The Next KVD

Lite trout or baby bass would be my picks.

95% of the time I’m throwing a 1/2oz model. If I want to keep it up high the water column than I use a big 5”grub or Swimbait for a trailer. If I want to get it down than a finesse worm or a split tail trailer is used on 12# line vs 15# for shallow. Going to try some 3/4 and maybe some 1oz this year.

Metanium MGL. Perfect ergonomics, light weight, feels solid in my hand with plenty of power. If your scared the aluminum gear won’t hold up you can stick a brass gear set from a Curado k into them. The aldebaran would be my choice though for finesse bait bait caster though.

All but 2 of my baitcasting rods are spiral wrapped. The spiral wrap keeps the line off the blank when fighting a fish especially with a micro guided spiral wrapped rods. I can't stand line rubbing against my blanks especially with braid. The one Duckett rod I got you can tell where the braid has been rubbing against the blank because its green. Just can't stand it.

Nope, the spools are easily swapped out and line reguided. Yes, you can order extra spools for them from Shimano. I find that it takes about 2 mins to swap, reguide, and tie on a bait. Not a big deal if fun fishing but I find that's two minutes I could have made 2-3 more casts that could have potentially get me a key fish.

If you know what works why switch? Rod technology in my mind has improved but it still comes down to the quality of the components and how they are put on the rod. The biggest jumps in rod technology today I believe is in the resins that used in the blank itself. I still have a Lowrider and Cara that are 12 years old that I still love to use and don't feel like they are lesser of a rod than most of my newer built rods. Are they equal to my NRX or Legend Elites, no but compared to others in their price range I think they still old their own. Cheaper options that have equal performance than them yes, but are they build to the same quality? Maybe, maybe not.

Shimano Metanium 13 or the new MGL version. Best reel/smoothest I currently own with a Aldebaran a close second.

Yup the Chronarch E is the same as the Curado E just a different paint job and a plastic star drag instead of alumininum. I own both and its a toss up. The Curado I palms a bit better in my mind but the Chronarch E is easier to dial in and casts a bit better. P.S. I got a few E series reels for sale in the flea market.

THE BEST reel that I use in my opinion is the Shimano Metanium 13 XG. Can find the MGL version for $280 plus shipping. That's my money is no option high end reel choice. Going lower I 'd get a Shimano Curado 70XG $150-180 online, anything under that the Daiwa Tatula CT series dominates and can be had for $90-100.

Out of stock for right hand, lefties are still in stock. Anyone know how much more line the 7.7:1 gears will take in over the 7.0:1?

Yup, the core 51 gears will fit. may need the drag washer as well. you will go from 25ipt to 28ipt.

Like I said, the stories and friends who have had them had nothing but horrible experience with the rods breaking and than dealing with the customer service. My friend loved the rods until they started breaking. He still is waiting for 4 replacement rods 2 years later and a lot of time trying to get ahold of them. I'm not willing to go out and buy one have it break and be waiting for a replacement for 2 plus years. Especially when I know St. Croix will have a new rod in my hands in 7 days or less.

Carrot Stix is a brand that is known to have a bad reputation of having rods breaking and horrible customer service. Never tried them but I won't just from the horror stories. That said I'm sure there are people that had good luck with them, just seems the majority have a had a bad taste left in there mouth. I would say otherwise there aren't a lot of companies that are bad just personal preferences, otherwise how would they stay in business. I would probably find a brand that you like and stick with them.

My favorite flipping bait. Probably my #1 producing bait this past season. However, with the price hike I probably will go back to my previous favorite soft plastic the Biffle Bug.

mono is cheap enough. Just strip it off and put the 8 or 10lb on. I typically use backing on all my reels to hold an average of 75 yards of mainline. It costs me a whole $1.17 to respool 75 yards of 10lb P-line Original. That said, I've never had an issue with 12lb for jerkbaiting, maybe just sacrificing a little bit of depth.