Oklahoma Mike

My local Academy has these on sale right now. I think they were $5. I just picked up a couple yesterday.

I fish them both with (most of the time) and without trailers (sometimes). Usually it's a paddle tail, sometimes a grub or craw.

I use a pair of cut and puncture resistant work gloves and cut out the finger and thumb on my right hand so I can work both casting and spinning gear. These are the ones I normally use: https://www.amazon.com/19-D622-Seamless-Dyneema-Polyurethane-Fingers/dp/B005NJNT9W They serve a dual purpose for me. Number one is protection from the sun. Number two is that I don't accidentally stick myself with sharp hooks like I used to. They are inexpensive and work great.

If price is important, get the Okuma. If you aren't that concerned with price I would probably go with another option. I had the TCS Mat Daddy and thought it was a decent rod but just wasn't what I was looking for and ended up selling it. The IMX is a better rod but is double the price. The Dobyns Champion 805 that Tom mentioned above is also a great choice, but is about $100 move up from the TCS. I'm currently using Hammer's 7'11" micro flipping stick and have been very happy with it - very light, sensitive, and plenty of backbone. I think it was right at $200. Really just comes down to personal preference and how much you want to spend.

I have the rapala bag that Cabelas sells. It holds (8) 3700 boxes, plus has lots of pockets and a spot for pliers. I use this when I am on a boat or fishing a body of water that I can roll right up to in my truck. For all other bank fishing, I use a backpack that is made to carry a laptop. I've tried many different types of backpacks and have yet to find anything as handy as the laptop type.

It depends on a couple of things, but the bigger consideration IMO is where you'll be fishing it. In open water/around moderate cover? Get the 6-6" or even a 7'. If you're going to be throwing it around heavy brush piles or drop them in hollow stumps with pinpoint accuracy, go for the shorter stick.

Came here to say this^ Yes, the Tatula is a better reel. But those BPS PQ's are a good vale at their regular price point and a steal at $50. Get 2 of them and slap one on your next rod.

Right before I leave the house.

I would consider a slip shot weight there in lieu of the bullet weight.

Swimbaits, punching, A-rigs

Everything I've heard so far about the redesigned GLX has been positive. I was happy to hear that and was thinking about picking one up, but now you having me giving that second thoughts, @TxHawgs. I'd be curious to hear what you dislike about them.

It's a quality blank but overall I just don't think it's a great value in its price range. One of my biggest issues with that rod is the cheap guides. In that range I feel like there are a ton of better options out there. St. Croix, Hammer, iRod, and Falcon all have better offerings at that price point IMO.

http://www.jackall-lures.com/content/jackall-north-america/en/Home/Products/jigs/dressed/spade-spider-jig.html

I had heard they were going to be selling them for $50 apiece and figure I'll buy a couple of them. I don't really need them, but they are a very solid reel at that price, and definitely worth grabbing for backups or loaners.

I am not married to any one brand and will buy what I feel is the best reel for whatever purpose I want it to serve. I have mid and high end reels from practically every manufacturer. One of these is a Team Lews Lite LFS, and it is on of my favorite reels. I like it every bit as much as the Aldebaran.

6-1/2" Biospawn Plasma Tail

$50 for a GL2? I'd have jumped on that. I have a 853S JWR that gets used a as much as any other rod in my arsenal. They were in the $200 range when they came out.

You should give this a try: https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/YGK_G-Soul_Upgrade_X-8_Braided_Line/descpage-YGKGUX8.html?from=basres I have had a love/hate relationship with Gliss. I appreciate the casting distance, but overall it is just a bit too limp for me and I have had some heartbreaking snap-offs. I recently bought a spool of the Upgrade X-8 and have had it out 4 or 5 trips now, and I think it will become my new go-to line for spinning gear. It is very thin like Gliss with exceptional casting but is more firm, and so far seems to have better abrasion resistance and knot strength. I'll see how it holds up over this season.

Its very easy. Here's a step by step guide for you: Step 1: Throw it in the water. Step 2: Reel it in. Step 3: Take off fish.

I use my boomerang on all line types, and the blades definitely do dull over time. I get a solid year out of it before I start thinking about replacing it. Not that big a deal - I just look at it as a consumable item. Now I should qualify this by noting that I've never tried using it strictly for braid, but I assume it would likely keep its edge a little longer if I did. Just not worth carrying two different line cutting tools to find out.

I have one that's spooled up with 40lb Smackdown. I use it for flipping and it works just fine for that application.

I don't feel the need to replace the trebles on any of my LC baits.

Which one did you go to, 41st & Sheridan or 81st & Mingo? I will go check the other one.

I fish the 4.8" swing impact fat on a 4/0 and they run perfect at any speed. The only time I've ever had any problem with them has been when I rigged them sloppy and pinched the bait up from inserting the hook too close to the front or just not getting it in there reasonably straight. And I have fished them a lot - between the Keitech and the Rythm Wave, I have probably thrown those two baits more than any other over the last couple years and 95% of the time it is weightless. I am honestly surprised to hear that this many people are having trouble with them.