FishTank

I think people are getting this bait confused with the Freestyle. The Magdraft has a line through treble hook with a magnet to hold the hook in place. As far as a rate of fall goes for the 6in, it depends on line and water conditions but if I had to guess I would say it's about 1ft every 2-3 seconds. I have had the best luck running this bait in 3-6 feet of water and super slow. I like to use a 5.x:1 or 6.x:1 reel. If I retrieve it too fast it will actually role on its side and it will rise up quickly.

I would not use the Curado for saltwater. Take a look at the Tranx 150 and 200. Pretty much the same reel but made for saltwater.

Just another day on the water. I got lucky and was able to dodge the storm that rolled through Indiana. I barely saw a drop.

I have been using 16lb Sunline Xplasma for two years without changing on my primary spinning setup. It has exceeded all my expectations but I would not use it without leader. Considering the OP's situation, I would go up to the 18lb and use either 15lb or 20lb FC leader. I like Seaguar Gold Label the best so far. Another option mentioned above is Varivas. I have only tried two of their lines and so far I have liked Dead or Alive X8. It seems to be better suited to bass fishing. Another I have heard good things about is regular Varivas 8. The main thing for me with both of these lines is that they resist water well unlike Power Pro and 832, which seem to become a sponge the longer you use them. Being more resistant to water gives them better line lay and casting distance on a spinning reel. It won't entirely eliminate line loops but it helps minimize it. This will also depend on what reel you are using as well.

To me, as long as the guides work properly with the blank, it's not a big deal. The only time micro guides bother me, is when they are so small using a leader is impossible.

From another thread. https://youtu.be/zvzjcAI4Fxg

For that stuff, you should be fine. For me though, a 1/2 oz is pushing it with this reel so that would be my limit. For a rod, a 3 power NRX+. Depending on how fast you like the tip, the 843c and the 803c come to mind. Another that I like and I have it paired with a Steez SV, the St. Croix Legend Elite 6'8'' M Fast. It's not as sensitive as the NRX but works great for Texas Rigged soft plastic and bridges the gap between a Loomis's 2 and 3 power rods. I have caught tons of fish with this setup.

I have the Steez CT and to me it's more of a finesse reel. The drag is good but light and it has a slow start up. Also the handle is small. Not what I would be looking for in a pitching reel. I have mine paired with a G Loomis NRX+ 802C. I use it mainly for light shakey head (1/16 oz jig head and a roboworm).

How did you break it? I haven't fished mine a ton but when I do, I beat it up pretty hard, especially on my kayak. So far it has held its own.

Runcl on Amazon. I normally wouldn't recommend an off brand but this stuff has been pretty good. I have tried it on both spinning and casting gear. I wouldn't use it to replace Invizx, Tatsu or Sniper for FC but as hybrid I like it. The price is good too.

I have put almost 20 hours in on fishing the Sleeper Gill with no fish. I was ready to give up, then this happened.

6lb Seaguar Invizx or 6lb Sunline Sniper Finesse. These lines are similar but both work great. To be honest, I would stay with the braid to FC leader. I like Sunline Xplasma and Seaguar Gold Label for leader. Also, I would invest in a smaller sized reel.

Performance and durability..... Shimano Calcutta 251. Built like a tank and will probably last a lifetime or two. As just a reel that surprised me.... Quantum Vapor. Smooth as any reel I have and casts well but it does feel cheap in hand. For the price I paid, it has been fun to fish.

Megabass Valkyrie 7'1'' H Med-fast. Great rod so far. With the spiral wrapped guides and the way it loads, I can bomb a frog to another zip code. It's both sensitive and powerful but not light. It balances well with bigger to mid sized reels. With all that said, it's not bad for jigs, swimbaits and big crankbaits as well. It's somehow strangely versatile.

I need to fix something I said above... I mentioned a Steez HD but I meant the HCL. My fault. It would have driven me crazy if I didn't take care of this.

Seen an old timer catching one catfish after another using a spinning reel upside down this weekend. I couldn't argue with the results. Seemed crazy to me.

Got it. The Zillion HD sounds like it makes sense then. On paper it looks like you would get the best of both worlds. A smaller platform, more line capacity and a larger power handle. My only thing would be the larger spool and the brake system. Daiwa's HD reels have been known for handling bigger baits well but not small to regular (check out the reviews on the Steez HD). If the braking system to me can handle a Senko and a 1/8oz bullet weight like the regular Zillion then this would make for an awesome reel.

Just an observation, why would you want an HD reel with more line capacity to cast in tight quarters? I usually use a lighter, but strong reel (Steez SV or Metanium) so I can make small accurate pitches, flick or roll casts when I'm in tight places. I would also use a shorter rod under 7 foot long. Just in case, when I say tight places, I mean coves, tight spots around docks and narrow water ways. When I think of the Zillion HD (which I don't have yet), I think of it as a reel I would use for topwater, deep cranks, and swimbaits or even heavy casting jigs.

Sorry it took awhile to get back. I was fishing Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Basically, I let it sink to the bottom, let it sit, and jerk it low with the rod just below parallel to the water. This allows the weight, at least it feels that way, to ride up the line allowing the bait to move freely. I then pop it up and down. Unlike a Texas Rig, the weight travels up the line and with Texas Rig the weight stays closer to the bait. Getting a feel for the slack line you create is key. Which is also different from a Texas Rig and more like a Carolina Rig. Also, I have tried different line and fluorocarbon is almost a must but I would definitely not use braid. Here Glenn explains it pretty well. There also some videos from The Hook Up Tackle.

When I saw this in an ICAST video, all I could think of was this scene from Big and the guys at St.Croix in a room discussing how this was a good idea......

I use it for anything I can Texas Rig. I like using an 1/8th oz weight. My favorite baits are the Bellows Gill, lizards and the Dolive Craw. I think of it the same way as a Carolina Rig but the weight travels up the line allowing the bait to float and move freely behind the weight. Once you figure out how to pop the weight up the line when it reaches the bottom, it's money.

Could you post a Pic to give us a better idea? DVT might have some insight.

I like the G. Loomis 844C NRX+ or the 873C CCR NRX. I use a 1/4oz wobble head or shakey head.

You will get tired of throwing that big bait no matter what...... Not my thing but Megabass Destroyer TS line. Asian Portal Fishing..... Good luck.

The Shimano Core 101Mg. This isn't my original. The first one was lost overboard and I was lucky to find this one on Ebay. It was super tuned and all bearings replaced with orange seal ceramics. It is perfect in every way. The Core has always been my favorite but these Shimano reels from that era seem to last better than any of the other reels I have owned. Each one of these is 10+ years old and work perfectly.