Jrob78

Jerkbaits are a completely different animal than crankbaits. They have to be weighted, balanced and produced properly or they will not suspend with the correct orientation or even suspend at all. In suspending jerkbaits, you really do get what you pay for. It is completely absurd to think that you need to buy 10 baits to get 2 that perform flawlessly. If you want to buy cheap sq bills, you can probably get away with it, don't skimp on the jerkbaits.

Often times a good thorough cleaning and relubing is all that is needed to get stock bearings humming again. I do upgrade a lot of my reel bearings but it isn't always necessary for a noticable performance increase. If you have access to an ultra sonic cleaner, that's the way to go.

ABT makes a slow sink deep crank. I've never used one and don't know much about them but in theory, they would reach whatever depth you wanted them to, within reason.

It really depends on which KVD reels your talking about. BPS sells a KVD signature reel that costs $110, it is a BPS exclusive and probably a piece of junk. BPS, TW and other retailers sell KVD reels that cost $299 and are Quantum's top of the line reel. They are probably great reels, as far as Quantum goes.

You are correct. The TD Pro is an Exceler made exclusively for BPS with some added bearings and a different paint job.

I'm not discounting your experience at all. I have no experience with factory "micro" guide rods but I have been building and fishing micro guides exclusively for about 4 years. My experience is quite different from yours. All I really meant was, you've pitched one micro guide rod for a short period, not in a fishing situation, that's not enough evidence to discount a proven system. Don't give up on them just yet. They aren't the "miracle" some people make them out to be but they do offer some real world advantages in many situations. This is a video Fuji did to illlustrate the benefits of their new K-R Concept guide system. It is really long and there is no sound but the slow motion video of line going through various guide configurations is really cool. It is worth watching, IMO.

I don't think an hour of pitching in your backyard, with 1 rod, is quite enough testing to form a solid blanket opinion on a guide system.

A sharp knife works great for cutting through a stand of braid but what about for getting the knot off the line tie?

X5 on the Boomerang Tool. Most efficient and convenient braid cutter on the market.

He said keep it at or under $10.

It sounds like you put too much finish on the rod. If your coats are too thick it won't level properly and the finished product will look lumpy and uneven.

I like shorter mhf rods for moving, single hook baits. They usually make great spinnerbait, chatterbait, swimjig and buzzbait rods for target casting. I will also use them for large walking baits like the Super Spook. I generally prefer longer rods for fishing soft plastics but that rod should be great for t-rigs and lighter jigs too.

Most rod builders don't do it full time, so there's a good chance they're not going to have fancy websites. If you spent the money to buy a Z, you should spend the money to get a proper rod for it. Do a little research on some of the rod building forums and look at pictures, you can probably get a better idea of who to go with. You can also trust the recommendations that have already been given to you, DVT, Otterrods and ALX all do good work. You can check out Mudhole to get an idea about components. Educate yourself before you spend the money. A good builder will talk to you and answer any questions you may have as well as help you pick out components.

I wouldn't worry too much about the visibility of the braid with crankbaits. You're primarily going for a reaction strike and line color shouldn't make much difference. The main reasons a lot of people don't use braid for cranking is the absolute lack of stretch and because it floats. Even the stiffest fluoro made has considerable stretch compared to braid, the chances of tearing hooks out becomes much greater, according to some. Also, the stretch in the line allows the fish to take the bait deeper before the hook set. Some of this can be counteracted with a glass rod. As far as the floating, this shouldn't be as much of an issue if you're not shooting for maximum depth. You should try it for yourself and come to your own conclusions. Be aware of your lines capabilities and adjust accordingly.

You can use sand paper to sand down your grips but it's going to be near impossible to keep them round. If you can live with that, go for it, it won't hurt anything, other than the roundness of your grips.

I like the XCalibur EEratic Shad, it's a great bait for the money. The H20 baits are also really nice and the price can't be beat. The only thing about their jerkbaits is the only one that suspends is the deep diving model. The 2 shallow jerkbaits are floaters. You might also check out the new Strike King KVD jerkbaits. I haven't used or even bought one yet but they look awesome. The color patterns are outstanding and it comes in 2 sizes.

Cutting braided line is one thing, cutting a knot off a line tie is a little different. I've yet to find something that will quickly and efficiently cut through the knot.

Great reel! I picked one up during TW's closeout too. I actually like it better than the Zillion, although not by much. I know where a couple more have been sitting for who knows how long, as soon as they go on sale I'm going to get another one. The swept handle and red drag star look great on yours RussBert!

Tracker01, I got my XT on Ebay, NIB for $172. Keep your eye out, good deals are there. That being said, the XT is worth the retail price, IMO. Great reel, couldn't be more pleased with mine.

Excellent reel, silky smooth and fits very nicely in the hand. This is the only reel I own with dual braking and I like it a lot. You can really get it dialed in. Check ebay, I got a great deal on mine.

CX has replace Yo-Zuri Hybrid as my go to, workhorse line. I've never had any breakage issues, I use 12 and 15 lb mostly. I've found it to be extremely durable and user friendly, not as strong as Hybrid but far less memory. I've been using it heavily for the last year and a half, I haven't experienced any breakage whatsoever like the op describes.

I own 3 of the 4, don't have a Revo. The Curado is a great reel but isn't in the same class as the Zillion or XT, IMO. It also costs roughly $100 less. The Zillion is everything you could ask for in a reel. Silky smooth, built like a tank, aesthetically pleasing and palms better than any reel I've ever used. The downside is it doesn't cast light baits as well as some others, it's also fairly heavy. The XT is a very nice reel too. Very small so it fits in the hand really well. The eva knobs are really comfortable. The dual braking is really nice, I can count the number of backlashes I've had with this reel on one hand. It handles lighter baits better than the Zillion. Line capacity is pretty low with this reel too. Very smooth reel and very pleasant to fish with. In my opinion the Curado is a great reel but not on par with the other 2. The Zillion is an amazing reel that feels as close to perfect in my hands as a reel can get, it just fits. The XT is a exceptional reel too. It beats out the Zillion in it's ability to cast lighter baits. Check ebay, I got my XT new for $170. In reality, all the reels you listed are great reels, I don't think you can really make a wrong choice.

I would go with the 705 or 735 for throwing light to medium jigs.

I built a rod on that blank, I have been very, very pleased with it. It is fairly light and sensitivity has been better than I expected. I use it primarily for Senkos and Flukes, it has enough backbone with a nice soft tip. Tackle Tour did a review of that particular rod. http://www.tackletour.com/reviewlamiglasexcel734c.html

I've got a 734C. In my opinion it is at the top of the class in the $100 range. I couldn't be more pleased with the sensitivity and performance of this rod given it's price. The only other rod in that range I own that I might recommend would be a Powell Max. Both are excellent rods for their price.