CroakHunter

I believe some are. What they call the "first wave" I'm also way South of a lot of you guys so I may be a week or so ahead. I've also never times the spawn right where I could sight fish big ones. Plan to hit it right this year

I was on a small lake/pond but, all of my bites and follows came from less than 10 feet of water near spawning coves close to wood.

I second what blue mentioned. I don't throw big worms and topwater from November to may. (that's a rough time frame dependant on seasonal temp) Also I don't do a whole lot of shallow cranking in the summer due to the abundance of thick vegetation that is found in less than 15ft of water where I fish here in southern indiana. But I always have a jig or two tied on as well as a spinnerbait/chatterbait, medium sized shakey head, and some type of finesse tactic on a spinning rig

This is very true as well. Something like a 40-50lb braid with the reel filled all the way, you shouldn't be able to spool yourself.

Depending on what I intend the reel to do, is what defines the criteria I judge them on. But in general I look for something under 8oz with 10+lbs of drag, at least a spool capacity of 100 yards of 14lb test, 90mm handle or larger, with a good reputation and good reviews. I am a daiwa fan and use mainly those reels, so depending on what I want the reel to do adds another element of what I look for and that is gear ratio or retrieve rate.

I forget who I picked, but I commented on Jacob wheelers YouTube video and told him good luck and to whack em, so to All of you that picked him, if he does good...you're welcome lol

Frugal? Not sure I'd call it that. Simple and know what works for me? Yes.

I can spool myself with 17lb fluoro and a 3/4 ounce jig on a long cast with the wind at my back with my tat sv. I'd suggest the fuego ct or tatula ct. And since they can be had for 65 & 95 bucks maybe you won't have to sell your curado to get one. The fuego ct is a highly under estimated reel. Have a few of them in my line up and they are great.

Joe diffe, Rhett akins, Sammy kerahaw, keith whitley, Mark chestnut, Clint black, Andy griggs, Montgomery gentry.

Hard to compete with Daiwa and Shimano. A $2-300 abu is nowhere near a $2-300 Shimano or daiwa in my opinion. Although the orra winch is a good reel. One of my co-workers is an abu for life type of guy, both rods and reels, no explanation as to why

Although I don't fish those baits, I think it would work very well. It is a rod with a fast tip but a deep bend through the top 2/3 of the blank. So it's still a cranking rod, but has the added benefit of the nice tip. It excells at 1/2 to 2 ounces.

Are you meaning like big spook type baits or whopper plopper style?

The 7'5 mh crankshaft is a great rod as well that can handle up to 8xd style baits. And big spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, and even a carolina rig when in a pinch.

Sunline fc sniper has a green option.

Daiwa fuego 7ft heavy. Great rod

Great pitching bait, takes minimal weight for the appendages to flap

Just spent 3 hrs at a little 5 acre pond. Couldn't really put together a pattern. Stuck one on a jig right off the bat on the end of a lay down, had fish jumping out of the water on the bank after my lipless but couldn't get them to commit to it. Wife says lunch is ready then I am going back out of the rain holds off

Jerkbait/flukes Finnese techniques

Use straight braid, mono, copolymer if you want to spend less time tying knots. Fluorocarbon is known for not having great knot strength and being particular about which knots hold up well with it. Used to be a fan of leaders until I fished a tourney and had to re-tie a few leaders from break offs or form leaders getting short and that was a lot of time wasted. If you are dead set on using a leader practice is the only thing that can make you more efficient. I'd suggest p-line cxx or big game for leader over fluoro.

Arkie head jig, pegged Texas rig with straight shank hook, rage rig.

My date for the night. Headed to the daddy daughter dance.

This may or may not help...I have the 7'5 crankshaft rod and Have thrown 10xd's on it. And although the retrieve was less than ideal it handled casting them great. Those rods are over powered and under rated. I'd say give it a try with a catapult/lob cast in your 7'5. Also make sure your reel is dialed in to the best possible specs.

Magnum crankbaits

Since you are unsure about using a round reel, what about a tatula 200hd, lews super duty wide spool, or another with a bunch of line capacity

1 ounce shy of a double digit...definitely a neat catch