Chris at Tech

Whenever Tackle Warehouse has one of their sales, you just need to call them and order by phone. They have Shimanos on sale but they just can't advertise it due to MAP or some such crap

Agree on bigger hook. You need to ensure there's enough gap to push through the plastic and into the fish's mouth

I've got a Daiwa Advantage 153HSTLA lefty in the flea market that would do the job well. I bought it for my wife as her first baitcaster and I found it to be a pretty easy reel for her to use despite her lack of experience

The rod is part of the equation but what about the reel? Are you adjusting the brakes and reel tension to suit the bait you're trying to fish?

Symetre and Saros would also be good options from Shimano at a lower price point than the Stradic

I've got a Daiwa Tierra 2500 in the flea market. I don't think there would be any issues getting parts or support in the event it's needed

Geez, you getting a condo on Baccarac?

Depends how much lead you add. If you're using 1/8 oz heads, I think you can get away with "normal" MH or H casting bass tackle For heavier heads than that, in my opinion, you're approaching the need for bigger tackle.

I think my telescoping Cranking stik will come in handy

I have the 70MLF and 70MF one-piece spinning models I use for inshore fishing. They're great rods for that purpose but are quite a bit slower in action than bass gear. I will say that the quality, fit and finish of the rods is top-notch as you'd expect from St Croix. Do you have any stores nearby where you can at least get your hands on the one-piece models?

What does it take to get a smile?

I hope all our members in the OKC area are ok. I've been glued to the TV for a few hours and the footage is absolutely stunning and horrific.

These are my colors as well for about 90% of my soft plastics

St Croix Avid AVC66MF It's got a good soft tip that's great for treble hook baits but plenty of backbone when it's needed.

Hehe, you said "heavy duty"...hehe...

Avid 69mlxf or 68mxf

That a pretty sweet "budget combo"

Or perhaps more appropriately, how much ar you willing to spend? Swim baits go from $5 to over $100

Look at BPS combos with either Extreme or Pro Qualifier rods. In that range, PQ reels aren't bad either

It happens... More weight on the keel should help. Either a double hook or a single keel-weighted hook should help

Price range and favorite techniques?

Where are you located? I have a 2-bank MinnKota on board charger I took off my old boat that is just sitting in the garage. I'd let it go pretty reasonably but hoping to avoid shipping. Insure the chances are slim that you're nearby, but thought I'd ask

This is important! Personally I have 2 sets. For cold weather I have the BPS Pro Qualifier bibs and jacket combo with zip in liner jacket. For milder weather, I have a much thinner jacket and pants combo. Having the wrong rain gear can make a day of fishing miserable

You'll have to show me in person at next year's road trip

8 lb 100% fluoro didn't work well for me on my 2500-sized spinning reels. Sounds like you're having the same issue that caused me to start using Invisx I still like the Trilene fluoro on my baitcasters.