ChrisD46

^^This^^ !! ...Out of all the ways I've tried to make a soft stick bait last longer - this may be the best . Some say they lose the Eco Pro weight and use a small piece of shrink tubing (I am estimating 1/8th" ~ 3/16th") shrink tubing over the top of the Eco Pro Wacky Weight where you slip the hook through then hit it slightly with a heat gun - should hold the hook better . *If this (or any technique) can make a soft stick bait last longer wacky rigged - then you can afford to use better softplastic stick worms .

Looks like the presentation would be affected based on your pictures : hook position , line , etc. *If you are going to go the tubing route - why not drill a hole through the center and insert your hook through that way wacky style ?

The Dobyns , Lew's , Daiwa Tatula are all good suggestions - close out Abu Garcia Veritas 2.0 bait cast rods in a 7'2" MF Fast can be found for around $70.00 making them a good deal - still , you can't go wrong with the Dobyns , Lew's and Daiwa Tatula rods (like above posters recommended) ...

While I have not suffered any significant issues with Booyah spinner baits - I do like War Eagle , Nichols and Sandtone more - however better spinner baits will cost upwards of 2X (like the Nichols and Santone) versus what a Booyah spinnerbait costs .

I'm in the undecided camp regarding FC lines (other than as a leader) . My confidence with FC is not so good as I doubt my knots (did I burn the line ?) and I doubt my hook sets (will the line fail or snap at the knot ?) ... *What I find interesting is the R&D going into new co-poly lines (nothing is really a "mono" any more ) . Companies such as P-Line , Sufix , Gamma , McCoy , Spiderwire , Izorline , etc. have made great strides in co-poly lines offered and I expect more to follow .

^^This^^ ... Easy to find in stores .

(lol !) ... I didn't notice the date - *back in 2011 he must have just got a Shock prototype

^^This^^

I suppose it depends on the application with Braid : * Spinning : Shaky Head , Weightless Fluke / Senko , T-Rig Worm: #10lb. ~ #15lb. PP + FC leader * Bait Cast : a. Any application in open water - #20 lb. PP + FC leader. b. Any application around weeds #30 lb. PP + FC leader. c. Frogs : Open Water ~ Light to Medium Cover - #40 lb. ; Heavy Cover : #50 lbs. (both straight PP) d. Flipping / Punching : #65 lb. (straight PP). Braid Tips : *First put 1/4th ~ 1/2 spool of cheap #8lb. mono on tight for backing. * Uni-Uni knot to braid and spool tight *Close spinning reel bail by hand after each cast and pull line tight before reeling *Pull a couple of feet of line out after snags then reel tight. *Always try to reel braid back on the spool with a little tension *KVD Line Conditioner can even be used with braid *Check top rod guide for loops after each cast before reeling *Loosen drag to match no stretch characteristics of braid *Sweep hook set with lighter braid (lighter braid can have poorer shock qualities due to no stretch nature thus snap easier). *Make longest cast with lure you get the most distance with - then pull off 10 ~ 15 yrds. more line , place strip of electrical tape on reel , then reel line back on the reel under tension over the electrical tape ... If you ever get a professional over run it won't go past the strip of electrical tape on your reel .

I have a Daiwa Exceller 4000 that is a solid performer that delivers the goods . When I bought mine it was $70. The higher price 4000 series spinning reels can be lighter , smoother , more ball bearings , etc. but if you take care of the Exceller with semi - regular clean and lube it will take care of you . I have mine on a 7' MH fast rod with #20 lb. braid that I use for bombing a whopper plopper 90 with .

Why don't you like the Shock ?

In his case , the MH action tip allows a split second longer for the bass to eat the frog ... Most people set the hook too fast with a frog + braid .

Curious how the rod was shipped : In a heavy card board tube or some other type of carton ?

No Tom , the "MJ" rig discussed here is a soft plastic stick bait with about 1/4th of an inch cut off the tail and then a hitch hiker screwed into the tail with an approx. #2 willow leaf blade or #2 Colorado blade added . Then slowly swim the soft plastic stick bait back at various depths (including the bottom) with the added flash of the willow or Colorado blade in the tail to trigger strikes . *Timmy Horton brought it to popularity here in the South but learned it from some guy whose initials were "MJ" , so there you have it ... Be the first on one of your Cali lakes to give it a try !

What do you plan to use the 7'M / MF rod for ?

I just realized you said "XH" not "H" for the 7' length ... Forget what I said above except for the punching part - I would call that a SWAT rod : Your not coming out , so I'm coming in after you !

Thanks for the updated replies !

"I Know It" & "Loon" for Small Mouth and Spots (that touch of chartreuse in the "I Know It " color really attracts them) .

Rage Baby Menace in Glacier color (shad) on a 1/8th oz. 2/0 ~ 3/0 hook and a shad or pearl color head would be just the ticket for bass chasing small fry from the Spring hatch .

Frogs : 50-50 either you will like the 7' XH or not with #50 lb. ~ #65 lb. Braid... Could try a #15 lb. Big Game mono shock leader. Punching / Flipping through heavy grass : 100% ; #50 lb. ~ #65 lb. Braid. Big Spinner Bait / Big Jig / Big Under Spin / Big Vertical Spoon : 100% #15 lb. ~ # 25 lb. FC line. Wobble Head / Swing Jig : 100% #15 lb. ~ #20 lb. FC line. Big Worm / Heavy T-Rig for deep ledges : 100% #15 lb. ~ #20 lb. FC line.

Although graphite - I like the new SC-III rod blanks ... Will look at the glass version as well .

After a quick look on TW : Besides the current Quantum Smoke 6'10" Heavy XF ($139) - I spotted the new & improved Abu Garcia 2.0 Veritas 7' Heavy XF ($99) coming Sept. 21st and the current Falcon BuCoo SR 6'10" F Heavy F ($99) ... Never had a Falcon or a Abu Garcia Rod before but both will be on my short list . Thoughts ?

Thanks Tom - for just 2 more inches (7') would open up a lot more options for a heavy F/XF .

Tom - who today has a good 6'10" H fast rod that won't break the bank ?

Swing jigs , not swim jigs ...