bigfruits

i cannot go back to aluminum spinning reels for fresh water fishing after fishing with Ci4+. i have all of my fingers above the reel seat so balance is never an issue on any of my spinning rods.

picked up a 2A Armament complete the other day. im in love with this thing. the MRO sight is outstanding. sorry for the crappy pics

easy prey

7.3:1 or so

check out the scorpion 71 (6.3:1) https://www.digitaka.com/item.php?item=839171

nice, now you just need an aldebaran 50

they make the best bicycle drivetrains too.

id go with a medium power xf action, 6'8" to 7'3" or so. good quality baitcast reel or decent spinning reel. bump it up to MH for fishing cover. straight FC, no doubt. if you are looking for specific brand and model recommendations, give a price range. since you didnt, i recommend these: NRX 852s, stradic ci4+ 2500 NRX 852c, aldebaran 50/51

the only thing i would go lower than 7.x:1 is for a bait with a lot of resistance like a billed crank or a big chatterbait. id recommend as fast a ratio as possible until it is uncomfortable (this discomfort can take several hours to present itself). 7-7.5:1 is a normal all around speed for me, all plastics get 8.x:1 and i almost never "burn" baits. in the end its all personal preference but its easy for me to slow down and also to retrieve at varying speeds with a higher ratio as long as its not uncomfortable.

dont think "beginner friendly" when looking at a reel. you are getting custom rods so you are def in for the long run. get the best reel you can afford. you will learn how to cast it in no time. buy once.

flouro is not the problem. while it might be a little more difficult to spool, it is not difficult to spool at all.

FC is pretty much my line of choice for everything except for walking/slow moving/popping topwater baits. put the FC on your jig/worm rod and yo zuri hybrid on the moving bait/topwater rod.

#1 - I hear the PP is great for frogs and jigs and has good sensitivity. id look at spending a bit more on my jig/worm rod than moving baits. the new destroyer FMJ will be great for the techniques you mentioned and decent with frogs if the cover isnt super heavy. the FMJ is a light and well balanced rod, super sensitive. I'd put the sensitivity up there with GLX. #2 - i had a FSS that was better for lipless and shallow cranks than walking topwaters and jerks. but i do like a faster rod for those two techniques. #3 - DSR would be great for spinnerbaits, lipless in grass, straight retrieve topwater etc. havent tried cranks on it but it should be decent but its def not a mod action rod. the FSS would be good for shallow and some mid depth cranks and could handle spinnerbaits but i like a faster and a bit heavier rod for that.

braid and your choice of leader would probably be the most versatile. that being said, id throw some 12lb yo zuri hybrid on it but im prob in the minority.

youre going to be fine with the 802. it wont be ideal for casting a 5" senko but it will be great for working the bait. I use mine mostly for shakey head, DS and small weightless plastics.

not the best choice but it will handle them. 4" better than 5". i love that rod with a small light reel. exchange the rod for the NRX 852s if you can.

I'd go with: Yo-Zuri Hybrid copoly for an all around line Sunline Sniper FC (Shooter for bottom contact if you want to spend the $) Defier for walking topwater baits. Armilo for swimbaits PP braid

get the hi vis yellow so you can see it and color the last few feet with a black sharpie if only for confidence.

NRX 895 with a Met MGL should work.

i have had one close call (cardboard tube broken but rod intact) out of about 40 or so shipments going out and coming in using cardboard tubes. PVC is definitely the better container. Fed-Ex has been the cheapest and safest in my experience. I think i paid $26 to ship two rods to AL from VA last week, i remember paying more than twice that amount shipping one rod via UPS to the same location.

Sunline Defier

give yo-zuri hybrid a go. a little thicker but stronger than other lines, super cheap and very manageable. 10 or 12#. i think i read that 12# breaks at 19lbs? if you plan on throwing any walking topwater on the rod, id go with Defier or Defier Armilo though its pricey. kvd l&l on everything that's not braid (although i've read that it does have some benefits there...)

dont make the switch, keep them both! keep the 70XG on the 803c and get a 852c for the Aldebaran the aldebaran will turn any light weight, well balanced rod into a feather. excellent caster too. Rodney - what do you not like about the Met MGL?

which rods did you guys end up getting? the 852s is by far the most sensitive spinning rod I have ever used.

no country for old men