webertime

It's definitely a weird situation for them. The hiring of the dudes that designed the NRX series was a positive step. Making the Eagle through World Class have the same action respective of length/power is cool. But dang if they those really were improvements you certainly don't hear about it. Their marketing of them has been terrible. Reddit is almost always "xxxx was better before they did yyyy" with all interests (food, cycling, dash cams, you name it). I got an Eagle 7ft 5in Hf (supposed to be a poor man's 873crr) and it's nice, obviously not an NRX, but not "woah" good.

I'm adding an addendum. Spro 8 or 10 sized swivel Phenix Finesse or Rock Crawler weights Ryugi Beats weights are awesome too but $$$$$$. None of those 3 weights snag much if used in the right conditions.

Spro 8?

Color Shmuller... mine is painted like a peacock bass. Remember bass see color different than we do. Lo Float 100000%

You have 2 good ones to start with. Maybe look at: 6" Hudd Spro Chad Raid Osakana Slide 170 Freestyle Magdraft Swimbait Republic 176 or 126

5 for all lines

The way to break a mental block "That's too big." Turn a swimbait (Deps 250) so you are looking at it from the nose (staring contest with the bait). That profile is smaller than a flipping jig and trailer. Bass eat food head first, so if you start to think that way it opens some doors. Maine has some Mountain Gorilla largemouth over there. Vermont, you'd think would too, but alas we don't, just orangutan sized ones.

The TD Zillion is super sturdy, which weighs marginally more than a "current" reel, but they balance so well on many rods. The ergonomics are fantastic, I have dinner plate hands, my buddy has micro hands, we both feel comfortable with it. Pre T-wing so there are fewer parts to have issues with although it's been proven reliable at this point. I just like less I guess... the availability (still) of spools and parts is great. The Rolex Submariner connection would be build quality, material quality, proven long track record, desirability while being reasonably priced (in their respective worlds). You can get basic understated looking ones too just do what they do or flashy Gucci looking models.

The one after the Og The OG. (It's the Rolex Submariner of reels)

I use 3600s in my tournament bag. Baits/line/terminal/spares go in a footlocker type chest. Within the footlocker they are in separate bags/boxes.

Ewww

Idk if they changed over the years but mine have at least 30lbs of tungsten and lead in them and are super rock solid.

Those have been around for a while. Longer and heavier than a fat ika. Don't glide as far an an ika, drop faster. Use a screwlock 4/0 or 5/0. Pretty durable but once the guts get torn up you can only mend-it so much. They do have a nice Junebug colored one though. You can take a regular tube, slather some smelly jelly or megastrike on a senko and push it in the tube and cut off the extra. Can fine tune the weight/glide with different tubes and senkos

I sold it. Too moderate for dragging football jigs. And I like some moderate action in my jig rods.

Yes it slows the sink. Place strips on top.

They fixed the hook hanger issue a bit ago. That bait is great. Especially when tuned with foam strips.

St Lawrence? A few days in A-Bay and a few days out of Massena? Scoot over to Black Lake or Champlain on the way home? 1000 Islands is beautiful. Gananoque Ontario is so great to visit. Giant smallies and "What are you doing here big guy?" Largemouth. Its what 8 hours from you? Yes Bacaracc or Clear or Whatever is hot in Texas are no doubt awesome but for me (I'm weird) the travel time and potential broken rods etc make that not so appealing. If I get a day or two more fishing with less stress I'm doing it.

Same as always Carolina rig and speedcraw Reversed Fat Ika "Lil jig" small football jig

A raid osakana slide 170 will work in shallow water with no adjustment needed. Fished it a lot this past spring in water 2-4' with weeds about a foot below the surface. Definitely look at floating baits as well. They are about all i buy now because I can tune them more.

They look like the $15 Amazon handles. Knobs look identical.

E based Shimano's "Z" based Daiwas Buy used, clean, do a drag swap, maybe a handle swap. Out the door for less than a Tatula.

We do them a lot up on Champlain. 3/8-1/2oz 50ft and shallower (lol I really narrowed it down). The best tip I ever got was lift until you start to feel the vibrations (like first 1-3 thumps) then let fall on a barely slack line. Slowly retrieve like that. Braid really helps with the thump drop feeling/action. You will lose them don't go insane on them. Plus the window isn't terribly huge to use them. I buy clearance silver buddies or sonars and wire brush the paint off.

Megabass Levante Enforcer. Great bottom contact and senko rod.

A few of my friends are guides. Many guides have prostaff deals. If he's that good offer the footage for an order at his prices. It'll cost him nothing he gets footage and you get a discount. Just a thought. Guides do a lot of bartering so it is not outlandish to ask.