PGA Dropout

Hooray more Tatulas! Said no one ever.

My experience with Red Label indicates that higher pound tests require more braking. The line likes to 'lash. I had 14 lb on a Ci4+ and it needed 3/4 brakes on. However the 10 lb is excellent and controls nicely. You really can't compare RL to Sniper as Sniper handles like a thousand times better. It's also possible you have a bad spool, but your experience sounds similar to mine.

Braid on a soft rod with sharp trebles shouldn't cause you any issue. Plus the leader adds a bit of stretch. Personally I won't throw not-braid on a spinning reel anymore after using 10 lb power pro.

7' MLF St Croix Triumph, Shimano Stradic 1000, 10 lb braid with some sort of leader. Pike love shad raps.

Certainly try a MLF spinning rod from the St. Croix lineup of your choosing. If you already have the Medium, it will likely be fine.

Hello. Detroit area here. Ice is icy. Hoping for open water mid-March.

Personally I would buy the new Mojo but I prefer the fuji seat and cork. However the Rage is less expensive and you may like it.

Probably Malaysia. Apparently the Malaysian factory is sweet but I'm going off customer service info there.

Pac bay components are meh. Handle is love it or hate it. Blank material is solid. Fair buy at $89.

I would go spinning for shakeyheads but I'm always a fan of casting rods for any situation. I *think* there is a 6'10" ML Zodias casting rod available usdm. I like those at $200. Having a casting rod built on an ML St. Croix spinning blank would also be neat. I tend to go fast action since I use braid for this technique. Alphas SV is my finesse reel of choice sound $200. It would also match the Zodias nicely.

Megabass rods have this snake oil "it" factor mystique whatever that draws people (me!) in. I like them and I like the "community". Custom is almost always the most efficient way to go. Mike @ DVT built a very nice rod for my girlfriend last year. It was very reasonable and would have been more reasonable if my girlfriend did not insist on this god awful sky camo EVA foam grip.

Do scissors count as a fancy tool? I cut braid with scissors. I always knew I was fancy. Abrasion resistance is a little overstated but pretty spot on. Braid is a tool, not a way of life. Use it where you see fit.

Which application? The Legend Elite, being newer, has the edge in some components but the blank on the NRX is hard to top.

So part of my post disappeared. I disagree that Shimano reel quality has decreased however I am not allowed to provide examples to support my point of view.

Hagane is shorter and snappier than Paladin Gear Technology or Cold Forged Gears. Yeah marketing, but it's not new.

You can do 1/2 oz with an 853. Not ideal but it will work outside of heavy cover. NRX green rods seem to be discontinued. If you end up wanting more Loomis, the 894 is exceptional for 1/2 oz jigs. Might be possible to pick one up at not too much over your original budget.

IMO you already have the 3/8 oz jig rod from the XX lineup. Perfect Pitch would crush it with 1/2 oz jigs but IDK if you should go lighter on it. Maybe XX Jig and Worm? I don't hear too much about that model. Probably will be "tax return" sales at vendors in early April and you could probably get 10-15% off a DX 744 or 745. Someone better with Dobyns than I am will have to break down the 4 vs 5 power difference. If you can wait til Memorial Day, there will be solid sales.

I've also had good luck with JPAngler.

Should be since Shimano is trying to do global products now. However it will likely be less expensive from Japan.

Correct. Rossford, OH used to carry them though if you feel like a trip down 75. OP, totally ring the Tackle Trap if you need XX rod information. The selling point of the Dobyns (tip aside) would be that you can probably get one for 20% off somewhere before your lakes unfreeze. The XX Shakeyhead rod could be another one to consider.

Probably fine. I might go 12, but I could also see 16 if you need a little more oomph. Sniper's not thick for its pound tests and it handles pretty well.

You'll probably be happier with the Dobyns unless you're into the idea of the solid tip on the Stinger Shot.

Slayer.

So SCIV is a "better" blank than SCIII, but I'm of the belief that St. Croix puts so much paint/resin/whatever on the LTB rods that you can't feel much difference. Also you may prefer the ECS seat on the Avid over the split seat on the LTB. Polarizing seat, that one.

Asking the new guy with the one rod/reel option.