MidwestF1sh

..... The only really good comment from a pro staffer. I do like the denali kovert for how durable it is and its decently sensitive but I just can't get used to how heavy and unbalanced it is for the price.

Really surprised nobody else has commented... Imperative? No, but it is nice The idea behind it is you want a super soft tip to shake the worm and not move the weight but have enough power and sensitivity to drive the hook home. I don't think you would have a problem with your ML rod. Once you get used to it who knows, you might like it better. Its a lot of preference and feel.

Hey, welcome to the forums! Feel free to introduce yourself in the introduction section. As for the rod I don't have experience with either of those but I will say I have a 7'2" medium extra fast drop shotting rod and love it. I want a Powell medium light rod for another drop shot rod and shakey head but if I had one I am very happy with my 7'2" medium rod. I'm sure somebody with experience with those rods will chime in and help you out.

No problem!

I have a a handful of them and they're 2 3/4" nose to tail.

I can measure one in a bit

I agree with rippin lips! Very tip heavy.

I don't mind my denali kovert (not worth the $$$ IMO) but as for the J2s I can't stand them.

I like the rule, as long as you can hold your breath but that doesn't mean drag the fish up the sloped shoreline, pin it to the ground to get the hook out and release it. Handle it with care and maybe only start measuring fish if they're "big" to you.

I guess what I was trying to say is action won't really change much. The weight and balance and sensitivity is what you pay for. If you find a cheap rod that you like by all means get it! Don't mean to change the subject but just saw you're in MN and your pb is 7-8lbs. Did you catch that in MN?

.... Expensive rod.... They are probably all just fast actions rods that you bought.

I believe they discontinued it this summer. I believe the rod in its place is the lithium.

Same thing in the store. I've never tried the live series but I guess I'm going to next year...

Went to cabelas about to walk out with nothing... Then I saw a bin of lucky crafts for $5.99. Crazy how fast $100 can be spent!

There's a ton of those in MN! I'm closer to the metro so those are the only ones I am familiar with. Google classic bass tournaments. It lists all the tournaments in MN. Just find a small local club in your area on their. I will say theres always gonna be somebody with the big bass boat rig.

In all honestly givin what the OP said he was stuck with. If it was on my home lake where I don't need a locator to tell me where all the hidden rock piles and brush piles are out deep then yes but realisticly no. Almost nobody could beat KVD except Aaron martens!

Well said flyfisher!

Should be a good game in Denver but I think (hope) the pack should pull it off.

You sure we're talkin the same ish??Id agree tho on the fact it'd be fun to even just sit in the boat with any of those guys.

Ive never broke ice for em but I've drilled holes through the ice for them. Caught them well into the negatives but in a nice (somewhat warm) fish house.

I did extremely well with the shadow rap this year. Deep and shallow. It has great action and I had a ton of fish hit it on the pause. Killed the largemouth in the spring and the rest of the summer got some big smallies. The only downside is it isn't the easiest to cast far with wind. I stocked up with about 5 shallow and 5 deep.

My cabelas had LC pointers and some LC square bills and lippless for $5.99

I like the idea of the guess what's on deck game! It sounds interesting. Try to find a short video segment or a photo and post it on here with a different rod than he is sponsored by.

For cranks don't want a fast action and for deep cranks you need a long rod to cast those big plugs out far.

That's one thing with revos is there drags go out after a few years. just replace the drag washers. Very easy to do. Just watch a YouTube video on it.