Jrob78

To me the 743 is a little light for 1/2oz jigs. I mostly use it for light t-rigs, weightless senkos and some small 1/4oz finesse jigs. I would personally step up to the 744 for 1/2oz jigs.

Heck even the Citica E's would compare favorably with many of todays reels and they were a step below the Curados. The D's and E's were really good reels.

I'm going to agree, I love Gama hooks but I prefer Owner for spring lock hooks.

Lol nice to meet you Alex!

Joe...my signature is from a dumb commercial ?

I couldn't remember if you liked them or not. I have 1 set of the current HD knobs, I think I sent someone else my other set. I also have 2 sets of the previous Zillion HD knobs, they are a little fatter than the current version. If you guys want them I'm happy to send them out, just pm me your address, I won't use them. Direct swap on any Daiwa reel.

I don't like them either. I ended up making a makeshift tool out of a fork to get them off. They unscrew the opposite direction you think they should. @T-Billy @AlabamaSpothunter want a set of HD knobs? I have 2 or 3 sets.

I don't really fish them so this isn't personal experience but most people I've seen rig them on a bare jig head, usually a football jig head with or without a weed guard.

Glass rods are all thick, doesn't matter how much you pay. Go fish with it and see if you like the action. Glass tends to be a love or hate thing for most people. If you don't like it go to graphite or composite and you can get a thinner blank.

F6 is the power, in this case a med heavy. The higher the number the higher the power. 70 is the length, 7'0" and LV is Levante.

It's much easier for me to speed up when cranking than slow down so I always lean toward slower reels for all my cranking. Definitely 5:1 for deep cranks.

There is fundamentally very little difference between 20lb and 30lb braid and I promise the reel doesn't care. Curado 70's are small reels but they aren't light line finesse reels with spools that require super thin line.

Based on rod ratings this isn't a rod you're going to want to throw bigger swimbaits on very much. With the combination of using light braid, the Tatula 200 is overkill and the 150 is more reel than you need, the Tat 100 would be great. You can use the Curado K, Tatula 100 or any other bass reel for these techniques and light braid. If you plan to throw swimbaits in the 1-2oz range often you may want a different rod but any reel should still work. The key here is light 30-40lb braid, you don't need a reel with a huge line capacity.

Oh yeah, I would 100% go with the 7'11" then. Let's say you're using 5 1/4oz heads, that puts you over an ounce before you even get to swimbaits, wires or blades. The typical A-rig is definitely over 2 oz. The Rebellions seem to be pretty stout rods and I'm sure the 7'9" could handle it but if you're planning on getting the 7'11" in the future anyway, just start with it. A-rigs are way better on a swimbait rod than on a flipping stick.

I would personally get the 7'11" H Rebellion for A-Rigs. The lure rating on that rod makes me think it's more suited to throwing bigger swimbaits, which in my opinion is much better for A-rigs than a flipping stick style rod. Even using lighter jigheads, A-rigs end up being pretty heavy.

Haha exactly, too much shooting without hearing protection at a young age and too many loud concerts combined with being off in lala land probably explains it for me. I will definitely listen for it next time though. But, I definitely do hear the "sproing" so who knows ?

You aren't the first person I've heard mention the sound but I haven't noticed it. I will pay attention next time I'm out with one of them. I do a fair amount of short, local bank fishing trips where distance really matters and generally power cast too. I must just not be paying attention to the sound.

I haven't gotten my Steez out yet but I feel the same way about casting my Zillion HD's compared to my Zillion SV's. I think the Mag Z Boost spool is a real winner and in my limited experience of 2 reels, I like it better than the SV Boost spools I have in 2 Zillion SV's and a Silverwolf I put an SV Boost spool in.

I know @gimruis will be relieved to know my PB Rat arrived safe and sound, in an appropriate number of pieces and feeling nice and solid. Got a 6” Rafa Pumpkin Seed Wake Gill also.

?

I've never had any issues with trebles but I've had enough fish take Fat Ikas deep that I've started trying to use shorter hooks and smashing the barbs on them. I fish a variety of plastics a ton without issue but for some reason that bait in particular gives me trouble.

In the Destroyer price range the GLX should treat you really well.

I can't help you with specific rod recommendations but G Loomis still makes a ton of 6'6"-6'8" mh jig and worm rods. That's probably where I would look.

Yeah that is such a wide open category and price range your choices are going to be overwhelming. I don't have any personal experience with exactly what you're looking for in that price range but the Shimano Zodias and Daiwa Rebellion and Tatula Elite would be the rods I would look at if I were you. I don't know how they compare in the sensitivity department but the Dobyn's Champion at around $200 is a good discount from the regular price and they generally make nice rods that are super popular.

I'm a big Spyderco guy too and always have one clipped in my pocket. I don't have any I specifically use for fishing though.