Hogsticker

Nice! Good info guys. One thing I would add is to spend some time watching what that bait does in front of you while in the water. Play around with it and see how it behaves with different rod strokes and motions. Don't give up. Jerkbaits can be an essential tool for a successful day on the water.

Rapala flat rap and Shad rap. Both awesome cold water baits and the only time I throw cranks. Spro Aruku shad and Yo Zuri rattlin vibe are my best lipless cranks. Lucky Craft pointer 78s are my favorite jerks, but I have two of the old school Shimano boxes full of jerkbaits for different conditions.

Invix handles dreamy for a fluoro, but that stretch is pretty stretchy. Hybrid is a cost effective all purpose kinda line, but it is rather thick in higher tests. Both lines are just okay in my book. I don't use either any longer after discovering Sunline Defier. (Thanks Ty)

Ideal length to cover both with one stick for me would be 6'9. Kistler has a 6'9 Klx crank rip twitch rod that I use. Works great

Weight, balance, looks, components, grip style, reel seat, foregrip, and so on. Satisfaction and happiness. Its also nice to have a reaction stick that is versatile and can be used for other purposes. I use all KLX rods for moving baits because of the above mentioned comments. The build quality is above par and they fit me very well.

Oh I see. Backlash from the knot hitting the guides

How is fluoro the problem for your knot not passing through the guides? If you're back lashing with a fluoro leader tied to something else your leader is much to long. Only need about 2 feet tops. I understand people having line management issues with fluoro as a main line, but not as a leader. Are your guides super micros?

Yo Zuri vibe is pretty killer too. Gold with orange belly for smallies. Going against the grain here. I have no love for the red eye shads, or many SK hardbaits for that matter.

Now all you need is a rod with his name on it!

I agree. Quality cork is sparse.

Don't know how I forgot this one. Rapala rattling rap. Cheap and straight catches fish

Spro Aruku Shad. River2Sea Twinvibe, xcalibur

For a new to baitcaster person I would want a forgiving reliable reel and system. I think your two best bets would be a Shimano Citica E, and a Less tournament mg. Two different braking systems but both dependable and user friendly. Both can be had for around 100 bucks and are better reels than the two you mention IMO

Klx. On the lower end Fenwick has some. For 250 you can have a custom built how you want it

I agree with Bootytrain. The blanks are awesome, but the handle and reel seat leave a lot to be desired. I was going to strip mine and add an ecs seat with full Eva grip, but I sold it instead. All of my Daiwas and Shimanos wiggled. Too BSD cause the rods otherwise fish really swell

Zillion with hyper long cast spool and hedgehog air bearings. Full spool if 30 pound braid on a seven foot mod.fast medium rod. I can throw it to where I can barely see the lure hit water.

I don't think it matters where it comes from unless you have some gift cards. Its still gonna arrive at your door. The 13s are nice sticks, just be aware the handle design isn't for everyone, nor are recoil guides

Its worth it. Fishes above its price point even with the shipping

Not a typical mod fast IMO. If such a thing exsists between a mod fast and fast this is it. I actually prefer it for keeping the fish buttoned up. You don't have to lay into the hook set as with a typical moderate stick. It also makes the rod rather versatile should you want to use it for other applications.

You Know It

Kistler KLX hands down. The build quality is superb and on par with my customs. North fork makes some of the better blanks in the business. The Fuji K series guides have become my favorite, and its getting harder and harder to find full length cork handles. I now have 3 of them and all are immaculate and balanced. The price is beyond fair. Just great rods.

I use braid for everything except slack line presentations. The right rod for the task at hand helps

No reason you can't drop shot with braid. I prefer it. Just use a fluoro leader and tie a good connection knot

Shimano Scorpion XT. 90 mm Semper Fi carbon handle, Hedgehog Studio deep purple dress up parts and Air spool bearings. Custom built Batson Rainshadow RX7 with thread wrap colors to match reel.

Joes Flies are about the only ones I've had any consistent results with.