iceintheveins

Bass Pro Shops Pro Qualifier.

I peg when pitching or fishing thick grass just to keep from catching so much vegetation. The best way to peg in most instances is a parasite weight imo. Always stays on, and your plastic won't slide down the hook.

It's always funny but it's common with all types of bass, smallmouth even more so. I catch a lot of 8" bass on 6" and bigger plastics and big crankbaits like a 6xd. My friend catches a fair share of 1.5 pounders on 8" swimbaits even.

Pflueger President and a BPS Tourney Special rod.

That seems about the same as my experiences. Not sure it outcasts my old Curado E, but the external brake dial is nice to have. I was casting a 3/8 ounce crank a long ways with 2 brakes on and the dial set between two and three with a pretty loose spool tension.

Super Spook Jr. in Florida bass!

I've had the senko fail plenty of times. Even plenty of times they won't hit a hudd gill or a lizard on the bed even.

What's the water level like in Castaic and the Lagoon?

That's what I do on my pitching setup. Hi vis mono, and a fluoro leader. Works like a charm.

A 5 ratio reel is best for all crankbaits imo, shallow or deep.

7'6" MH veritas winch 2.0.

The Curado I 6.3:1 is best if you want to use both on the same setup, but a 7 ratio is better for buzzbaits.

Get rid of the swivel. Scatter raps need a slow retrieve on a slow speed reel or they spin out of control. I've had crankbaits that worked for years start swimming in circles. When that happens, they are almost impossible to fix.

Bluebasser and the others are on the money. Crankbait and plastic rod actions are almost diametrically opposed in their actions. But a medium fast graphite rod will suffice for both cranking and most plastics.

The CX is good line, less memory than CXX but a little bit more than fluoroclear. The fluoroclear has more memory than most limp mono lines but it's not bad. The CX is a bit stronger though, and it's one of the best copoly lines I've used. As a bonus, you can get it in a clear blue/fluorescent color that's really good if you are a line watcher like me when fishing jigs and plastics.

If you want a pure glass rod the Phenix rods are the way to go, unless you want to spend extra for a Dobyns all glass.

Swimbaits will catch them anywhere. I've seen two pounders engulf 8" swimbaits.

I haven't used chatterbaits, but I use spinnerbaits and swimjigs A LOT. For me I go to the spinnerbait when there is chop in the water or in lower light conditions. The swimjig gets the call in dead calm conditions. I also fish a swimjig at about half the speed I fish a spinnerbait, with more twitches.

The Halo 7'11" MH for $130 bucks, it's awesome. Light, sensitive, and nice parabolic bend. Best for cranks 1/2 an ounce or heavier.

I have two of the old models and they are great, one in 7' M for small to medium crankbaits, light topwaters, and light spinnerbaits. I also have a 7' MH for most spinnerbaits and heavier topwaters. I had a 7'11" MH for big deep crankbaits as well and it was great, but I sold it to because I decided to upgrade and I needed the cash.

I'd go with mono. Original Stren or Suffix Elite.

I use a BPS PQ 7.1.1 and a 7' MH Veritas Micro Guide. If you want to upgrade on the reel, a 7.2.1 Curado I or a Daiwa Tatula would be the best reels out there to keep you in or under your price range. If you can find the old Chronarch 200e in a 7 ratio, it's a little more fool proof than the Curado I.

I use a smaller hook than some use, a 2/0 or 3/0 EWG, since the bait is relatively thin. I often bedfish with them weightless and let it sit on the bed until the female can't stand it anymore and picks it up. They are also great for rigging a pegged weight to for heavy grass or pitchin/flippin. Don't forget a carolina rig or finesse carolina rig, either. They are very versatile lures.

Jig, pretty much any good creature or flippin' bait, senkos, flukes, ect.

Pit bosses and most creatures skip really well, as do hollow bodied frogs. I am still in the process of learning to skip and it's been hard for me, I need to practice more. It's an essential skill though.