GReb

Idk how big he is at 13 but the fury 734 is a heavy rod. I believe it weighs around 6.5 ounces. A lot of competitors are in the 4’s Its a fine rod that does a lot well. But if your kid is on the smaller side I’d lean towards a shorter, lighter rod

2015 F150. Bought it new 130k miles ago. Will prob be driving it another 100k miles

If you are fishing in open water try pumping the bait or stop and go. Something to make the blades flare out or kill the bait. A lot of time the chasers will attack when the bait does something other than a straight retrieve. That’s why banging into cover works so well

Quantum Energy E600 PT I had two E600s that carried me for over a decade. Caught thousands of fish on them and never had a single hiccup. Both are retired now but still work flawlessly. Current favorite is the 2021 Zillion

There are a lot of creature baits with thick bodies and big flappers.

This. Video game fishing is boring.

If you call Falcon they will be more than happy to answer questions and make recommendations. The lizard dragger will work fine for lighter Carolina rigs. I know a lot of guys prefer the dragger 2 in the Cara line for throwing around vegetation though. If you want a longer lizard dragger look at the 7’4 heavy cover jig.

I think they all come with carbon drags now. I know all of my Shimano and Daiwas do.

I’ve never looked at drag when buying a bait caster because frankly I’ve never had a situation where I didn’t have plenty. These Doyo reels marketing 20 LBs of drag is silly and just what it is….marketing.

They really are the ultimate driving machine. Until you have to drive more than 2 or 3 hours at once.

My wife has a 2019 Countryman. She loves it but I told her when the warranty runs out next summer she’s going to have to find a new ride. I learned owning a BMW that once they get to 100k miles it gets more expensive to fix than buying a new one. And as you mentioned a Mini is just a different looking BMW. Kudos to you for fixing it yourself. The Germans do not agree with your decisions lol

I had a 6’ medium green Crucial that was my favorite rod throughout my teenage years. The Fantasia looks like a great deal on paper but I’d be hesitant to say it’s better than some of the other rods mentioned here just because it MSRPs for more. I’ve never been impressed with Abu’s rods.

Look at Falcon Expert and ALX Zolo. The Shimano Zodias isn’t a bad option either. Dobyns makes a quality stick but the Champion XP isn’t the greatest bottom contact rod in my humble opinion. These are just the rods I have experience with.

I bought a new model BB1 Pro recently because it was a good deal. I took it apart and the drag stack was very complex compared to Shimano and Daiwa. It really seems unnecessary. The frame is comfortable but noticeably larger than the LFS. It’s roughly the same size as a Curado K

I keep most of my reels fairly loose but there’s no method to my madness. Each reel has its own identity and performs better with some combo or another of tension and brakes. I will say the Daiwa reels with magforce all perform better with looser tension than other brands

Yep thin wire catches fish

D bomb has always produced for me around grass. I prefer a pit boss around wood.

The new Abu gear looks like it could be a winner

When my truck was newer and gas prices started with a 2, I only used Shell, Exxon, and Chevron. In the past year or so I have almost exclusively used Costco. My low fuel notification used to always appear at 42 miles to empty and now it’s consistently 39. Not very scientific but I’d feel pretty confident I’ve lost 1 or 2 mpg due to a combination of cheap gas and the age of my vehicle.

Like stated above you are probably casting too hard. I have to be aware of this switching between my Shimano and Daiwa reels too. The Elite is a great reel. Like stated above you are probably casting too hard. I have to be aware of this switching between my Shimano and Daiwa reels too. The Elite is a great reel.

If you care about the vehicle and it’s longevity only run quality fuel. Let other lineup for the cheap stuff. You’ll be glad you did 150k miles later. This is another reason I refuse to buy a used vehicle.

Woohoo. The Reb in my username is for Ole Miss Rebels. I spent years going to every home game and regional in Oxford. Watched Bianco build that stadium and program from the ground up. Endured heart break after heart break before finally reaching Omaha in 2014. And even more heart break since. Bianco is a class act. His coaching staff has always been 1st class and his players too. The program has been so clean for so long and this win is way overdue. I honestly was doubtful it would ever come. And to do it after being dead in the water in April is just incredible. A magical run. Baseball is the absolute best.

I’ve been using McCoys mean green for 3 years and have no complaints. It’s consistent and lasts. Never cared for XL or XT. I tried Suffix but had a couple uncharacteristic break offs and put it on the shelf. The old Bass Pro mono from the 2000s was really good but the newer stuff is junk. I use a lot of mono and am quite happy with McCoys