Hammer 4

Started using the Spro Dean Rojas frog, long time ago. I tried a couple of different brands. This year I'm using the Live Target frogs, 65 and 55 sizes.

^^^^ This. Retired carpenter, I've seen what moisture can do to non marine plywood, not direct water, just moisture, you'd be $$$ ahead using marine grade.

For bank fishing I always use the cylindrical weights, if from a boat, usually a tear drop.

I have spinnerbaits that are about 12 yrs old. I find that the quality baits do 2 things. 1 if not hand tied skirts the skirts come off, or designate, and 2 the hooks get dull, which is no big deal. I do have 2 of them that are still intact, and work just fine. Nowadays I only buy spinnerbaits that are wire tied, or at least with braid.

Have a look at the Megabass Dark Sleeper..They are weedless, and flat out catch fish.Edit: just noticed you asked for Hard Baits. the sleeper isn't a hard bait..sorry.

The OP hasn't been here since 4/18...

Up until about 2011 or so, all I ever bought were Shimano reels, botr spinning and baitcasters, this is when they were made in Japan. I stopped fish for about 7 years. When I went to buy new gear, (reels) I first looked at Shimano spinning reels, I noticed they were no longer made with the anti reverse, which came in handy when you wanted some extra line. Now you have to disengage the bail to do that. For that reason alone, I jumped on the Diawa band wagon. I have a brand new Sharha, which is fine, cept No anti reverse. My Fuego has that, so the Sharha is a back up..

Out of the 100's of zoom baits I've bought over the last zillion years, I've had 2 that were slightly deformed, those being 2 super flukes. These were from about 8 years ago, or so. So it's hard for me to complain.

I'm right handed. I cast with my right, but reel with my left hand. My take is why switch hands is why I use a left hand reel, both in spinning and basitcasting.

^^^^^^^ This..Use whatever suits you best.

Not a pro, or an educated musician, mostly self taught geetar player. After some 35 years, I got what I felt was pretty good at it, playing blues, rock, and some jazz. Unfortunately, carpal tunnel, and arthritis in the last year or so, has made it almost impossible for me to play chords, single line playing is a bit easier, still I can only play for 15 mins. max. Wound up selling most of my gear. I miss it.

That's o.k...I for one like hearing/reading them..

Very likely...I stopped framing at 60..due to various injuries, and Old age....lol

Painting is Hard work..??? Try building house's for a living. Carrying 100's lbs of lumber around every day, plus having about 30 lbs of nailbags around your waist..Then there's walking walls..

For the old timers.

Mainly the War Eagle, but I bought a Gary Dobyns to try out.

Brown/black in the 55 size, and fluro green in the large size..

Just looked in my Diawa catalog, the BG is in fact listed as a saltwater reel.

Not much we/you can do, but hope they don't catch a big female bass and keep it. Frustrating I know.

Duh, it is the XH...sorry bout that..

Wind has been blowing pretty good here in So. Cali lately too. Very strange for this time of year.

Right here. https://www.sportsmansoutfitters.com/collections/spinning-reels

Not sure, some guys have to add or subtract a washer. Either way is so easy and takes all of 30 seconds to do, minus taking the spool off. Hopefully Diawa has corrected it.

3/4 and 1 oz..all in the Haze.

It's the plastic washer under the spool.