Luke Barnes

So rods and reels get made to different specs for each market, or different regional factories?

I use various SK lures in the Rage series and ive had good success with them. I caught my PB on a junebug Ocho with the coffee scent. I like handling them better than anything Berkley!

Ive never been a fan of GP. Most places I fish it's the exact same color as the water. The only thing ive bought in GP was some paddletails to try to mimic bluegill colors on swim jigs and chatterbaits. But craws, worms, Ned type lures, I go black/blue or some kind of red or brown. Personal preference I guess.

I keep seeing JDM. What does that stand for?

Going off of specs both seem like decent combos. Not a big fan of the Smash rod being IM6 but I'm not sure I'm good enough or experienced enough to notice a difference in IM6,7, or 8. Both are about the same price, have comparable bearing count, which i know doesnt always mean a good reel. But hands on use and experience with them is what, to me, tells all. Anyone use either?

I see they have Sniper and Assassin and not sure if they have others. But what's the difference? Thought about using Sunline FC on a chatterbait setup I'm putting together.

One thing I do plan on using is fluoro that B Bite recommends. Ive been tossing around using Sniper too. But I'll take my chances using a graphite rod. Ive caught plenty with a chatterbait on the graphite rods I currently have. I just cant see myself going with a glass rod, plus I'm mainly a bank angler, so hitting right by the boat isnt an issue.

That makes me feel better about owning a Shimano. Do they even make their lower end models like the SLX in their own factories? How about the rods?

I was confusing them as well. I thought the reputable brands made their own reels and rods. Is their any brand that owns their own factory to make their own equipment? Ive never gotten into this side of fishing before so I am clueless. Hence why I didn't trust the guy working and asked on here

That's what I get for reading the title and going from there. I must have forgot this was an any species forum. My bad. In that case, use whatever, because no idea what a snakehead requires.

Yesterday I was told by a guy working the fishing department that the PQ2 and up are made by Lews. He could be mistaken, but i held a pq2 and a speedspool LFS side by side and they are very similar

Oh wow. Yeah my PB is 4.7 lbs so I wish I had your problem when buying reels!

I use a Shimano SLX XT in 8.2-1 for my frogging reel and it's done well. I have my drag locked down and pulled a 4lber through the muck without it slipping. I personally love it.

I used to run braid to fluoro on my other MH/F and threw chatters on it and never lost on because of hooksets so I believe it. I switched to straight fluoro and still do well so will probably put fluoro on this setup unless I get a deal on a M/F that I just cant pass up.

I plan on running fluoro but I could always do braid to fluoro if I got a steal on a softer rod.

After all you guys have said and much sense it makes, I would feel better having a MH over a M. Especially when throwing 1/2oz ones. I dont get how Lews labels a M/M a bladed jig rod. Either way I'm going MH/F like most recommended because that's what I'm using now when I tie one on and I like it, I just want a dedicated setup because they are my favorite moving bait.

I agree and i will only go with graphite. I like the lower weight also.

So regardless of power does a faster action provide harder hooksets? I bent a M/F and a MH/F of the exact same rod today and both seem to have the same amount of bend before it went to straight backbone, but I didn't really notice any difference in how hard it was to get to that amount of bend with one finger bending the rod.

I have mainly 3/8 oz and a few 1/2 oz ones but that's it. Nothing heavier or lighter. If I decide I want the Lews tp1 series I need to call them. I think they made a typo that one is a fast. I have a feeling both are moderate. If that's the case I wont consider that rod. I agree with all I like a faster top. If I went moderate fast i would want medium heavy for sure. But for medium I think fast would be best. But what do I know haha.

Brands and length aside, what's everyone's preferred rod for bladed jigs and maybe spinnerbaits? Ive done some reading and looking at rods and im really torn. I like the Lews TP1 and TP1X bladed jig rod. TP1 is M/F and TP1X is M/M. So same power but fast and moderate action is a big difference. I looked at one in store today and thought it was the regular tp1 but was thrown by it being moderate action. Looked on Lews site and realized there are thw regular and X models. That aside, im really torn on what action. I see alot of MH/F and M/F but the moderate through me for a loop. So thoughts, opinions, answers are welcome! Upon further looking at the site the tp1 is IM8 and the tp1x id HM40. The tp1 has microwave guides, the X doesn't. The one I held today had microwave guides but was M moderate. Im so confused!

Never fished a tube but for buzzbaits ive been really liking the SK Sugar Buzz. Free swinging head and nice skirts. Gets to the surface quick and makes a nice sound.

None taken! I use the Zako on my Jackhammers and I have one on a SK belly weighted underspin weedless swimbait hook and it looks so realistic under the water its insane. It was the only thing that produced for me last outing. Plus the electric shad color is my favorite color in a swimbait of all time!

Ive had luck with alot of other black colored lures at night over a black spinner bait. Even a black and blue finesse TRD they have smacked at night. But still havent gotten a bite on a black with two Colorado blades spinner.

Ah yeah I could see that. The Berkley are tough but i bet would harden up. The keitechs seemed pretty squishy. But lately ive fallen in love Yamamoto Zakos so durability isnt the major factor if they catch fish. Exaxtly why I still use SK Rage Craws. I lose alot of claws but they catch fish.

I fish mainly ponds but ive had the same happen. A gap between evening and dark where nothing hits. But once it's dark ive been killing them on topwater. Berkley Choppo in all black and a SK Pad Perch on my frog rod have produced 2 out of 3 of my biggest bass of the year just after it turned dark. Slow roll a Choppo or Whopper Plopper along the weed lines and listen. Its so exciting in the dark not seeing the blowup but hearing it and setting the hook and feeling the weight of the fish! Good luck!