waymont

Either a Loomis IMX 853c or a Kistler H3 LMH with a Tatula 150 that's a powerhouse. Both work equally well, both with 30lb braid.

I agree. If you are interested in trying an E6x get an MBR in a 3 Power. You don’t need much after getting one. They have a magical taper that’s great for tons of uses. I usually have three 3 power MBR rods and one 4 power with me. I don’t use any specialty rods at all, these do it all well.

Are you trying to re-invent the Neko rig?

There are too many E6x haters on BR. They are excellent rods. I have held both the 6'6" and 7' E6x MBR rods next to Avid 6'6" and 7' rods and the E6x rods were better balanced and lighter. Some folks on here like to say they hate them but have trouble saying why. They are very nice well made rods with great actions, and are very sensitive. I have never held a JWR E6x so I don't have any words about them. I am an old time user of the old IMX MBR rods and the E6x rod are a nice compliment to them. The Daiwa Tatula bass rods are another great option for around $40.00 less than an E6x. Also very nice rods. Nice balance and sensitivity. Also right now you can get Kistler H3 rods for $219.00

Why not get an already proven reel that costs less money? The Tatula SV TW is baddass reel and you can get them for way less money. The SV TW can cast light to heavy lures great, and is a beautiful reel to boot. It's a great flipping reel too. It would give you lots of options. https://www.thornebros.com/products/tatula-sv-tws

I fish near Chicago a lot, and this fall the weather has been pretty all over the place. Some days of 60 and rainy, then two days of 85 and sunny, then back to overcast and 60 degrees. I fished a local lake the other day and had an all over the place day of fishing, water clarity was about 10". Started in the morning with a whopper plopper fish, then a swim jig fish near some fading away weeds, then a chatter bait fish ripping through some weeds deeper, Missed two half-hearted bass on frog blowups, then caught a 2lber on a frog. After these fish, and the sun peaking out of the clouds around12:30pm I noticed small shad being chased every now and then near sandy bottom gaps around weeds. I put on a 2 1/4" jerk bait and caught about 20 between 12" and 17" A kind of all over the map day but pretty good. Zero fish on jigs around wood. You guys think the fish are just spread out, waiting to get into the fall feeding time?

You have some Tatula SV TW already. Not many reels outperform the SV TW.

They are sweet rods.

G Loomis 6'6" 784c. It's a pretty stout rod and comes in a couple of series. A used IMX can usually be found for around $175

I found my LTB casting rods to be too tip heavy for me. I found the avid x are a little better balanced. LTB Rods are really well made but the two I had were too unbalanced for me so I moved on from them. i think some models maybe different as far as feel/balance goes.

12lb is the lowest I use, mostly 15-20

Graphite frame. boo

1-Swimjig 2-5/16oz finesse jig OR 3/8oz flipping jig 3-Chatter bait 4-Top Water (frog, Zara Spook Jr, buzz bait, Whopper Plopper)

I have the H3 7' heavy. It's very well balanced and very sensitive. Just giving some more perspective on the Kistler brand. My 6'8" LMH is also very well balanced and very sensitive. I'm an old school Loomis IMX/GLX MBR user and these two Kistlers fit right in with my other rigs really well.

I use braid almost all the time for everything. I not much of a crank bait fisherman, but when I do I use a 6' leader of mono in the appropriate line size for the bait/cover.

30lb or 40lb Power Pro.

I switched over to using the rizutto finish too. I used to use two half hitches for years, then for some reason they seemed to start to come undone after one long day of fishing. I think it may be due to me fishing more and longer days. The 5 turn rizutto takes care of all the issues. YouTube is a great resource for knots.

You want to have an awesome spinning set up? I use 8 and 10lb PP braid with 8lb invizx all the time, and it makes a perfectly balanced combination. You will be able to cast so far, and it has so little drag in the water you will love it. I always tie an FG with zero issues. Won’t hurt to try it out. It is true that the FG works best when the leader is a thicker diameter than the braid.

Same here. It's a good way to make sure your knot doesn't go into the reel.

The 7'1" would be great for what you want to do.

How about a Daiwa Legalis $69.00. It's a great reel. I think it's the best in your range.

I think the 723c would be the best fit for you. It’s such a great rod. The most accurate casting rod I have. The 722c is cool, but much less versatile. there is something to be said about the sensitivity of 6’ rods. i hope you find an IMX somewhere. It’s so light! Keep an eye out on eBay, I think that would be your best bet.

G Loomis CR 723c IMX. They discontinued this exact model and now have it available in the IMX-Pro. You can still find the IMX version online some places at a great price. I would say it's the exact rod you are describing. I've had one for years and it's great for so many different presentations. def within your price range. Another cheaper option would be a St Croix Premier 6' rod. Very similar to the 723c but a little heavier and less sensitive, but a great option. The 6' Avid version you mentioned would be perfect too.

Everyone loves Mepps. Super classic lure. All sizes and models are excellent.

Cabelas bluegill swim minnow swimbait is great 3.5 and 5”