webertime

I like Magforce Z for heavier weight, really for everything. Deeper spools too. Sv-Boost is actually really good but you can feel the braking which is tunable so it can be diminished but... heavier lines with the shallower spool lead to "oh shoot! backing!!!" Moments far more often than OG Z but very similar distance (not as far). Maybe SV Boost is better in the wind but that's probably more bait dependant.

Once or twice a year thin oil on spool bearings. Spinning reels at least think about doing something once or twice.

If setting the hook on a log by accident doesn't break it, casting a big spinnerbait will be fine.

DC5 brakes, yeah it's cool but not needed. DC4 brakes, no. I can't remember which one it has.

Send it. You'll figure it out if it works for you pretty quickly.

If you can find one the raid ghost wire is stone simple. Super light weight and catches. I only use one bait on mine.

Just a heads up. I am guessing the Shimano's are a couple generations old. They had an issue with seals under the rotor swelling when wet, jamming them up. They sell replacement seals pretty cheap (hey you might get bored this winter and this is something to do.)

Any dragging rod (carolina rig/football jig) I build is spiral wrapped. I just feel less torque in my hand from the line trying to twist (ie become shortest length). They just renove one input I have to feel. Also great for silver buddy type rods and Laker jigging

Some JDM plastics are until they are replicated by a us firm. Even then there's usually something special about the formulation that makes them better catchers.

Every cast with a rerange is anxiety inducing with that snap! noise they make.

Someone do a wellness check on our boy here. I lost a $25ish dollar carolina rig once (between all components and time to tie... it was pretty deflating)

No necessarily less input, but certainly a smaller margin for error or harder to nail that sweet spot. The other "variable" is you... you have a tendency to retrieve fast or slow? The distance between where you hold the knob and your wrist and even how much elbow you use in retrieve. Watch a lot of the swimbait youtubers. The good ones, you'll see the retrieve is all in the wrist (eliminated variables). I wish there were a magic answer for you, the bigger reel with a high ratio has a high ipt. That means the slightest over/under twitch will pull too much or too little very easily.

You're looking at/for I.P.T. (inches per turn). Ratio only tells part of the story as does spool size. If you like a glide fished on say a 28 IPT reel then thats what's important. You can get 28 IPT with a small spool with a high ratio OR a large spool with a low ratio. Sooo that sized bait I'd stick with a 200 Shimano or 150ish Daiwa.

Megabass Vision 110jr +1 or Evergreen SB 120 "Ehhh how good can this thing be..." "Hello Tackle Warehouse? Yes do you do bulk orders?"

From what I've seen they look more or less to all be the same with different branding (ryugi, owner, spro)

What rods do you already have? Ideally jerkbaits and crankbaits are 2 different rods. Jerkbaits generally shorter with a faster taper than a crank rod.

Ryugi Hook wallet and never look back

I bought one for $50 3 years ago. Some dudes like the idea of tinkering with them as bfs reels (3D braking) but on the whole, especially the base model, they aren't getting much.

First time throwing a Deps 250. If you ever played the old Nintendo Black Bass game you'll remember the shadows stalking your bait. First toss and half a dozen fish just started stalking it for about 10ft. Then a pounder came flying in screaming "Leroy Jenkins!!!" and ate it before the bigs could. Brought back the excitement of being a kid for a little bit.

Heavier grass pieces seem to work better.

My buddy cleaned out his Ranger 522 a few years back. Over 600lbs of stuff in the compartments. It was insane.

Lots of Vermont bass fishermen are upset at F&W for pushing this bunk. Guy who took the picture is all over saying it was 4.5lbs.

Fish them May not be better than the new but probably not worse either.

Duo Bayruf Seek 85 Under Walker 85mm and .5oz (along with other sizes) Top 3 in this search https://thehookuptackle.com/search?q=seek&options[prefix]=last

Definitely can catch them. It's pretty darned big and not many (if any?) frogs are that size. So it's definitely a "let's give them a different look" bait. Quality is top notch with them.