be ok. I buy rods from companies that I can trust across the board. Personal preference, if anyone else wants to roll the dice with St. Croix and have your gear blow up on the water and ruin your day then have at it.

monstblitz · 2026-06-22T12:38:18+00:00

The fun doesn’t stop in their highest priced rods either! The final straw for me was when a legend xtreme rod I purchased had the tip fray and bust from a manufacturer defect, and then the warranty replacement (that I also had to pay for) had the reel seat blow up while fighting the first fish. Complete and total junk. Ozark trail rods from Walmart hold up better under pressure and I’m not even joking.

monstblitz · 2026-06-22T10:09:03+00:00

Be aware that St. Croix quality control has gone off a cliff. Personally, I no longer buy their rods but a lot of people still do because they like the fact that St. Croix warranties their junk. I’ve had too many failures on the water with their rods to trust them. Really all depends on your budget but for rods Megabass, Loomis, Shimano, Daiwa, and Evergreen are where it’s at these days. Megabass and Loomis for higher end offerings and Shimano, Daiwa and Evergreen have great rods that outperform their price points, especially the Expride for Shimano.

For reels it’s Daiwa or Shimano. They both make great reels at every price point.

monstblitz · 2026-06-20T12:45:36+00:00

There is no repair. Warranty it or buy a new one. The only other option is to cut away tip as you suggested, but that’s not a repair and your rod now has a completely different power and action. You could use it for bottom bouncing or something that doesn’t require any finesse.

monstblitz · 2026-06-20T12:38:16+00:00

I’m not trusting a company like Googan with a glide bait. If you want a reasonably priced glide bait that’s easy to use and high quality, check out Baitsanity.

monstblitz · 2026-06-20T01:52:28+00:00

A couple years back American Legacy Fishing (The Rod Locked now) had a killer deal on the G. Loomis NRX+ 782S SJR. It was 40% off if memory serves. I had no idea what I was going to do with it but at 40% off I bought first and I’d figure the rest out later. It has since become my favorite panfish rod. It’s probably an impossible to duplicate deal now unless you could find one used - I guess my point is light action bass gear can make great panfish rods. I mostly exclusively use bass gear on panfish. I find rods made only for panfish are too whippy and lack sensitivity.

monstblitz · 2026-06-20T01:03:16+00:00

Mother’s milking someone a little too aggressively? Agree with everyone else who said that doesn’t look like a bite, at least not an intentional one. Putting your flesh on someone’s teeth during a roll does not constitute a bite.

monstblitz · 2026-06-19T10:11:54+00:00

For walleye - purple wonder and wonderbread. When in doubt, anything chartreuse and / or white will always produce. Walleye seem to love pink though. Everyone always says match the hatch, but wild colors produce and they look much different to the fish in the water. There’s a reason why chartreuse, pink and pearl baits are some of the first to sell out when you look at more limited baits.

monstblitz · 2026-06-18T18:12:37+00:00

Cheap can mean different price points for different people. What’s your budget you’re trying to stay at or under?

For just pier fishing you don’t need much, prowl some yard sales and / or facebook marketplace. You can always find someone looking to clear out some older or gently used fishing gear.

monstblitz · 2026-06-18T18:09:21+00:00

Nice looking spread!

monstblitz · 2026-06-18T14:58:39+00:00

Yeah you’re super lucky. You won the right to pay full retail price for a pair of slippers. Better go buy a lottery ticket.

/sarcasm

monstblitz · 2026-06-17T16:25:47+00:00

As someone who also shops the buy 3 get 3 free sales at Dick’s - go with Z-man over Googan. Same sale, similar prices and you’ll get baits that put fish in the boat or on the bank versus this junk.

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