Angry John

I like the rc stx but the megabits guys have a lot of heartache over that bait. They work and are a lot cheaper.

I try and tell people this all the time and they never believe me. Might be because I fish a lot of croix.

swimjig, swimbaits, frogs, soft jerkbaits, flukes, worms jigs.

I use a 6.3 to 1 and it is still considered a middle of the road for speed. I have had to give it my all on the handle just a few times to catch up but have never really had an issue. I did buy a 7:1 zillion due to all of the rage of a faster reel and have it in the box still. Each person likes different things and each situation calls for a little different technique. I feel that people buy into to much hype and i would recommend a 7:1 as fast enough for most. The world of tournament fishing has an entirely different set of rules and does not apply to the average angler.

I run a shadrap in the winter and do ok sometimes. some of the deep rapalas like the tail dancer has worked in the past slow rolled.

i Use Berkeley xl for topwaters because it floats good. My favorite copoly of all time is YHB in 10lb but it sinks enough to hurt the action of topwaters. It serves me best in crankbaits and jerkbaits.

Fished it a little. swim jigs and shake heads have been my best fish catchers. got nothing on crank baits despite some major effort.

I run the regular 4" keitech and the shiner on the owner 3/0 weghted hook. i end up using standard ball heads on the 3" baits, both on a dobyns 743.

Spend the winter time practicing. just like the feel for a lure or casting it takes practice.

I only have one LTB but I have a bunch of avids, legend elites and three dobyns extremes. I like the action of the blank on my st Croix rods. I have both the three power spinning and casting 743 xp rods. I like the medium 7 foot casting rods by st Croix more. The action seems faster and the blank a little more sensitive. I love the handles and style of the dobyns rods. They are both great rods and both have the best support. Hard to loose between the two.

The knob should unscrew from your current handle, and then screw on the new knob. Some handles are riveted so that depends on model. All daiwa have the same shaft size and length so the knobs are universal.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Daiwa-RCS-power-light-soft-knob-M-/332047712897?hash=item4d4f960281:g:TLoAAOSw4GVYPV5D I use these on casting and spinning. they feel great!

Yhb 6 is very good but handling on smaller spinners is not great.

Don't know if it's in your price range but the mb perfect pitch would do all of that and be good for smaller swimbaits also.

I do both leader and straight flouro. I like 6lb sniper and p-line 100%.

You can check flea bay or go to the tackle trap. I have seen a few choices at TW but TTT is where i get most of my handles and knobs.

I use the owner welded clips and take off the split ring at the front. I do leave them on jerkbaits and may change the size to help tune the bait. I like them to suspend with a little down angle and this is a great way to tune for that IMO.

I would recommend a st croix avid 70mhf. This is not your first fishing rod and you get a taste of quality without braking the bank. Its a great rod and not one that you will want to replace as soon as you figure out what is going on. A great work horse rod sensitive enough for bottom contact and strong enough to frog in a pinch.

Take out the buzzbaits and the avid casting 66mf does a good job. I like mine for jerkbaits and 1.5 squarebills. smaller spunnerbaits 1/4 chatterbaits are good to.

I have th mlxf spinning and like it a lot. never tried the casting.

The legend elite is brand new for this year. I love the full handle am it now has a new guide train. I own the previous model Le and it's my jig rod. the TT review said the new rod was even better. I vote for the le70mhf.

Green weeds seem to be good all the time. good cover and provide oxygen.

Rivers I use 1/4 a lot Lakes I fish 3/8 arkie most. I go with simple colors in the jig brown, black and green pumpkin. If you need some flair then use the trailer to add color.

Owner- trebles and twist lock weighted swimbait hooks Mustad Denny Brower flipping hooks. Gammy all other types of hooks.

I love my sol's and alphas. I would not use them for a jig rod due to the amount of drag even with the smooth drag installed unless you were in open water. The fuego and the TDZ are great and the TDZ would be my top choice if you could find one in budget. I also use and enjoy the daiwa 153 htsl. You can find them very cheap on fleabay and I use mine for frog and jig fishing. Another great choice would be the zillion. I have and enjoy many versions of this reel.