Darren.

Welcome aboard @Wildcatsteve1!

I have the 6'3" MLXF LT Walleye rod, spinning, and find it a fantastic rod. I really like the reel seat, and despite sensitivity, it's a smidgeon tip heavy. BUT, not as much as the Avid I use to have. I'd take the LT any day over an Avid, personally.

That says it all, Tom! I have yet to catch DD, and I hope to do so on one of my 1000 Stradics. Never a drag issue, or line capacity issue with any freshwater fish I've caught on them.

Different schools of thought on this. (If I understand your question). Gary Yamamoto likes to have a very long leader of 20' sometimes more because, he reasons, he wants the knot to be on his reel when he's fighting the fish near the boat so there is no "weak point". I.e., the leader knot. Personally, I don't subscribe to that except that I see his logic. I prefer shorter leaders, and because I use shorter rods, the leader knot can still just wind on to my spool if I bring it all the way in. I try not to do that but sometimes it happens.

How big are they? I'd TX rig 'em, and if the right size, I'd even consider drop shot.

I get that some folks are prone to skin conditions and require to be covered up. My Dad won't go out for that very reason. Years and years of sun exposure in the 40s and 50s and today he battles skin cancer. But to bundle up too much in the heat would make me faint, LOL. I like a decent fishing shirt with UV protection and will wear some protectant, too. That's about it for me.

Welcome aboard! I would say you can get away with two good setups, especially if you are a recreational fisherman (me). Often I will go out on my kayak with only two setups, but there are times when I'll take 3 or 4, each rigged with a different technique. For $400 you can score an excellent rod/reel combo, and getting your hands on everything in-store is the best way to feel what balances right in your hands. Spinning setups for me are usually Medium and ML rods paired with Shimano Stradic 1000 reels. I plan to (re)add a MH to my spinning setups eventually. Casting: MH and ML rod which share a Chronarch 50e.

Welcome aboard! Look, there may be "hate" toward Ugly Sticks but don't let that get you down! For $50 and under, there are a number of rods that would suit your fishing. One in particular would be the Berkeley Lightning Rod Shock. They're fairly sensitive, durable, and a great value for the money. If you can pick one up and feel it side-by-side with the Elite you may/may not feel a difference. Pick the rod that you like and feels good in YOUR hands, balancing well with the reel you have. If it is an Ugly Stick, then fish it well!

You *just* missed the ocean-front Montana property

Indeed, this is what keeps me at 6'6" and under for balancing my setups using 1000 reels. Any longer (for the most part) and it gets tip-heavy. But I've noticed that St. Croix rods I've owned tend to be tip-heavy regardless, hence I hold them a little higher than other rods like the Carbonlites. This may be a confidence thing. I've caught multiple dozen bass over 6lbs and never once come close to being spooled on my 1000s. Can fit a lot of 10# and 15# Power Pro on a 1000... Now if I fished for bigger saltwater species, I'd be a bit more concerned!

Welcome aboard, Kevin (Mac)!

BINGO!! Show me a reliable FG using 10# braid and a 6# fluoro leader and I'll show you ocean front property in Montana. The uni-to-uni is plenty small in that combination, and it is reliable! I also agree that the Mod'd Albright/Alberto is great in smaller diameter lines.

Go to: Uni-to-uni Modified Albright/Alberto Shunned: FG no matter what they say, it is difficult and nigh impossible to tie on the water - at least in a kayak. And the knot is very loooong. I have no issues and zero failures with uni-to-uni, and it is super easy, so why change?

1000 for me for all bass fishing techniques I use. 50e for casting. Trend here: I like smaller/lighter reels!!

Yes, I believe it is. At least it helped after I gave it a little straightening....

See, there you go. Even a yank can spell it right! I'm a yank by philosophy, a southerner by birth, a Texan because once you lived there, you become one for life. At least that's what they said back in the 1980s. And I got my BA there! But of cold weather, we agree. It is no fun. Hated it when I lived between Buffalo and Rochester, and hate it now. They can keep it!

Welcome aboard, Fred!

I spent almost a decade in Texas and there is no "g" in fixin'. Fixin' boys. It's fixin'!

Hi Jeff, welcome aboard!

My Lexa 100 did that all the time to the point it mangled the antireverse pawl. I did my best to straighten it out and it works quite well now. Local guys don't seem to like servicing Daiwa...

Like it, but I haven't even tried the Ned rig yet! Too many rigs, too little time on the water for me!!

Sure. You just want to make sure your drag is set properly. The rod will do some of the work, your rod gymnastics some, and the drag some.

Awesome! Sweet rig, too!

Would be interesting to see the different "slick" or 8-strand braids compared here. Daiwa, Sunline, Sufix, Power Pro, and whoever else makes... Heard good things about SX1 as well as Samurai. But I'm loaded with PowerPro, so won't be doing any tests for the foreseeable future.

Welcome aboard!