Dye99

I use 20lb suffix 832 hi viz yellow braid to 10lb flouro leader. Never had any knot failures as of yet. But I fish alot of super clear lakes for smallies and it seems to work for me.

I just got one two weeks ago, taken it out three times now. Super lightweight, but feels very strong and hydraulic. Im really impressed with it actually. My main technic is wacky senko so I paired the 2500 zenon with a 852 Loomis NRX+ for a lightweight set up. My season is ending up here but I plan on getting another one in the spring for my 872 for tubes. I went with a JDM company to save money. Great reel!

For me Marabou feather jigs are great for smallies. I throw them out as far as possible and let them sink to the bottom, then slowly retrieve much like a spy bait. I dont jig it or change the retrieve cadence. Ive had the best luck with that. But everywhere is different. I use a Megabass Flyssa, Stradic 3000 with 8lb braid to a 30 ft 6lb leader and a 1/8th ounce jig.

Ive fished for 30+ years. Bass boats, kayaks, tournaments, as well as being a guide in the past. Thousands of hours on the water in multiple states. So yes, Im a rookie. I need more time on the water and after 50 years Ill get back to you.

I have not fished those models but my main SWB is a IMX pro 862c and I love it. Really glad I went with it over the other ones I was trying out. Gets alot of use chasing smallmouth. Paired it with a Shimano Alderbaron for medium to small soft swimbaits.

Ive heard great things about that rod. I took out my new p5 Flyssa today. Spybait heaven... Megabass has really stepped it up with the new US destroyers...

Shimano Alderbaron

Ive got 30lb braid on my frog rod from 2017....At this point Im just trying to see how long it goes. I throw into the worst stuff....Hoping for ten years.

THIS. Ive used many of the names in this thread in the last few months. Kinda late to the JDM market but I have to say...Japans Amazon is awesome. I just received my new Abu ZENON spinning reel today. super fast shipping, great price.

Yup, me too.

Alberto here. I use it on 10-6 all the time and rarely have issues. Sure there is better but Ive gotten to the point where I can tie it in the dark, with a 10mile wind so I aint changing up anytime soon!

Ive owned a grip of them over the years. Best that Ive found are HUK and Simms. Aftco is not bad. Im sure there is alot of crud out there but so far the only company that was NOT worth the money due to fit, shrinking, and cheap construction was Columbia.

I usually fish 4am-10 or 11am... So part of my routine is making a nice breakfast burrito the night before, and taking it and some pretzels or peanuts with me on the yak. Leave my lunch in the truck for when Im loading out. There is really something about watching the sun come up while chasing smallies and eating a burrito. Its glorious.

I fish smallies primarily and use TRDs alot. Ive tried everything under the sun, craws, leaches, you name it and nothing catches fish like a good ole regular ned.

when I first started frog fishing I would say that Im only out there to catapult the frog back at me at 100mph with the help of local fish. Nowadays it's second nature. Rarely drop a fish anymore. I just slow my set down, and enjoy it and don't over analyze.

We are a kayak fishing family. Wife and all three boys...We go at least once a week, often twice to our local fisheries and load in a 4am, paddle our butts off catching fish. Got the kids buying their own gear and bait now...The family has really taken to it. If we dont start them young chances they wont ever get into these days..

I really liked their stuff years ago. Then I had one break on a hook set. Not even a heavy hook set. I replaced it with another company while I sent it back to get a new SC. Weather changed and season ended but I did get my free rod out of it. Took it out the following spring, and it happened again with the new one. I took my reel off and threw it away. Ill never use their stuff again. With 35 years of bass fishing and owning alot of companies products Ive only had two rods break. Ever. And both were St Croix. If you have a good one and its dependable thats awesome, I wont use them ever again.

Fishing primarily for small mouth I use alot of spinning reels. So I think Ive got 6 and 6 or so bait caster to Spinning. Im also kinda a technic snob so I don't use rods for anything but what I set them up for. As in I dont run a jig on my wacky senko rig, or a spinnerbait on my topwater rod. Fishing out of a kayak I usually take 6 rigs with me. And they are ever changing due to conditions, time of year and so forth. The only constant set ups that go with me everywhere, every time are a weightless senko rig ( 852 NRX+/Shimano stradic ) and tube rod ( 872 NRX+/Shimano stradic ) Everything else sits at the house until the morning I leave and decide if its going. For me, senko and tube are my go to baits so I basically take those rods with me if Im taking a shower. If there is water and Im going to be around it, they are going.

I run braid to leader on my BFS stuff but for the most part I use straight braid. No issues with knots ( modified Alberto ) and it helps with small swimbaits. All my bait caster stuff is straight reaction so dont really need it.

The 200k Definitely has a place in my collection of reels. It's built like a tank and smooth. Thats all I can ask for. Its no Alderbaron but I would not trade it off.

For me there is two types of hooksets. Jigs, and everything else.

I havent gone to the trolling motor and I stopped the tourney action when all the boats starting going to motors. But I do have cameras, fish finders and a metric ton of other crap on the boat these days. I agree with you, it becomes a chore. I also keep one boat stock as they come, nothing but a seat, rods and tackle for ponds and when Im tired of taking 30 minutes at the launch!

Fished out of a bass boat as a kid, great times. Its how I learned how to fish in the first place. I prefer a different style of fishing as an adult though. Spent a few years overseas and earned myself a little trauma. Doc's said medication. I said exercise in the great outdoors. In the end I won. Been in the kayak since 06. The yak was a turning point in my life. I almost take it as spiritual as funny as it sounds. Silence, exercise, freedom, cost, and the people Ive met over the years in tourneys and on our lakes has been a real blessing. Yak fishermen still roll up and talk to each other. Here at least. And I stand in mine most of the time fishing. ( I own a bonafide, ATAK, and a Old town ) Im 52 now, and when my body starts to tell me I cant paddle anymore I'll get a bass boat, until then Im gonna be out there before light, paddling away. There is no wrong answer as long as your fishing.

thats like 4 rods for me. Maybe 5. Maybe windbuster.

Before moving to North Idaho I was primarily a largemouth guy so Ive been using weightless wacky for years. It's pretty much my main rig and the one I have the most confidence in. I take it out every single day I fish and spend much of my time throwing senkos. After moving up here I started going after Smallies with grubs, tubes and ned rigs since I was told wacky doesnt seem to work as well. When I did start throwing my weightless senkos I found they catch not only more fish, but bigger smallmouth. Im a firm believer the weightless wacky senko would catch a dolphin if need be. I use a 2/0 drop shot hook, 15lb suffix braid to 8lb leader on a Loomis NRX+ 852 with a 2500 stradic... Never go fishing without it, wacky is the way!