Backroad Angler

I do not use leaders with braid. If I want to use mono or fluro, I just use straight.

Shoot, I don't even want to check. probably above 1000

I'll agree with what @MediumMouthBass said. With that said, I have an older reel a shimano chronarch 50mg, that I just sent off to DVT to be cleaned. I have never really cleaned and broken down my reels, so I felt like it was about time to send a reel off to a professional to be cleaned and serviced. First time doing so, I'm sure it'll be worth it!

Thank you! I plan on using it for heavier T rigs, 1/4oz-3/8oz. Worms, crawdads, and creature baits.

Agreed with everyone else, you're looking at a 5 plus pounder, less than 6 pounds I would say. Grats

I have a few Dobyns rods in the 6’8 range, not bad rods. The champion XP lineup I would recommend. I have the 683c and use it for lighter weight lures, not a bad rod.

Went fishing this morning at the river, gotta love it.

Yes! Awesome news!

Welcome back bro!

I would start off with using soft plastics. A ton of different techniques you can rig them up such as wacky rigging, Texas rigging, free rigging, etc. I would look up youtube videos for the different rigs that you can do. All rigs require at least a hook plus the soft plastic and maybe a weight depending on which rig you roll with. As far as what soft plastics you can get, I would head over to Walmart and buy a few packs of yum or zoom plastics, imitating worms, creature baits, shad, etc. If you're set on ordering off of amazon, I would just read the reviews on the soft plastics that they offer. For the sizes of the soft plastics, most run in the range of 2 inches to 10 inches. Generally short soft plastics are used for finesse fishing and larger soft plastics are used for general fishing. I would also look up videos on youtube for the different hooks you can use, there are so many different types. For example a common hook for Texas rigging is a extra wide gap and for wacky rigging a mosquito hook is common.

Pulled an audible, after talking to staff at ALF and Dobyns, switched and went with the 744.

Very nice, fun little project I bet it was!

Went for the 743C FH Thank you all for your help.

I'm torn from picking the 7'4 or 7'0 for casting length now, thoughts?

I use to roll with 40lb braid on my baitcasters but switched to 30lb for certain techniques such as using light weight plastics. Haven’t had any issues with it digging or anything like that. I would go with 30. No experience with 20lb braid on a baitcaster.