NJBasstard

For bass I really only really use two of my spinning combos. A 6'6" M for smaller jerkbaits and occasionally topwaters like jitterbugs. My 7' ML covers my open water wacky rigs, ned rig, drop shot, shaky heads ect.. Those rods are usually spooled with 6-8lb test line. Casting makes up 90% of my arsenal. They're spooled with 10lb test or more and used for anything 1/4oz or heavier. I'm much more comfortable and accurate with a baitcaster in my hand.

Had two orders arrive yesterday.. Dobyns Champ XP 704c Daiwa BG 2000 Keitech football & casting jigs Thunder Crickets Jackhammers Netbait Paca Chunks Z Man Shrooms jigs TRD craws Z man trick shotz Missile Baits Ned Bombs Spro Baby Fat John 50's The rest was some 8lb J braid for the BG and some terminal tackle. Really liking this reel so far..

If your okay with a 3700 size box then the EDGE jig box is worth looking at. I have 60+ jigs in mine ranging from 1/4 tungsten casting jigs to 3/4 football jigs and chatterbaits. Everything stays organized and it easy to see & get too.

I don't know how they do it. I've ordered from places a couple states away from me and it sometimes takes 10 days or more. I order reels from Asian Portal and Digitaka and never waited more than 5 days before they're at my door. ?

None of the reels in the SLX line up have X Ship. The additional bearing on the XT, MGL & DC is the drive shaft bearing. On the regular SLX there's a bushing in it's place.

This is a good 1 piece option and I believe the Dobyns sale on TW starts tomorrow. Another option I'd consider is the 3 piece Falcon Lowrider Traveler rod. Good components and comes with a nice travel case for $150.

Depends on the body of water and time of year. I'd pick a ML/F spinning rod for finesse and a MH/F casting rod as my all around. The third would be a M/MF or if it's frog season I'd take a H/F.

Most of my current combos fall in the $250 - $400 retail range, but I'm the type to either wait for a sale on what I want or find a deal on something lightly used. I'll spend more on a bottom contact rod than I will on a moving bait rod. For reels I try to stay in the $150 - $225 range. I'm not against spending more but I feel like that's where I've gotten the most value for my money.

The 7' All Around Fast or if your fishing lots of cover than the 7' 4" Heavy Cover Jig rod.

The Lowrider is under rated in my opinion. They're on sale for like $100 on Sportsman Outfitters too.

If your willing to go a couple inches longer the 610-4 will be a good fit and has a little more tip action than the 684. Either way I'd go with a 4 power.

I messed with my SVS reels a lot when I first got them but I honestly just treat them the same as my VBS reels. VBS gets 2 on 4 off and SVS gets 2 on with the external dial around 2.5-3 and I never really touch it again. I do think the micro module gears, X-Ship and carbon drag on the Curado K are worth the extra depending on what it's being used for. For a workhorse reel (frogging, punching ect.) I'll choose a K over the SLX. It should hold up to more abuse. That being said, the size and weight of the SLX feels better in my hands. I have and use both for different things.

Ordered from them a couple times now. Longest I've waited was 5 days and that was at the same time I waited nearly 30 days for a TW order earlier this year. Not sure how they do it either.. So what did you get?

For an all around jig the 3/8 Siebert improved arky. I like the Netbait Paca Craw but skips easier with something like a Rage Bug or Rage Menace in my opinion. For skipping and swimming around overhangs I'll often use that same jig rigged with a paddletail swimbait.

I don't think there's really a right answer here, but on casting gear I always start my leader being about the length of the rod. This gives me enough for reties and keeps the knot from passing the line guide and entering my spool. I retie when I'm down to 1-2 feet which is probably more of a confidence thing for me than anything else. I don't bother to change leaders unless they've been sitting for a little while. If I was fishing yesterday I wouldn't bother retying today. If a week pasted before I got to fish again I'd retie. Again it's more of a confidence thing.

Weightless texas rigged 5"+ senkos on casting with 30lb braid to 12lb leader. Wacky rigged senkos 5" or less get fished on spinning with 10-15lb braid to a 6-8lb leader. Power Pro, J Braid or Smackdown for braid and mostly Seaguar Red Label for leader.

I throw weightless texas rigged 5" senkos on a 6'9" MH/F casting rod. Changed from a M to the MH around 2011 and never felt the need to go back. I use this same combo for skipping senkos and flukes. A 5" senko with a 3/0 or 4/0 EWG is pushing close to 3/8oz. Most MH rods will throw that weight perfectly fine and have enough power to set the hook & pull the fish from whatever cover I'm fishing.

My thumb is lightly feathering the spool the whole time the bait is skipping. You shouldn't have to make any reel adjustments or use any specific setups. Just practice. Lots of useful tips in other skipping related threads you can read if you haven't already.

Theirs no reason you can't run 40-50lb braid with a 17-20lb leader on the 735. If your concerned with the leader knot just practice tying it at home until your confident you can tie it properly or go straight flouro. On my 704 I usually run 40lb braid to a 12-15lb leader using an FG. I throw 3/8 on this setup. The Siebert Arky is one of them.

Not sure how the rod will do with 1/4 but the 70 is more than capable of throwing that weight.

Thanks for this. My local Ollies had a shelf full of the rattling and silent models for $3 or $4 each but I passed. Might have to go back and grab a few to try out.

I'd just buy a few Bitsy Flip jigs in 1/4, 3/8 & 1/2 and pick up some Netbait Paca Chunk for trailers to get you started. Both are low cost and are deadly in the rivers I fish. The standard Bitsy Bug is another good option if your not throwing into the thick stuff. I'm not in Canada but black & blue, green pumpkin and any color close to red craw are all I ever really need. Build some confidence with those first. Once you do then try other brand or what @GReb said and have @Siebert Outdoors put a small package together for you. His level of quality for the cost is hard to beat. The Improved Arky and Mini Swim jig are some of my favorites.

It's up to the user to decide if the SVS brakes on the XT are worth the extra. Having used both of those along with a number of other Shimano reels I can honestly say it makes no difference to me. I still lean toward the simplicity of the old 6 pin VBS system and have yet to find an application where I really benefit from the SVS brakes. The only reason I own more than one reel with it is because that's all that's offered anymore. That's just me though. I also own the SLX MGL and it throws a 1/8oz bitsy bug just as well as my Curado 50, 70 and Scorpion XT. Last two times I was out it's been on a 705cb for squarebills & poppers though. I know the MGL spool is the main selling point on this reel but it's also nice having a spare SLX XT spool to swap in for more line capacity and/or a different line type. As far as rods go it really depends on what your trying to cover. Having two 4 powers and the 735 I'd opt for something lighter like a 683/703.

Summer time when the bite gets tough these have been one of my go to baits for years now. I've caught plenty of bass, crappie, snakeheads, perch and catfish just on the Mouse & Spot Remover colors.