Boomstick

If you like the MGL 150, try the MGL 70, or even the SLX MGL70. A little smaller spool for generally thinner line but that's a great reel for up to 16# fluoro. My kid has both and they cast a mile effortlessly while being fairly small and light.

My kid has the Full Contact Finesse (the 7'3" H/XF) and the Marshall (MH/F). Both are great rods for the price and I prefer them to my Avid X too.

I have that one too. Breaking that would be a lot worse, I have a cabin on a clear water lake in a week and drop shot and jigs are quite effective there, plus that rod is one of my primary use rods everytime I get my kayak out. Great rod. This one is the Ehrler finesse M-MH/Xf, best senko rod I own for sure but I do have other options. I got it used for fairly cheap and wasn’t sure if I would find it that useful but like I said it’s my best senko rod for light cover or clear water.

I guess I will say my Daiwa Steez AGS Bottom Contact and Steez SV reel. It balances perfectly and the Steez SV is a pretty sweet reel, casts further than the Tatula and the braking system is quite effective if I have to pick one.

I have the originals, one was always noisy, the other two are quiet.

You're right, I can see it in this pic. Sometime after this I went to see if I could stick it under the wrapping and maybe throw some glue in there but it was not attached anymore.

I have that 7'6 Tatula flipping stick too.

The bottom of the guide is broken off. I thought the same thing at first.

I waited 40 seconds once and I broke that rod my second outing with it - so I'm convinced that's bad luck

Well I earned this one. I was out fishing with two rods, put my Tatula Elite behind me and threw out a bomb cast with the other, which knocked over my Tatula Elite - and caused a birds nest that I had to cut out. Somewhere along the line no pun intended, this happened. I bought it used, so no warranty.

Unless I am not sure if the rod will serve its intended purpose, I remove it in precisely 38 seconds after taking the tag off.

Siege is the best thick strong mono. Maybe not my first choice for spinning gear (as an XL alternative).

I tend to gravitate towards Daiwa J-Fluoro Grand for all my thicker braid needs. Maxcuatro is also very good, but I might be inclined to favor 65# over 50# if I'm not sure because it runs thinner than other braided line.

I use the 6'8" M/XF St Croix Mojo Bass Topwater. It's the perfect power and action for small topwaters and jerkbaits, extra fast tip but not a whole lot of backbone so it bends all the way through. You're clearly looking a line or two above, so perhaps the same rod in the Victory or Legend Tournament line would be a good choice.

That is a bummer. I feel your pain though, yesterday I caught one tiny bass and just lost a giant bass. It swam right at me as I tried my best to give a hookset but wasn't fast enough, but I got a good look at her and that was a tough one to swallow for sure.

I rarely ever peg it, pretty much only for a punching rig.

They have held up worse than senkos for me, but they have caught me a lot of fish. I would say the Yum Dinger is a common alternative that holds up well.

I'm from the northeast and it's common a lot of people largely only use spinning reels (usually with appropriate lures)

I've gotten a few on the edges with jigs and T-Rigs. What you can do is cast it on the lily pad in front, then drag it off and they will hit it on the fall often quite aggressively.

I don't think the colors matter that much. I buy frogs that look like the frogs where I'm fishing. When the mats are thicker, I use a larger frog (Pad Crashers are fine).

I do not. My rod for smaller topwater is the St Croix Mojo Bass 6'8" M/XF "topwater" rod. Not the highest end rod, but it is a great power and action. My jig or heavier T-Rig rod and reel is my best combo.

Hard to choose a single favorite. Maybe topwater for the blowups? I do like bottom contact and crankbaits and spinnerbaits a lot too

I have gone as far as two hours twenty minutes or so, but usually keep it 90 or less.

Do you have a specific power and action or use in mind?

The Sierra is typically slower than the Champion but there is not that much of a difference between both. The Kaden line was designed to have a faster tip than the other lines. If you are looking for something to pitch into heavy cover, you will want to go right up to the 735C. If you are looking for something that you can pitch into lighter cover and use as a bottom contact rod, the DC 744C is the rod to get. It has a little more backbone and a significantly faster tip than a 704C or 734C would. The DC610-4C should also fit the bill if you prefer a shorter rod, although I have no experience with that rod I'm just going from what people have told me. My kid has a DC 744C and I think that probably weighs at least as much as his old Sierra 704C, definitely no lighter.