rippin-lips

A crosslock snap. Don't confuse that with the other ones that have a built in swivel. Some use snaps and some tie direct. Your choice really. For hooks I like mustad triple grips and for size well that all depends. Some baits you can go up a few sizes. I always usually go up at least 1 size.

The whole frame is graphite. Not just the side plates.

I use cross lock snaps on my crankbaits so it's never concerned me.

Retail on it is $79.99 so you bought them for what you can find them for online for basically.

Same reel just a redesigned box.

The grip is kinda large. I tape mine up real tight and then set it over the heater vent for about an hour or so. Leave it sit for a day then unwrap it. Slims them down quite nicely. It will leave lines from the tape but they seem to go away after fishing it awhile.

Dang I'm sure glad I don't drink $6-7 drinks. $2 bottles of Miller High Life for me. I just started purchasing beginner swimbaits about a month ago and even those add up quick. Hopefully I don't get into the bigger/expensive ones. My wallet will hate me.

So they are going to start making rods with 'large' guides is what you're saying here? I wouldn't consider the A rig hype since it flat out catches big fish.

I'm just getting into some of the small swim/wake baits this season. $20-30 has been my limit so far. Mini ms slammer,4" bbz-1,g2 shellcracker,s waver,magic swimmer. Baits like that.

You can make a return once a year without a receipt. They'll use you drivers license. I did it with a falcon I bought there.

The daiwa tatula rod is $150 and you get $25 off if you do the trade in program. It's received solid reviews so far.

There's a tournament mg and a lazer mg. The lazer is their cheapest model and the tournament mg is right above the regular speed spool. If the model # starts with LS then it's a laser mg and TS is the tournament.

I've scored 4 bucoo micro rods over the past 2 seasons for $25ea at my local Walmart. I just grabbed a 7' m/m the other day to use strictly for small square bills. I have their 6'10 h/m-f that I use for topwater also.

I traded a curado 51e for my tatula r. Did I commit some sort of sin? Everyone has their favorites. It may be Abu,Shimano,Daiwa,Lews ect. Buy what feels good to you and don't worry about anything else. Anything in the $150 price range is going to be a solid reel. As with any rod or reel purchase I recommend to mess around with them in person. I've bought a number of rods online that I end up not liking and having to sell or trade off. Peoples reviews are helpful but it comes down to your personal liking in the end.

It's a larger framed reel and not like your normal low profile baitcasters on the market. Anyone thinking of buying one should play with it in person first. It's not a good fit for everyone. Being used to fishing with a zillion and seeing a comparison between the two online made it not that difficult for me. If you can deal with it's size and weight then it's a very nice reel.

Fiskars kid scissors from Walmart. They even have this thing that slides over the blades though I throw them away.

Another Falcon bucoo 7' mm user here.

Swap the Phoenix for a powell endurance 723. Excellent rod for the apps you mentioned.

Split shots Eagle claw snell hooks Plastic bobber Box of worms No need for a 5th

My local walmart carries zoom products including the fat albert grubs.

A 7' mh/f rod is probably one of the best all around rods to have. It's very versatile. I'm not going to go into options bc you're going to hear so many different opinions from people.

I used it a little last year with success. I mainly just pitched it. The majority were hit on the fall so I can't say if it's and better then a T rig with a pegged weight or not. I did catch fish though so I have a few made up in my box.

That's why I thought. Thanks for the info. I made some casts with a friends tatula combo and I didn't recall any discomfort but I'm not sure over a full days fishing how it'll be on my hand.

Anyone who owns or have owned the ballistic and tatula. Is the trigger on the reel seat the same size? I have a ballistic cranking rod and that tiny trigger digs into my finger pretty bad. I'm looking at buying a tatula rod but from the pics it appears to have the same small trigger. I have nowhere close to handle one and I don't wanna waste money on a rod that's uncomfortable to me.

A beaver while catfishing at night. Was casted out in front of a culvert that ran under the road to the other side of the reservior. I guess he swam through and got tangled/hooked. I thought I had the fish of a lifetime on. Once I got it reeled up and saw what it was, I just opened my bail and cut the line.