PhishLI

Pickerel smash that exact bait around here.

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Beast_Coast_Miyagi_Swimmer_3pk/descpage-EMS.html https://www.beastcoastfishing.com/store/p110/4.75''_MIYAGI_Swimmer_-_Beast_Coast_Shad.html Take a chance on these. Rig them on a 6/0 Owner 1/4oz Beast hook. They clock in at shade under 1oz rigged with that way. I bagged my biggest Smallmouth, my biggest Walleye, and LM bass from 2 lbs to 8lbs. It gets a lot of attention. It's also remarkably weed less. Creep it on the bottom or swim it wherever you like. I throw it year 'round. Deadly

As mentioned by Landis Carrier, there are bidding services that will keep you out of last second bidding wars that drive the final price way up. For instance: Not that you need to or should, but you can set a max bid of $100 if that's what you're willing to pay, but end up winning the auction for $45. Regardless of your max bid you'll only pay something like $1 more, or whatever the preset bid increments are, than the next highest bidder. Best of all you can place your bid when the auction starts or before 5 minutes of auction's end, or anytime in between. You don't need to be present when the auction ends either way. The service places your bid with 6 seconds left in the auction. I've used eSnipe for almost 20 years and have saved a fortune. Choosing auctions that end a bit later on weeknights improves your chances at a lower closing price as less live bidders tend to be paying attention. I won my Vapor PT for $65 a few weeks ago. While that's not the lowest price paid, it's on the lower end of the scale.

Cool. Once you're comfortable casting and cranking with either hand you'll come to appreciate the flexibility whether you're working from the the bank around trees, or have a co-boater. I still buy lefty reels more, but now I don't hesitate to buy a righty if I feel like it. P.S. I recommend lightly oiling the brake race, then wipe clean, and dabbing the brake blocks with oil and wipe clean for the first few times out. Crank up the brakes and chuck a heavy bait for a few casts to help seat the blocks. It's not a necessity, but helps to break the system in faster.

No, but not all rods labeled H are really heavy. Some are more like a medium heavy when they're rated to 1 oz. A heavy wire 1/2oz jig and trailer can hit 1 oz easily. Look for H rods rated to 1 1/2oz and you'll be more versatile where cover is concerned. It's hard to have just one jig rod with so many variables such as cover and hook gauge.

I want one.

Probably. Instant classics. On paper their build concept and quality sets a new standard. As long as there aren't any odd in-use parts breakdowns over time they'll be hard to beat and should easily hold their value. But, don't be surprised if Shimano improves on, or departs from the SVS braking system. When that happens, and it will, that may or may not influence the perceived prestige of those models. Nostalgia is powerful.

Yup. Another offbeat choice. Shields High!

I get where some guys see certain baits as disposable, but since I found this stuff locally last year I now fix everything that's made with plastisol over and over again. I don't waste time doing this while I'm fishing, but instead I just chuck my torn baits in a bag and wait for some down time and fix them as a fill in. Babysitting my grand daughter, and while she's cutting Zs, seems to be perfect. You can repair the same bait endlessly with Mend-it, not just 2 or three times. I've rarely needed to open any of the new bags of plastics that I bought during last years BF sale. I just keep fixing my most used baits. If you fish worms or Keitechs don't try to drip Mend-it into a torn nose or ripped out hook slot. Split those areas straight through lengthwise with a sharp razor just beyond the depth of the tear, dab it, close it up, set it aside, then let it dry. This takes about 30 seconds and the bait's as good as new. You can use this technique on any plastic bait that's compatible with this stuff. I've even grafted claws on craw plastics where I had two of them where each one was missing an appendage leaving me with a donor. A 1oz bottle of this stuff plus half of another of has saved me hundred$ this year. I find tons of freshly discarded torn up plastics on the shore when I wade. I fix them all then add them to my stash.

I've had my eye on this, but have no way to touch one. I'm looking to put more distance between myself and my lighter baits during winter. The water's crystal clear here and the grass is low. Plus the length is just about where I need it to be to fit it in my truck's bed on the diagonal. https://www.alphaangler.com/collections/bait-casting-rods/products/clutch-power-finesse

The 1st 2 came from Simmons on the auction site for about the same price plus shipping. @new2BC4bass steered me to the Shelton's deal on amazon. My brother's and my next 2 came from there. Reviews there are what they are. We fish a lot in heavy duty spots.. No issues at all. None. Plus, if you like moon-shotting frogs this reel will put a smile on your face.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MY40H67/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_3?smid=A3NU6AZPJLBBJ0&th=1&psc=1 https://www.amazon.com/Zebco-IC101HPT-BX3-Quantum-Baitcast/dp/B01NBQFHMH/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=quantum+icon+pt&qid=1607964195&s=sporting-goods&sr=1-2 I've picked up 4 of these since this past April to use as my Yak reels, but they're so good I use them everywhere now. $120 before being discontinued and discounted. These reels are built like tanks and have remained smooth dragging frogs through muck and cranking up to 3 oz swim baits and wake baits. Do a quick gear lube and oil the spool bearings and you're good to go. Because I'm liking the ICONs I just picked up a Qauntum Vapor PT which is it's replacement. The Vapor's the same reel but with an ultra light spool and CB handle. This guy uses one. Go to 4:10 mark on video for a close up.

With a fresh X-Acto knife blade I enlarge the tear or hole enough so that the brush fits in it easily. Works great. Don't worry about elongated cuts weakening the bait because it won't. I've made one worm out of two halves and done the same with much larger plastics that were nearly torn in half. The trick is to leave it be and let it cure. 1/2 hour minimum, but longer is best. The stuff's a miracle.

I am the Pickerel King, I can do anything, except catch a bass these days! No complaints though. These guys are ferocious in these temps and 28"-30"ers live here and are a possibility. I jumped out tonight and it was still in the 50s. Chucked a small swimbait and landed the first fish on my newest rig, so that was cool. Missed two more on the same bait because I was too close to branches to swing on 'em. It'll be dropping into the 20s the next few nights, so it was good to get some tugs before the freeze. 2017 was a drought year just like '20, and so far it's been a repeat as far as activity and patterns go this fall and early winter. Hopefully they wake up late in January or so. It's been rough in these parts for everyone I know.

Originally I was gonna go by Hugh Janus, but figured nobody would take me seriously, because bass fishing is so serious. I fish on Long Island, so I went with PhishLI, and still nobody...

Congrats on your success putting together your rig! Great recipes are usually a delicate balance of ingredients. I'm stoked when I find a great mix that suits me, but I'm with @Teal on this one. You could've just as easily came to the conclusion that the rod made the reel better. The reality is that the rod/reel/line is just a subsystem working in conjunction with a person constituting a total system. Your impression is subjective and relies on a wide range of variables beyond that specific combo: Height, wingspan, hand size, casting style, ability, etc, and other intangibles. My saying that isn't an attempt to negate your feelings or invalidate your conclusions. Not at all. I'm simply pointing out that different people may have different results then come to different conclusions about these things for valid reasons, even if they're unable to articulate exactly why. A single piece of gear by itself is often credited for success or blamed for failure. This stuff is often boiled down then broadcasted as "bad", "good", or "best". There's so much more to it. I won't dismiss anything until I try it in a range of situations. I'll add that price tags and name plates have little to do with what I'm putting across. Magic can happen at any price point. Your post and satisfaction with your choices proves that. Salute!

If salt isn't in the equation, and you're not committed to one of the three reels you've listed in your original post, then just get a Curado K 200. The baits you've listed are in it's wheelhouse regarding lure weights. Plus you can get it in the retrieve and gear ratio you want. Shimano recently released a PG(Power Gear) version. I've had the Tranx 200 and the K 200 apart on my bench. I realize people believe otherwise but the Tranx 200 isn't more of a heavy duty reel than the K 200 by much, if anything. That's a fact. It's selling point is greater salt resistance due to bushings instead of bearings in key places, a seal, and water shedding coatings. The Tranx 300 is a different animal in comparison. Its truly a heavy duty reel, and it's larger spool filled with line is heavy. You'll have a tough time chucking frogs with it when you combine it with a rod rated to throw A-rigs and swim baits. You'll straddle that line better with a reel like the K 200, or the Tranx 200, but it's build features are useless for your application.

Are you fishing saltwater?

I would put it this way: Certain reels on certain rods have a particular synergy, but that may only be apparent to someone who's sensitive to it. Others might not notice it, but to the person who does it's a big deal, like a perfect fitting pair of shoes. A shoe isn't just a shoe to the wearer. The "whys" of what accounts for a "golden ratio" might not be easily described, but they add up to something special to certain people.

The newly redesigned 2020 Zillion SV TW just came out and Daiwa claims greater distance is possible with the new SV boost 2 stage system. I'm grabbing one.

...furiously digging out my Wrist Rocket from 1978! WaaaaHoooo!

None of the reels you've listed are considered bigger bait reels. The Tranx 200 is built for salt, but isn't more of a reel than the Curado K, and in some ways it's less, other than a slightly longer handle and many corrosion resistance features. Plus it has a heavier spool which limits it's usefulness with lighter baits including frogs. I have one. I'd skip it if you throw 1/2oz frogs. I wouldn't think to throw bigger baits with a plastic framed reel like a Chronarch. I don't with mine, but who knows, it might hold up. The Curado DC holds just slightly less line than the Tranx 200 or the Curado K. If you're committed to one the reels you've listed, I'd pick that. It's pretty versatile throwing a wide range of lure weights.

Try a Carolina rig with a short 12 in mono leader. Go as heavy with the weight as your longest rod will allow. Rig a small elaztech bait on a light worm hook, skin hooked if its mucky, and super glue it near the eye. Yuk it out as far as you can, which should be a whopping distance if the weight is 3/4-1oz. Let it soak for a bit, then start bringing it in with occassional pauses and soaks. Belly down fish, or ones suspending just above the bottom, will bite it if they're in the mood. If you haven't yet thrown a C-rig do some research. You'll need space for the cast.

You'll be fine. I have that rod in the 7'MH 2pc that's always in the truck. I've dragged 5 pounders through '100 feet of pads and heavy grass with it. They're tough sticks. Your new LFS will cast a frog quite far if you need to. Enjoy P.S. The 7'H was my brother's first frogging rod. He did fine with it.