Bass Rutten

Whatever you get I’d spend more of your budget on the rod, it’s imo the far more important of the two. With a 600 budget I’d go 350-450 on the rod and spend the remainder on the reel.

Doh! Brain fart

I’m surprised yo zuri hybrid hasn’t been mentioned, super low stretch, very manageable, low price point, was a long time cxx user until this year, not looking back.

@bait__Monkey just a heads up, some crazy talk going on here…

Best 7” senko rod on the planet, change my mind ?

Evergreen es-flat knockoff

I had the victory 7'4" heavy in my hands a few weeks but couldn't justify keeping it and returned it because I felt it was too similar to the expride but I totally agree the expride is a bit more powerful.

8lb fireline for my medium light outfit. It was the first braid I ever used circa late 90’s before later moving on to power pro and 832. Revisiting it just recently I’ve been pleasantly surprised, I’m liking it’s stiffness for sensitivity, especially in windy conditions, although I do recall it becoming rather limp eventually but don’t recall how quickly it did, hopefully not too fast.

FYI alf has the expride 73xh on sale for $231, it's the previous "a" series. Don't let the xh rating scare you, It's really more of a heavy+ (mod-fast taper), killer frog rod, silly powerful for it's weight. Also though I haven't owned one I've read that the expride heavy is soft for a heavy. Edit: sorry they're showing sold out, missed that. Omnia & tw has some in stock but at regular price.

How short is shorter? I rocked an nrx 804c (6'8") for a few years and it worked very well for pitching, skipping, and beating the bank. You'd be hard pressed to beat an nrx for sensitivity and lightness, the biggest downside is obviously the price. I sold because I found it a bit short to be a great "all-purpose" rod. Knowing what I know now I'd spring for custom rod before spending $600 on an nrx. My next jig/worm rod was a poison adrena (7'3'mhf) which I actually liked more than the loomis despite it being about $200 cheaper, it's not quite nrx sensitive or light but a better value imo, but I found it just a tad long for my needs and eventually sold it (fyi it's made in chy-na). Next I got a st croix legend elite (7'mhf), it's also not quite nrx sensitive or light but pretty close and the build quality seems a step above the others, it's an absolute tank (albeit a very light one), and has a much more comfortable feel/grip which I never was crazy about on the loomis', and it's what I've found to be the perfect length for me and an even better value than the 2 previous rods, to be clear I made an offer of $360 on the 'bay and it was accepted, I think they retail about $450 nowadays. Hope this helps.

Expride. That is all.

Coated wire? If not… If coated then a crazy alberto.

Oh snap! Missed the worm part. But I’ve actually fished it with the paddle tail snipped off and t rigged just like you would a worm. For a proper worm I’d go with a netbait tmac, bama bug.

Keitech s.i.f. 4.8 green pumpkin

Just trying to save a brother a few bucks in a hobby that can get real expensive real fast #monkeypower

For zero dollars you can’t beat the pliers every fisherman likely already carries, open the band, moisten the lure and slide it in, spend that money on silicone tubing, but if needless spending makes you feel better then carry on.

Rant alert Don’t get sucked into splurging on specialist crap, buy a few yards of silicone tubing off the’bay and cut it into 1/4” pieces and they’re not only better and tougher but you’ll have enough of them to last you half a lifetime for $20-30, as for the “wacky tool”gimme a break lol needle nose pliers does the same thing and to most likely already keep them on you.

Bomber square a runs 2-3’

A friend of mine was not able to get the hang of what to do on a swimbait bite so I asked him what he does when he gets bit on a worm, he answered I give her some slack watch my line swim off tighten up and crack her. Then I asked him why he thinks it’s any different with a swimbait, then he got it. The only difference being that the swim bait is moving at the bite and you must train yourself to react by not reacting and stop reeling for a few seconds, just takes practice.

Bubba shottin’ a strike king caffeine shad.

I asked about these same two rods a while back, there might be some useful info there for you.

What’s worked for me in the spring on the fox is to fish backwaters, rip rap or any where water is coming in. Jigs, and topwaters (I prefer wakes and ploppers) are my top producers, although my best fox fish last year came on a glide bait.

Haven’t owned one but I understand the 844’s bend slightly more mid blank making it a bit more “versatile”, it’s no doubt lighter and more sensitive but dang that price, that’s an elite and a reel.

My 7’ mhf st croix legend elite is the best rod I’ve owned to date for how I fish, I use it for pitching jigs and plastics 95% of the time, but can also do a whole lot more.