PGA Dropout

X10 Bandersnatch comes to mind. Not quite the same league with P5 but nice rods. Adrena 73MH but it would struggle with the 1/4 oz. I believe the Steez MBV runs a little lighter than the Daemos. Its hard to run everything you've listed on a single rod. 1/2 oz bladed and trailer is a lot of bait. I don't think I have a rod that I'd run both a 1/4 oz popper and a 3/4 oz walker on. Adrena 610M *maybe* but it struggles with a 3/4 oz Duo pencil.

A Rage Bug is lovely but not exactly subtle, nor exactly craw. XZone finesse craw is nice. If you want a subtle craw profile, OSP Dolive Craw is king. They're almost worth the $11 a pack that US retailers ask. Much more reasonable from Japan.

We'll see what other companies do. $700 Steez against $650 Loomis and $500 P5 rods looks bad domestically. At that price point, many additional rabbit holes of JDM rods open up. I get that not everyone wants to chase unicorns but do yourself a favor and read up on some of the rods you could buy with that much money.

In the spring when they're on wood, I throw the RI Manbearpig a lot, which is basically a Brush Hog. Little different look. Light weight, unpegged. Blue craw or magic craw, whatever they call the green pumpkin with a blue swirl.

LC 1.5 in Ghost Baby Bluegill will cure what ails ya.

Swap Survivor is pretty good. I flip or punch 3/4 and 1 oz on mine. Handles lighter just fine but it's way too much rod for the compact flipping jigs I prefer. Good mat frog rod. Not my favorite for open water, sparse cover, or smaller frogs. I think the double footers affect its tip-down use. Too much rod for a 6" Magdraft. I want to try 2 oz glides on it. Also has an 18 Bantam on it. Straight 60lb FX2. Not too many complaints. I have too many F7 Megabass rods.

I mean I primarily bank fish, so yeah, all of it. 😂

The Bushadder is my second X10. Similar to the Swamp Survivor, the blank is quite chunky; looks a lot like a glass rod. It's not light, but the balance is quite good and the reel seat is probably my favorite from Megabass. Very comfortable with a Bantam A on it and 16 lb Sniper. It's a very versatile rod and surprisingly sensitive. The sensitivity is most impressive when dragging a bait. I've used it for 6" Magdrafts (rigged and freestyle), Sleeper Gills, 3/8 and 1/2 oz jig pitching, and 5/8 oz footballs. I haven't pushed the top of its rating yet but if I can find a 2 oz rat I will. I have not tried braid or frogs with it but I might. I won't make any bold claims as far as sensitivity, but I think it may be more sensitive than my P5 Super Destroyer (when dragging). I need to put them side by side. Same for my Adrenas; feels better but not scientific (sidenote: the old 610M Adrena is a killer little dragging rod for like a Keitech Model 2). However it's nowhere near as light in hand. It's like you're dragging a football jig with a very sensitive glass rod. It's initially pretty weird but it grew on me. Let me know if you have any additional questions.

I like catching big Freshwater Drum. Good fight in current. They love a Baby Rage Craw.

Livescope belongs in the Livegarbage. Flip and punch as God intended. Frogs are also OK.

Oh gosh no, not the Tour. Just wanted to be a PGA Professional. Could never get my knee right enough to play the 36 holes for the playing test. Fishing is better anyway. No regrets indeed.

Yes, one knee ago. I'm the worst 7 handicap you've ever seen. 😂 There's also some very nice glass rods in Expride and Adrena lines that are worth a look. Easier to find than a Valkyrie but not quite as cool.

Hard to go wrong. The UP would be better on the lower end and the BC2 on the higher. I trust Punch on the Youtubes and the BC2 is his Texas rig rod. On the other hand, more than one shop owner has told me the Utility Player is just about the best 1/4 Oz T-rig rod made. I will say Omnia still has Bottom Contacts in stock with the Pro deal discussed in the other thread (last day today).

Run squarebill into rock. Squarebill bounce off rock. Bass eat Squarebill. Repeat. A little slower or softer rod is good there. I run into trouble getting hung up with squarebills on a faster rod.

Also Powerbait smells like the Devil himself.

P5 Madbull, obviously. Obviously. Javelin too. People love that rod. 71 MH Valkyrie, also obviously. ($500 is a step down from $650.) I have an old Flatside Special that I use for DT 6, 8, 10 and 1.5 squarebills. The thing bends just about in half instantly so it's poor for jerkbaits and walking topwaters. I don't throw crankbaits that often so it gets benched most (all) of the year and the squarebills go on something else. Jerkbait rods tend to make good topwater rods; harder to say for squarebills. Squarebill rods strike me as very personal and it depends on your use. Are you trying to deflect off wood? Rock? Get a little hung in grass and rip? The nice thing is squarebills seem to work on a wide variety of rods. The above recommendation of an X10 Bandersnatch is a good shout as well for a versatile moving bait rod.

NRX+ 893, 894, 873 Steez Utility Player or Bottom Contact 2 P5, not sure with the big worm. Daemos? BMG? You're spoiled for choice if you're willing to drop the scratch.

They may just not carry them going forward. They're not carrying the new Adrena after clearing out the last one.

The Ryugi weighted hook has become my new favorite for shallow water or slower falls. 3/0 for the 3.8 and 5/0 for the 4.8. Just be sure to replace the keeper with a CPS spring. Dolive Beaver 3.5 is king of the free rig; nothing falls quite like it. Surprisingly I catch more green fish than brown on it. If you don't mind lighting money on fire in exchange for fish, the Bottom Up Bulls Hog is also really good for a different, finesse presentation. The free rig has replaced a lot of techniques for me.

Now that's a big free rig. I'm usually throwing that size on a 6/0 Beast or 5/0 Ryugi.

In a pile in a plano box.

Shop based on diameter. Your 12 lb mono is probably equivalent to 14 or 16 lb (or higher) fluoro. 14 lb Sniper (or 12 lb Red Label) at .31 mm diameter is a good starting point.

Plenty of Youtube videos. It's pretty cool.

It's also casting rods only, which is sad. Looking hard at a Moving Bait Versatile, but I think I'll be able to resist. 🐒

Nah you can buy from Japan anytime. I try to buy from American shops when the price isn't too far off.