FrnkNsteen

I'm curious too. The Feather FTX spinning rods caught my eye too because of the unique grip. Bought one, but haven't had a chance to try it yet.

Nope,... He was just like,.... It's a dang Carp!!!??" LOL!

I don't think anyone ever said you need a different rod for every kind of fish or lure, or that they only worked if the 1/2oz lure weighed exactly .500oz. For me, it's a combination of a couple things coming from when I used to fish tournaments. One,... Like padon said,... I like rods and reels!! Two,... I hate stopping to retie if/when I want to try something different, so I carry a jig setup, and a skipping setup, and a T rigged worm, and a chatterbait,... Etc, etc, etc. Like padon said... Hard work = bills paid = retirement plans,.... Then,... Fishing Stuff!! ??

I was fishing with my brother once and he got a bite on a tube. He fought it hard back to the boat and it was a huge carp. Took me a bit to convince him it was ok to take a picture!! ??

Well, I don't "NEED" more than 2 or 3, but what's the fun in that?? ? I've got my main set of rods and tackle bins in our boat for my wife and I, plus some in the garage aling with a carry bag for when we go hit a pond or go with a friend in their boat.

Have to say I was surprised by some of the answers, in particular the Beetle Spin, Whopper Plopper and Chatterbait. While I've never used a Beetle Spin for Bass, I always had good luck with them on Gills and Crappies. Caught lot on the Chatterbait and Ploppers too and always have them on the boat deck. Everyone has their favorites. I have a friend who hates spinnerbaits and won't throw one. For me its a buzz bait. Both obviously work well though.

In my opinion, It's really hard to answer that without holding them to see balance and how the reels sit in the different reel seats. My suggestion is to just start mounting them up in different setups and see what feels right. If I told you how many times I have rearranged rod and reel setups, you'd laugh. My wife does every time she sees me messing with them. Some reels just feel right on certain rods and it's not always as expected. For instance,.. I recently bought a new Zillion SV and planned to use it on a Champion XP 705cb for cranking, but it didn't feel right on there. My SLX felt much better on there for balance and casting and the Zillion felt great on my Fury 733c. Who'd have thought?!?!

Not to mention a lot of anti-reverse bearings have a plastic cage that could be damaged by harsher chemicals. I like sticking with things like Simple Green for that, as DVT suggested.

I tried weightless Senkos on my SLX MGLs and liked it when making long casts but not so much on the shorter casts or pitching. I found the mag brakes on the Daiwas were better for that. I'm currently throwing my weightless TR Senko on an old Techna AV rod with a Alphas SV TW and I moved my SLX MGL reels over to my jerkbait and topwater popper rods and they excel there. My Tat SV's currently have my skipping jigs and a Fat Ika on them and are working really well for that

I have Superlube. I tried it in the mainshaft handle crank bearings of a Tat Type R that was makng some noise. Turned out the AR bearing was bad and had imprinted on the collar after having fallen on that reel. I cleaned it all out after replacing the AR. I'll have to try it again. Thanks! Thanks!

What kind of grease did you use, and in which bearings? Frame bearings, or the spool too? Don't hear too many people greasing spool bearings. I've heard of people thinning down Cal's drag grease to lube bearings. Just curious what you used. I tried Yamaha marine grease in frame bearings, but didn't care for it. Too thick and hard to clean back iut. Seemed to have a lit of paraphin wax in it that was hard to remove.

Spinnerbait for me without a doubt because of how many different ways you can fish it. My two largest bass have come on them. After that,... Senko (Texas rigged or wacky) or a tube.

I agree completely with Tom. I'd use the moderate action with cranks, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and even the topwater, though not the frog. Just anything with treble hooks. Then,.. If you haven't bought, or coyld still exchange,... I'd want a universal use MH Fast rod you could use for jigs, worms, and maybe frogs in light cover

For me,.... I can't say I rely too much on a rods lure ratings, other than being a starting point for what I might want to use it for. I've got various rods with the same rating that act completly different. For instance,... I've got multiple rods that are called MH-Fast and rated for 1/4 - 1oz. Some are obviously heftier than others. Some have a little more or less tip than others. I initially judge them by putting a reel on them and feel the weight, balance anf flex. Then if they pass the feel test and I decide to buy, I rig them up with different rigs and see what works best for me. If I like the feel of a rig, I can always find a particular setup I like. If not, it's usually because I jumped into buying it without checking it out fully.

If they are biting heavy and I'm going through a lot of baits, I do the same thing with the x-pattern o-rings. I don't do it until they start hitting though so I can quickly try different size and colors. There's a new accessory that allows the hook to ait perpendicular to the bait, but it takes a special pliers to spread them open to loadbthe bait so I haven't tried them. I'll see if I can find an image. As for Yamamoto baits,... I rarely spend the extra to get them. I usually go with Berkely, SK, or Big Bite,... Whichever is best deal. A local store up by my brothers sells Bulk Big Bite fot a really good price, so most of mine are those.

I don't have a lot of experience with the upper level JM reels, just the Pro Qualifiers and Carbonlights. I had good luck with the older ones (PQ1). About 50/50 with the newer ones (PQ2). Seems like if they are good from the start, they seem to do well.

Here are my thoughts.... I also hate a straight magnetic brake, unless it's Daiwa's Mag brakes. Most of my magnetic braked reels either have dual braking like Pro Qualifiers, Lews Custom SLP or Tourn MBs, or are Daiwa,.... the only exception is a couple Lews LFS Speed Spools. But,.... I do appreciate mag brakes a little more when pitching or light casts where there isn't enough spool speed to activate centrifugal brakes. In those cases I will either use one of my Daiwas, or use a dual brake with the mag portion bumped a bit. All other cases where I'm casting away, I'm either using centrifugal, dual, or Daiwa Mag brakes. While I agree that there are some who can cast with no brakes,... Why would I want to when I can use the technology to my advantage and not have to think about it. I've been using casting reels for 30 yrs and rarely have issues, but why not use what's there?

How long ago was the purchase? If it was recent I don't think I would be going back to that local shop!! If it had been a while, then I understand.

For me it's definitely a buzzbait, which is weird because I've had great success with Whopper Ploppers and Choppos. Not pulsing them like a torpedo.... Just a slow retrieve with my rod tip up and just fast enough to turn the prop as it chugs along.

Biggest LM was 8lber on 3/8 spinnerbait with single large colorado blade off shallow stump Biggest SM was 6.2lber on a green pumpkin blue tail (Blue Craw) tube skipped under a dock just before sunset.

I'm on the Spinnerbait bandwagon. If cover is sparse I have been running a chatterbait more. If cover is thicker,... As in laydowns, I mix in a swimjig.

Agreed. I use snaps in lieu of snap rings on hardbaits so I can change them out easier. Rarely use a swivel unless it's on a steel leader in northern waters (Asin waters with Northerns in them!! Dang slimers!! ?

I think the guys nailed it. I estimate 50% to 75% of retail depending on condition. Most places I've seen that do trades offer a little under 50% retail for your trade, then try to sell for 75% - 80% of retail.

12lb Suffix mono for me