Yudo1

I use casting gear for shakeyhead as well. The only technique I prefer spinning gear for is drop shots. My combo of choice is an NRX 852c with a steez and 10lb sniper.

50lb is the heaviest I go. I've never personally understood the need for 65 (or 80?!) pound line.

I have the sterling and really like it so far.

I just picked up a volkey bfs casting rod in November. I haven't used it yet, but I'm impressed with the quality.

SV spools are extremely versatile so use them for any technique you wish. The only issue is they are a bit more shallow so if you're using heavy line it will hold a little less line.

I use a KLX finesse casting rod, megabass x4 hedgehog and major craft volkey. All of these load and cast shad raps nicely paired with a pixy with ray's studio spool and T3MX with ray's studio spool. The only technique I prefer spinning gear for is vertical drop shots.

I think the 6.3 tatula sv will work nicely for your intended baits.

I strongly suggest saving a little more and getting a daiwa bg.

Kistler rods are one of my favorites. They are so light and sensitive. They have some kind of sale right now.

Both get great reviews, but I prefer the megabass. The 702sf is a really good multipurpose spinning rod while the megabass is designed specifically for drop shots. I also feel the xx series is more sensitive than the dx series.

A lot of people really like the berkley lightning shock. I don't personally have one, but hear great things about the rod and it seems like it would work well for your intended purpose.

I use sunline sniper. I'd also recommend using some type of line conditioner like kvd line and lure.

Do you have a budget? What techniques would you be using, just trolling?

Mono should be fine as a multipurpose leader.

Why don't you try counter-balancing with a rubber chair bumper and a couple of quarters on the butt of the rod? It's cheap, effective, doesn't alter the rod and you can get any rod you like.

My preference would be full cork.

1. ml/xf spinning rod with 2500 spinning reel 2. heavy/fast casting rod with 8.xx gear reel 3. mh/fast casting rod with 7.xx gear reel 4. med/fast casting rod with 7.xx gear reel 5. mh/moderate fast casting rod with 6.xx gear reel

It sounds like your spool bearings need cleaned.

In the less than $100 range I like the daiwa bg. In the $200 range, the tatula lt. So far I'm really liking my sterling tatula lt. I've shied away from the magsealed reels although I'm sure they're amazing.

BTW, the 852c is just plain awesome. It's my favorite smallmouth rod and does everything a spinning rod does for bass. The blank is the same as the 852s spinning rod and is just so versatile and sensitive.

I have a steez with diy long cast on my nrx852c and use it for weightless senkos and wacky rigs. I have my met mgl on an 893c and also use it for ikas and senkos and it throws them nicely. The met mgl/852 should work nicely.

If you find it tip heavy an easy fix is to use rubber chair bumpers and a few quarters on the butt. It works remarkably well.

You guys are awesome. If his favorite techniques are jig and worm, get him the NRX.

Just my opinion but the 89x series just has that "it" factor. For 3/8-1/2 you could also throw the 873crr into contention, but I suppose it would depend on the type of cover you're fishing. The 894 might be the rod you're looking for.

I say go with the 7'5".