NewKidInTown

Straight braid unless fishing rocks,then it's braid with a Co-Poly Leader. Adjust your drag accordingly,and theres no reason why you cannot use braid for "EVERYTHING" I've been doin just that since 1997.

Comparing a BPS to a Shimano? no contest,Shimano wins hands down. As far as an all around reel though? that it is not,,it wont cast light stuff..need to drop more $$$$ for that.

Power Pro takes a while,has that nasty coating on it. It will fade though,just takes a bit longer cause of that coating. Also,,it doesn't appear that Stren even makes Super Braid any longer,all I see on the site is Sonic Braid.

I think almost all braid is going to do that Negative....losing color over time is normal,,not a mess of flakes all over the place.

I used the 14lb test about 4 yrs ago,and the yellow coating was literally just coming off on the guides and roller bearing,flaking off on everything! Anyone here use it currently,wondering if it has gotten any better.. Thanks :-/

They work fine,,my buddy and I have been using them for the last 2 seasons.

GOOD STUFF

The Clarus is a pretty good choice. I have used the St Croix Triumphs for the last few seasons with no troubles also. If you want to spend a tad more,go with the St Croix Premier.

As far as Shimano is concerned,,a 2500 is about right for bass fishing, In a Daiwa,the 2000 size is fine,being that Daiwa has larger Spools respectively. I prefer Daiwa spinning reels over Shimano,the line management is just plain better with the Daiwas. The Daiwa Exceler is a very good buy for the money. I use Daiwa Sol's in the 2000 size,but my dad has an Exceler and its quite good. He has had plenty of 5lb Largies on it,no problem.

It depends. Power Pro is pretty thin,i'd say 40 for that. Not all braids are the diameter it claims to be. I use Invisibraid which runs a tad thicker than Power Pro,so I can use 30 without digging being an issue. Generally 40 is about min size.

This basically sums it up..but who knows,,hard to say.

Jig

Charlie Brewer Slider Worms,,Zoom Finesse Worms..should work out for you.

Of course,you can use jigs anywhere anytime.

I do add rattles I take off jigs sometimes.No more than 2,you don't want anything getting in the way of the frog compressing. I use Scumfrogs because they are the most easily compressed,but also the lightest and toughest to cast..you need a good baitcaster. Daiwa Sol,or Shimano Chronarch etc,,something with a light spool.

I only use leaders when fishing Stone walls and roadbeds.. I use Copoly Leaders Usually..if some Fluoro comes along cheap,Ill use it. I definitely do not use Fluoro or Copoly for fear of fish seeing the braid. 100% for abrasion resistance.

They are quite good..but just dont expect it to throw light stuff well.

A good sensitive rod always helps.

Theres really only 2 manufacturers you should consider...Daiwa & Shimano. Which one all depends on what you expect the reel to do. A Curado is not going to do well with light stuff,you will need a baitcaster with a light spool for that type of work. Shimano has a few choices.,unfortunately the prices get up there. The Chronarch and the Core will throw light stuff well.,especially the Core. Daiwa has the Sol. If you don't intend to throw small light stuff, a Curado is fine.

I generally match them..but theres no set rule. I have caught many fish with mismatched colors. You must remember,Crawfish are not all one color,and they are different colors at different times of the year.

I am not sure what a heavier hook would do.. I do know that a lighter hook will cause that bait to no longer Suspend,it will float up to the surface. They are very precisely balanced. I'd get the right size hook.

The Berkleys are very good. I dont see any reason to deviate.

Thats a very long discussion,,but the Krocodile is quite simple,just a cast out and retrieve at different speeds. I don't know where you are fishing and what there is to catch there. Up here,its Stripers and Bluefish,some Weakfish also.

Well I am up in the NorthEast...I am a Saltwater Surfcaster,and the one lure I am never without is a Krocodile. Of course,my bag has a Diamond Jig,Point Jude's, Bomber's,Poppers..Metal Lips..and of course,Plenty of Bucktails.

Are we talking Saltwater here?