kstephes033

When you have a fish back in the thick stuff, you want to get their head up and keep them up, less chance of losing them that way vs trying to "winch" them out when they bury. Plus the whole winching them out aspect seems to be a bit overblown, i have no trouble winching one out with an 8:1 at all. If they do get buried, best bet to get them out is to try and keep them pinned right under the mat and go get them, again the 8:1 comes into play there as you are just keeping tension on them and reeling as you turn the trolling motor up to 100 to go get em.

7.3 is more of the all around now, can use it for moving baits and bottom contact baits, whereas the 8.1 is geared more to bottom contact baits in general as you are using the speed to pick up the slack line or reeling in to make another cast/pitch/flip. Really depends on what rod and technique you are looking to use it for.

you should be able to rocket those lures out there. i would honestly be using heavier braid for what you are using, actually personally id be using mono since moving baits and topwater is involved, something like a sunline supernatural in 16lb. Mono will be more forgiving on casting as well, may allow you to lighten up the breaks and chuck it a bit easier, braid, especially smaller braid seems like it does get ahead of itself and backlash when you really try to throw it as hard as you can. Being you are using moving baits, i would suggest something more mod-fast for the action of the rod, mh should be fine. That will allow you to load up the rod on the cast more as well allowing for more distance, then pick something in your desired length, although i wouldnt go under 7'3" if you really want better distance.

The new tatula elite is an awesome rod. I have the 7' ML which i use for dropshots with 1/4 and 3/8oz weights, usually a wacky senko or roboworm as the bait of choice. Good tip for working the bait, great sensitivity, very light weight and comfortable. I was thinking of the cronos last season, glad i waited though as these new tatula elites fish well above their price point IMO.

Depends if it allows you to walk the frog well or not. I personally would not want an XH as it will tend to not have enough tip to walk a frog well. Also prefer a little longer rod, something in the 7'3"-7'6" range. That helps you to get longer casts, as well as better hookups at a full cast and winching the fish out, or helping to keep it on top with the extra length.

I have 4 of them, use them for jigs, t-rigs, and frogs. I did find the reel seat being a bit uncomfortable until i put an okuma reel on it and now it is very comfortable. Also the newer lews reels are comfortable on them as well. As for frogging, i personally think it is an awesome frog rod, loads up and will launch a frog, has enough tip for me to walk a frog very well (been using the terminator frog and trimmed the legs a little with one side just a bit shorter than the other to help it walk), it is very light and very well balanced. All in all a very good rod for the price, especially since you can find it for around $110 on some sites.

If you like it go with it. Personally i didnt like how it palmed. Was nice but it was not comfortable for me, if you find it comfortable then go with that in the 7:1 speed. Sounds like you are settled on the Curado, so go that route, if you dont like it you will always be able to sell it and pick up a tatula or fuego instead.

Gotta learn to cast and pitch left handed so you can keep reel in right hand! haha. Other option would be the new Daiwa Fuego CT, great little reel and does come in the 8:1 left hand... also could look at daiwa tat ct type r that comes in 8:1 lefty, you can find for just a little more than the regular ct.

Do you only need a driver, 5 iron, and putter for golf? Sure you could do it, but it would not make for the easiest or most pleasurable, or efficient time on the golf course. Same goes for fishing, different tools for different applications help to fish more efficiently which can result in more fish. You can certainly get away with using only a couple reels, but whats the fun in that? To the OP, get the fastest reel you can for bottom contact techniques. Looking at what you have, i would use the lews for cranking (you can always slow down, but you cant speed up fast enough sometimes with a slower reel), the daiwa for an all around reel, then get a Tatula CT 8:1 for your bottom contact as that allows you to pick up line to make the next cast faster, as well as pick up slack line much quicker. Also when a fish makes a run straight at you, it is very nice to have the fastest available reel, still cant catch up to them sometimes, but sure makes it easier than a 6:1 reel.

They are awesome. i own most of the lineup now. Depending on what you are wanting to use it for will depend on the model. The 7'3" MH Ehrler model is a great multi purpose rod, i have used swim jigs, weightless senkos, 1/4 and 3/8oz t-rigs, finesse jigs, swimbaits all on this rod. I wouldnt personally use anything over a 3/8oz trig on it as once you get to 1/2oz with plastic it feels a bit overloaded to me. The 7'1" H Montgomery rod is very nice for a little heavier stuff, 3/8 to 1/2oz is good on that rod. Otherwise if you are wanting something with a bit more power then you would need to look up at the elite ags series at either the 7'4" H or 7'6" H, but that jumps in price a good amount. The one i have yet to try is the 7'3" H Omori rod, nobody has them in stock, but i would imagine that would be an excellent 1/2oz jig and t-rig rod once we are able to get them.

Megabass Perfect Pitch or Daiwa Tatula Elite 7'4" Heavy and a Daiwa Steez TW A with either. Otherwise the Tatula CT Type R would be my next bet for reel.

It seems to me that all of the new BPS reels are actually made by the same manufacturing company that makes lews. If you look at them side by side they are near identical other than colors and branding, so more than likely pick whichever one you like better and should be essentially the same reel, as im sure all the parts are the same. The BPS does have carbon fiber handle and a little less line capacity, otherwise bearings, drag, and weight are identical.

The Rods and reels are both awesome. I have the 7' ehrler rod, and have been using it for weightless d-shad/flukes/senkos so far, plan on using it for finesse jigs as well. Paired with the Tat SV and it is awesome. I actually have accumulated most of the lineup now, they are all awesome rods. Very well balanced, the right actions, crisp, sensitive, comfortable to use, and personally i like the looks as well. They have some winners with these and the Tat sv to go with them.

I would get both in your hand and see which profile you like better. Personally i couldnt stand the new citica/curado frame, but i love my CT's. You can get the CT type R for under 150 a lot of places, and would be worth the upgrade for sure from the regular ct. As for shimano you can as stated usually find the Curado for right around 150, and that again would be worth the upgrade imo.

I had the poison adrena of that rod and it worked well, i thought it was a little on the stiff side when a fish was buttoned up i felt, also just a tad on the long side for me. Im 6'1" and the 6'10" i hit the water while jerking down with that rod. The Zodias i do believe they make in a ML 6'10" as well which would be the better choice for what i like. I tend to like a little more bend with my jerks and cranks to help keep them pinned.

What else are you planning on using it for other than jerkbaits? The new daiwa tatula elite 6'9" ML jerkbait/topwater rod is a great rod, perfect bend for jerkbaits when a fish loads up on it and works the bait well. Another option that I got and didnt plan on using for jerkbaits is the Okuma Scott Martin TCS 6'9" MH. It is more of a medium and is a mod-fast type action and works very well for them. It also makes a great popper rod and can be had for around $100 on some sites and the auction site. By far the best if you spend a little more is the Megabass jerkbait special, it is the perfect jerkbait rod imo, and i have tried a bunch until i found one that worked the way i wanted it too. The Tatula Elite is very similar though for a much smaller price tag.

Sensitivity is the biggest upgrades from any mono to FC. FC for bottom baits i think is a must in scenarios you wouldnt use braid. Personally i use FC on 24 of my 30 casting combos. The only time i use mono is for topwater, and only for whopper ploppers and prop baits at that. Any bottom contact bait and any moving bait you get more sensitivity/feel when using them. Moving bait wise it really helps in being able to feel what the bait is doing, or more importantly what it isnt doing. Being able to feel if a crank or chatterbait for instance has some weeds on it will make the difference in a wasted cast or something you can rip and create that erratic action needed to get a bite. Bottom contact wise, it just makes a huge difference feeling everything. You can tell much easier what you are dragging across, if you are hitting something hard like rock vs something that gives like wood, etc. I would say try a spool of Seaguar Red Label, you can get a 200yd spool for around $13, put it on one of your bottom contact combos, and use it side by side with another combo using the same bait to see if the difference is worth it to you.

If you like daiwa's i would strongly suggest taking a look at the new tatula sv reel with the tatula elite rods. I would say you would want the 7'3" H model. I have a couple of the 7'3" MH and that would be just on the light side. Otherwise you could do the Megabass orochi XX Perfect Pitch which i have 2 of for 1/2-3/4oz jigs and is the best i have found, pair it with a Tatula CT or regular tatula and be setup right around $400 total.

I guess i dont understand this comment based on my answer? I was answering the OP's question about those of us that have used red label line and what our thoughts are. Obviously i knew the answer as i was answering the question posted... And yes, i do agree with the others that line conditioner does help, but thats true with any floro or mono in general.

I have used that line exclusively for my floro over the last 4 years now and have not had an issue. Now i do tourney fish, and i respool at the beginning of the season, and at minimum at least once during the season, sometimes 2-3 more times on my more used combos. I have no problem paying for something like invisx or other higher end floro, i just havent ever had an issue with this line, weather its my main line on over 20 combos, or leader for my spinning stuff, it is always good to me. I also dont buy it from walmart, i order it through TW as i just dont trust wally world line just sitting on the rack/back room for who knows how long. I use the 10, 12, 15, and 20, for cranking to heavy flipping.

I have used both and still own the DSR. I use my DSR for exactly what you are planning on using it for. I was using the EMTF for 1/2oz chatters and it was just a little on the light side for me for that, so actually sold it. The dsr is dedicated for me to 3/8oz chatters usually with a rage craw trailer, and swimbaits in the 3.5-5" range with a 1/4oz or lighter head, so right in line with what you are planning on using it for.

Okuma Mat Daddy is legit. The handle takes a little getting used too but it is a beast, super lightweight, and very well balanced. Best rod i think that is out there for the money when you can go onto many sites and get it right around $100.

Spend or save up a little more and try to find a used Megabass Orochi XX Perfect Pitch, usually can be had for around $200 used. This is an unbelievable jig rod, works awesome for texas rigs as well, and just to top it off is an amazing frog rod.

So anything lighter than 1 oz makes a little difference. If you are usually using between 1/4-1/2 oz then those rods would work, if you are looking at using 3/8-3/4 range then i would look for a little heavier rod. I personally cant stand st croix, they are all very tip heavy from the triumph's all the way up to the legend xtreme's, and i cant stand a rod not being balanced. That being said some people dont really care, but if you do i would stay away from st croix. The Lews rods i would go with if you are looking at the heavier range of baits would be either the 7'2" Heavy fast LMGR model, or the 7'2" MH fast LMBR2 model. Those are both a little beefier rods and can handle the 1oz if needed, but range wise would be more in the 3/8-3/4 spot. I have also had the duckett ghost 7'3" MH and that would handle what you would be doing as well, although i was not a fan of the guides, the carbon lites are good in the sensitivity department for sure, i had a 7' M for finesse jigs and it worked well, but not sure how light they are or the balance being thats the only one i have used.

How much weight are we talking for said baits? The lews custom rods are pretty dang good for the money. The 6'10" Medium Mod Fast would work as an all around rod, i have one and they are a little stronger than a normal medium Model:LSPS, or could look at the 7'2" MH Fast which is a very versatile rod as well Model:LFJR. Those 2 rods are both extremely light, i have put a daiwa pixy, abu mgx, lews magnesium and team lite on both rods and they are all very comfortable and well balanced. Both would work for the techniques stated.