LCG

Always follow the manufacturers recommended lure rating and you will be fine.

When you guys Texas rig the larger 5in version, do you peg the weight?

In a word... Sexy

I have a st Croix mojo 6'8 m-xf spinning rod paired with a Pflueger President XT 30 and its awesome. Does everything I want a spinning combo to do. Mixed feelings on fenwick. I have an hmg medium light that I like but the elite techs I looked at all had loose reel seats, apparently a common problem of that line.

#4 Mepps agila, gold. Always keep a few on hand.

Seen a few people use a thin fabric or shelf liner and glue it to the inner top of the Plano box. I use a double sided Plano box for hooks. The only hooks that get shuffled are the really small ones.

Had both an hmx and a hmg. Wasn't a huge fan of the hmx, mainly didn't like the exposed reel seat. The hmg I still have, on loan to a friend who's learning to fish. Been a great rod for me, 6'9" ml-f. I think the new ones are a step backwards. Looked at an elite tech bass but found three, all had loose reel seats from the factory. I still like the hmg but the st Croix mojo 6'8 m-xf spinning rod gets more use nowadays.

I use a St Croix 6'8 m-xf spinning rod and a 6'6 Mh-f casting rod. 1/8oz weight plus smaller plastics is right in the middle of the spinning rods lure rating. 1/4oz - 1/2oz weight plus larger plastics puts it in the middle to higher end of the casting rods lure rating. Cover also dictates which rod I use. Both are pretty stout and I have never had a problem with either.

Avid x

I think it depends on where you fish. Open water them I would go medium light fast to extra fast. It there's cover or wood nearby medium fast to extra fast. I like 6'8" and 6'9" spinning rods. St Croix makes a good rod as does fenwick, shimano, Dobyns, G loomis, and I'm sure a few others.

To each their own. A bit out of my comfort level, but if you really love fishing I guess it's money well spent.

Rod length is a personal thing. I'm general terms a shorter rod gives you more accurate cast and a bit more power over the fish. Some will argue this but from my research and experience this is true. Longer rod gives you more distance in your cast and more line pick up when you set the hook, but less accuracy. There is more rod to absorb the shock of fighting a fish. There is a definite trend towards longer rods. I personally find 6'6"-6'10" to be the sweet spot for me. I also fish from the bank, so that has a lot to do with it. My go to baitcaster is a 6'6" mh-f with an 8:1 reel. Good distance on the cast, strong backbone to fight the fish but enough length to absorb some of the fight and the high gear ratio helps pick up line pretty fast.

How does the ml-xf compare to their m-xf? I have the 6'8" m-xf and it awesome but interested in the ml-xf as well. Is the tip the typical drop shot light hinged tip or more solid, similar to the m-xf if that makes any sense?

I will second the above recommendation. I have a 6'9" ml-f Fenwick hmg paired with a pflueger president XT 30 and it is my drop shot / Ned rig combo. I also use a St Croix 6'8" m-xf when I am around more cover or laydowns.

Fenwick hmg has a pretty long handle, I believe the 7ft has a 17" handle.

My jig set up is a 6'6" mh-f casting rod, 8:1 reel, 30lb braid (trying 15lb big game mono this year), and a 3/8-1/2oz jig with something like a pit boss, brush hog, sweet beaver, or just a chunk trailer. Works well in the shaded areas in the summer, hence the shorter rod,those trees are unforgiving

I have a mojo spinning rod and a avid x casting rod. I find them to be great and their actions to be what I like, but I wouldn't call them moderate at all. My mh-f is just that, the tip is fast into a pretty beefy backbone. I really like it for Texas rig, chatterbaits, jigs, and trying spinnerbaits next summer. The mojo is xf and it's xf, nothing moderate about it

I think it comes down to experience vs hypothetical. A drop shot rig is what I would use in your scenario of open water. I would also use a medium light rod. This offers the best chance of getting solid hook sets without ripping the hook out, on a drop shot hook. But the reverse is true as well. I have pulled more than a few 4-5lb smallmouth bass out using a Texas rigged creature bait with a EWG hook and a medium heavy rod without ripping hooks out. The first step to catching a fish is a good hook set period. The rod I would use is dictated by the technique I am using and the cover. Also there is about a hundred different things that can play into losing a fish than just ripping a hook out. I used a medium light rod for a few years of fishing and had pretty good luck until I hooked into a big one and didn't have the backbone to pull him away from some downed trees. The fish ended up wrapped around a branch and broke my 8lb line. I learned a lesson that day. Another time I had a good size one on when he dove deep and I assume cut me off on some rocks, same set up. Texas rig a creature bait on an ewg hook with 30lb braid to a 15lb + leader using a more solid rod and both of those situations would not have happened. But maybe they wouldn't have bit the creature bait. Who knows.

I fish a ml-f and m-xf spinning rod as well as a MH-F and a Mh-xf casting rod. Everything from 6 - 50lb line, braid, fluorocarbon, and most recently trying straight mono. The right tool for the right job. Pairing the technique to the proper set up is the key as is fighting the fish properly (keeping the rod loaded and using your drag) , a fast netting, unhooking, and a quick release. Any fish I have ever lost is my own fault, not the equipment. I have used the wrong equipment in the wrong situation and that has caused more lost fish than anything else. I have learned from those mistakes. I think it really comes down to adapting to the equipment and techniques you are using.

You will have no regrets, that outfit is made for each other.

Think I will be sending lead for small weights and tungsten for larger weights just because of the smaller size to weight ratio.

I find it is much easier to slow down than to speed up. I like my 8:1 Daiwa fuego ct. Picks up a good amount of line pretty fast. I believe in inches per turn rather than gear ratios, more realistic measurements and less marketing hype.

Thanks everyone for your input. Looks like 3/16 and 3/8 should cover the basics. Hope everyone has a merry Christmas

Looking to simplify my terminal tackle. What two size weights would you use for Texas rigging everything from a zoom trick worm to a larger creature bait. I fish from the bank and anywhere I can ie ponds, rivers, lakes. Thinking 1/8 & 3/8, but not sure.

I was hoping to check out the 7'2 h-f version soon. I think they are pretty honest guys who have their opinions and preferences towards certain brands but they also fish way more gear than I could ever afford so I take there viewpoint and check out if it fits my style.