Wprich

Backing should never be seen while fishing so it shouldn't affect performance imo. I usually use some 8# line that I got laying around to use as backing on my spinning reels nothing special. It's just there to help fill the spool a bit before the braid and prevent braid from spinning freely on the spool like it does when tied directly on some reels.

From your list Smackdown but I prefer Sunline SX1 or Asegai

Thanks man I forgot to add it lol

Conquest or NRX+ mbr model like 843C or 844C I have 2 of them in the conquest line and love them. I started upgrading my gear myself around this time last year and was lucky to pick them up at good prices as my do all casting rigs finesse jigs, jackhammers, spinner air, swimjigs, Texas rigs, even threw cranks on them. I have a few croix legend elite(same blank as legend X) spinning rods that I love also and would imagine the casting rods would be great as well.

Tacklewarehouse.com memorial day sale is active if your on email list got link at 12:01 and placed a order already myself using it.

I don't have any exact duplicates but I do have other rods that serve the same function at a lower price that goes for all my spinning and fly rods. I mainly have them for spares when I take a friend out and for when I make my 1or 2 trips to salt and don't want to risk damaging my best rods.

Awesome that reel may be my next gear purchase in a few months need to let my wallet cool off a bit now lol

How do you like the CT? I have been in the process of upgrading my gear since around mid last year and I have been thinking of a light casting rig like a NRX 852C/842C with a Steez CT on it.

I hope so I have a Steez SV that I have been loving last couple months but didn't want to buy another one at $550....................................yet lol

A beautiful Zillion came in the mail today hopefully I'll get to try it out this coming week throwing some Jackhammers.

My limited time fishing them I've been leaving them whole but if I felt I was getting short strikes I wouldn't hesitate to shorten the Zako

Sorry about that just found out it starts on the 26th

Tacklewarehouse.com sale may already be active https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/catpage-SEASONSALE.html?from=basres

Loved the space monkey used to fish it as a top water. Your right it was probably the least advertised Rage bait. Only certain baits in the line seem to get attention I've realized they reduced the lizards to only 4 colors, discontinued the rage crappie grub, and others like the rage shellcracker and thumper are just hard to find.

I use a 6'10" MLXF legend elite. Pretty sure St. Croix has a 7'6" in several models that are MLXF as well which would lend themselves to finesse and Loomis makes the 901 & 902(7'6") NRX and Conquest models. I just went with the 6'10" for fear the longer rods would be too soft and wippy for me but they would likely give you longer casts in turn.

This^^^^

Yeah I know what's on the package is just for the head of the bait and not the total bait. The total weight is just enough that the 3/16 weighs about 1/4 and the 1/4 weighs about 5/16 in my experience with them. I figure the screw lock, hook, and the glob of paint they put on them is what pushes the total weight up.

Try these in 1/4 I've weighed them myself(1/8-1/4) on my scale and their shaky heads always weighed heavier than advertised. https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Megastrike_Shake2_EWG_Pro_Model_Shakey_Heads_4pk/descpage-MEGAEWG.html

Love that conquest model so much I got a 2nd

Shimano Exsence spinning reel it's just so light and a joy to use and love the blacked out look. Casting is my steez sv tw I got back into casting gear this year and it made the transition so easy for me. Used it yesterday to throw chatterbaits hooked a few bass and no backlashes whatsoever. It's smooth as silk, beautiful, great drag, and love the breaking system.

Shimano Conquest 843c and Steez SV TW this is my setup for 5/16 and 3/8 ounce jigs

Sunline Xplasma Asegai and Seaguar Smackdown

I've had same issue to an extent and I have a nrx 852S/872S and a Conquest 842S. I feel fish much better on the NRX models. With the Conquest 842S it's been many times that like you I went to pick up or move a bait mainly Ned's and Neko rigs and had a fish on that got off because I was late to setting hook. I've noticed the nrx to me has either a ting like sensation or sudden absence of contact feeling for me when a fish bites while the conquest 842S it's a noticeable thump IF I feel it. I think it comes down to the different tips of each and the different guide train that make the NRX more sensitive.

NRX+ 852S didn't like it at first but now I can't go to lake without taking it and fishing it. Got other rods that I use for certain techniques but I'll throw anything on the 852S light texas rigs(hawgs, lizards, craws), shaky, neko, small swimbaits, and probably the best wacky spinning rod I've ever held.

I like the outkast tackle sleeves have them on all my rods https://www.omniafishing.com/p/outkast-slix-spinning-rod-cover/color*black__blue--material length*6'