Jrob78

Megabass, Shimano, Daiwa, Lucky Craft, G Loomis, Koppers, Simms, Roman Made, Reaction Innovations, Go Pro, Boga, Under Armour, Temple Fork......and a couple of others.

I don't think the CI4 holds enough line for some of those techniques/fish. I would get a Calcutta 200 or 300D with the rod of your choice.

Try to match the jig with the color of the bottom of the lake. That's what the real craws living there are going to do.

I think reels of a decade ago were already pretty well advanced. I think you would have to go back closer to 20 years to find vast improvement. Today's reels are better than they were 10 years ago but the improvements are smaller and equal more refinement more so than huge performance upgrades.

I first learned about him after he won the BASS Junior Championship. He's been moving up the ranks since. He's on the verge of qualifying to fish the Elites, which I hope he accepts. It will be fun to watch him in the coming years.

It seems to largely boil down to what you learned on, which seems to be a regional thing. In the north and east, people use spinning reels as kids and get accustom to reeling with the left hand. They don't use baitcasters until later in life, (on average.) In the south it's the exact opposite. Most of us learned on spincasters until we were old enough to use baitcasters. In those days, that meant reeling with your right hand. Many southerners don't pick up spinning gear until later in life. There isn't a right or wrong answer but when you get used to doing something a certain way, it can be hard to change. This also explains why people get so heated when the spinning vs. baitcasting debate comes up. The people who grew up with baitcasters CAN do anything the spinning people can do and vice versa.

Rod powers are meaningless when comparing brand to brand, there is no standard. The only thing you can know for sure is the MH Powell is lighter than the H Powell and the XH Okuma is heavier than the H Okuma. The Powell is also a swimbait rod so it's rated as such. In other words, the MH swimbait rod isn't going to be the same as the MH flipping rod or cranking rod, etc.

The Alphas platform is fantastic. You can't go wrong with any of the Alphas reels. I have a Sol and an Alphas Ito 103-AI.

I agree. I started to mention the Zillion but feel like it would need a different spool to accomplish what the OP is going for.

If money isn't an issue get a Steez. This is Daiwa's flagship reel.

Falcon Lures also makes a good keel weighted hook in 1/4 oz 4/0.

Do whatever feels the most natural to you. I'm right handed and use right handed reels. I cast with the right hand, switch the rod to the left hand and reel with the right hand. This is the way I learned and the way that is most natural for me. There isn't a wrong or right way.

No worries, I just wasn't familiar with the term semi-micro guides. A size 5 is probably about what you're looking for. Unfortunately, rod companies don't list the sizes of the guides they use.

Anything below a size 6 is technically considered a micro guide. Micro guides range in size from 2-5mm. Some guides, like the ones on the Ghost, are insertless, this makes the actually opening a bit larger. The actually openings in the guides will change based on the brand and the insert used. I don't personally use leaders but i've heard on good authority that an Alberto knot, cinched tightly, will fit through most micro guides used on production rods.

Just curious, what exactly is a semi micro guide?

Me too

I think this is the key.

It might but it won't be as efficient as a rod with a fast action. The cranking rod will probably be much heavier and the moderate action will require more force to generate the same hook setting power as a fast action. Like I said, you can probably make it work but it won't be ideal.

The rod you bought was designed to throw magnum crankbaits, like the SK 10XD. I'm sure you could use it for jigs but it wouldn't be ideal. The Duckett would be a better choice. You want something with a fast or xfast action.

No, I wouldn't say that. I imagine most of us started out with Zebco combos. They aren't the highest quality or most efficient rods and reels but they will get you fishing. If you decide to get more serious about it in the future you can upgrade your gear then.

Ok, yes I think 8-10lb test would be about right for a spincast reel. If you are serious about fishing you should look into getting a spinning reel or a baitcaster. A baitcaster will be a more natural transition from your Zebco's but it will take some practice to get good at casting. A spinning reel would work well too, you would have to get a new rod and get used to fishing with the reel on the bottom.

Your post doesn't make a lot of sense. Line is measured in lb test, not text. By close faced do you mean like a Zebco reel? If so, those are called spincasters. I would think 10lb would be good for them. By open faced do you mean a baitcaster or a spinning reel? Spinning reels are the ones with the reel on the bottom of the rod, baitcasters are on top.

I prefer the "northern" style swim jigs. I make my own but like Brovarney's if I'm buying them.

This thread is as dumb today as it was a week ago when it last came up.

I fish a lot of creature baits with the Sweet Beaver being my favorite. I've been using the Rage Tail Space Monkey here lately and really, really like it.