FishTank

I love Senkos but the 7in has not been my favorite. It seems to tear a little easier than the 5in, probably due to the bigger I hooks I have used. I haven't caught any bigger fish or more fish, maybe less. For me, if I am going to go big, I going to stay with the 6in size.

They have a few. https://www.omniafishing.com/p/owner-weighted-beast-soft-bait-hook?fishing_reports_sort=true&fishing_reports_waterbody Another to look is the Ryugi Pierce. I have tried the unweighted version and I have no issues with it. I can't say it's better or worse than the Beast Hook but I haven't lost any fish and it sticks them pretty easy.

Like Tom mentioned above.... The Owner Cover Shot 1/0 - 4/0 have good for me. Great hook up ratios and they hold up well. I have tried the Gamakatsu version and they are not bad but I am not big on the bait keeper as it tears worms and once the bait is torn the bait keeper doesn't not hold the bait well. The bait keeper on the Owner is nylon and does a good job. Also, the bend on the Cover Shot is slightly bigger as well. I thought this would be an issue but it turns out to be the opposite. The hook will turn and penetrate easily.

Even though I'm a big fan of 803C NRX+, I don't see a crankbait rod on your list.... So how about the 864C IMX Pro Deep Flex or the 903C CBR?

I have the older version and it's pretty versatile. I mainly use it for topwater but it's also great for jigs and Texas rigged plastic. One my favorites for this rod is the fat ika rigged backwards. It has some power but its not a brute. I would use it around trees and stumps (no braid here) but maybe not so much in super heavy vegetation (braid would be good in this case). It's fine for your everyday grass and weeds.

Good reel for that price. I would jump on it.

Sorry, what lures or techniques are wanting to use it for?

I have both Daiwa and Shimano reels. Most of the Shimano's I have will out cast my Daiwas, especially the Antares 70A but I just picked up the new Steez A II. This reel will give any of my current Shimano's a run for their money. It will bomb cast a crankbait effortlessly. If you are Daiwa fan, I would definitely check this one out.

One thing for sure.... The Legend Elite is the better value.

That's a lot of grease. I would remove almost all of it. A little goes a long way.

It is a hard thing to describe. It's one of those "to each his own". For me I had two GLX rods at the time I got my first NRX and those to me were the top of the line when it came to sensitivity. When I fished the 853C NRX for the first time, I was blown away. I never thought anything would be better than the GLX. So I guess it would be best to judge it against the rods you already have. If you have fished other Loomis rods, it might be easier to distinguish but if you put it up against the Legend Elite, it is more sensitive. I don't think it has caused me to loose or miss fish though. To put it a different way, I think the LE might be a more functional/traditional rod but the NRX is more fun to fish. One thing though, once you buy an NRX+, you will start gauging it against all the other rods you have and there is a good chance you will want more. I have the same reel as you and I have it paired with an NRX+ 904C. It is has been my favorite jig set up ever. It's just one of those combos that does it for me. On the other hand, I love fishing an 1/8oz bullet weight and a Texas Rig on the LE. Forgot to ask..... What are you wanting to use this rod for anyway?

I have the 6'8'' M Fast Legend Elite and its my go to for a Texas Rigged 5in Senko with an 1/8oz bullet weight. I love this rod for comfortable all day fishing but it's not as sensitive as say an NRX. It's more in line with the GLX. I also have the 7'1" MH Xfast and it's a pretty stout rod for a MH. It's great for jigs and a big Texas Rigged ribbon tail worm. Between the two the 6'8" M would be my choice but if you are going to fish mainly jigs, then the 7'1'' MH Xfast.

I think you can flip and pitch with just about any reel. It comes down to the one that feels comfortable in hand and which one feels right with the rod you want to use. Also, between the two, I think the rod is the most important part of the equation. As far as what I personally like, my favorite for flipping and pitching is the Shimano Metanium 8.x:1 with a G loomis NRX+ 904C.

Two of the lakes I fish have several spots that are covered in pads, making it almost impossible to fish. I have tried a few different braids but nothing really cuts through them well. If I pull too hard, the hook on my flipping bait gets exposed and then I'm really hung up. So I've come to the conclusion that if there is fish in there, it's worth the risk to battle it and hope for a good outcome. One technique I've seen that does work but I stink at it.... Carolina Rig. You have to have some luck and some skill. Basically you cast the weight onto a pad and allow the lizard (or whatever) to fall on the loose line between the pads, slowly dragging or hopping the weight across the pads. Done right, you don't get snagged as much.

One other I forgot about, the Daiwa Alpha 800S. I have not heard anything about this reel but it does have a shallow spool, 85mm handle and not bad price wise. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFwxT7nQTfc

Going to throw a Beatle Spin this weekend. I have caught pretty much everything on this lure. They don't hold up well but they are cheap and fun to fish.

Anything with the word AIR in it from Dawia is designed for light duty/BFS. I would not use it for pitching/flipping unless it was a micro jig (1/8 oz) on 6lb line. Skipping to me is a skill acquired through practice. Some reels help but again this reel is meant for light lures. Another to look at would be the Daiwa Tatula Flip and Pitch if you can find one.

My guess.... The ratchet on the bottom of the main gear is not seated properly. There might be a notch on the drive shaft that it fits into. Also, another guess, the pinion yoke is upside down but this would cause other issues.

Shimano Metanium Shallow spool 8.x:1. Comes with a larger handle and can be found at most JDM sites.

If you have a leak, 99% of the time dwr treatment will not fix that. It's probably due to be replaced. If it's a single layer jacket they are prone to leaking from day one. They are meant for going from your car to a store. I use to go to a site/outdoor gear store that did shower and permeability tests but was asked by more than one brand to stop. They would test dwr treatments as well. They tested everything from Frog Toggs to military grade jackets. It was pretty cool but very nerdy.

A 600 yard spool of Sunline Xplasma is on sale few places for $55. Great braid, thin but not quite as thin as JDM PE, long lasting (color fades but last longer than most), casting is fantastic on spinning gear and it's not as load as some braid.

Pretty sure that's not a 110. The eye and body are different.

Try it with 6lb test FC, a toothpick rod and a lure with #12 trebles. Force will get you nowhere in any cover. Braid at any size is stronger but not always the right tool.

Hardbaits.....Megabass Great Hunting Flatside 70SP and the Megabass Baby PopX Soft plastic.... Geecrack Bellows Gill and a 5in Senko Honorable mention.... black and red jig with red and yellow craw trailer

I think the number sizing has become pretty generic over the years. Each company has their own version and description. Pretty much it's.... 70 to 100 = small 150 to 200 = medium 300 = large