Flywatersmallie

Tubes are popular for a reason!

Thats funny, I was just going to post the DX701SF in the same light. Great minds think alike! I like a little less rod to keep from overpowering the rig and inadvertently moving the weight and overworking the plastic above it. Thats just me. For years I used a 6'6" light St Croix Avid and did well, the Champion Extreme is a much better rod though. Just be careful to not go too heavy or you lose the feel of that ball of lead sitting on the bottom and in turn lose all thats great about the drop shot. The light/Medium light options are just about right.

Short answer is they don't compare. Of course there are exceptions to every rule but.... Smallies tend to prefer cooler, clearer and deeper water as well as harder bottom composition than largemouths. Smallies also tend to roam and relate to structure where largemouths are homebodies and relate to cover. There is a difference. Of course thats the abridged answer for lake fish assuming both are in the same body of water. River fish are a completely different game but the same basic rules apply.

Smallies often (not always) prefer slightly smaller baits, especially river smallies and especially up here in the northwoods. I am just on the other side of the river in WI. You will be glad you went medium light for that reason. You can throw smaller, lighter lures a longer distance. I'm primarily a river smallmouth fisherman and have been doing it for close to 30 years. I have a handful of medium spinning rods and a ton of medium light. Also a few light power rods. You will be amazed at how well that power goes hand in hand with typical smallie fodder. Grubs, light tubes, inline spinners, small topwaters, little cranks and so on. I think you made the right choice!

I like Hootie! I hardly ever throw anything heavier than that on bait casters either. They are just a tool like spinning or fly gear. Sure you can throw a 3" grub on a casting rod, a bit like pounding nails with a screwdriver. It'll work in a pinch but better tools for the job. Similarly deep diving cranks or bigger spinnerbaits are no fun on spinning gear

Con: Carrot Stix break. Lots of folks have had problems with them in various generations since they first came on the scene. My brother in law had one of the newer Wild rods and it was an absolute dog... Until it broke. Coulda just been that model too. There are people that like them and think they are very nice and sensitive. I am not one of them. Veritas: Pretty strong following, lots of folks like them too, I do dig the white color. I tried one briefly, wasnt a fan and I couldnt even tell you what it was. Just didnt feel right. There are some real good rods out there at that $100 price point though. Assuming with the 2 you listed, thats where you're at. Here's my list if you are looking at spending 100 clams in order... Fenwick HMG Denali Jadewood Falcon Bucoo *** *** Shimano Compre

http://www.basspro.com/White-River-Fly-Shop-Creel/product/104180/

I really like the Garmin units. They blow the rest away feature wise for the price points and they do what they are supposed to. The 100 model at under $100 is all most will ever need on a kayak. If and when one of mine breaks, I'd do the same all over again

I have a 150 on my kayak, 100 on the wife's. as far as I know, the only difference is the transducer, if you don't fish in super deep water, you'll never know the difference. If I had to do it over, I'd save the money and get the 100 as well. Great unit!

X2 on heat shrink and solder on those connections. Nothing more frustrating than getting out there and you lose power due to a bad connection. Though I've left my unit on and forgot to charge the batter before. Same basic plot.... Fuse links are cheap and you'll be glad you spent the couple bucks if something goes wrong. Fish finder installs are pretty straightforward on kayaks. Better to do it right though before you have a unit that doesn't work properly

Take a look at the new Orvis guide sling. It's just plain big!

Columbia PFG all the time. I wear long sleeves and long pants in the summer. The blood and guts stuff is cooler than having skin exposed. Also Columbia drainmaker shoes if I have the kayak out or fishing from shore or wet wading. PFG chill hat and quality shades. Winter, I layer for the weather. It's 35 today, I have my gear in the truck and am wearing simply a t shirt and Columbia Ascender 2 soft shell and will be just fine

Sure but I'm also a guide and have sponsors that either send or pay for all or part of my tackle. Last year I went through 4000 tubes, give or take in 200 days on the water. The wife doesn't give me much grief anymore since I started bringing a little money home. I still have a problem though lol. And.... Glad to be of service if it helps you stay out of the doghouse

I label the boxes... If I didnt I would never find anything. 100+ 3700 boxes of hard baits and a dozen 10 gallon rubbermaid totes in the man cave. That modular shelfing is awesome for tackle organization!

I have an older model St Croix Wild River in the 8' ML configuration. It works fine and sensitivity isn't exactly paramount with that style of fishing.... Plus it was like $70 direct from the bargain room. There is still some 7'6" models in there right now for the same price.

Denali Jadewood spinnerbait rod. 6'6" MF, feels pretty accurate to me. Runs $90 I think

Stability is all relative to a point. True that some of those boats (the Ride for sure) is like standing on a dock but, I have no problem standing and fishing in a Tarpon 100. FWIW I'm 5'11" 200ish lbs.

I would, especially considering that your "favorite lake" is listed as Shawano. Rarely if ever need anything bigger than a MH out there or on surrounding lakes

Denali Jadewood WJ843. Great general purpose stick right at $100. Will balance nicely with your PQ. I run Quantum Catalysts on mine, similar in weight. Nice feeling combos

6'10" MHF is my current rod. Just ordered a 6'8" MF for smaller baits.

OP was about the Vendetta

Denali Noirwood 842S (Spinning Quantum Smoke 25 Power Pro 10/2 in moss

Hahaha, maybe so bud! While there are a few typos and the like in there, I put some thought into it when I wrote it. There is no substitute for experience, thats for sure!

I am sponsored by a rod company, I use only that company's rods. I am a pro staffer with them because I like them. Discounted or not, it wouldnt serve any purpose otherwise. Same goes with reels, sunglasses, outdoor clothing. Baits are a little different, I have a couple tackle sponsors, one, for example is a tube company. I only use said company's tubes. Not to say I don't get other plastics elsewhere, I just don't bite the hand that feeds me. Not that I would anyway, in my opinion, best tubes on the market.

Denali Jadewood 843WJ.... Just sayin. Everything you are looking for, great sticks, right at $100. Problem is you wont find them at Dicks either. Similar in weight to the Veritas only the dead feeling is gone.