PGA Dropout

Red Label is good for the price and makes a nice leader if you end up not liking it for main line. It won't blow any socks off but it does the job. Invizx is indeed more manageable but a lot stretchier below 15 lb.

Loomis 843.

Daiwa SV 103

Has your wife declared that no additional NRX rods may be purchased?

Yeah. Literally sold every one of my recent model Shimanos. For whatever reason, I could not for the life of me make 4-pin SVS Infinity work consistently. Sucks too. I love me some Conquests.

Unseasonably mild here this week. The bass seem confused but the hammer-handles and snot rockets are hitting everything.

Yeah I start burning out in August and normally hit it again in late September/October. A grind you enjoy is still a grind.

Maybe move on from the Carbon Fire as the other two reels are "better". But if you like 6.x gear rations and need/use three rods then no harm in keeping them.

The comparison should really be between the Alphas SV (SV105) and the Curado 70. Comparing the Curado 70 to a reel from the mid-2000's isn't exactly fair. To the question at hand, unless you feel like tinkering, tuning, and modding, go with the Curado.

I've used it. It's really, really stretchy. Higher pound tests are better but really why waste expensive mainline as a braid leader?

Good gravy that's a big reel. You might need a lot of backing.

The '14/'15 Conquest is definitely sick and sweet looking but I let mine go and don't really regret it. The four pin SVS in that reel and I never got along. Before I had surgery in January I had my girlfriend change the Paypal password and cut up my debit card. It was wise.

Bass Pro Shops Pro Qualifier on sale. $100 7' MH rod on sale for %15 off on Labor Day. Boom, done.

This time of year, I'm throwing unweighted Senkos and Fat Ikas into pockets and around thick grass. If I'm throwing a weighted plastic, the weight is light (1/16 oz or so) so the rig sits on the grass and doesn't get stuck down in it. The exception is a speed worm, which involves a texas rigged worm with a tail that creates a lot of movement or disturbance. Peg the weight (1/8 - 1/4 oz or so, depending how deep you want the worm swimming) and swim your bait slowly over and through the grass. Also, this weather sucks.

Yep. August is bad and it should feel bad. Too hot and too many folks out. Hot summer usually means a good fall bite though.

Kinda depends what you do and how you frog. I'd lean towards 1 since I don't care for xf tapers on frog rods and a stout MH handles most frogging situations in Michigan.

Yeah if you're determined to drop money on rods, get 2-3 exceptional ones. $800 gets you a pair of new Destroyers or GLX's. Money can in fact buy happiness.

Not impressed with the Boil Trigger. Pomp and Pomp Jr. get a lot of love. For my $15.99, the Lucky Craft Gunfish 115 is the best walking bait.

I use a 4/0 Owner Beast and a 5/0 Owner Twistlock, sooo... both?

Barbless EVERYTHING! Less harm to fish, less harm to plastics, and call me crazy but I seem to be getting better hook penetration.

You can. I like a 5 gear better but I've used 7's and it works.

Straight fluoro because I like straight fluoro.

Very light Cal's on crankbait reels, dry on the frog punch reel.

Black and blue jig with a trailer that moves lots of water.

Well, THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.