Smalls

F5, LowDown Customs or Leviathan. Each make a rod that'll exceed your expectations, and throw almost any bait you want.

LiFePo4 batteries have a self discharge rate of around 5% a month, you really shouldn't have to leave them on a charger.

I've got an Endurance 775 and it balances out really well with a Curado.

There was no reeling that line in. It blew up baaaad. I would have just hand lined him in, but I didn't know he was still on. I was pretty sure I whiffed the hook set when I decided to spontaneously expel all the line off my spool.

I accidentally hit the thumb bar as I set the hook on a fish. The spool instantly blew up, and I didn't think I hooked the fish. Took me over 10 minutes, but I got the backlash out, and as I'm reeling line back in I felt some wigglin on the other end. Apparently it was a good hookset, cause the fish was still on.

The Hook 2's are pretty notorious for doing this. Everyone's suggestion of taking it out of auto, even for a few minutes and going back to it, usually fixes it. I've also read a lot of people saying a soft reset will fix it for a while.

Im using an iRod Genesis 742 for small swimbaits on ball jigs or Okashira screw heads. It's not exactly "whippy", but it does have a really nice tip to it. It'll definitely launch em pretty far. The only possible drawback is if you use braid to leader. You pretty much have no choice but to tie an FG knot, cause the guides are really really small. I think they run just around $150

They're the exact same unit, with the exception of mapping capabilities. And you can still use Genesis Live with the x model, too

Depends on whether or not you need maps. Can't answer that for you.

Until you have to buy adapters to install anything. I absolutely hate the uni tracks.

I saw someone post this on FB the other day, might fit the bill

You put it on a switch.

That's because they're rivets. You need to drill them out

That's about what my A/M 24 kit costs. I actually bought 4 kits for like $5 each. I randomly stumbled across them in a Walmart clearance aisle of all places, and bought what they had left.

That Lowrance model doesn't have mapping capabilities, either

I think I paid around $150 for my F5 Departure, on sale

I get decent images as slow as .75 mph.

Yeah, I bought a cheap "youth sized" 13 spinning combo for my son for Christmas. I almost kept it for a vertical dropshot rig, the action on the rod seems perfect for it.

Austin Kayak ships for $99, last time I checked. I bought my kayak from them

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1111999428856616/permalink/2231006570289224/ You'll probably have to join the group if you're not already a part of it, but he does a great write up.

It depends on what transducer you're running. Some need a small spacer, others don't. I'm running a Big Fish, so basically the same pod as you. I love the pod deal. Having to pull it up while beaching is a minor inconvenience compared to the benefits of having an all in one place for your graph/transducer/battery.

6-8. I'll bring out 8 if I'm prefishing a tournament, or it's a lake I haven't seen in a while, and usually narrow it down to 2-3 techniques that I'll need throughout the day. But still bring out 6 for tournament day. Mostly just in case I find another pattern if conditions change, or as backups.

I used the FG for like 2 years before I had heard of the rizzuto. And honestly, I just happened upon a video showing it. I rarely use braid anymore, so even more honestly, I have to watch the rizzuto video every time I tie braid to leader, anymore. But I'm glad I could point you in the right direction. It's a little extra effort, but I feel it's worth it.

One half hitch to lock it in place while I tie the rizzuto

I've used mine for 2 seasons with no issues, and I know a few other guys who have them as well. For the price, it craps out, I'll just replace it.