BrettD

Welcome I also remember hiding under the console when I was a kid.

Not weedless enough. If you threw a huddleston where I fish you would have a hard time getting it back to the boat. Gambler big ez's are pretty good size if I could find a bigger bait that is similiar I would try it. The big ezs with a keel weighted screw lock hook is completely weedless 99% of the time.

Im not much of a dobyns fan but they do make the most balanced flipping sticks I have ever used. I use the the champion 766 but the 765 would be better for what you want to do. I have tried alot of different rods for flippin because I do alot of it and had problems with my wrist after a long day of flippin/punchin 1-1/2 oz weight all day. The dobyns solved my problems.

Pretty much the same stuff I have tied on except the topwater buzz frog I use a spro popper. I also use a soft plastic weedless swim bait year round I like the gambler big ez.

I use 40# braid especially when fising in grass the braid allows you to rip the spinnerbait out of the grass alot easier. I fish in grass about 90% of the time rarely do I use a spinner bait in open water.

x1 I use the same method clean with magic eraser allow to dry then apply one thin coat of u-40. One thin coat is all that is need.

The one in my avatar 9#2oz

I use 40# braid for everything except frogging and flipping I use 65#. Sometimes I will use 65# braid for square bills if I want them to run shallower.

Bending the hooks up a little so the are just off the body is mandatory it makes a world of difference.

After I tried tungsten I will never go back to using lead.

I like them a little better when the get water in them. They sit lower and displace more water which causes more commotion with less bait movement they also cast easier.

My favorite lenses are the 580 glass in green mirror with a copper base. The polycarbonate lenses are lighter and more impact resistant then glass but scratch easier and dont seem to be as clear as the glass. I prefer the glasses lenses over the poly lenses because the are alot more scratch resistant.

Im willing to bet that the drag washers have way to much grease and oil on them. When I first got my gen 3 stx its was slathered with grease inside. There was enough grease in it for 2 reels.

If everything else is the same I doubt you would notice any difference in casting distance unless you are using really light weight baits 1/4 oz or less. I have tried suffix braid, sufix 832 braid,power pro, power pro slick 8, and diawa samurai braid the only real difference between all of them that I noticed was smoothness. Some are louder then others but I never noticed any casting distance difference. All braids are soft after you break them in after a couple of trips and they all lose their color over time. So far my favorite braid is the diawa samurai braid.

Im a big fan of the falcon bucoo micro guides and cara t-7's. Most of my rods are falcons a big plus is they are assembled in the USA.

Bending the hooks out so there is just a slight air gap between the hook point and the rubber body is a must. You wont believe the hook up ratio difference its easily 2:1.

Out on lake okeechobee fishing in the heavy kissimmee grass I had a couple of times where the MH wasnt cutting it for me. The heavy gives me a little more power to keep the fish moving in the grass. I use spro popping frogs that have good weight to them and cast easy so the heavy rod still cast fine. I like a fast action when using braid the fast action it also helps casting but an extra fast rod would work fine also my dad likes to use extra fast rods.

There is a few guys here that have went through a couple of powerheads. The earlier ones where known to make oil. I would only own one if it had a warranty.

I use a heavy fast now and used to use a mh fast but would never switch back to mh.

Maybe run a test. Figure out approx. how much you deck is going to weigh and put that much weight on top of the bench and then take the boat out and see how it effects the balance of the boat. I dont think it will cause much of an issue especially because you look like you are fairly light and probably have good balance.

I use a 7' heavy fast action rod here in FL and wouldnt want anything less. What kind of price range are wanting to stay in.

If you fish around any kind of rocks sooner or later you will roll a hook point. I just fix them with a hook sharpner and go back to fishing.

It varies alot but from all the research I have done its about a pound a year depending on weather and forage.

Im another one that uses straight braid with no leader.

The are more effective at blocking uv light then sunscreen and they actually keep you cooler by shading your skin.