Master Bait'r

Smith chromapop > Oakley prism Nobody talks about Smiths for fishing and I have no idea why. They're amazing. Killer optics and fantastic prices.

What I consider finesse likely wouldn't be my first choice in muddy water.

They make great cannon fodder fwiw.

Different strokes. I love my Elseil. It's exactly what I was looking for. Buying used is key for me though... Deals are subjective when you step outside the retail lens IMO. Paying Orochi money for a Phase 3 changes things considerably in my world, and I in no way feel let down by my purchase.

Maybe that's a little extreme, but lifetime just doesnt make good business sense for fragile goods like fishing poles unless there are major disclaimers involved and then why even bother? Factory defects break right away anyways. I think a flat replacement fee is more the norm now and for good reason. Heck, the last time I broke a rod, 13 let me pay the replacement fee and then flat out pick any rod from that line. That's smart!

Whatever you do, DO NOT BUY A DESTROYER. I'm warning you, man! Danger zone stuff!!

I'd go #20 if you're set on 832. It's a thick line and it's tough enough that you don't need 30 or 40 unless you're specifically targeting heavy cover like lily pads etc. Enjoy learning the ins and outs of the baitcaster, if you haven't watched the how-to videos here on setting it up and keeping it adjusted for braking & spool tension, do it. Immensely helpful when you're figuring things out.

I doubt it. In today's age of scammers and spammers, blogging and frogging... Lifetime warranty is like $1/gal gas- It was cool but it isn't coming back. Loomis isn't bringing back the wildcard either.

Sure thing, want to buy me an early birthday gift by chance? It's likely only a matter of time, but thankfully seeing one isn't a daily occurrence/temptation for me.

This thread really just reminds me how bad I want a 6'10" Megabass Destroyer Racing Condition Fullhouse. d**n youuuuuuuuuu bait monkey! You never sleep!!

100% braid. I guess you could use ~20/25lb CXX pretty effectively if you really wanted to though.

Bettencourt jointed rat. Man that thing is cool! Hoping the Deps Silent Killer I got over the winter is as good as I think it will be though!

My FAVORITE is the kicker frog. Nothing else even comes close. My favorite AFFORDABLE frog is the Kopper's Live Target. They've got it all at a reasonable price and I really like them.

Yeah there's a learning curve in storing them (most people just leave them in the original bag) but once you've got that down I feel it's worth it. Nothing as tough as Elaztech!

For me that's a 2 combo equation. First up is my 7'1" MLXF spinning from THE COMPANY WHICH SHANT BE NAMED. The reel is a Stella FW2500S and I use 8# Gliss on it. I mostly use this for finesse jigging stuff, small tubes and small jerkbaits. Ned rigging, drop shotting, trick darters, biffle-o's, that sort of thing. Extremely versatile though, I am never without this combo! It can just put a bait anywhere water can be. The other is an NRX 852c with a Daiwa/Megabass Ito Ai and 15# Smackdown. I use the extra backbone in this combo for hammering home t-rig hooks on weightless worms and craws around the edges of heavy cover mostly. It is ultra lightweight and very accurate to cast weightless baits long distances but has the muscle I want for contact baits and single hooks too. Kind of like a "best of both worlds" setup. The NRX I consider a finesse combo only because of what it's primary function is and how I've got it set up. I am primarily a finesse fisherman though, so these two are my most-used combos.

Y'know now that you mention it, she is sort of conspicuously missing a two-arm buzzer and an umbrella rig cloud of fry behind it haha

Imakatsu alive chatter hard gill. Don't see them around much and the price was killer so I scooped her up!

Different lines are different. CXX is going to stay on the spool worse than Tatsu in the same diameter, but you must be generally cautious of your spool size when selecting a line test. Trying to put too heavy a line on too small a reel & spool will result in frustration, disaster, heartache and regret. Likely in that order. Spinning reels are more meant for using drag to manage lighter lines IMO, so try to go that route rather than acting like it's a deep sea reel or casting rig and just throwing rope.

I have an NRX and found SX1 to be EXTREMELY noisy with the recoil guides. I settled on Smackdown and have never looked back. It's thinner and quieter by a long shot. Just my .02 though

No religious topics OP

Topwater rats just seem to get plowed like few other things. I wonder if fish actually love red meat or if they're simply opportunistic.

Yes. Yes you can. [insert nerdery about "power" vs "speed" and infinitely subjective observations here]

She might be in the top three all time for LMB catch/weight ratio! I love seeing the kid stoke!!

Looks extremely comfortable!