QUAKEnSHAKE

Fish-n-Fool knot(aka -through eye twice uni knot) easy to tie and stronger than the palomar knot to boot.

Another for the Fish-N-Fool knot it's stronger than the Palomar anyways and uses much less line to tie.

Straight shooter here with all line types. Braid is the best all around.

I'm in the no leader camp. I fish very clear waters daily and no issues catching bass crappie straight braid. Beings I don't use leaders can't make a direct comparison with that set-up. I do use straight fc though and my results don't convince me it matters as far as a visibility factor. With certain baits I feel fc hinders the action of my presentation being able to twitch pop lure off bottom more efficiently. I can see this in shallow water with braid tied to fat ika the ika will pop off bottom where with fc it gets dragged more due to weight of fc holding it down. Ika just doesn't get the action with fc that I like it to have.

Id put 8 pound braid on, well I do, and dont see the need to go over 10 pound braid just plain overkill and hurts casting.

Go ahead and try your set-up, maybe add a bobber cause your distance wont be the greatest but should be doable with say 1/16 inline spinners. The small rapala minnows will be iffy. Plenty of people say not to use 10 pound braid on a baitcaster and surely cant throw frogs using 10pound braid on slop but it worked for me. Here is one of many 10pound braid slop catches

Surprise catch of the day a smallmouth a rarity in this lake! 16" 2 pounds used Keitech salty core tube, 16# sniper fc, Tat SV reel, Quantum Smoke 7' M/F rod. This 20" 4 pounder used 16# sniper fc, Chronarch CI4 reel, Okuma Helios 7' M/F rod.

I dont need/use leaders with my braid so filling spools full with braid actually saves $$$ over top filling. Now as I use the braid up Ill add backing as needed to keep spool at full level and replace braid once I start casting down to the connection knot.

Check your break pins for grease blocking their movement. On mine they heavily greased those pins and they would stick not go in/out freely.

Tossing some ideas out at you Walmart has 3.9ounce Okuma Helios 7' Heavy rod for $104 or the 4.2ounce Helios 7'6" Heavy for $115. Grab a Daiwa Tatula or CT off ebay for $80ish during coupon events. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Okuma-Helios-7-6-Heavy-Cast-Rod/34742967 https://www.walmart.com/ip/Okuma-Helios-7-Heavy-Cast-Rod/34742966 I have a couple Helios rods that have performed excellently for me.

Agree. I bought a Chronarch MGL and had a 70hg as well, returned the MGL bought a 70xg negligible difference in casting to me. I also have a Chronach CI4 that factored in a little to the decision to return the MGL.

Id go as high as 10# but prefer 8#. Casting is way better 10# and under. Ive not found 10 pound braid to pop very easily and Ive frog fished heavy slop with 10# powerpro on a baitcaster. Also have pulled in some huge weed clumps with 10# braid. I suggest start at ten then work up to 15 then 20 if needed but doubt it.

I had regular Helios and it was close to Core 50mg7 and 50E great casting little reel.

11 is plenty old enough to use braid. My kids have been strictly braid users since each was 3y/o. They never have used another type of line they are 12 and 18 now. There is a lot of unnecessary fearmongering now a days and its ventured in to the fishing realm now. 10# braid will be fine as long as its not seaguar kanzen very weak line as rated.

Pflueger Patriarch 25 is 5.3oz check ebay prices with 20% off coupon they have right now. https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/catpage-RLSPFLUEGER.html?from=basres

They were biting good yesterday, 4:45pm to 6:00pm, caught 10 bass. Threw ikas paddle tails. Then from 6-8 only 4 more. They were 14" to 17"

I just tried the site and didn't have any issues. I'm on a small tablet Fire HD8 pages loaded quickly scrolling fine as well.

curado K for $110 6.2:1 ratio. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Shimano-Curado-K-CU200K-6-2-1-Low-Profile-Casting-Reel/352377090800?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D52973%26meid%3Dc70a61601d694df4920597561c808486%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D15%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D352377090800%26itm%3D352377090800&_trksid=p2481888.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3A10eb630f-7b4d-11e8-9994-74dbd1806f42|parentrq%3A499988781640aca02d43595efff6a7ee|iid%3A1

Well Scott you can lead a horse to water.

Gen 1 Quantum Smoke 7' M/F casting rod. Ive yet to find another rod as light with better balance same power with very good sensitivity at any price. Its also been very durable with 7 years use as my most used rod.

I snagged this one with a lipless crank, an Asian lady took it for dinner. They are up close to shore, had thoughts of snagging one again.

St Croix Avid 8' ML/MOD rod, Daiwa RG-AB 2000 spinning reel, 8# Nanofil line, 2.8" Keitech fat paddle tail.

Daiwa spinning reels Shimano casting reels Favorite spinning rod is St Croix Avid 8' ML/Mod Favorite casting rod is Quantum Smoke 7' M/F gen 1