Mono Man in IL

Regardless of what line you use, you'll have better results by closing the bail with your hand vice turning the reel handle.

8.14 3/25/87 from Bull Shoals Lake jerking a silver/blue back spoonbill Rebel.

Speaking of "classics" I'll be using the Classic 4" Charlie Brewer Slider Worm just like I have for the past 35 years.

I use two 6 1/2 Loomis SJR782s (IMX) with Abu Garcia Soron 20s loaded with green 8# Trilene XL. One is usually rigged with a 3" Charlie Brewer Slider grub on a 1/16 or 1/8 oz Spider Head and the other with a 5/32 or 3/16 oz Pro Jo, #1 or 1/0 Rebarb finesse hook and a 4" Slider worm, 4" Zoom lizard, or a 4" Roboworm FX Sculpin.

Lightly rubbing cork handles with a green Scotch Brite and a powder cleanser, i.e., Barkeepers Friend under the kitchen faucet gets the job done.

I've been using 1/16 and 1/8 oz Charlie Brewer Spider Sliders for over 30 years. Of course back then we hadn't heard of Shaky Head fishing.

4" Charlie Brewer Slider worm on a 1/16 oz Spider head

4" Charlie Brewer smoke slider worm on a 1/16 oz Spider head and Trilene green XL.

Loomis SJR721 Aubu Garcia STX 20 6# green Trilene XL Plano 3600 full of 4" Charlie Brewer Slider worms and heads

Can't believe this was even asked.

Back in the day it was a 6" Zoom green pumpkin lizard. Fast forward to the present and a c-rig for me is 8# XL, Projo slip shot and a 4" Roboworm sculpin.

Charlie Brewer sliders because they still catch fish as good as when I started fishing them 35 years ago. My #1 go to bait.

I've gone full circle in that I started with aluminum and now as a senior citizen I plan to finish with aluminum.

6# - 20# green Trilene XL!

I've been a "Loomis Junkie" for many years, but if I were forced to start from scratch I would certainly feel comfortable shopping in the under $150 category. It wasn't too many years ago when China rods usually had a dog leg blank. Times are better. Bottom line paraphrasing Harry Callahan, "A man has to know his limitations!"

Happened to be looking at the Gander Titaniums at the local store recently. Seems to be a nice rod for the $. Did notice the hook keeper was on backwards on all of them. Ya think the whole production run went that way??????