Spankey

I don’t have any experience with them. And please don’t take my comment as a smart butted reply. That light T Rig I fish pretty often just doing it with Medium and Med Lite X-Fast Rods. Probably doing it on lighter line than you also. I burn through a lot of 6 lb. and 8 lb. test. My rods for the most part are St. Croix, Avid and Premiere Series with a few Mojo series. Circumstances and different condition most likely dictate your need for a heavier rod.

don't see where MH XF equates to light

I use a couple of St. Croix Premiere Cranking Rods. I have no contemplates.

Crocs or Zekos

I’ve use Super Lube multi purpose synthetic grease and oil for years on my reels and guns. Good in temps -40 deg. To 400 degrees.

My approach also. I try to fish hard and never give up. There are off days, slow days quite often. Time when you question yourself but I fish to not get skunked. I have more than enough stuff with me and I just keep trying. Many, many times a Rat-L-Trap saves the day.

Not sure of the need for snap swivels. Sometimes just the snap comes in handy. I don’t use either all that often. Some Rapalas don’t come with the split ring, like the original floater diver. They should be tied with a loop knot vs. a knot sinched up tight to the eye. Might be called a Rapala knot not sure. Over the last few years I’ve purchased a few better quality spinning reel. I believe line twist is controlled better with them. My results with line have been better. The line that’s on my spinning setups that I use the heck out of is not on there very long. Maybe two outings than I strip it off/back. I don’t keep line on very long and rarely have line issues. I just but mono and Fluor in bulk to keep costs down.

You may be right.

PB Smallie on Columbus Day 2016 (Oct.) at sunrise. Rapala DT-6 PB Greenie on July 8th 2018 at sunrise. Power Worm

Not quite sure about that. I’d put a St. Criox Premiere Series rod up against any $100 or less Fenwick or Ugly stick out there. Eagle, HMX or HMG. Comparing rod to rod. Rod feel is different from person.

I’m putting on an older Stradic 2500FH. I’ve done brgs., shaft, spool support, shaft and main gear over the years. You can’t kill that reel. But I’m pretty sure it doesn’t have that higher ratio of today. 5.2 or 5.4 to 1 almost positive if I were betting the house. I’ll check box and owner manual.

I’m not sure of my line recovery. I’ll have to look it up. It’s a 2500 series reel I’ll be putting on this. Long story very short. I made my new home fishing a local lake over the last two years because of the effects of rains hurting the river. It’s been fun making the transition from smallies to greenies. I’m looking back and some hookups I had a fish that I had lost. And I strongly believe if I were using a softer tip with the cranks I was using I would have lipped a few of those fish. I have a boat full of fast and extra-fast spinning rods, for lighter cranks I need to try something slower. I have myself covered pretty well with casting rods that sport a more moderate action.

Decided not to spin myself into the ground and not to run all over half the dang state only come up short with whatever a shop has in stock. A local guy that has gotten me in most of my St. Croix Rods over the years, I’m going have him get me in the St. Croix EyeCon #ECS70MM and the Abu Garcia Veritas #VTSSW70-5 “Winch Spin”. I believe I can make one of these work. Spec wise they are very very close. Both being 7 foot, one will have a cork handle one will be EVA foam, 1 pc., same lure wt., my line wt. will fall in perfect, both made with decent components. I feel good about how SC rates action of their rods from my experience with them. Even though I have not touched this one. I have handled a couple of the Abu “Winch” casting rods that were medium with moderate action and I liked the softness of those tips. If the spinning version is close I think I’ll be satisfied. I’ll order them Saturday. I pretty sure I’ll like one of these. If I like they both maybe I’ll take both. I realized I didn’t want to make too big of a project over this. I’ll use this pretty hard with a couple of crankbait styles that I intend to throw on it. My reel ratio is on the slower side. 5.2 : 1, with a slower tip rod should equate to some better hook up with KVD 1.0 & 1.5 squarebills

Well that’s an overall issue. You can find stuff on-line. Almost limitless on line but the rods are just not at your(my) finger tips. I would like to touch the Abu Garcia Veritas Spinning Winch Crankbait Rods. Specs on the 7 ft. 1 pc. version I really like. Only $99. I’m not trying to be cheap or anything but I can’t spend $230 for the St. Croix fiberglass now. I’m all about St. Croix, majority of my rods are SC. And that series is not going to be in stock at any local guy to me. I’m just anal and if I’m not 100% satisfied when I put down the cash it ain’t gonna work. Doesn’t have to do with money. Has to do with touching it, putting my reel on it, messing with the tip on a piece of carpet and all that BS. I’m so anal it becomes a major project.

That’s something I just might be able to find at the fly shop locally. Don’t want to go longer than 7 foot. 7 foot is where I want to be. Thanks for the heads up. My serious search is gonna start this weekend.

Doing a local search that is what I found to be somewhat true. Off the wall type stuff. I’ll go that route if I have to. I just need to get to someone with a nice selection. I see on line where Abu has a few that are moderate. I believe Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shops carry almost a full line of Abu rods. Maybe I can order 3 or 4 of them in and I’m sure I can make one of them work for me. I’d like to get my hands on one of those Fenglass Rods. Only a few reviews but they are good reviews.

Not that I really need the rod but it's a tough find. It would fill a void for me and get used pretty hard with smaller (lighter) 1/4 - 3/8 oz. crankbaits. Tough to find a softer composite or graphite rod on the shelf. Fiberglass is even tougher. Most manufacturers want to push fast and xfast actions. Moderate and Moderate Fast are hard to stumble across. I'm not much for buying a rod sight unseen or not handled. May have to order in a few from Cabelas or Bass Pro Shops and take home what I like the feel of. Maybe they will ship to store and I take what I like the best. Really need to have a few in my hands for comparison.

Maybe try hooking up with a few local tackle shops and pick their brains. They will generally help out with that stuff is you’re gonna buy something. Just a thought. The range of this fishing stuff is too broad. Much of it is unnecessary to catch bass. Start out on the slow side and don’t get overwhelmed.

Thank you.

I still use motor oil and motor oil w/ chartreuse tail. Same results as pumpkin and pumpkin w/ chart. tail basically. Basic provin color. Great Power Worm color.

Can’t go wrong with a Rat-L-Trap. Nice pattern. Keep fishing it and keep your eyes open for more at that price. Have 2 or 3 of that pattern.

All rod power and actions are not created equal. Opinions might get you close but you have to get to a place that has a good selection and feel them for yourself. You’ll get close in the shop to find what you are after. The water will be the true test but you’ll be satisfied if you are satisfied at the shop. Good luck.

Great post. Was hoping one of the guys on here that makes them would chime in. I would like to get a few black spinnerbaits made. Black is tough to find locally. Don't really have anything to local worth going to. Hope you find what you are after.

Wish Mr. Twister should bring back the old Silk Worm 4.5, would like to have 10 cents for every smallie I caught on them.

When I head down that way I put in at NorthEast MD and at Susquehanna State Park. I'm in S.E. Penna it's not to big of a road trip to go on down. I'm dying to get down to Chickahomney for a few days. And this season I'd like to give it heck for a couple of days fishing the Sasafrass River in the Upper Chesapeake.