BC14

it's the 7.25 inch shine glide. Looks small next to bertha. TBH this is my first season getting into the big swimbait game, so i am probably not the best reference for information, my only previous experience is last year throwing the 6"Magdraft, which i kicked ass with all summer, but here's what I've experienced so far this season. Short version: I love this rod so far. It is my new favorite rod to throw. It's definitely not a broom stick, but is not as parabolic as my Veritas cranking rod. I think it fits that 1-3oz glide amazingly. It loaded up really well i thought on the Shine glide today. After using the glide today i want to keep it on there all the time. After using a 6" magdraft on it, I want to buy a 2nd one so i can do both without retying. Really long version: Started the season with 2 brand new set ups and brand new baits I never imagined I'd be throwing(thanks youtube). Lexa WN300 on MOJO Bass 7'10" 1-4oz and Tatula 200 on Fury 795. (I've since added Curado K 300 on a Dobyns Fury 806). All 3 running Sufix 832 50lb braid to 6-8' leaders with FG knot. Lexa has 20lb Berkley flouro, Tatula has 17lb Berkley flouro, and the Curado has 17lb Sufix Hyper Copolymer. I will be putting copolymer on the 795 before the next trip. Baits were Spro Chad shad, S waver 200, Savage gear shine glife 7.25", Savage Gear line thru pulse tail, 6" magdraft freestyle on 8/0 beast hook, and 8" magdraft with the underbelly treble. First trip out was a skunk (38 degree water). I rotated the 6" and 8" magdraft on the MOJO bass setup and the chad shad and s waver on the Fury 795. I was learning how to throw the big baits on the big rods for the first time. I struggled a little with the Mag drafts on the MOJO. It is like a broomstick compared to what I'm used to throwing. The 795 handled the chad shad with ease. I felt like the s waver was pushing the limits for it however. I was beginning to second guess my decision to move up in Swimbait land. Next trip was the same set up at a local small lake i frequently walk the bank or float tube on. Lake is amazing btw, caught 22lbs on 5 consecutive casts one summer day, and 20 fish catches in 3-4 hour sessions is common. Water was still cold but i was fishing a spawning pocket. No love on the Chad shad for the trip but did manage a 5+ and two 3+ on the 6" magdraft on the MOJO. The MOJO bank hammered the beast hook home and bank flipped the 5lber with ease. I was beginning to fall back in love with the swimbait game and my casting length was improving. Next trip was same spot just a week or so later. I was really trying to get the skunk off the 795 so i tied the 6" Magdraft on that baby and the line-thru pulse tail on the MOJO. No love on the pulse tail, but managed a solid 3.5lber on the magdraft/795. No issues getting the hook home but bank flipping was a more gentle task this time. But ZERO complaints after breaking in the new set up. And man....could that tatula/795 throw that 6" magdraft. I was chucking that baby with what seemed like 10second hang time. Needless to say i was getting the equipment more dialed in. Which leads us to todays trip. Had the Curado/806 out for the first time. Kept the 8" magdraft on it all day, but no love. Lexa/MOJO had the 6" magdraft on it, until i broke it off on a submerged tree, then switched to the Zaldaingerous Loaded 6"(almost an identical swim to the magdraft, but the plastic is much firmer) with no love all day. The Tatula/795 were the shining stars today. I think i finally figured out my issues with my limited casting on the bigger setups today as well. I have always had 1 finger on top and 3 below of the trigger of the rod, but today I had 2 fingers above and below....man what a difference. Much more control, much more power, AND much longer casts. When i finally boated the bass she only had 1 treble barely in her corner lip and the other treble was just above her eye. I think it could have easily come undone but the rod handled the fight very well. I have my drags pretty locked down but the rod had plenty of give and plenty of back bone. The musky took the bait only about 20 feet in front of me just below the surface. She had the back treble completely in her mouth with one barb thru the roof of her mouth and 2 on the bottom jaw. She was NOT coming off. In the chaos of the fight, trying to get my net, and trying to keep the boat off the bank in the 15mph wind, the rod had a great bend in it and still had enough backbone to turn her head and pull her into the net with no problem. I'm sure the whole scene looked like a benny hill skit if anyone was watching me from afar. For being brand new to this gear, as well as limited experience, I am 100% satisfied with both the 795 and 806. My only regret this year is that I got the MOJO instead of another Dobyns.

Got to the ramp early today, 30min before sunrise, trying to beat the crowd. That was an epic fail as a 25boat tourney was launching just as I got the boat in. My personal goal this year is a 7+. Been getting them on the 6" magdraft last few trips, up to 5lbs. Wanted to play with the 8" mag and savage gear shine glide today. The glide paid off. Second spot the big girl decided to play. About 12ft deep near downed trees in 53 degree water. Biggest fish for me in close to 6 years. Few stops later got hammered next to a downed tree. Thought it was gonna top the 6.2 as she was dogging me deep. Then she full on breached about 20ft away. Got her boat side and netted then she did the characteristic death roll. A solid 5min to get her untangled and unhooked. Snapped a quick pic and back in the water to swim away strong. Both fish on shine glide in hitch pattern. Tatula 200 on dobyns fury 795 with 50lb suffix braid to 17lb sufix mono. 3rd day of 65+ temps with a storm rolling in tomorrow. Hopefully back on the water next Friday to top these.

Walked the bank at a local lake today. Got a couple to play. 6" freestyle with 8\0 owner flashy swim. Lexa WN 300 on a st. Croix swimbait rod. Didn't bring the scale today. Big girl was in the 5lb range. Water still in the low 40s id guess. Hopefully the weather stays nice and it should be on fire in a few weeks.

Been lurking the forum for a while. Right I'd share a few of my catches. All caught on the 6" magdraft.

In. Thanks for the opportunity. Merry Christmas!

Backstory: Grew up in San Diego bass fishing all the county lakes, inshore saltwater, and offshore pelagics occasionally in the early/mid 90's. Never got real into the big swimbait scene, mostly conventional. Some small 2", 3", and 4" swimmies in SD Bay and in the kelp. Moved to midwest in early 2000's near STL fishing local lakes and Lake of the Ozarks. I fish from shore, boat and float tube throughout the year. Been throwing a lot of 3.3", 4.3", and 4.8" Keitech Swing Impacts style baits with underspin and weighted belly hooks the last few years pretty heavily. This last summer I made the jump to the 6" Magdraft rigged and freestlye versions. Played around a little bit with 6th Sense Trace as well. The year was great and I'm ready for a little more. Currently throwing the Magdraft with a Abu Revo SX 7.1 on an Abu 7'3" Veritas MH VRTCM73-6. I've caught some decent bass on it this year, but it just feels a little undersized when casting. Also used this setup for the Trace but just didn't feel right. All that being said, I'm looking to upgrade some gear this winter and be ready for spring. I'm not trying to break the bank with any rods, reels, or baits. I plan to continue to throw the 6" Magdraft and possibly move up to the 8". I plan on stepping more into the glidebait/hard bait realm as well. KGB Shad 180, S-Waver 168, and a bluegill profile are my main focus this year. I'll be in the 1-4oz range for both soft baits and hard baits i believe this year so that is what I'm really look to gear up for. My local Basspro doesn't have the largest selection of rods so it's tough to pull on them and see the true action. The goal is to have a soft bait and a hard bait specific setups for the above mentioned baits. I have a Lexa WN-300H (NiB) looking for a mate. And a Curado 200GS 5.5:1(on my crankbait rod currently) that i could reassign in the aresenal. I have been looking at the St. Croix MJC710HF to pair on the Lexa. Was thinking this would be the setup to throw the magdraft on all year. As well as any other 6-7" soft baits that tickle my fancy. If this won't work I'm open to suggestions, sub $200 preferably. Also looking for a rod to be specific for the hard/glide baits. I've looked at Daiwa Rebellion, Irod (not sure which model would be best), St. Croix, and Dobyns. Again open to suggestions for this rod as well as a reel to pair with it. Again would like to stay in the $200 range\ $400 for the combo. I am not brand specific and am open to trying new things as long as they have a proven track record of success. Sorry for the long post. But thank you in advance for anyone who takes the time to read and respond,