PGA Dropout

Kind of depends on your location and what you like to throw. Fluke is a good start. Finesse jig. Squarebill. Smaller walking baits. Smaller paddletails. Lots of options, or just designate one or both as a Junk rod that does whatever. bladed jig is a MH+ technique for me but if it works it works.

You can get a frog rod with a soft tip or a little bend to it. ALX Toadface is a good example, though that's technically MH+ by rating. Expride is also a popular option. It's been a hot minute since I've laid hands on a Dobyns, but the Champ 735 used to be a standard. What's your budget before I start really naming nonsense?

Never intentionally "playing" fish. Lactic acid, etc. Especially pike. Don't play Esox. They'll lock up and you'll be wasting your life holding that bladed jig-stealing a-hole upright for seemingly endless minutes. End the fight as quickly as possible, meet, greet, release.

RI Shiver Glide is a good alternative that hasn't been mentioned.

Owner Cover Shot is The Hook. The keeper on the Rebarb is a conspiracy by Roboworm to sell more Roboworms.

Bouncing between a Grass Piece and a Flashy Swimmer, in these trying times.

I only have to cut out line once or twice a year.. when I hit a bush. I could hit a bush with this reel.

Big wacky hook was the "original" way of rigging before the nonsense took over; 4/0 octopus hook or something.

I really like braid to fluoro for poppers. You get a good bloop out of them. However I'm fishing on a more moderate rod. Hybrid or a quality nylon is probably a good starting point.

I don't really care for an Arky style head unless I'm flipping stuff with wood mixed in. Dragging bottom says football. I'm all about compact. If Keitech made a Model 2 with a halfway decent hook, I'd never throw anything else. In summer, I'll sometimes target grass with a ballhead finesse jig and a kicking trailer. Get hung in grass, rip out, bass eat.

How do you feel about a half ounce bladed jig on the Daemos? I'm starting to think I need a tweener rod that has a little more power than a 73MH Adrena but a little softer (and longer) than the P5 Super Destroyer.

Urchin Girl Summer ☀️

I swim a drop shot more than I swim a Texas rig. Otherwise, yeah, you're not far off.

I'm back on the Senko-on-Spinning train. 7'2 M rod (Enox Wizard presently), 3000 reel, 20 lb SX1 braid, .31-.33 mm fluorocarbon leader. Same setup for backglides, 💩 baits, and Free Rig.

Fan of 832. Less fan of J-Braid.

Glass rods are cool. There was a big movement towards glass rods for chatterbaits, some years ago. It'll probably do well.

At this point I just put a green pumpkin trailer on everything.

Lews is probably the best of the bunch of the Doyo/Banax/other OEM club. Shimano SLX XT at $145 is where SVS Infinity starts. Tatula 100 at $180 was good, still good at $200. If you can still find a Tatula 80 at a discounted price, I paid $135 new for one last year and I love it. Magforce-Z is still "the best" braking system around.

That is thin. Spool er tight.

Sunline FX2. Sufix 832 is fine. Tried J-Braid. Very soft. Did not love.

I throw the Ryugi Weighted Pierce in the 5/0. Change the spring to CPS. It is a little lighter than you're looking for. Flashy Swimmer 5/0 is a good option.

I've put some time in with the Dice Rubber. The salty 14mm size is easy to throw weightless but you blow through baits even with a CPS spring. Bluegill love them. I'm sitting out the Coike and Coike knockoff party. Grab a seat.

200m is a good reel. Half ounce chatter plus trailer is a heavy lure. Spool some fat fluoro and have fun.

Whats the diameter? Pound test is unfortunately meaningless. I'm using 30# 832 for topwater right now, which is surprisingly close in diameter to the 50# FX2 it replaced. No digging, but I've also got the drag set for trebles. In a past life, I've used 15 and 20# Powerpro on casting reels without issue. If you feel the line getting loose on the spool, walk it out and respool it toight, like a toiger. 🐅

Let Roboworm have fun.