Reel

I've got both the NRX 893 and 894 and for the intended purpose I would choose the 894. I get more precision when I pitch and that's important for me. I use the 893 mostly for weightless senkos.

For a glass rod, not heavy at all. Very different from a graphite rod. I like it a lot for medium and deep diving lures

Spinning combo; NRX 901 and Stella 2500

I like a Zodias MH for that.

I don't understand when you say the Spirex... is designed for something else ? ?

I've got the old generaton of the Nasci and it's been a very very good reel.

The new Shimano Curado rods are really light. They should be available in a mounth and you get a lot for your money.

Another thing that shortens the smooth period of any gears is turning the handle to stop the lure in midair before it reaches it's target

SLX here also.

From the top of my head, three that work well and that are different are the OSP Bent Minnow, Freedom Tackle Mischief Minnow (smallmouth) and the DEPS Basirisky frog. You might also look at the Riser from Jackall

The bail wire is removed but not the bail itself. You use your index finger to pick up the line for the cast and after, to pick up the line and put it back on the guide for the retrieve.

Shimano Sellus

There are different shades of blue. Try something that is black and very pale blue.

I use a Shimano Intenza 7' 6'' light rod for my marabout jigs and get good distance. I use 1/16 and 1/8 oz jigs. If you want more distance you can slip a piece of plactic worm or Senko on the hook to make the jig heavier. It works well.

NRX 901 +

Made by Berkley I think !

Last year there was a special where if you bought the rod or the reel, the other one was half price. Same thing. Great bargain.

Maybe the braid wraps around the tip or a guide .

You save more weight than that because you have to take into account the fact that there is a lot less line on the spool. Line is weight. Also, for a 3000, the spool is deeper so the line ( braid) has a tendency to bunch up a little because it lays on a thicker bed of line. For a 2500, there is less line over the metal spool making for a more even surface and longer casts. Also, the handle on a 3000 is different from the one on a 2500. Depends on what type you like.

Get barbless hooks

Solution: Pass the line through a small split ring before tying on the spinnerbait.. The split ring will slide down over the R bend and prevent the spinnerbait from opening up when you land a fish. I wrap the R bend of the spinnebaits I make with thread to do the same thing. They last double the time compared to those that are not wrapped. And I catch a lot of pikes, so they are put to the test.

You can brush them with a sheet that you put in the dryer and they will stop doing that.

That's why you have to be a bit more careful the first cast in the morning. It might be out of energy and need more thumb. After that, it's all good.

I regularly fish in water that is so clear, you can see bass that are more than 20 feet deep ( St-Lawrence river) . Most days of the season ( June to October ) I can go on flats and target large smallmouth that swim in 3 to 5 feet of water. I can see the fish in groups of 3 to 5 or 6. I catch one or two and then the rest don't bite even if I see them. And I use every trick in the book ! Seing fish does not mean catching fish. Technology helps but it doesn't solve all the problems.

Mega 360 will give you Side Imaging with a DI unit without paying for it.