Eradicator, my take.

As y’all have heard I’ve gotten a couple of new rods lately. The Banshee is 6’ and the Eradicator is 6’7”. The sensitivity is good on both. Today the fish were about inactive and very gentle in their takes. I felt a bunch of very light tics on both rods. These two rods got all but maybe ten casts with my 6’ Fenwick builds. I was able to give them an honest workout on a day with low wind and moderate temps. Both rods had .15 braid. The banshee is almost thoughtless when I cast. It seems to know what I want, very little effort to cast 50’ accurately. I’m saying within a couple of inches of the banks and weedlines. I’ve used it a few times so I’m kinda used to it some. Today I picked up the Abu and in short order, it was doing everything the Banshee was. It’s different but not drastically bad different. I found the most fish at an undercut tree that NiNo graciously pointed to and went around it. I caught about 30 fish off of it, mostly on the Abu rod and a Soare BB. Mostly Crappie but a few gills and some fliers too. A couple of those were exceptional. A flier that’s five inches is normal and they’re thicker and stronger than most panfish their size except for maybe crackers. Most of the crappie were shorts and the better ones were ten to eleven inches. Not giants but good fun on the rods I was using. Then I set the hook on one that stopped the rod, a better fish. Came in just over 13”.
Attachment 501518
I didn’t trust my line or Lady Luck and netted her. She sat back and pulled drag and made a couple of short runs, I was enjoying this.turned out to be the only hefty fish of the day so she went back. Early in the trip I’d gotten a take from a LMB about 14” or a little better. Saw him jump four times and then the jig came loose. Just as well, I’d gotten the best he had to give. That bass and this crappie made my day, the others were just the icing. I got one cast real close to the edge of the roots and it got taken instantly with lots of tail vibration. Good gill for the day.
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This next pic is a first for me. I’ve heard of these but never seen one, and this one is a stud as they go. It’s a bigger male flier in his tuxedo. They’re usually covered in black spot over a brown body but this dude was almost black. I had to look hard for the spots. Bigger than most I’ve caught and genuinely beefy.Attachment 501521
On the Eradicator this was a fun fish. They kinda have an attitude like the redbreast but not quite and usually make a good but short run, making a little drag music. In the area I was in the current keeps some fish out of reach sometimes but these guys don’t seem to care. The comparison of the Banshee and Eradicator is just about a toss up for the way I fish. I felt every fish easily but the banshee is better in tight quarters due to its shorter length. Both are built very nice and comfy to hold. As I used em today the term “well done” kept coming to mind. It was a good trip in good temps and company and was back at the ramp about noon, making it about three hours. Not sure about tomorrow but even if I don’t get out, y’all need to. I hope you do well and tell of it when you’re done. Til next time……Skeet.

A fun trip on the water .
Some bull gills , and a nice crappie , and nice battle with a bass ! Don’t get much better than that .
Glad you’re liking the new additions .

Good report and pics. Sounds very enjoyable trip. Nice dark catches, very pretty. Thanks for sharing

Looks like both combos are producing some nice fish, I'd be happy with those results too. Are you tying the braid directly to a jig or using a snap? I'm still throwing mono and nylon in .15, like mono better with it being so windy.

G’mornin Jim. I tried tying direct years ago when I was using Nanofil. I watched a dinner plate sized crappie coming up from about 16fow. He rolled to the side to try and get away and the line rubbed his teeth and parted. I’ve used an original blue Stren 4 lb mono leader for the most part ever since. A double uni knot joins them. I’m sure it breaks over 4lb cuz it’s always the braid that breaks. I use a loop knot and find the snaps get hung in some of the moss and weeds more than I like. I’ve long since gotten away from the Nanofil to the Varivas braids and I’m never looking back. Glad to see the weather breaking some and letting you get out.

Nice report, Skeet. You get what you pay for and happy to hear the Varvias is getting it done.
Bob