LCG

Predator

No written rules in fishing :). You can use weightless or as heavy as you want, it's all about what presentation you are going for. Generally I use a 1/8 oz weight with light Texas rigged Zoom trick worms for a slower fall and a 1/4 oz weight with larger creature baits like brush hogs or pit boss's to keep bottom contact. If I was fishing deeper or in heavy current then I would go heavier. Senkos I always fish weightless.

For me personally, I use both. Started with only spinning. As I watched more videos of professional fisherman using baitcasters I wondered why, so I bought one to learn. I have grown to love it. Think of it as your tool box. A screwdriver and a hammer, each for the appropriate application. I use my spinning set ups for ned, neko, shakey head, drop shot, and light Texas rigged worms. My baitcasting set ups I use for heavier Texas rigged creatures, jigs, chatterbaits, crankbaits, and frogs. You can use one or the other, but I do find this is what works best for me and from what I have read, alot of other people as well. Each technique works best with the right tool. Pitching is something that is very natural with a baitcaster, can't do it with a spinning rod to save my life I am in the process of simplifying this winter. Two rods. A 6'8" m-xf spinning rod and a 6'6" mh-f casting rod. It's all I need. Tackle will be harder but working on that later. I am a bank angler, so mobility and versatility is key.

I also use electrical tape and straight braid. Never had an issue.

I will second the avid x recommendation. I use a 6'6" mh-f casting avid x and a mojo bass spinning rod 6'8" m-xf as my go to combos. The 6'8" m-xf spinning rod is very versatile and I use it for drop shot, ned rigs, shakey head, and light Texas rigged worms. The avid x is a step up for sure and I use it for heavier Texas rigged creatures, jigs, and frogs. Keep debating on getting the 6'8" m-xf spinning avid x.

I have a st Croix avid x 6'6 Mh-f casting rod that I use for pitching around trees and laydowns. I prefer shorter rods for maneuvering and accuracy. Pitching is 20-30ft at most so I would think what you have should be perfect. I have it matched with a daiwa fuego ct and have no complaints. I also prefer split grips. It's all personal preference. But I think you have a solid set up as is. But that monkey is hard to get off your back sometimes

The fenwick hmg is a nice rod. Plenty sensitive and strong. The reel is entry level but should work just fine. Is your friend buying his kid a BMW for his first car? Probably not, same goes with fishing equipment. My boy is younger, I got him an ugly stick youth model because he is not gentle with his stuff. If he likes the sport I will get him better stuff down the road but it works just fine for him now. I let him use my st croix rods but I do have that look of fear everytime I will say that's nice to see an encouragement token other than phones, tablets, Xbox, etc.

ME too, I would get far more use out those. Maybe I can hit up my local politicians for a push to legalize fairly priced fishing tackle at a local store level.

It's funny, as of tomorrow we as Canadians can buy marijuana and all kinds of alcohol, but damned if I can't buy a pack of baby brush hogs

That's impressive customer service. I have a mojo as well, about a year and half now. I have caught quite few fish with it and a few good size carp, no problem at all. I also don't lift the fish from the water with the rod, that's what the net is for Mistakes happen and I am sure your little girl didn't mean for it to happen. But lifting anything more than the lure rating is asking for trouble. High sticking is another painful lesson to have to learn the hard way. That legend tournament looks great with that Ci4+. Enjoy

Up here in Canada we just don't have the selection our southern neighbours seem to have. Finding some products here can be a chore and when you do, they are so over priced you'd be a fool to buy them. Ie. a pack of zoom trick worms $11 at Canadian Tire vs $7 on Amazon. Mom and pop stores are a great thing, I wish we had more of them. I agree that they have to grow with the times and have an internet presence, but it is nice to go and walk the aisles, get advice, and interact with other anglers. We have big sport stores like bass pro and sails, but their selection is not the same as in the US. Ie. Can't get zoom baby brush hogs here, have to go for a day trip to the states to stock up on decent tackle. The small shops just don't carry much selection and its a shame. Rather give my support to the little guys.

Zoom and yum offer some solid values for soft plastics. Usually Bass Pro has sales, especially in the spring. Keep an eye out for end of season sales when big box stores like Walmart clear out old stock.

Interested in trying tube rattles inside plastic baits ie Texas rig. Does anyone know if there is a difference between the glass and plastic type of tube rattles? Noticed the plastic variety are super cheap on Amazon. If there isn't a big sound difference then I will go with the plastic.

I use 10 lb yellow braid with 6-8lb fluorocarbon leaders on my spinning set ups. 30lb yellow braid with or without a 15lb fluorocarbon leader on my baitcasting set ups.

If you are comfortable taking the reel apart, maybe a good cleaning is in order.

I believe the user manual for Daiwa recommends oil on the worm gear.

Daiwa fuego ct.

Bought my first baitcaster last Oct. Spent the winter practicing pitching in the house with a rubber plug. Learned thumb control fast. Focused on accuracy above all else. This summer I mostly used baitcasting equipment with good results. A few backlashes from not paying attention, ie brakes set too low or those darn low hanging tree limbs and tall grass :). Not a master by any stretch, but it was not nearly as hard as I thought it was going to be. Have started to prefer using baitcaster over spinning actually.

Both are awesome, but put both on your rod and see which feels and balances better.

Don't know the rod but Shakespeare in general is not a brand I would associate with sensitivity. The power rating is medium or medium heavy etc. The action rating is moderate, fast, etc. Shakespeare tend to be medium power moderate action rods which are good for moving baits with treble hooks but not sensitive. The faster action has a lot to due with sensitivity as does the quality of graphite and quality components. Maybe look at dobyns fury or fenwick hmg or st Croix bass x rods. Strength and sensitivity

Are you including the weight of the plastic on top of the weight of the lure itself? Reason I ask is that a 3/8oz chatterbait with a grub, Fluke, swim bait, etc is getting more into a total weight of 3/4-1oz. Same with Texas rigged creature baits such as havoc pit boss or zoom brush hog with a 1/4oz weight is also a total weight of about 3/4oz. Even a zoom trick worm with a 3/16oz weight puts you at a total weight of 3/8oz. Which I have done with the avid x, works for short pitches and moderate distance casting

30lb braid is probably a good place to start. I use kastking braid and buy 550yd spools for very affordable prices on ebay from Hong Kong. Sometimes I use a 15lb fluorocarbon leader

I am not a chemist, but my understanding is that elaztech does not play nice with plastasol, a chemical used to soften plastic such as baits and Plano boxes. Assuming jj magic and Spike it do not contain plastasol and you don't leave elaztech in extreme heat you should be fine. FYI, I have zman plastics in a Plano box for about a year and a half now. It's warped the box but no Melting, fire, explosions, or earth rotational changes have taken place as far as I know

I have a St Croix mojo 6'8 m-xf spinning rod and a Avid x 6'6 Mh-f casting rod. The spinning rod is very versatile and works great for standard spinning rod techniques such as ned, neko, drop shot, wacky, light Texas rigs. The avid x is also very versatile for techniques I use a baitcasting rod for such as pitching heavier Texas rigged plastics, jigs, chatterbaits, and frogs. Both cast great in their lure rating and both are very accurate as well. I don't know if the baitcasting version would be as versatile as casting rods tend to be different, my guess is probably not. I would look at the avid x 6'8" Mh-f casting rod if you want versatility.

If you speak with someone at BPS they should be able to order one in for you. If it's not what you want don't buy it. They will sell it to someone. I have the avid x and it's a hell of a nice rod.