Nscheele

My beautiful wife was awesome enough to agree to a camping/fishing trip for our honeymoon last fall. We went to a state park about 4 hours from home. After getting the camper set up, I grabbed a couple rods and we headed to one of the small fishing ponds at the camp ground. First cast, I didn't realize how close to the trees along the bank I was, i swear the braided line came up in front of my face. It was the absolute worst backlash I've ever had, finally had to just cut the line out. There was no saving that one.

I started out with a pro max combo and still use it. It's been a nice setup, never had a problem with it. The reel was easy enough to set up and the rod is pretty sensitive and comfortable. For no more than it cost I don't think you would go wrong with it. Mine is the 6'6" medium rod.

If you aren't extremely hard on equipment, as in throwing them around and general neglect, I don't see how a graphite frame wouldn't last. Every baitcast reel I have is a graphite frame and I've had zero issues with any of them. Now I do only use them when I can, nowhere near how a professional would, but that shouldn't make any difference. If you want an aluminum frame, go for it. Just keep in mind there is nothing wrong with a graphite frame for the average guy fighting average fish with them.

Two of the JM Carbonlite reels.

I've got two, a 6.3 and 7.1 gear ratio. They have been excellent reels and eod recommend them to anyone. The dual braking system makes them ideal for a beginner in my opinion. Once they are set up they are pretty tough to back lash. I use them from lighter jerkbaits to pretty heavy jigs and they have performed great.

Sometimes a quick twitch can cause the skirt to flair out and that can cause the fish to strike. Think of it like twitching s jerk bait but without the pause.

75 cents a pack for the hooks and a dollar per spool for the line! They had way more than what I bought but I should be set for the decade.

I've had really good luck with the Alberto knot. Not too difficult to learn and seems to be pretty strong.

Another vote for the X-rap

You could cut a thin piece of dense foam to the shape of the inside of the lid and that would solve the problem too.

This is the main box, I also have a small little 6 compartment box for short trips or bank fishing.

A less expensive yet still excellent option is the Abu garcia Veritas winch series. I've got a 7' medium moderate and a 7'6" medium heavy moderate. They are great rods, EVA split grips, great guides and a very nice action. They are on sale from pretty much everywhere I've looked for 79.99 right now.

11 year old topic revival!

Somewhat but I balances well so it's not too bad. If it's completely full it's obviously a little more difficult to maneuver in but I find it very comfortable.

I've got the cabelas advanced anglers pack and I really like it. Holds three 3600 boxes in a dedicated compartment on the bottom along with room in the top for more. It has good pockets on the sides for snacks and extra line, phone, and whatever else. The waist straps havery small zippered pockets for tools and other small things, I find that pretty handy. It's been a good bag so far. It also came with 5 3600 series boxes.

Just re-spooled one of my grandfather's old setups, gonna try it out soon. Shimano bantam 100 and a 5'6" bps tourney special. I'm excited to try it out.

My dropshot and shakey head rod is a 6'6" st croix eyecon, medium light fast action. The reel is a 2500 shimano stradic fk and it's the most comfortable, sensitive rod I've ever used. I agree with you that a shorter rod is better for casting accuracy and that's why I went with the 6'6". It's been an excellent combo so far and I don't think you could go wrong with it. I use it for everything from small panther Martin's to what I listed above, up to 3/8 ounce. The rod seems to be more a moderate action, but that's compared to my pflueger president combo and it's a 6' medium fast.

One word of advice on maintenance, the dual braking system selector mechanism is a beast you get back together if you completely disassemble it. I spent more time trying to get that back together than the rest of the process. Seems that just a good soak in simple green and a flush was all that was required on the second reel. One of mine also had some anti reverse issues, not engaging correctly every 15th or so cast, but a good cleaning was all it needed to function correctly.

I've got two of the white carbonlite reels and they have been really great for what they cost. Never had an issue with either of them.

The hook shank length on the jig heads doesn't have any effect? Could the round head have any effect? Maybe try swimbait heads so the water flows around the bait more evenly? I'm just guessing here.

I use 15 lb Seaguar invisx for cranks, chatterbaits and spinner baits. I used the same line last year for jigs but I didn't catch many fish with them. It wasn't anything to do with the line, just being impatient and wanting to use something I was more familiar with. This year I'm gonna try 50 lb power pro with a 15 lb invisx leader on the jig rod. I was the same as you, multiple setups but wanted a good all around line for simplicity, and the invisx performed very well for me.

I suppose it depends on the body of water, but the in line spinner has always been good to me.

The regal shad crankin rap square bill was my best producing lure last year. I had the best luck with the smallest size 3. According to the rapala website that color has been out of stock for some time but I've found them on other websites. The first one I bought was on a whim at walmart. Edit: Yes I see that is not a square bill. This was my latest addition, 7'6" medium heavy/moderate. Should do quite well for deep divers and smaller swimbaits.

Most any soft plastic floats or is buoyant some degree so, yes, the plastic bait you choose will float perpendicular to your line once it's submerged.

I've had good luck with the 10 pound red label on my Pfluger president. Closing the bail by hand is paramount to keeping the loops at bay with that reel. I used it for a short time on my stradic fk and never had an issue but I recently re-spooled that reel with 10 pound power pro braid with a leader of the red label.