Phil77

Here is a three pounder I caught the other morning. She smoked that plug at well over a hundred feet away and I thought for sure she would spit it before I got her to the boat. I don't normally like to hook a fish that far out and don't target ones that far but I saw her and some others busting shad and got excited. If you're fishing from a boat or yak distance isn't important, that's what the trolling motor or paddles are for. Focus on accuracy and consistency and you'll be more successful. And feel free to make fun of my sissy fish gripper. I'm not performing treble hook removal surgery from my hands ever again.

All four down is all brakes on. A magnetic reel or a centrifugal non SVS system is less finicky but like others have said you need to get your thumb and stroke down or no reel will perform to its fullest.

Your setup should be fine, SVS is finicky. Only time I recommend braid for topwater is for frogs. Try turning all four brakes on and back the dial down as low as you can without it fluffing. I prefer medium rod for topwater to help pin them but MH will work if that's all you have. Make sure to clean and oil the brake collar/ring that alone will give you better performance.

Do all my shakey heads on a 7ML 47 rod from doomsday casting rod. It handles 3/16 to 1/2 spot remover jig heads just fine. I don't drop shot but my Ned rods are both Lew's spinning, a TP1 7M and a 7ML Wally Marshall rod. I never go out without a shakey head and it's usually what I start with if there isn't a topwater bite. I can catch fish in one foot to thirty foot on a shakey head most days and usually produces more fish than anything else. I've caught everything but a striper on the Ned this year I use the 1/4 for deep water on the M rod and the ML an 8th or less in the shallows. Zoom trick worms and any of the Zman Ned baits have cleaned up good for me.

Of the two you listed go with the Sunline. Sniper and Assassin are great for everything but topwater. I wouldn't mess with the other brand.

Should be fine, I would use Berkley Big Game or P-Line CXX. I started with an old meat hunter rod and a Shimano Cardiff, the bass didn't complain. I wouldn't spend much trying it out, chucking 1-4 oz baits ain't for everyone.

Try cleaning the brake ring with some alcohol then oil it.

Lews custom lite will do anything a Met20 will. I know because I replaced my Met20 with one. To be fair the SD can do most of what the Met can do as well at $150. I love Shimano but they need to get on the ball with a true externally adjustable centrifugal brake system or go back to the VBS. I'm not trashing the Met in any way, it's an excellent reel but a more expensive reel isn't always a guarantee of better performance. And to the OP, if you want a DC reel go for it, they sound cool and the IDC5 on the MetDC is truly better than the system on the Curado's and SLX DC reels. If your wanting a Lews check out the custom Lite or Hypermag.

Non DC Met. I don't need a DC and the Met would pair nicely on the Loomis. The SD will throw baits down to 1/8 with ease so flip a coin. The SD might even do well with less but I haven't tried anything under 1/8.

I would've suggested the TP or SD. Can't go wrong with either just depends if you like the centrifugal or magnetic system. I'm not a fan of the dual brake reels but what works for me may not work for you. Give that reel a good cleaning and turn some heads with it.

I've tried all three line types over the years. I prefer CXX, braid works well but had a couple of pricey baits snap off on the cast totally my fault but never had it happen with BG or CXX. FC will work to but not as strong as BG and CXX, you can tow a broke down boat with those two mono's. Big spoons are deadly in my lake this time of year, find a big school off shore and drop it on top of them till one bites then it's on. A 3/4 or 1oz swimbait jig with a big paddle tail cleans up off shore this time of year to, looks like a nice rod that should do both quite well.

I have a few of them I use as live bait rigs for catfish paired with Abu and Shimano round reels. I've been impressed with them for the price. They don't have any problem setting hooks and landing channel and flathead's.

Same system as the K basically, the brakes on the K snap into the spool instead of sliding to the side to turn off. My VBS reels anything over a 1/4 i run 5 off one on and use the spool tension. Any bait a 1/4 or less 2 brakes on 4 off, set and forget hardly ever have to play with the tension. The SVS pains me because I want to make one adjustment and be done, it's why I switched to the lews with the ACS system which is an externally adjustable centrifugal system that does great for me. The SVS takes more for me than a simple click of the dial which if all I had to do was swing the cover open and pull or push a brake collar like the older VBS I would still fish nothing but Shimano.

I'd keep the E, the VBS is way better than the SVS on the K. The K is a great reel once you dial it in but its not a set and forget like the older ones. I still use all of the E models Chronarch, Curado, and Citica.

I've caught everything fresh water on a cheap lews ML Moderate. Lots of fun with a Ned rig. I also fish a shakey head on a 7ML casting rod.

I've fished both and can't feel any difference in the blank. I prefer the split grip on the mojo personally, both are great rods for the money.

I would suggest a cheap reel with magnetic brakes and the 7MH bass x, not much you cant do with a 7MH.

I remember Quantum marketing their PT reels as 7.1 burners back then.

That's a very good looking reel for its age. I would probably focus on preserving it but can understand if you want to fish with it. Does it have the VBS style brake blocks?

The brake system looks like an updated version of Shimano's VBS. I might have to try one.

Haven't fished a beetle spin but have been ned rig fishing with a 7ML moderate all year. Mine is a sub $100 lews rod and I've caught everything but a striper with no problems. Lot of fun with light braid.

I have a met20 and 18 bantam. The only thing the Met does better is 1/4 or lower baits. Can't go wrong with either.

Wouldn't want to fish a deep diver on a MH just my personal preference. I'm sure some guys do it but I would prefer a medium or glass cranking stick for anything deeper than 10 ft.

The OP didn't mention anything about swim or glide baits, or trophy size bass. I have a Huddleston 8XH I can chuck up to 10oz with but I wouldn't do it from a yak, if you and your crew want to more power to you. My two PB's over nine lbs were both caught with 7MH rods and never felt like I was under powered. I have two heavy rods, one mentioned above and a 7-6 MBR that hardly ever leaves the garage. Moving to Carrabelle when the wife retires next year, so maybe fishing everyday down there might convince me of the need for a heavy rod but I doubt it. I wont be fishing out of a yak down there for sure, seen lake placid one to many times.

The mojo looks way cooler, that neon green hurts my eyes. My daughter uses three of the mojo's but doesn't throw cranks. I've fished with the mojo's and they are excellent rods for the price, the MH would do fine for spinnerbaits and ploppers. I wouldn't throw more than a square bill on a MH though. I'm sure the Dobyns are great rods, I just don't dig the color.