S Hovanec

The old Avids won't be on sale any time soon. They didn't discontinue them. They're still in the 2015 catalog.

Hard to say. My 2.90oz NFC drop shot rod and my 3.15oz SCV are tip heavy til you put the reels on them.

8+tip would be a good starting point. Conventional wrap might get you into 9. Spiral might go to 7 depending on the load testing.

I'd say the Avid might work for you. The 3S69MLXF lower range is 1/8oz and retails for $100.

You will be hard pressed to find a custom in that price range IMO. I don't know what to recommend other than you will never get a medium power to load well enough with 1/8oz to cast very far, spinning or casting. I think you're looking for a weak powered ML or even a Light power. Once you drop into the realm of light power, I don't think there's a production casting rod on the market rated like that.

I know why LC Man uses, spinning for dropshot. Cause dropshotting with a casting rod in 30'+ is a serious PITA. Most of my dropshotting is over 25' and I couldn't imagine using a casting rod. Drop the bait in the water and pull....pull...pull...pull the line off til you're on the bottom. Not for me. Open the bail and poof......bait is on the bottom.

It's an OCD thing. This is a corner in my buddy's fishing room. He's a charter captain by the way.

My go-to DS rod is a St. Croix 5S69MLXF I have a Rainshadow ISB822.5 for heavier/bulky baits I also have a NFC DS-610 for smaller/lighter baits. I have a Rainshadow XSW72ML....just because I like the color. lol There's a Croix 5S610MXF in the works to fit between the MLXF and the 822.5 Somehow, I'm gonna fit the new pearl white 5SW70MLF in there too. I fish 6# Halo on the MLXF and never felt it was underpowered. I had the LTB model before the SCV and it was enough rod to land many 10-15# cats from the depths of Erie.

That sounds to be about retail for the Sahara? I'd think you can do better.

Just cause they're on your smart phone app doesn't mean they're there. There's stuff on my both my Navionics chip and MapSource program that isn't actually on the lake.

PVC only for me.

And that's why a marine radio is a good idea. A direct line to TowboatUS and the USCG.

Tone down the hookset. You don't need to cross their eyes with braid. I use light leader with a uni-uni and have never broke off at the leader knot, fish or snag.

I fish 10# Powerpro with 18' of 6#(dropshot) or 8#(tubes) Halo. The long leader eliminates the need to retie a new leader after a couple snag break-offs and reties.

Bingham Enterprises

If I told you how deep a buddy was catching them yesterday, some would call me crazy and some would say "I know where they were"!

This has been an odd year. One day you catch 60 fish in 8', none over 3#. Go to the same spot the next day and catch a bunch of 4 and 5# fish.

They're kinda shallow by then Dwight. 25-30' is kinda shallow, right?

Glad they got out unscathed. The Great Lakes are no place for bass boats. Only takes one wave over the side or back to fill it up. No amount of pumps will get all that water out before the next one comes over.

I would go in through the gauges. That's how I access my Lund dash.

A few years ago, I got a Raymarine unit for bow. It was a fantastic unit, but you couldn't see the screen in direct sunlight. I finished the season and sold it. Replaced it with a Lowrance HDS.

I built an Avid in that action and power and absolutely hated it til I fished it with braid. I couldn't keep fish buttoned up when I used it with fluoro.

I'm a little anal about my rods. If they had to go on the roof, they would be in rod socks in a PVC pipe with end caps.

hotfishpro.com

I had one memorable bad saturday where I lost 40 weights. Went back to the same lake the next day and didn't lose a single one. Must have been some goofy current is all I can figure.