Aaron_H

My only long days are going offshore in saltwater, overwhelming majority of my bass trips are just 3-4 hours after work in the evenings.

Leader grade fluoro is supposed to be a harder resin than main line from what I understand, but it could just be marketing and I'm certainly no expert. Most of my leaders are mono, anyhow. I don't run straight fluoro on any of my setups, so when I use a fluoro leader it is smaller leader spools of Seaguar Premier.

I mean, I'm not the least bit surprised to see another company dipping into the electronic braking craze. I am surprised it's taken this long and that no one else has done it. Not arguing it's merits, personally I'm pretty ambivalent about Shimano's DC braking, but there's no doubt it has a lot of hype and popularity surrounding it that you would think other big makers would try to get in on that market share. Personally, though, this reel is a pass for me.

I use both the full size and baby brush hog. My biggest fish on them (fish in my profile pic) was 7lb 5oz on the baby brush hog, but it is a fantastic creature bait regardless of size. I have also found that both cobia and red snapper like the 6" version. Wish they made a bulked up 8" version for that application honestly.

Recently rewatched the entire series. 10/10 do recommend.

Found Off-Ramp Drowned? Threw one of the little ultralight lures I picked up today out back for a few minutes to see how it runs. Topwater propbait, this little 11 incher seemed to think it looked good enough to eat. Followed it in twice, decided to give it small pops instead of a steady retrieve, swirled on it once, then struck. He missed it, and it took a few more casts to coax him again, but he nailed it the second time. Super fun little fight on the 6' ultra light casting and 6lb line. Still a rough year for me size-wise. Fingers crossed for a big summer girl soon (and a break in the weather on my days off please).

Saw this at Academy today and had to pick it up for the ultralight combo. I have a handful of ultralight lipless and squarebills already, but definitely want to try out that micro walking bait and prop bait.

I use a screwdriver lol

I would try backing off the spool tension when increasing the internal brakes. Let the brakes and your thumb do the work.

I don't sweat it, every company makes a 110-sized suspending jerkbait these days. Seems weird to bag on Rapala specifically for it.

Interested in the new Rapala 110 jerkbait, for sure. I'll probably check out the new chatterbait, too, but I've been pretty happy with the CrossEyez at that price point.

Chatterbaits in the summer can be deadly. My second biggest chatterbait bass was in the dead heat of July here in FL.

CONGRATS! Look at the shoulders on ol' girl, that's a beautifully proportioned fish. Excellent catch and a wonderful PB!

The line tie on that lipless is crazy far back, but man they look good. I don't need it, I don't need it....

I've thrown them on spinning reels with 35 IPT and caught many, many fish (biggest 7lb 0oz) with it, but that 6.3:1 with 25 IPT I throw it on now just feels so much more dialed in for me.

Rod is overpowered for standard weight chatterbaits IMO, which generally run up to ~1 oz including trailer. That rod is rated up to 3 oz, while it may be a MH, it's MH in an inshore sense and not a bass sense. Moderate-fast action is good to go, though. For me, I would be looking for something rated either up to 1 oz or 1.5 oz, but I don't have pike down here in FL so maybe that throws a wrench in the works for you. Reel-wise I prefer a 6:1, but that is personal preference only. I find it helps me slow the presentation down a lot more, keep it from wanting to rise, and still get a hard thump out of that blade.

I will not stand for this Chatterhate! ? Right now for me it's the 13 Fishing Jabberjaw. Haven't thrown it a ton, but zero interest from fish when I do. Tried various retrieves and nothing yet. Seen other guys killing it on it so I'll keep it in the rotation for now and try to figure it out.

Don't sleep on this budget jerkbait. H2OX Ultimate Jerk Shad from Academy, in the Crackle color. Last year was responsible for my 4 biggest LMB, including two DDs. I replace the stock hooks and split rings, personally. Great slashing action, most of them are slow risers out of the package in my waters but can add suspendots to get them how you want them. The slow rising action has been killer for me, though.

Luck-E-Strike 4" ringworm was the first artificial I ever caught a bass on. Owe a certain amount of my passion and success to them, hope to see the company thrive.

Yes. For weightless senkos, a M power rod is my preference, paired with braid to leader. If I'm throwing a larger, weighted Texas rig, then I do like to bump up to a MH.

I have never had this happen with mine. I'm not that sold on DC truthfully, if I had to replace the reel I'd probably get a Curado 150 MGL, but I'm glad I tried it out; I definitely don't feel disadvantaged casting versus my other reels and I do like it on windier days.

Cloudy days, tannic water, around shiners, or just whenever I feel like it because it's an excellent color. 26" long, on a gold/black Red-Eyed Shad in the middle of June.

I see a lot of different brands being mentioned here, but I have to throw out a vote for Zoom since no one else uses them apparently!!

This is interesting to me; my SLX DC is on a Fury 705CB as well, spooled with 30lb PowerPro to a 15lb mono leader. My brake setting is set to 2, and I get great distance out of mine throwing a 1/2 oz lipless. Nothing mind blowing, about the same as what I get with other reels that are set properly, but certainly more than the 50-60 feet you're describing. Could be the reel, but without having it in front of me it's hard to say.