Hogsticker

Nice combo. I'm thinking about picking up a 2 piece model.

Check out my thread in the smallmouth bass section - very versatile bait!

Caught a 3 and 4 pounder this evening on this nifty little 2.8 Keitech bait. Both fish hit it on the drop using a 3/32 Gopher jig head. I love watching my line start swimming away! Dig my golden goose finesse fishing!! So much fun

Soft baits - Reins, Keitech, Jackall Hard baits - Ima, Duo Realis, Jackall Runner ups - Reaction Innovations, Spro

This is spot on. If you truly enjoy the sport and fish often, you're going to eventually end up with more expensive stuff until you feel content / satisfied. I wish I would have considered this when I realized how much I enjoy fishing. I've purchased so many rods and reels over the years and sold them to upgrade it's painful - thinking of the money I essentially lost selling stuff for less than purchased for makes me a little ill. Not to mention selling and packaging rods is a pain, not to mention the ridiculous shipping expenses. Then you have to consider there will always be new stuff coming out every year. Buy something nice you know you will want to hang on to and just keep adding in that same fashion as money allows. All my rods are custom. It keeps me from wanting to sell my rods because they are exactly what I want, how I want it.

I wouldn't go above 12 lb. 10 lb is what I find optimal for jerkbaits and finesse jigs on the same set up. I would also pay more attention to diameters rather pound test. Tatsu is wicked good line. I absolutely love it. Sniper would be my 2nd choice.

Don't get hung up on or limit yourself to just fishing a worm on a shaky head. I've had a lot of luck using a Keitech crazy flapper. I'm not sure you can fish one of these wrong. If the shaky head isn't producing you can swim it, jig it, fish it weightless, the possibilities are endless.

For real!?!

There is always a better tool for the job. Needs vs wants is irrelevant. Only the individual can decide how far they want to climb the rope. I won't steer anyone in either direction. The question was asking for opinions so no need to make comments about not needing expensive gear to catch fish. That's rather obvious. Also no need to bring KVD into the conversation. I've never understood that. Is anybody here him? I enjoy catching fish on anything I can. Using a light, well balanced, well built rod with good components and a crisp sensitive blank only enhances the experience everyone on this forum loves. For some it can also enhance confidence in your ability which can lead to more fish pictures. You can buy eight 100 dollar rods, but how often are you going to use half of them? Four "better" rods that you will use regularly in addition to the comments I made above just makes sense in my mind. I've spent my money on worse things.

Try the Reins bubbling shaker. It's bouyant and the ribbed rings trap air causing it to rise / float. Not the most durable worm, but most really good producers aren't. I've had good success with it. Give it a try -

There is quite a bit of difference between a 1 bill rod and 2 bill rod imo. Mostly pertaining to the blanks. I'd opt for 4 quality universal rods to cover the techniques and baits I fish most often, and being universal can pull double duty when needed. Better yet, save another hundred and get 3 custom bass slayers built to grinning perfection!

WileyX P-17s. Nice glasses for the coin. Can be found on the Bay for 50 / 60 bucks.

Meh, cardboard. If somebody wants to ship me a rod without pvc they can keep it unless I know them and how they package a rod. I'd be skeptical trusting wal mart to package a rod. I've heard stories of Usps workers playing javelin games with rod tubes. In all reality it shouldn't matter too much if the rod is packaged properly in pvc.

Me too. Smackdown washes out pretty quick, as in not retaining color, but I've never had it bleed like that. Maybe it was the conditioner. One of the best 2 braids I've used but I find myself using fluoro for most everything these days. Something a few years back I said I'd never ever do.

I see no point in any type of foregrip other than cosmetic reasons. Much rather have access to the blank with the reel seat threads trimmed down.

It's even more fun jigging a rocky bottom in current for walleye. It's just one of those things you have to do often till the difference in feel is distinguishable, and even when you reach that point sometimes it's not. Even further, the way the fish pick up the bait can change depending on several factors. Put in your time and it will come. Steady concentration will lead to locking in.

It looks neat and gives the rod a little character, but let's just say I wouldn't use it on a feel/contact build. I haven't gotten that far. Something inexpensive

The line isn't wasted. If you have a boat tie on a crankbait and let out 90% of the line as you motor along. Reel up the bait. The bill will on the bait will be tension enough. No boat, tie the line off to something and walk away while keeping the line taught. Reel it up nice and tight. If you don't apply good tension when spooling things can get messy. I don't know if Invivx is precision wound, but it shouldn't make any difference what direction top or bottom the line comes off the spool when spooling onto a casting reel. Hasn't in my experience anyways. I always run the line through a phone book for tension when spooling up.

Indeed it twas. I haven't even used it yet. Been too busy throwing paddle tails. I'm having Vinnie build me a rod for those too. Took advantage of the Nfc sale. I'm super curious and excited to see how these blanks perform.

RX7 medium heavy crankbait blank. I had one, sold it, and missed it. My favorite cranking blank - Perfect for the application imo so I had another one built! Fuji Ecs reel seat, full cork, Fuji alconites spiral wrapped. Pro wrap purple metallic color thread.

1st smallie caught on my replenished Flick Shakes and new spool

Well here she is all dressed up

This. Ceramics will spin faster, thus allowing you to achieve the same results with less effort required on the cast. I've been pretty impressed with the Hedgehog Air bearings. They will give you a slight advantage in distance over stock bearings - slight. Where bearing upgrades really shine is with finesse reels.

Not a bad idea. I use to do this with my father in law as he has a bad back. Once we picked up a couple decent fish, we would back off and dial into that spot. Are the fish on the bottom or suspended? I would pound those paddle tails and experiment with your retrieve. If you know you're on top of them and they are indeed smallmouth, try something like a slow sinking finesse worm or one of my personal favorites, a Keitech crazy flapper. Drop it right over the top of them on the lightest weight you can use to get to them and put it right in there face. When they see it dropping towards them they'll usually hammer it. Rip some lips.

I have a red one I've used in both my FX68 and Tdz 103. In those platforms this spool gets after it. It doesn't seem as slowed down, sluggish, or reserved as other stock SV spools I've used. My favorite SV spool for pretty much anything and everything. I haven't tried the Steez 105 SV spool though. It's 2 grams lighter, but I'm impressed enough with the 1012 to not be tempted to spend the extra money. I've used the 1010 stock spool, 1016 spool, SV 1000 deep and shallow spools, and the 1012 in my FX68. I prefer the 1012. It screams pretty good while still staying relatively controlled. I can launch a heavy - ish bait or finesse the lighter stuff with a smile on my face every cast. The spool I dropped landed right on the lip. Tweaked it to the point of no return.