webertime

KVD and San Diego Jam knot. Lots of spit and cinch slowly.

Are all the rods basically the same length? I ask because if they are breaking at the same place (+/-) and are all basically the same length, maybe there is something going on with the storage locker (getting bounced too much/baits whacking them/etc.) I have a vauge idea what brands you use and the fact that they all break in basically the same place really makes me think it's not the rods or braid, etc. but maybe something in how they are stored. I personally doubt braid has much to do with it. When you set the hook you do move the fish (defusing the power/lack of stretch) if the fish were bolted down then yeah I can see a rod snap due to braid, but on it's own it couldn't snap a rod. Perhaps you have a "whippy" cast and the stiffer resins/materials don't agree with it? I have a whippy cast (and a dislocate the bass's head hookset) and found the more moderate fast rod have been bomb-proof and don't lose any (useful) power on my hooksets. A beast mode hookset may just be the straw that breaks the camel's back, when there is some sort of stressor affecting the rods in that area.

Are you going to be on a boat? The bite is very tough right now. Smallies are bunching up on the few spots that still have some current. HOWEVER they aren't really hitting all that often. They are in 20-45 feet of water. Near you will be Woods, Damias, Butler and Knight Islands. Drag C-Rigs or toss Shakyheads or Drop Shots in 20-40 feet. If your go into Lapan's or St. Albans Bay there are big weedbeds and those do hold some 5+ Largemouths. Flip Jigs/plastics into those. If you want pm me for more details or give me some more details so I can fine tune you a bit. I live less than 10 miles (as the crow flies) from Burton Island and fish that area.

Jackall cover craw Keitech salty core tube (siiiiiiiiiiick!) Lots of custom pour guys (doc Irving)

Exactly!

Doc Irv (custom guy) does a 10" senko that's a beast. One has the same amount of plastic as five 5" senkos. I dig mine.

That Sunline deal makes this a no brainier (IMHO).

I think it's more of a line capacity issue when we talk 200 vs 300 and swimbaits.

Love the Padcrasher, LOVE IT... I have had horrible luck with Live Target frogs and mice, all 3 sunk right out of the package. Padcrashers and Spro Popping Frogs are the way to go.

One thing I've observered with Pike is when they bite off a floating bait (Crankbait) you should just sit and wait a few momments and watch the area of the bite off. They're down there shaking that thing free and quite often you'll find your bait just pops right back up to the surface.

It's usually 15% (Diesel would be $59.49)

I have the 765, having used the following "Heavy" rods (7'6" Carrot Stix LTX, 7'6" Phenix Recon (currently own), 7'5" Crucial, 7'11" BPS Nitro). The 765 is everybit as powerful as those, it's like the Nitro with WAY more balance/less tip heavy. I've tossed ROF12 (~2.5oz) Hudd 68's with my Powell Diesel and had no issues. I use it as a spare flipping stick or when I will be fishing areas where I am Frogging and Flipping and don't want to keep cutting and retying my Recon set up. The Fish Ranger for $50 is a good deal until you see the $18 in shipping...

4.8 " Keitech Swing Impact Fat with a 4/0 screw lock 3/16 oz hook. Swim, crawl and flip it.

I've heard of catching keeper smallies on a spot then releasing them a distance away as to not mess up the school (smallies talk) for tournament day. I can't understand catching a bunch of fish off one spot on practice days. Electronics show fish, catch one or two. If they are good get out of there and leave the rest alone.

What baits? That hook may be too small.

I'd think Adderall and Ritalin would be fairly abundant out there. Easy to get, cheap, get that 5 cups of coffee energy with no need to wreck a port-a-potty, focus on that line like you read about, and not feeling hungry. Sounds plausible to me.

I've tried it. The peg/weight/punch skirt/hook/plastic is significantly more bulky and didn't result in more fish than a weighted swimbait hook and a swimbait thrown into the junk. Fewer spots to get slime/snot stuck on the swimbait too.

Don't listen to Trapper. Shellcrackers, Smoking Roosters, and Fat Impacts are also terrible on them. Absolutely awful baits send them all to me and I'll get rid of them.

I forgot Slider heads!

3/0 offset worm (EWG not needed) . Great drop shot bait too.

I don't fish deep enough... 38' dragging a Carolina Rig.

If you are just stepping into it go with an Okuma Guide Series rod, Cardiff 300/301A reel (low ratio is much preferred) and spool it with 20lbCXX (or similar copoly/mono). ~$200 and you are good to go. Stepping up a notch Low Down Customs "production" model MH rod and a Daiwa Lexa 300 in the 5:1 ratio with the same line as above. ~$400 John outlined the 200 vs 300 size issue. I have big hands and like the piece of mind my 300 provides me (capacity).

Flipping/Pitching, Carolina Rigs, Frogs, 6" swimbaits: Phenix Recon 766c/ Daiwa Ballistic XS/ Sunline FX-2 60lbs Jigs, Spinnerbaits, 4.8" Keitechs, Chatterbaits, Square Bills: Phenix Recon 715c/ Daiwa Zillion HSLA with smooth drags and Boca Abec 7's/ Sunline Sniper 16lbs Ikas, Senkos, Flukes, Spinnerbaits, 3.8" Keitechs: Phenix Recon 714c/ Shimano Citica E with smooth drags/ Berkley Fluoro 10lbs Topwater and Jerkbaits: Daiwa S-Rod 6'3" MH/ Daiwa Advantage HSTA/ Suffix 832 30lbs (swap leaders as needed) Cranks and Big Topwater: Mojo 7' MHm/ Shimano Cardiff 101/ 30lb Power Pro Flipping/Pitching, Jigs, Swimbaits (Spare): Powell Diesel 765/ Quantum Accurist CX501/ 50lb Power Pro Little Cranks and Jerkbaits: Lamiglas Excel 734c/ Daiwa Tierra 153 HL/ 20lb Tufline Spinnerbaits, heavy cover and close quarter stuff: Shimano Compre 6'10" MHxf/ Abu Garcia Gen2 Revo STX/ Sunline FX-2 60lbs Big Boy Swimbaits: Quantum PT Tour Swimbait 7'11" XH/ Shimano Cardiff 301A/ 20lb Mono Drop Shot, Shaky Heads, LIGHT Treble baits: Lamiglas Excel 703s/ Daiwa Tierra 2500/ 15lb Braid or 8lb Sunline Sniper Weightless Plastics, small topwaters: BPS Extreme 6'8" Mxf/ Shimano Sahmetros (Franken-reel)/ 20lb Power Pro

I've got the Spring Creek stabilizer and it's great. I can stand with no issues (6'5"). Worth it

C-rig, dragging big plastics on footballs and drop shots