BankBasser

I've been messing with the Neko rig lately. I haven't yet decided if I like it more than wacky.

The last time I shopped there, every new isle I walked down I was approached by someone trying to sell me a vacation. Haven't been back since.

Yep, I call it my "backup plan". More often than not it can save the day from being skunked. My ml/f spinning setup is always available.

I'm not familiar with the Loomis rod so I'm of no help there. I use the 734c for 3/8oz + plastic and up jigs, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, buzzbaits and zoom toads. If I read that correctly you have a spare GLX 894? Give it a shot. I sure would.

I use a Champion 734c for all those techniques and would buy another one in a heartbeat. It works wonderfully. I bought mine off their refurbished page at a substantial discount. You might consider that if one's available. After using a magic eraser on the cork it was pretty much like new.

For years I used Fireline Original (sometimes Crystal) tied direct and never really had an issue. After reading about braid to leader a lot here on BR I decided to step outside of my comfort zone and try braid and leader on one of my spinning outfits. So far so good. A couple issues/concerns I had with a leader knot was having to re-tie often which isn't easy due to some nerve damage in my hands and also whether or not the knot would work well with micro guides. Once I determined a uni to uni knot works fine with micro guides I'm using about a 3 foot leader, which gives me a couple days worth of tying on a few different lures. I don't see there being an issue with the braid to leader knot giving out as long as you tie it well. I'm using 10lb hi-vis yellow Power Pro with an 8lb Invisx leader. The power pro is already fading after just a week, but that shouldn't be an issue. One advantage to this system I've already used is the ability to break off a snag at the knot and save some braid (ie... $$$). Good stuff there. As far as using straight fluoro, you can. I've tried both Tatsu and Gliss, but still prefer PP or Fireline over either of those. Just a personal preference is all. Good luck!

This morning. Not even the trusty ned rig could save the day. Same place that was giving it up in a big way just a couple days ago. It happens.

I primarily fish from the bank and used only spinning gear for over 35 years up to about 3 years ago when I decided to try baitcasters. There's nothing you can't do on spinning gear and I still use them almost every time I head out, but I'm now glad I have baitcasters as an option. I use bc for pretty much anything 1/4oz +plastic and over. It's getting to be the time of year where a lot of the places I fish are getting very weedy and sloppy and I absolutely think baitcasters are a better option for frogs. I'm determined to become better at jigs and I prefer them on a baitcaster, as well. Same with spinnerbaits. I think the best thing to do is just give it a try. You really won't know until you do. You might find that a nice mh/f outfit will become one of your most used.

I picked up a couple during the TW sale over the weekend. They showed up yesterday, were spooled up and on the water later in the afternoon. I got the regular LT in 2000 size. As said above it's a great size. The rotor on my 1000 size ci4+ reels occasionally whack my fingers if I'm not paying attention and that's no longer going to be a problem with the Tatula. It's very smooth and my initial impression is good. Time will tell if that impression remains. The SS has a shallow spool and larger main gear for $10 more. They're not as easy to find, though. TW took them off their Daiwa page, so I'm not sure if they were a limited edition or not?

I regularly use 6lb Fireline on my ML rod (mostly ned and split shot) without a problem. My UL setup is spooled with 2lb test and is used for crappie and gills. 1/32oz jigs cast great.

T-rigs, rage rig, jigs, ned rig and frogs have seen the most action lately. I'm trying to get better at jigs so there's always one tied on regardless of whatever else I bring.

The Avid X is a nicer rod. The difference between SCII (Bass X) and SCIII (Avid X) is quite noticeable.

Ned rig. ML/F spinning and you're set.

My recommendation was in response to what he said early on. I get what you're saying and applaud your conviction and agree mh/f would be the better tool if targeting pike. But, since bass was the main target...

1/4oz - 3/8oz on a 7' m/mf - 6.3:1 - 12lb Yo-Zuri hybrid

If you're wanting to target bass and stick to spinning gear I'd stay with the medium power rod and enjoy the fight when you get hit by a larger pike. The rod will be fine and the fight will be fun.

I fished the regular Avid (same blank) spinning rods for years with Stradic ci4 reels, though I had 6'6" models with the 1000 size reel. The Avid series is where St Croix starts to shine. For the 7' rods you might consider the 2500 size reel instead. It'd give you more than enough line and save some weight (I'd probably still use the 1000 size). As far as which power to get that depends on it's use. If you could elaborate on that a better recommendation could be given. The 7' m/f you mention would be a good place to start. Weightless plastics, wacky rig, neko rig, some smaller cranks and small t-rigs could be thrown with that.

It is a more comfortable seat than the previous one and I almost went with an LTB until I saw that the new LTW had full cork and the reel locking screw in FRONT of the reel. Much more comfortable if there's a power/action rod available to your liking. That's the route I went and don't regret it one bit.

I bought a Tatula CT (basically the same reel with the t-wing) to see if it was as nice as I'd heard in numerous posts. It is. It was very easy to setup. So much so that I sold the reels I had been using and replaced them all with the Diawa. I'd recommend it any day of the week.

Braid/superline and spinning gear is a great match. After fishing Fireline for years Id never go back. It handles better than mono/fluoro (to me) and is noticeably more sensitive. I'm using three different tests at the moment (4, 6 and 8lb), but could easily use 8lb on all three. Due to nerve damage in my hands I tie directly to lures as the line to line knots are a pain for me, but a lot of folks here use leaders with braid/superlines. Maybe sticking to braid and using a fluoro or mono leader is something you should try? I've never found it necessary to go over 10lb test for how I use spinning gear.

Jigs. I think in part because I was using too light a rod and was missing soooo many hooksets. I'm determined to change that this year. I have a new rod that's up to the task and will be throwing jigs a lot this year.

I had a day like that earlier this week. They weren't biting anything I was throwing. So, I grabbed my "backup plan"... my ml/f 7' spinning setup and threw a ned rig. It was one bass after another until I had to leave. They weren't huge, but it was fun and I didn't get skunked.

I've used Fireline for the last 8 years, or so, on all my spinning gear with zero problems. I'm so used to it the few times I've tried going back to mono or flouro I've hated both. I have neuropathy in my hands from diabetes and the easiest knot for me to deal with is the improved clinch knot and have never in 8 years had it fail with Fireline. I use 4lb for my light setup, 6lb for my ml setup, 8lb for my m setup and tie straight to my lure with no leader using both crystal and hi vis yellow and have never felt handicapped doing so. It lasts a long time, too. That'd be my recommendation. Good luck!

A few... SC LTW 6'8" m/xf spinning (I got the walleye instead of bass version for the full cork grip). Some weightless, wacky and jerkbaits so far. SC LTB 7'4" h/f. Frogs Dobyns Champion 734c f/h (old version from their refurbished store). Great all around rod. Nice balance. I'm really digging the Daiwa Tatula CT reels. I got one to try out. Liked it enough to sell my Lew's LFS reels and replaced the all with the Tatula CT.

^^^^^^^^ That... and... I was out this afternoon getting skunked with t-rigs. I grabbed my ml spinning and threw a ned rig. The next 45 minutes was one bass after another until I had to leave. You might give that a shot.