Boomstick

I use the Daiwa Tatula Glass 7'2" MH/R rod for chatterbaits often. It works very well for chatterbaits up to 1/2oz as long as you give it a good sweeping hookset. If you fish primarily a 1/2oz chatterbait with a 4.8" Keitech trailer, you may prefer a MH/F, but as long as I'm paying attention I have no issues on the MH/MF glass rod. It also makes a great all-around moving bait stick as it's a pefect spinnerbait rod and has enough bend in the tip to be used with deep divers or square bills (especially around cover where you want a quicker rebound).

From my experience, if I abrasion resistant flurocarbon line then I will use Seaguar's AbrasX. For mono, I have been extremely impressed with Sufix Siege line, not only does it cast and handle extremely well but it's proven more abrasion resistant than most flurocarbon. I usually use Berkley trilene flurocarbon on my cranking setups. I find that knots hold up as good as any other line but the downside is it is not very abrasion resistant. So if I want an abrasion resistant flurocarbon for maybe throwing jigs around rocks, I would go with something like Seaguar's AbrasX (even Invisx is a little better in this regard). If I am going with mono, I've an overwhelmingly positive experience with Sufix Siege. That stuff holds up as good as any other line I have ever used. You know, for the same reason I was debating going back to mono. Big Game is okay, but my mono of choice is Sufix Siege. When I'm fishing from a boat or in deeper water, the extra sink of the flurocarbon is definitely nice but I don't own a boat and a lot of my fishing is done shallow and sometimes I will find I am basically dragging my line across the bottom instead of hopping my lure off the bottom and have to hold my rod tip higher.

I have thrown a few deep divers, but I fish more shallow than deep. I can tell you without question that you definitely would not need the heavy for deep divers as the MH has plenty of backbone and still a fair amount of tip -- more than your typical deep diving cranking rod will. They list the heavy rod as a spinnerbait rod, but unless you're fishing 3/4 or larger spinnerbaits or perhaps a smaller spinnerbait with a heavy trailer. It also makes a fantastic spinnerbait/bladed jig/swim jig rod, but is also nice when fishing a squarebill around cover where you want a fairly quick rebound after hitting a stump.

The only thing I might consider changing is using flurocarbon on your Fury 705CB for better depth. However if you only fish shallow water or use the same rod for topwater, mono is also fine. The MF Avid X can also fish a lot of the same lures as well.

I haven't used the DC but your description of the SV is just about spot on. I have 3 SVs, they really shine with lures 3/8oz and under and are great for pitching but where they really shine is for skipping docks, but my oldest son's Shimano Curado K casts further and my youngest son's Pflueger Supreme XT casts further than both. They are a little on the heavier side too, but I really don't notice myself.

Last year I was using a Daiwa Tatula 7'2" MH/R glass rod for all moving baits. It's a great all around moving bait stick. This year, I added the 7' Tatula glass M/R rod which will be better for shallow and medium diving crankbaits in open water as it has a bit more flex and should cast the smaller ones a little further too. I can't wait to try it out. So there's another option to consider.

10 - 15lb braid and a 6lb leader is the way to go. I have been using Sunline FX2 in 12# myself, which is closer to the diameter of most 15lb lines.

And I am a left hander who uses right handed reels. I can't reel with my left hand, it just doesn't feel right. But as far as handle length, I prefer a shorter handle on a rod I am using for lures with a more vertical retrieve (jigs, soft plastics, drop shot etc) but for horizontally retrieved lures, a longer handle is nice.

Well said. I use 2lb and 4lb Stren for trout and it's perfect for that. I usually use Sufix Siege in 8+lb test line but will use Big Game if I'm in a pinch.

Fatter diameter Stren has knot strength that is similar to flurocarbon but Big Game does not have any knot strength issues and is cheaper so Big Game gets my vote If I'm going to spend more on a better line, I'm going with Sufix Siege (Trilene XT isn't bad either)

The Dicks Sporting Goods in larger areas carry some of the Fury and Champion XO models.

I'm by no means pro at skipping, but I do the same with my Tatula SV reels. It's definitely more effective than using my other reels.

I was going to try some pink power worms this year, as they're not commonly used but sometimes people will have great luck with them.

I caught my largest fish last season throwing a square bill over grass. It usually works but picking grass out of hooks does get annoying.

I am going to try to call today or tomorrow. It's really hard for me to find time at work these days.

Feel free to go out and try it but I have a feeling you're going to be like "why can't I cast far? This reel sucks!" and then realize that you have it only half spooled and aren't getting a proper usage out of the reel as a result. So with the fishing season pretty much getting underway down there about now (I have a few more months to wait), it's time to get some fresh line on your reels anyway, so I would say go ahead and respool (tying on line and using what you have as backing is also fine). And fortunately it's mono, as it's much cheaper than superlines.

I saw this but the MA courses aren't approved by Vermont, it's a different set of standards from most states. So I'm set in MA and I need to take the NY course, and then my kids will have to take both courses if I ever let them operate the boat before they're 18 (or MA's to operate it in MA etc). Confusing, isn't it?

Same here, especially chatterbaits. I never seem to get anything on a chatterbait in areas I know people catch them on chatterbaits using the same size, color and trailers as I do, but I attribute a lot of that to me throwing a different lure, say a spinnerbait on after a while of not getting anything as well. I don't fish too many jerkbaits as well, but I plan on fishing more jerkbaits this year as well. I still plan to improve my dropshot fishing, a carryover from last year. But late last year I also found a few areas with solid cover that I can fish as well, so I plan on doing some more jig fishing. And of course, morning topwater fishing too (last year, on chemo I was just too tired to get up early).

The complaint I usually hear is that they are quite a bit in comparison to similar or arguably superior rods from other manufacturers. I have never owned one, but they did not feel like bad rods when I saw them in a store and at least they are Made in the USA, which is something I would spend a little extra for.

That's a pretty nice upgrade you got yourself there. Enjoy.

I know, I just mean I wonder if they only want the course if you rent one in VT but didn't clearly specify. Sorry for not being clear.

Thanks! I wonder if that's only for renting a boat?

To date, I have used mostly Strike King & Booyah jigs. The paint seems to chip off real easy on the Strike Kings, and I've knocked a couple of the Booyah's heads off but generally both are decent. I recently got a Bass Mafia tackle bag and loaded it up and realized my jig supply is both a little short, and quite a bit beat up, so thanks for posting as I'll be ordering a few more jigs which is the last thing I need for the 2019 bass fishing season (I still need a few trout/perch lures). I'll look at some of the suggestions here.

Okay thanks, I wasn't sure. I'll take New Yorks since I also live pretty much over the NY border. I saw this. MA lists boat-ed as expiring in 2018 however I don't need it for MA. MA does have a course you can take to lower your insurance or to drive a boat if you are under 18, but ironically Vermont doesn't recognize it. It looks like I can take the NY course and that will work.

MA is Massachusetts.