Kidflex

D bombs fished with regular point hooks hold up better than most beaver style baits. I get many catches with each bait. Those ribs hold hooks well and hook point can be repositioned a lot. Trokar hooks cut the plastics way too easy. Main reason I stopped using them.

The energy pt has the flipping switch also. U must have an older energy reel

For $99, u can get a quantum smoke or an energy pt from sheltonsclothing. Both are better reels

They'll be fine

I broke a crucial 6'8"mh bending it like an idiot with my hands. The break looked exactly like Yours. Send it in. Shimano has a great warranty dept.

Are you pegging the weight? That might help with the extra swinging of the bait vs the weight. Also try skip gap hooks. I just started using them and it seems to help a bit.

Been usin them since they came out in the 90's. The tubes back then were not as soft and supple as they are now. The baits held up pretty good. Good hook just needs sharpening.

Loomis mbr 844 in imx flavor is the perfect kayak rod IMO. So versatile and can handle those techniques just fine. Has the back bone and tip action to accomplish a lot of things. Matter of fact when I fish out on my yak I use the 844 and 783 and can use any lure I bring. Some people use meat sticks for frogging but in a yak your gonna end up pulling yourself to the fish if wrapped up in grass(unless you anchor). As far as chunking 1&1/2-2oz lures. I'd be careful to not flip out of the yak lol. Punching I can see, but I don't see the stability and the ability to cast that much weight very far without the risk of falling in. Ymmv

Just wanted to give some props to shimano/gloomis. Their warranty and customer service is still second to none in my book. They have replaced a few rods for me without question. Even on a rod I broke bending the crap out of it(shimano crucial), glx cbr that was missing over half the rod and my latest replacement was a 15+ y/o glx mbr with weibe grip with busted guides. I know the shimano warranty has gone to a one year but I wouldn't be surprised if they replace it regardless of age. I've never had to use the expiditor service, just send in with the paper and they've never even charged to ship it back (the warranty form says to send in prepaid). Just wanted to share a few positive experiences on my behalf.

Don't get me wrong, I love my shimanos and daiwas. Will never stop using them but my exo's get used way more now. Might be a phase. Idk but until I get issues with them, they are first string!

I use 30lb braid for most applications. But for heavy cover stuff I use 50+lb braid. I like to pitch and work buck brush in the spring and switched to heavy braids after breaking off a few. You'll get what I'm saying after a few break offs on some potentially big fish. A lot of the times my line is going over and through small limbs and such creating weak spots that aren't as visible. The thicker line does help with that. Nothing non sporty about it. That's close quarters combat. My favorite style. For the record I use 65 lb braid when targeting 100lb tunas on topwater and 80 lb braid when going deep for them. I use the same for 5lb bass. I used to think I was overkill but fishing the thick stuff had changed my mind.

That's the heavier bitsy flip jig. 1/2 oz. I have a few. Very compact for the weight. Only way is to use small trailers and hook just like the pics shown. Only problem is you'll be replacing trailers often but that just means your catching fish. Or pulling trailers off in heavy grass, lol.

Exo 100 for me. I have 5 now, just a great casting reel and a pleasure to turn the handle. I have pixy type r, zillion, mgx, tatula type r, chronarch 50/200 E's, Calcuttas, scorpion 1000xt, t3 1016's, energys, patriarch and the list goes on, lol. But....the exo is my go to nowadays. I would've never expected it but give it a try. Might be surprised. I will be getting a metanium soon so it might get trumped!

Alan hawk is well known and respected for his detailed reports on high end reels. Many people regard his findings as scripture. Most people will not and do not venture into the world of "enthusiast" tackle and never understand the performance vs price issue. Although very small differences in performance to the average angler it is what keeps the enthusiasts slobbering over the latest and greatest. I appreciate what goes into high end reels and get a lot of satisfaction from them. More so than my mid tier stuff. Maybe I just try to justify it in my head because of the money involved but it makes me happy none the less. Bottom line only you can decide if it is worth it. I do agree with the daiwa certate comment. It is every bit as good as a Stella for cheaper.

The term worth it is all subjective. For bass and small gamefish I don't think it's worth it or necessary. Ive used Stella 10k & 20k for deep jigging amberjack and and throwin poppers for tuna. For those applications there is no doubt it's worth it along with the saltigas and twin spins. But there is a certain level of satisfaction using high end gear like the Stella. I'm certain you'd never be disappointed using one. The stradic is plenty of reel as far as function, style and quality. Get what you want. Enjoy, it's only money.

What ewg hook are you using. I use the beavers with mustad ultra point mega bite ewg 3/0 & 4/0 hooks with a remarkably high hook up ratio. Perfect hook to skin hook beavers/put boss/d bombs etc. I thought about using some straight shank hooks but at this point don't see the need yet.

Spiderwire ez braid is the worst braid I have ever used. Just my opinion though. The braid is not tightly woven and comes apart easily. Might have had a bad batch but won't try again. I'll spend the extra 4 dollars and get suffix or pp.

I got the 7'6" mh cranking rod and the 7'3" xh rod today. Decent looking rods. The reflective logo makes the rod look cheap IMO, but that's just me being picky. The guides were misaligned on both the rods. A $200 (retail) rod should have better quality control than this. But.....for $79 each I'm not gonna complain too much. Overall they seem like solid rods. Hope the performance will be better

Try a 5" grass pig from havoc. Use a1/16- 1/8oz keel weighted screw lock hook. Absolutely the most effective bait I have ever used. Started throwing it last summer and haven't put it down yet. Throw it and wind back in slowly. It gets hammered. If your in a small boat, throw to the bank and work the entire shore line. Works great in Heavy grass, open water, laydowns and standing timber. I started using this in small 5-40 acre ponds. I tried using the 3.5 inch version thinking the smaller bait would be more productive but the 5" kills! Most of my hits come from the initial landing/first few cranks. By far my my favorite bait to throw.....and a jig. I have just about all forms of 5" swimbaits from sk, v&m, big bite, keitec, and yum but the havoc has been the best for me and California 420 is the only color I throw.

The hooks on the rc stx are pretty weak, they will bend with moderate drag. I have about 10 of these baits. I attempted to change the hooks out with better hooks. "Unfortunately" they are set up to suspend perfectly out of the box with the stock hook. I've tried gamas, eagle claws and mustad. Similar sizes, 2x size in a smaller hook etc. Even changed single hooks in different locations. They would all sink. After about 2 hours of experimenting with hooks. I ended up putting the original hooks back on and will use very light drag with these baits.

That's up to you. I usually don't use a leader but a lot of people do. Weightless applications might do better with a leader but light poundage braid is pretty hard to see so I'm pretty confident not using one.

I have the crucial 6'10" m/xf spinner with a stradic 1000. Same rod as you except a tad shorter. Very versatile rod though. Any of those techniques can be easily done with it. Awesome rod to skip small swimbaits too!

All the above. 15-20lb braid!

Catt, I took your advice from the beginning of the thread. 944!

Went back to housen for a few hours this afternoon. Second pitch got this. Right at 5lb on the bogas. D Bombs continue to work for me in the bushes. Got 6 total, 4 keepers. I'll keep at it until I find a better pattern.