GReb

You’d be better off with the 7’4 heavy cover jig, 7’3 amistad, or 7’ all around (lizard dragger)

As a bean counter, you engineers always killing our margins ?

This is just a guess but I’d assume they have multiple manufacturers supplying parts and some are better than others. So the same model reel may have different guts.

I’ve definitely seen at the sub $200 level quality control is hit and miss. I’ve had multiple of the same reel that aged completely different. All received the same maintenance and yet one or two were much smoother and a couple were a meat grinder. I’ve seen it in Daiwa and Shimano including the micro module gears (which I believe to be bs). One way to get around this is to buy a bunch of reels in the off season, use them for the season, and sell at the end of it. Rinse and repeat. Depending on how you buy and sell you may not even lose money in doing so.

No it’s just listed as Metanium

It’s effortless, smooth, powerful, and built well. The same brake setting can bomb a weightless fluke, skip a swim jig, flip a 1/2oz creature bait, and cast pretty much anything.

JDM zillion.

In the warmer months try sweeping the rod instead of reeling. Pull it across your body, reel in the slack, and pull again. The pause and fall will make the blades flutter

Fish the grass lines and lay downs. If the water is clear downsize to a small double willow silver blade.

Does it have enough weight to throw on a bait caster?

Probably lean Cara if you are strictly throwing jigs but I don’t own the Amistad in the new Cara. I do have a Expert Amistad that is great.

They have a couple models with full grips. The Cara Amistad XH and All Around do I know

Falcon has always answered my calls and emails. Recently a 10 year old cara broke and they sent me a brand new one for like $100. Their customer service has always been top notch. The Amistad is a great rod choice for jigs. I still own a Champion XP but let’s be honest, it’s nowhere near the caliber rod as Falcon and others at that price point. I can think of a dozen rods I’d rather have for $230. Never held a Megabass rod.

This was my favorite delivery. I genuinely laughed when I saw the masking tape. Miraculously the rod was fine and had hauled in many nice fish.

Ive received several like that. They claim that rods aren’t ever put on a conveyer but that’s a lie. There’s no other way for a rod tube to unravel in a circular motion that I can think of. Also it appears they’ve raised their rates. I have shipped many rods for $11-15 but now they are charging $32.

Falcon Expert Amistad

Falcon Expert Head Turner. Length, power, and action are perfect. It’s comfortable to throw all day and versatile enough to handle the majority of what I throw.

You want a rod with a stout backbone but softer tip. More moderate fast action. The Falcon Head Turner models are great. Hammer makes a very similar rod too. I’m sure there are others

I wouldn’t be concerned quite yet. Digitaka is a trustworthy

It’s not much different than swimming a swimbait, worm or craw. The skirt just adds bulk and color. It also pulsates underwater like gills. It’s a great bluegill or crawfish imitator depending on trailer and retrieve. Typically it’s most effective around vegetation. One tip I’ve learned is trimming and thinning the weed guard as much as possible to help hook sets. I will cut off the top half of the wires and trim the bottom half to barely cover the hook point.

Falcon Head Turner is a great spinnerbait rod. That’s what it was designed for. I have 2 Experts and a Cara. The Cara uses a hair stiffer blank and the action may be a tad quicker. Personally I prefer the Expert for straight retrieve presentations such as spinnerbaits and chatterbaits. The Cara is better for swim jigs, t-rig, finesse jigs, etc.

Sounds like the scale didn’t zero out before the fish was dropped. Possible the official made an error or the angler jumped the gun.

Buy a size lower than you need. It’s not my favorite but I do use it on occasion. It seems to be less stretchy than McCoys or Big Game. I prefer both over Suffix though.

Flouro is clear Mono/copoly is green Braid is braid

I haven’t bought a bomber bait in 20 years but the local Walmart keeps a good stock