Dens228

I agree with Fishtank. I love my St. Croix rods, especially the AvidX. I have two along with the Avid Crankbait rod. I'd go with the mod/fast for weightless plastics though.

Ha! And I was about to call BS! LOL

Another happy St. Croix AvidX user here.

I don't do that either. All my rods are unarmed until I start to fish. And I don't keep plastics on the hooks in a box either.

I wouldn't say a myth......but close to a myth. I caught my pb best, 8-03 in a pond around 6 acres in size an hour straight west of Chicago. I also caught it on a huge lure, a 5 inch wacky rigged Senko! LOL I will admit I didn't think it was a bass, my son saw it first as it swung towards shore near him, I told him he was crazy, that it had to be a catfish........imagine my heart right when I saw it for myself. That's about 3 pounds bigger than my second best so yes they are very rare around here. I'd consider a 5 pound bass a monster in my neck of the woods.

I used to change baits quite often........then I realized I didn't need to get better at picking the right lure, I needed to get better at covering the water column and finding the bass. Once I had that epiphany my lure changes dropped considerably. I bring 5 or 6 rods in my kayak. I pre-rig them all before I hit the water with what I think I'll need. Other than replacing damaged plastics or lures I bet I change out maybe one or two lures per day.......usually to change color rather than lure.

I use a MH/Fast, so I use it for many different lures, bigger cranks, chatterbaits, jigs, medium sized swimbaits, medium sized walking baits.............

Like most here I prefer the faster ratio. I work the bait with my rod, the reel is just to pick up slack or get the fish in after the hook set.

I forgot to list War Eagle for spinnerbaits.

A few lakes, as in plural, that have 9 pounders as in plural?!!? Public lakes? Chicago area? Jigs catch pigs........

My Lew's hold up very well, but so do my Qunatum's, and my Shimano's........lol

6th Sense jigs, cranks, jerks Strike King plastics

I just bought my third Pro G from TW on black Friday. I think it was $135! Favorite reel by far.

Being in a kayak I don't carry a ton of plastics........... Yum Dingers in four colors Rage Craws in 2 colors Rage Bugs in 2 colors Menace Grubs in 2 colors They are out of their bags and in a 3700 Plano box.

I use an AvidX MH/Fast for jerbaits. My crankbait rod has too soft of a tip. The only other thing I use it for is topewater poppers. Smaller ones.

I have a BassX in MH/Moderate. I think the tip is very "whippy" and was using it only for my cranks at 3/8 oz and under. I now use it for my weightless plastics. I'm using an Avid Series Crankbait rod now for all my cranks.

I used to have three of the Mojo Bass and thought they were great................until I tried the Avid. I think the sensitivity of the Avid is noticeably better than the Mojo.

I have only had the one I own in my hands.......for topwater it depends on what lure and where. Frogs, Heavy, for the rest I'd probably go M/Fast......... It depends on teh lure weight you are using and the cover you are going into.

Depending on the weeds for the frogs, I don't think I'd use a MH/Mod.....I have that in the BassX and I wouldn't use that for any of the baits you've listed........it has A LOT of whip to it, not very firm. I use a H/Fast for frogs, MH/Moderate for prop baits and Whopper 75's but not the BassX, I use an AvidX. I do use the BassX for cranksbaits.

I can't fish wherever I want, but being semi-retired and having four months off in the summer I do have a lot of opportunity to fish..........currently in a kayak for the most part but eyeing a bass boat to expand my horizons.

I use a MH/Fast AvidX for jigs,,,,,,,I would highly recommend it.

I spend a lot of time fishing one particular quarry.......there is a fair amount of cover as far as tree trunks, brush, weeds, overhangs in certain areas. But the bigger fish in there relate mainly to structure such as steep drop offs, submerged islands etc There is a submerged rock point that juts out from one side of a above water island that extends out about 100 yards. It's about 8-10 feet deep and in the summer months is covered in vegetation that comes to within about a foot of the surface. I catch nothing but dinks there. In the fall after the vegetation dies off and is now only about a foot tall, I catch the big ones. Even in summer the bigger bass relate to the structure and for the life of me they ignore the cover. I hit areas that look like they should be holding big bass but seldom do.

I bought a Lew's Tournament Pro G for $135.........Love that reel.

It's been my experience that when I do well it's because of my knowledge and ability to apply it. I've also noticed that when my buddies outfish me it's pure luck. LOL

If there is a difference I don't notice it. Plus the lures I cast with each are completely different. I tend to attribute casting distance more to the rod anyway. At least once you're dealing with quality reels, which they both are.