Garret88

I'd say any highspeed reel with good drag really. Revos have 20# of drag. So an 7.1:1 SX or STX would work. Or try the Pinnacles with the flipping button (engages the spool just by pressing) Or even the Ardent F700 Denny Brauer Flip/Pitch Reel. All these reels are under 200$

All revos come with a manual on lubrication. Just rinse out the real under water, dry it off, and oil and grease (using abu garcia's oil and grease) where it tells you to in the manual. Thats straight out of the manual. I have a Revo SX, STX, and Winch. This process has worked well for all of them.

Similar to the ongoing trend I'd say: Stick bait. (finesse approach) Brush Hog (wide range of applications) Creature/craw bait: Strike King Rodent, Berkley Pitboss, Rage Tail craw (great for pitching/flipping scenarios) Basically get away with 2 colors if you want to generalize: Black w/ bright flake (dirty water) Green pumpkin(clear water)

I understand that completely. I guess I can just throw everything and let the fish tell me what they want.

Alrighty. I think that lifts the fog a bit.

At this time, the fish will be deep and lethargic due to slow metabolism. Id try slow crawling a black/blue football jig and chunk trailer in the deeper water.

"Well it fought like a 5 pounder"

I figured the appendages would be good for moving more water when its murky. I always thought smaller profiles were better for the spawn because they arent really concerned with eating, they are more in protector mode. Unless that relates specifically to the males while bed fishing and not for the females that move off the beds.

Im trying to get a better grasp on the general rule of thumb when chosing soft plastics. When is it better to use a plastic with more appendages like a brush hog or creature compared to a tube/worm/craw etc?