punch

You blade nerds, have you checked out Megabass's jointed blade? Kinda neat. https://www.thehookuptackle.com/fishing-Spoons-Tailspins/Megabass/Chitala

The seems don't seem to hold up very long on the NXTLV stuff from what I've been told by owners. They start leaking. Typically there's reasons stuff is on sale nearly half off.. there's piles of unsold ones sitting in warehouses that they need to dump. Why didn't they sell well? Hrmmm. For sure, I'm not trying to hate on huk. I like their sun gear quite a bit. I just have tournament buddies who got the high end rain suits and dumped them after less than a year. I'm a gear snob/addict and just wanted to put a little 'buyer beware'.

I have no personal experience, but I know people who have been very disappointed by Huk's rain gear in both durability and how good they repel water. Their high end suits tend to fall apart thus causing them to leak. They don't have a great reputation at this point among tournament anglers who are hard on their gear. Simms, Gill, StormR, and Blackfish seem to make the best stuff.

The action on this rod is incredible.

Megabass isn't included??!

I've been tempted to get one for my Musky setup.

I think that's a gross oversimplification of the Googans collective content.

I have the 7'2 H expride and for what you're describing it would be perfect. It also can be used for heavier swim jigs or smaller swimbaits (like a 6" magdraft). You can even flip/pitch with it. I would say the 7'3 XH Expride is for strictly frogging ALL kinds of cover, including the very thick stuff. I would say the 7'2H expride is NOT the rod I would use if i was frogging super thick mats or really thick pads/reeds. It's a powerful rod but it's not the "broom handle" you would need for those kinds of applications. If you're frogging in sparse cover or open water, and want a rod that can do a few other things well.. I highly suggest the 7'2H Expride. You could easily fish a 1/2oz or 3/4oz jig on the 7'2H expride.

Shout out to FLW pro Miles "Sonar" Burghoff who puts out some good stuff on his channel. He's not SUPER active but he knows his stuff. https://www.youtube.com/user/SonarFishing/videos And nobody has mentioned David Dudleys (FLW AOY) channel yet? He's like the rainman when it comes to fishing tackle. His channel is getting quite good. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVSSi30MIufm_iVFPoELqmQ/videos Sorry but I totally disagree. Most of the Googan's audience are anglers under 18, they are the PERFECT channel to watch for people who want to get excited about the hobby. A couple of them are very good anglers as well (LFG, John B, Lukers). Like it or not the Googans are firing up the next generation of fishermen by a huge factor. If my kids were getting into fishing i'd be perfectly fine with them watching them.

I've gone to the KISS method. Keep it simple stupid. All my casting rods are either 10lb fluoro (jerkbait, cranks), 15lb fluoro, or 50lb braid. My one exception this year is running 30lb braid to a short 10" fluro leader for topwater. Really love this setup. All my spinning rods are 10lb braid to 8lb fluoro leader. That's it. Done.

Time to dig out the ice gear...

Not pictured is a destroyer Brigand spinning rod & two Orochi XX's (everyone has seen those a million times). Apparently i'm a MB fanboy now.

A little bit of flex, but here's my current USA Destroyer casting collection. I've been smitten with these rods for many reasons. I'm running all Lew's reels because I like them and I can pull them apart blindfolded at this point. I've dumped almost all of my St Croix rods for Megabass.. they are that good. L to R Bunker Buster - Lew's Hypermag Daemos - Lew's Hypermag FMJ - Lew's Pro TI Javelin - Lew's Pro TI Ottomat - Lew's Tournament Pro LFS Oneten Special - Lew's Custom Pro

Do you have any local tackle shops that carry high end stuff? USUALLY they will give you 20-30% off if you simply ask for it. The more expensive the reel, the bigger margin they have to work with. If you buy more than one, the bigger the discount can get. They love repeat customers who buy high end gear. I'm not talking Academy or BPS, I mean a local mom & pop shop.

There's quite a few pro's that run a 7' MH dropshot rod, like Mark Daniels JR.. and lots of pro's that like a soft 6'9-6'11 M or even ML rod. There's really no right or wrong way to dropshot. It's all about what you feel confident and comfortable with. Personally I love drop shotting a LOT (for smallies and largies) and my current setup is a 6'10 ML Shimano Expride with a 2500 daiwa ballistic LT. Always 10lb braid to 8lb leader. I use Owner Covershot #2's ONLY (best dropshot hook period). I personally like the shorter, softer rods so I can fish vertically and feel that i'm not "lifting" my weight up off the ground when I impart action on it by shaking the tip.

I do the same thing! Great minds.

I've had some really good luck catching smallmouth with a 1/2oz Dark Sleeper. When they eat, they EAT IT. Like down the throat.

TH Marine has a pretty awesome "add any 4 items to a $50 bundle" promo going on today. https://thmarinesupplies.com/apps/bundles/bundle/18101?omnisendAttributionID=email_campaign_5db9dac68a48f7555f102b40&omnisendContactID=5d5ea17644b36b9922f2520b&omnisendScopeID=5d5ea0a48653ed527ebdbdf0_2_18286867&utm_campaign=campaign%3A+Copy+of%3A+Halloween+grab+bag+(5db9dac68a48f7555f102b40)&utm_medium=email&utm_source=omnisend There's some things I was going to order on Black Friday, and this looks to be a much better deal.

Hah another person who sold their 893c GLX. I really didn't think mine was anything special, let alone $400 special. I've tried many.. many.. many rod lines and my collection has distilled down to Megabass (orochi and destroyer), Exprides, St Croix Legend X and a couple speciality rods like a NRX 873c. If I had to pick one rod line to use ONLY, it would be all Exprides HANDS DOWN (I have 6 of them). They are light, sensitive, look good, balance well, have good resale, and the lineup is very diverse. Several rods in their lineup are straight up GREAT and considered the best for that technique. Like their 72MH glass chatterbait rod, their 7'3 XH frog rod, and their flippin stick. Their 7'2 MH is so versatile I have two of them. You can get them for around 200-220 new from certain shops.

They just refreshed the Mojo Musky line, FYI. https://stcroixrods.com/collections/rods/products/mojo-musky?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_term=fb-post&utm_content=&utm_campaign=mojo-musky-2020&fbclid=IwAR0v8rSBBGmbe3Eeg9ebRFE9Fc4IxbqitCZwXWiMd-SrRU7ID-tx4zFqB4M

I just got my Lews jacket that I sent in a rebate for. It was from a Pro Ti purchase back in JUNE!

Yeah, I think the important takeaway is at the end... where he basically said "they all feel the same" haha.

Everyone went to spinnerbaits, then everyone went to chatterbaits.. the inline spinner has been shelved by most bass fishermen. It's still alive and well with the pike, musky and trout crowd though.

Are you Popeye?

I have one but I can't put any of my longer rods in it because then they hit the ceiling haha.