LCG

I used to take a backpack full of lures and plastics. I realized after a season that I was bringing way too much, wasn't throwing 80% of what I had. I have also experienced throwing everything in the bag and never really finding a pattern or paying attention to the surroundings and what I now know as important factors such as environment, weather, season, forage, etc. Nowdays, I carry a Plano 3500 double sided box. One side has plastics, the other hard lures. Still far more than I would throw in a single day, but not heavy at all and still enough variety to cover my basis and what I like to fish. Usually take two rods, which ones I take depends on varying factors such as weather, temp, wind, time of year, etc. Which will dictate what I will probably throw that day. My go to plastics are zman trd and TRD craws, BPS stick-o in watermelon red and junebug, Big bite baits 4" Creature bait in junebug red, big bite baits 4" Yo Mama beaver style bait in Talapia, and a black trick worm. Lures include 5/16oz spinnerbaits, 3/8 oz chatterbait, black and blue jig, hollow body Frogs, and squarebills.

Maybe try using the rop tip to move the bait, then reel in the line while dropping the tip of the rod, but still keeping some tension to avoid loose line from being spooled in the reel. Forgot to mention I also stop the line with my finger at the end of the cast. You mentioned you close the bail manually, so that a good start. Just be sure to pull the line tight before reeling and you should be good to go. We have a lot of pike in my area as well. I have lost a few lures to them. I don't fish for them often, but a good buddy uses 65 braid as a leader to his 20lb braid main line and it works for him. Personally, I don't run into them often enough to worry about it too much. My spinning set up is 20lb braid to a 6lb leader. Two Casting set ups use 30lb braid to 10lb leader and another has 40lb straight braid (15lb leader sometimes).

A couple things may help here. After the cast, close the bail by hand, then tighten the line with your hand before reeling. This stops line twist and loose line from getting into the spool, which is a big factor in getting wind knots. When casting in the wind, try to keep the cast low as well. This stop your line from bowing and ultimately reeling in slack line. As for the knot... I use a uni to uni knot, but I know a lot of people use the Alberto so I don't think that's the issue. You will always hear and feel the knot passing through the guides, regardless of knot type. If the guides are too small, then the 15lb line may be too thick in diameter, once the knot is tied. You could try going down in leader length strength, maybe 10-12lb and see if that helps. Or you may need to look for a rod with larger guides. And definitely use snap swivels for inline spinners spoons. A few years ago, I had horrible line twist that resulted in the line not spooling correctly, couldn't figure it out. Then I realized I was throwing inline spinners tied direct for most of the day. The line was stacked to one side of the spool and wind knot after wind knot. Now, I still use inline spinners, but they get tied with a snap swivel.

Senko, spinnerbaits, and Ned.

What size weight are you using? I find that thumbing the spool and stopping it when it hits the water, then immediately take your thumb off to let the bait free spool down below the cover works best for me.

Hook sets are dependent on how you rig the bait. Ie texas rig set hard, wacky reel down and sweep. Regardless of spinning or baitcasting. It's about the diameter of the hook, if the hook is exposed, or buried in the plastic. I tend to play the fish more with spinning outfits. I fish wacky usually on spinning and weightless Texas rig senkos on baitcasting. Ned's are usually on spinning but the MGL can do it as well. There is a lot of overlap between my spinning set up and my casting set up with the MGL reel, but enough difference to use both. I use 20lb braid to leader. The reason is for versatility. Usually tie a 6lb leader, if around some Vegetation or light wooded area then I can tie on a 10lb leader. If I need to go straight braid, remove the leader. Braid had no memory, which makes it great to use on spinning reels. Super sensitive, with a tight line. From what I hear Tatsu is some of the best line out there, but I have not used it personally. I am braid to leader on all set ups. Tried straight mono, but it's not for me.

Seriously considering a Shimano Bantam with a Curado K handle. Don't need it, but you know how it goes

I love finness fishing as well. Ned rig, drop shot, wacky, weightless senko, etc. I also have both a Shimano Stradic FL 2500 and a Shimano SLX MGL 71. They can both handle each presentation with the appropriate rod of course. I use the MGL for casting smaller spinnerbaits and chatterbaits as well. Some days I prefer the spinning combo, other days I prefer the baitcasting combo. The fun of drag pulling from a spinning reel is pure joy. The accuracy of the casting combo is perfect for target casting. A lot of times I will take both out.

Maybe try the other direction... Reaction lures such as spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, square bill crankbaits. Could be they are just in a funk, but sounds like they are actively feeding.

I don't use Fluoro, too many issues and I don't really buy into the less visible factor. I keep going between braid to mono leader, straight braid, or straight mono (big game). I still can't figure out which I like most, probably braid to leader. I think a lot of it comes down to rod power and action and the hook sets. I am just so used to short hook sets that I don't always hook them as well with mono, but the fish do seem to get the bait better with mono. I also fish from a kayak alot, so you lose some of the leverage being on a floating plastic kayak as opposed to being on a boat or the bank where you have an advantage of being firmly planted. I tried yo zuri hybrid, but the stretch was the same as mono, so don't really see the benefits.

I have been looking at the TP-1 Black rod with the same specs. May I ask what line you're using? No experience with a moderate fast, but kind of curious.

I will raise a 3rd option... Braid to leader.

Tons of great rods for the price. I have used and would recommend BPS Carbonlite 2.0, Fenwick HMG, St croix Mojo Bass, Dobyns Fury, and probably a few others that I can't think of at the moment. I would narrow down what components you prefer ie. Cork handles vs foam vs winn grips, regular vs micro guides, etc.

I have done a few reels and messed a few things up along the way. What I have learned is that you need to take it slow, take pics, have a parts tray, watch those springs as they love to go flying, have the reel schematic (google your reel), wait until the wife, kids, pets are away

Check out tackle tour website, they have some detailed write ups on various models in the review archive section. From personal experience, I love the Curado K.

I believe that the weight of the two reels is very close, but the stradic feeling much more robust and smoother, but not an apples to apples comparison. The president xt is an excellent reel from my experience and hard to beat for the price.

I had 2 president xt's 30 for 2 years, it was a good real, no complaints. I sold them to upgrade to a Stradic FL, but the president xt was a solid real.

I own 3 carbonlite 2.0 rods. 6'8" M-Xf spinning rod 6'6" M-f casting rod 6'9" MH-XF casting rod Love these rods. Very comfortable, plenty sensitive, they have been durable, and I like the actions of the blanks.

Weightless Texas rigged senko.

I love mine. It's a tank, with silky smooth drag and the power to match. Great reel.

Pitching isn't about distance, it's about a smooth, quiet entrance into very tight spaces. Accuracy is key. I practice all winter indoors using a rubber plug and pitch down the hallway about 25ft or so. I work on pitching the practice plug and getting to land where I am aiming with the plug not bouncing. This is the perfect pitch when on the water. Keep it low, smooth, and feather the spool with your thumb for that soft landing, and raise your rod tip upon entry to help ease it without a splash.

That's on my list as well. I bought a lot of extra line

I have it paired with a Shimano stradic FL 2500, spooled with 20lb braid to 6lb mono leader. I use this combo for Ned rigs, neko rigs, weightless trick worms, wacky rigged senkos, pretty much anything finness. Have used it with light cranks, inline spinner, and really light spinnerbaits if I don't have one of my other rods with me. If the cover is thicker, then I get rid of the leader and fish straight braid. I adjust my drag accordingly. It's a medium power so the xf action isn't super stiff, it gets to the power part of the blank quick but loads well from there. I have landed some nice size fish, up to 6lbs, with this set up. It's rated for 1/8 - 1/2oz and I tend to stay in the middle range 3/16-3/8oz. I have become a huge fan of the Carbonite rods. Their durable, sensitive, super comfortable, and decently affordable.

Fellow Canadian here, I have 3 carbonlite 2.0 rods from Bass Pro Shops and I really like their 6'8" M-Xf spinning rod. Might be worth checking out.

Senkos and trick worms both texas rigged and/or Wacky are must haves for me. Never leave home without them.