Jrob78

I've always heard people say this as a negative but I would rather have debris and vegetation get caught in the rod tip vs in my reel.

Coincidentally that is my favorite topwater rod.

I will always opt for micro guides over standard guides. In my experience, a properly set up guide train (critical with spinning rods) with micro guides will cast better and be more sensitive. Taking weight off of the blank is always a positive thing and the responsiveness of a blank with micro guides vs standard guides is noticeable. I also don't fish in freezing weather or with leader knots, so smaller guides don't impede anything I do.

To me that's a very strange recommendation for a topwater rod. I guess if you're focused on really large walking baits and large Ploppers it might make sense but definitely not as an all around TW rod and definitely not what I would reach for. Those guys being on Shimano/Loomis payroll has nothing to do with it though. There are tons of other Shimano/Loomis rods that they could have recommended so I'm sure the 844 is what he likes.

Yeah the LFT craw tubes are the only ones i've ever used too but it's been years since I bought any. Apparently they haven't made them for quite some time though, I only saw one bag on ebay and they were $50.

Great baits, I used to fish Lake Fork Craw Tubes all the time but kind of got out of the habit. I need to pull them back out. I don't think Lake Fork makes them anymore though, have to go to the BBB version.

Haha, look for something that will hold 100 yards or more of whatever line you intend to use.

I would buy something with more line capacity.

For 168 size baits a Curado is plenty strong enough to handle the weight. Line capacity is going to be your biggest issue but you don't really need super heavy line for S-Wavers and 5" baits.

yes

Japan Lure Shop has them

I've been using the Daiwa Rebellion 7'4" H Glass as recommended by @Kevhead19 above in this thread. I bought it right after the above conversation, so I've had a couple of months with it and I can say without a doubt it's the best 1/2oz Chatterbait rod I've ever used. It's also really light for a glass rod, highly recommend it.

Zillion HD would be my first choice and the Zillion SV would be my second, or the new Bantam if you want to go Shimano. The HD and Bantam are JDM only right now.

I think you need to take "manage" out of your link. This one should work better. https://www.gofundme.com/f/2nd-annual-fishmas-giving-back

I use 12lb Big Game for backing. I fill the reel about halfway or so, more or less depending on the spool capacity, with the BG and then fill the rest of the way with my line of choice. I don't get too scientific with it.

Not unless it needs respooling anyway, even then though I just take it down to the backer. Anything I need to clean on the spool can be cleaned with line still on it. The bearing comes off and goes in the ultrasonic cleaner. I also don't do an end of season cleaning on all my reels in the fall. I could see where people living up north might clean all their gear and shut it down for winter. Getting your gear ready and respooling everything might be a spring ritual, I still probably wouldn't do it but I get it.

There weren't really any adjustments to be made at that point. When the Vikings got the ball for the first time in the 2nd half it was already 30-3 and Cousins looked like he just wanted to go home. The Cowboys hadn't punted yet in the game and scored on their first 7 possessions. Dallas got embarrassed the week before in Green Bay and were out for blood. The NFC is completely up for grabs, all of the top teams are very beatable.

Same for me, I use Gamakatsu and Owner for pretty much everything. I did use Trokar for a while but ultimately didn't like them as much as the old standbys.

No housewives or lines online. Sales usually run longer than just Friday. Hang around here for awhile and we'll help you spend all your money on tackle.

I have a giant roll of cheap 12 lb mono I use for backer on all my reels. I don't like fishing a reel that is half full so it makes sense to keep a full spool and not waste good line.

Man sales are super easy. You wait until a store lowers the price on an item you want and then buy it. Most stores have sales on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. ?

@bulldog1935 @AlabamaSpothunterDigitaka has RCS carbon fiber handles in stock in 80, 95 and 100mm. Their website is just a bit spread out and sometimes hard to find random things.

I definitely have some of the LC and old Evergreen Combat Cranks, I doubt I have any in the SSR depth and no idea on colors. If I remember I will look when I get home. I assume you've scoured Ebay and places like Ichiban?

I use my HD for weightless Flukes, Senkos and Ikas. Those are all aerodynamic baits and not particularly light but it casts them like a dream. I would assume the SV spool would be better suited for skipping but I've not tried it with either reel.

If your plan is to take it off the reels regardless, then I'm not sure what you should do or if it even matters. If the memory is keeping you from fishing the line on its current reels, just give it a good spray with KVD, let it dry and then cast it out a few times with a bait tied on and the memory will clear up pretty quickly.