Hogsticker

Braid - Sufix Performance Fluoro - Sufix Mono - No Thanks I've used a lot of lines and keep coming back to Sufix

I've heard this before somewhere else, ha ha. This really is a fine rod for reaction baits. If you want something with a little more moderate action/taper the Kistler KLX crank/rip/twitch series are fantastic as well.

A spinner bait is a good bait to "rip" with as well. Another suggestion would be getting different weights to fish both deeper and shallow water with.

The 6'10 MH Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth rod many have already mentioned is the MOST versatile rod I have found for around 100 bucks. You can throw pretty much a little bit of everything on it. I don't know if it's any lighter than the 13 Omens, but it feels better balanced and feels more comfy in my hands.

A picture is worth a thousand words. You did the right thing - Congrats

Thanks for the input fellas. Think I'm gonna try the Damiki Gladiator. The hook on the rocket shad is complete garbage, and the skirt attachment leaves a lot to be desired. On the plus side it does casts like a rocket. I guess you get what you pay for at two and a half bucks.

The handle is also swept on the MG

The Daiwa Lexa has a 4:9:1 that picks up a low 20" per turn. Solid all aluminum reel with no flexing when tossing those big 1 ounce deep divers. They can be found on that auction site for 100-110 bucks. The Lews Tournament MG has a low gear ratio that picks up 23" per turn. It can also be found for the same price. I won't dish out a ton of cash for a cranking reel, only the reels I need to cast lighter/finesse stuff. For chunking and winding these two reels should serve you well.

The mouth cups are shaped different. Look a little closer and you will see the walker extends further on the top, to where the popper is more level.

Hey guys. Looking for some suggestions on smaller spinnerbaits. I've used the Matt Heren Got 5, and War Eagle finesse - Both are fine baits, but always looking to add more to the box. 1/4, 5/16, and 3/8 oz. Nothing heavier, nothing lighter. Any feedback will be appreciated. Thanks

Exactly. If the price is right. Anything North of 120 bucks I'll take a warranty.

Post spawn, warmer water (not hot) when the fish are shallow. Mornings and evenings.

I'd be willing to bet this is Powells 1st stick with micro guides. Likely why no pics of the blank have surfaced yet. I wonder if it's gonna be another one of those no warranty offered deals like with the Diesel.

You won't be disappointed.

Powell Max series has a rod for just about anything and everything you wanna do and more. The 13's are very nice as well, but we are all patiently waiting the crank bait rods. A lot of rods fill somewhat tip heavy until you get a reel mounted on it.

I use this exact rod for fishing mid depth cranks. It is far to soft to rip baits through the grass IMO

If you feel like you nee something beefier chances are it's the composite blend of the blank on the X10. Any medium heavy fast action graphite rod should serve you well. Tons of options available.

They actually don't unless it's composite or glass. All the standard graphite Max and Endurance series rods are extra fast.

I like the orange trim rings, but not a fan of the what looks like Pac Bay minima reel seat. I wonder if this is going to be there new high end rod, or slotted between the Max and Endurance. I wish Powell would come out with some actions other than extra fast.

Hmmmm

I would opt for a moderate fast, maybe some manufactures fast. You can get a Kistler KLX at the top of your price range with a discount. Worth every penny IMO.

I only use fluoro on my senko rod for wacky or weightless rigging. Fluoro offers the best slack line sensitivity IMO, but I will not use it on anything else. Braid for all other applications, even cranking, but I use a fiberglass rod for the deep divers.

I'm gonna go against the grain here and suggest a high quality fluoro such as Tatsu or Shooter. These lines get the nod for slack line sensitivity vs. braid. That's about all they're good for IMO, so make sure you wanna invest the money and fish the wacky rig.

Rod - Custom built if your gonna drop 4 bones. Personally if not going that route, I would buy a stock Kistler Z Bone. I'll take the NorthFork blank over any ShimLoomis blank all day every day. Better guide train too IMO. OR, spend a little less and get a Megabass XX. Reels - That's a tough one and for me, I would spend the bulk on it in this order (pricing most expensive to least) 1) Steez - Best all purpose reel on the planet 2) TD Zillion Japan or J Dream 3)Shimano JDM Aldebaran 4) Shimano Core 5) A gently used TDZ 103 or 100M (U.S Trails) ALSO - As someone mentioned above get 2 combos. This route I would get two Gen. 1 Shimano Cumaras, and two Shimano Scorpion XTs. All very subjective, but this is my list.

Sufix makes good line, period. Some of the best mono available IMO. Performance braid, Seige, and the "NEW" fluoro is the ducks nuts.