MN Fisher

I would stick to the 704 - once you add the weight of the skirt, hook, blade and trailer to that 3/8 chatter...you're pushing a 3-power Dobyns

And here I thought it was country that did this to it.

Most T-Rigs - whether stickbait, curly tail worm or creature - I like a Medium-Heavy/Fast Only time I 'drop down' is if I'm 'finessing' a T-Rig. 3/16 oz or less weight, smaller worm like a Zoom Finesse. Those I toss on a Medium/Fast.

Length - what ever you're comfortable with - some here use 6'6", I like 7'0" for all my rods, and some go even longer. If you're talking power/action...what types of soft lures, how do you plan to present them.

Never seen one like that - but genetic abnormalities do crop up now and then.

A&W Root Beer

To that I say... "I may grow old, but I refuse to grow up!"

Probably one of the very few tackle purchases this 'off-season' as I put money into the boat rebuild But at $98 used, considering the 7.9:1 I got from the same place was great...had to snag this Patriarch 7.1:1

Obviously it was all your imagination...had to have been something other than bass that took those shallow C-Rigs.

Another option - wait for the Black Friday sales and move up the list a bit Dobyns Kaden St Croix Avid, Premier or Victory Diawa Rebellion or Tatula Elite

New Jersey only allows some types of baitfish to be used...perch isn't on the list, so it's illegal in NJ to use perch as bait...whole or cut-up. https://www.eregulations.com/newjersey/fishing/freshwater/baitfish/

My choices for that budget. Dobyns Sierra, St Croix Mojo Bass, Diawa Tatula...in that order

Big question - what's your budget?

Swim Jigs Chatterbaits Both those have worked for me in reeds...even in milfoil/hydrilla...pretty universal for any type of plant-cover.

Well...if there was enough for me to buy an Avid-X outright, maybe...but the G-Rod would still end up in the trash.

Then you want a leash https://smile.amazon.com/Booms-Fishing-Coiled-Lanyards-Rods/dp/B07RB12CTL/ref=sr_1_33?dchild=1&keywords=rod+leash&qid=1631556634&sr=8-33

I ran my Endura-30 and my Garmin Striker off the same battery - with a proper filter in the Sonar power line. I saw no negative effects on the Sonar even while running at speed-5 on my MinnKota.

Spring-loaded carabiner? https://www.amazon.com/sprookber-Stainless-Steel-Spring-Carabiner/dp/B089NS91Z8

After that - St Croix and Diawa I wouldn't take a Googan rod if it was a gift with some money attached.

Never say never - first winter up here, the wife was all "I wanna go home". Now she wouldn't leave no matter what. I 'imported' her from SE Florida (Boca, Ft. Lauderdale region)

We need pics, Dave...else it didn't happen

A MH rod should handle moderate weeds...maybe thicker patches of Hydrilla, Milfoil and such. Rod I have the 50# on is a Heavy. Don't have to hold the line to do that...just have a finger under it with a slight lift, or over with a slight push-down. Most people 'palm' the reel - hold the rod/reel in such a way that the sideplate where the brake adjustment is, is up against the palm of their hand, a finger out to touch the line for that feeling advantage. That's the level-wind...if you're holding the line too tight, it can over-ride the level-wind as it tries to place the line evenly across the spool. Nope - exact same way I clear backlashes...I would hold the line as close to the first guide as possible when reeling the line back in after clearing the nest out...less chance of it screwing up the level-wind.

It can do both - but most braids are thin enough and strong enough to slice through quite a number of weed types...I've even cut through lily-pad stems with 50# Power Pro. If you have weight on the end - lure or practice plug - you shouldn't have to pinch the line...they'll supply enough tension. Let me guess...you hold the rod and pinch the line with your left hand...that's probably what's doing it as you're 'forcing' the line to one side as you retrieve it.

It's not that you want to haul something weighing 50# with that rod. It's that with braid, the stronger braids cut through weeds...that's why you put strong braid on a rig...ability to cast into thick weeds and have a good chance of not only hauling a fish out, but also getting your lure back. MH/F rod - the 'Swiss Army Knife' of rods - doesn't do everything, but does quite a few things well. Do you have tension on the line when retrieving? Is the level-wind moving back-and-forth like it should? Do you have the reel tipped over on it's left side when reeling in?

Always try to match or at least get close as I can.