Tywithay

You should use grease on gears. Roller chain lube is a high viscosity oil, but it will still break down too fast, compared to grease.

It's the finest reel ever made, in my opinion. It's great for swimbaits and crankbaits. You can cast just about anything with it though.

It will do the job just fine. Rod may be a little stiff for shakyheads, but it will suffice. Congrats on a great deal.

Lews 95mm carbon handle. You can attach the Abu knobs to it as well.

I have a couple that came with the rods when I bought them. I thought they were a pain out on the water, so I threw them in the shed somewhere.

Sniper is a pretty good all-around fluoro. It has some stretch, but handles and casts well, with above average abrasion resistance. Invizx is basically just mono that sinks. It's as stretchy as fluoro gets, but that also makes it one of the most manageable fluoros on the market. None of it has as little stretch as braid, but hopefully you'll find enough about it you do like to make it worth your while.

I have a custom Deputy and Dragger. I think the Dragger feels better for jigs. The Deputy does some things really well, but I agree it doesn't have "it."

http://shimano.fishing-store.us/shimano-css56ulb-clarus-ultra-light-spinning-rod.html?CAWELAID=500003090000255962&CAGPSPN=pla&catargetid=500003090000307487&cadevice=m This rod is a step above the Convergence, and much better, in my opinion. I think it's a pretty good step above the Triumph too. It has been discontinued for a new model, so you can save some money off full price. It's usually about $109, if I remember right. I have the same rod and love it.

I don't mind reeling them with a moderate rod, hate casting them with one though. What kind of line are you using? Do you use trailer hooks?

There's two fluorocarbon lines that are what I'd consider "low" stretch; Shooter and Toray Premium Plus. Most have slightly less stretch than mono, some don't. Just about all of them have better abrasion resistance when wet, some a little more, others a significant amount. These are not marketing, or opinions, they're facts.

I would go to a sporting goods store and put your hands on some full and split grips. Doesn't necessarily have to be Dobyns. Just make some pretend casting motions with a reel attached, fake hooksets, etc. Try to get a feel for what you prefer. I'm a full grip guy myself. I think they're more comfortable, and the few extra grams in the lower section of the rod improve the balance slightly.

Top of the line St Croix is about $380.

It's Monday and people need a reason to complain about something?

Champion>Avid>GL2, in sensitivity. The Champion and Avid are very similar in terms of weight, the GL2 is a brick. There's other rods in those price ranges that are lighter and more sensitive, but the Champion is the best all-around out of those three. Granted, it costs the most by a pretty good margin as well.

They supposedly fixed the UV issues with the new formula, which is a plus. I never much cared for it before, but maybe it's better now.

I think they're trying to garner the attention of the younger crowd that may not be as knowledgeable about the origin, and history, of St Croix. It kind of rounds out their all-around lineup now. They have the Legend Elite and Xtreme, Avid and Avid X(treme), and the Triumph and Triumph X(treme). I doubt the Mojo Bass, Eyecon, Panfish, etc., are going to go anywhere, anytime soon; those are technique specific lineups.

It was only from the 24th through 27th. Sale is no more.

A good fluorocarbon doesn't manage, or cast, any worse than mono. It also has much, much better abrasion and UV resistance. That means less retying and you don't have to respool as often. A $25 spool of fluorocarbon will last 3x-5x longer than mono, evening out, or saving money, in the long run. I still use mono quite a bit, but it's not really any cheaper; if you use good mono.

I really like the 7'H Kistler KLX rod for those techniques. Very good backbone, sensitive, and very light at around only 4oz. If you can wait for a sale, the 7'1H 13 *** is a great choice as well.

Yeah, if something requires work; better to just give up.

Not a flip switch, that's the clutch. It's just called a Quantum EX200. Came out around 1994. It was a low-to-mid range Quantum at the time, and cost around $50 new. The 5 is just a straight 5:1 gear ratio. Nothing too fancy, but if it works, it works.

I buy mine from a guy on ebay. Think it's between about $12-$20 for a 10 pack. You can get a 20 pack of 1/8oz (my most used) for $24. I'd never pay the ridiculously high retail prices.

You can try some plumbers tape, see if it adds enough material for the threads to catch.

If you like the performance and form factor of the Tatula, consider the Tatula HD.

Overseas they're called a Zebco Smoke and Zebco Accurist.