Don Preller

i have the actual 7ft medium expride also .That is a more traditional medium, stiffer tip and a powerful back bone. Iprefer it for senkos in laydowns and grass, shakey head small texas rig etc.

i have no experience with the 610. i own the 72.to me its not a medium. it has a pretty soft tip but it transitions pretty quickly to a stout back bone.its a great rod for ned drop shot light neko etc.

I own a spec r only in the orochi series. it was designed to be a single hook moving bait rod. i primarily use it for spinnerbaits swim jigs paddletails etc. it can also handle some light weight jigs and texas rigged stuff. i prefer a heavy moderate for bladed jigs but thats up to you.

do you primarily want to drop shot light line and nose hooked baits? then a medium light can be fine. do you want to texas rig with a little heavier leader (say 10LB) some medium light rods can do that expride 72 ml megabass adermine others will be too light and youll have to jump up to medium.

i have 360 and find it very useful. it will work with your helix units as long as they are newer units.when i pull up on a waypoint then turn the 360 on and feel like i can put my bait exactly on the cover . also when fishing deeper grass in spring i look for the thicker clumps and patches and pitch to them and usually get more bites. in summer i can tell exactly where the deep edge is in 17 feet or so and again look for thicker clumps or hard bottom right next to it. very useful.

first realize what is a good day on the waters you fish. not every body of water can pump out 20 pounds a day.second try to identify the type of lakes you have.Natural lake . highland reservoir, lowland reservoir etc. and the forage base that is in the lakes. also I think you got good advice above focus on 1 or 2 lakes and the river.As far as your electronics i use mine to find structure and cover more than fish. if i have a likely structure fir the time of year with cover on it in a reasonable depth zone for the season and theres bait around i fish it. Also as stated above find a couple moving bait techniques you are comfortable with and a couple slower techniques your comfortable with and focus on those. locating the fish is often more important than lure choice. hiring a guide is a good idea nit so much to catch a bunch of fish but to learn Why the guide is fishing where he is in general terms not neccesarilly the exact spot. Lastly im not an expert but i have improved alot in the last 10 years or so.

2 of my main lakes have shad ,2 dont. in the one with shad the fish seem to be around creek mouths but not shallow. the other the fish are mostly where they were all summer. both still have thermoclines around 25 feet. both still have fish related to grass. the stuff you see on youtube doesnt hold true everywhere. im told the fish should be in creeks going wild in the shallows? you fish like that here youll get lots of casting practice.

i like high end rods. i dont fish exclusively with them but enjoy the ones i have and plan to add more.for reels I agree stradics and curados give me great performance i dont feel i need anything more. Rain gear i feel is worth paying up for. my rain suit was $450 but when it rains im dry.my ultrex is worth every penny. when it really comes down to it i guess if you enjoy it then its worth it but there are certain items where the high end definetley out performs cheaper.

When the sluggo first came out they were unreal. you cold throw that thig on a shallow flat and twitch it a few times and watch fish come from 20 feet away to smash it. they had never seen anything like it before. they went nuts for it for the first couple years.

yamamoto d shad is a good one. big bite makes a few. bass assassin makes a few. Check tackle warehouse they have dozens f them.

i may strongly consider the 873c although they call it a carolina rig rod it is highly regarded as a great jig and texas rig rod which are 2 techniques i use alot.

usually the actions are a little crisper the rods a usually lighter and more sensitive. i have megabass loomis and high end stcroix. but not all my rods are high end. i have a bunch of exprides and a few zodias. there are plenty of great rods around the 200 dollar mark,you dont need the high end rods to catch fish or enjoy fishing. I use he high end rods because i enjoy using them and am fortunate enough to afford a few.But dont feel like you cand catch plenty of fish with less expensive rods.

nothing wrong with some over lap. hell i have 2 expride 72mh just becuase i use them for so many different things.

i have one. I use it with braid for topwater up to a half ounce or so.also good for sqaurebills in tight cover etc. ive never thrown a mini max on it but i think it would be just fine.

I feel like this is a somewhat under used technique . i like the option of having that worm hover up near the top of the grass just above their head.

i love my addermine. great for drop shot texas rigged or nose hooked also love it for neds and finesse paddletail swimbaits.

i love the mgl curados.

the 74 heavy mod would be great for big football jigs on rock. help keep them from throwing the heavy jig when the jump. for grass the 72 heavy would be my choice you just have to decide what your main jig application is.

i dont know about that particular model but i do have a zolo dragger that is nice. its got a softer action so i like it for heavy football heads etc.

sounds like its time for a new rod to me.

as stated the action is slightly slower. some people prefer that. it is still a fine rod for bottom contact etc and will let you throw some other stuff. Small cranks jerkbait small poppers etc.

if your getting burned out take a break. It will be good to let the elbow and shoulder rest anyway. September is a notoriously tough month most places too so you may want to go light that month also. by mid october when its starts getting cooler and the bite picks up youll be itching to go.

yes i use beast coast also riot tungsten minima if you can get them.

i think the same thing. it may be fine on slow water but i wonder on a big river like the susquehanna i wonder if its gonna have enough power to get up those shoots and rapids. maybe im wrong i obviously havent seen it.

bladed jig. ive caught some fish on them but i cant consistently catch fish on it. i hear guys raving about them but it just doesnt get results for me.