Reel

One of the Shimano Intenza I receive was a 73 H and if you are looking for a stiff frogging rod that's the one to buy. Much faster and stiffer than the Zodias.

I just received my 73H Intenza casting rod and it's light in weight but heavy in action. Esox should like it for frogging.

In my part of the world (Eastern Canada) there are not a lot of shad. The main forage is perch. The colors I use the most are perch and crawfish.

I don't know if what I'm going to say is the right advice because I would never use the type of rod you want for frogging. I prefer a rod with some tip to get more distance and precision. I've got two Zodias 172 heavy that I use for jigs (1/2 oz). I like them a lot. I would use them for frogs. Like Keeper said they have a more mod fast tip and that's what I like. If you really want a stiff rod, waiting for the Expride XH is a good idea. Shimano rods should be getting more available this week because I'm getting two Intenzas that were backordered.

Standard size. Bone/white Retrieve with pauses. Works well. Explosive strikes.

Get a DC reel

Finding somebody that has these 6 rods and getting his opinion will be difficult. I own three of them NRX, Poison Adrena, Expride. First off, high end rods tend to be specialized so finding one that is very good for all the techniques mentioned is again difficult. For me the best one for T-rigs among these three is the NRX. The best one for jigs is the Poison Adrena. The best one for moving baits is the Expride. I've handled the Conquest and it seems to be in between the NRX and the Expride. The others I don't know.

I really liked the Shimano Castaic reels with InstaGage, the kind of double-sided lever that you use for flipping and pitching. Some of the Shimano Cores also had it. I've got one left (NIB) and will regret them when and if it breaks.

Change your braid. Use a brand that is a little stiffer.

Some other brands have an anti-reverse pawl as a backup system to prevent this problem

Try a bigger Senko type lure like a 6 inch. You'll have a bit more feeling but that you have to expect from a weightless lure

It's easy for the grease to get into the smaller teeth of high ratio gears. With use or a cleaning, this goes away. Reels with ''crude'' gears or not enough lube may not be ''smooth'' for long.

There is a big gap between what you have ( for me the 873 is more of a MEDIUM rod) and a heavy or extra heavy rod. I would stick with something that is med/heavy or, if you choose heavy, go with a rod that has some tip action.

I really like the size and the fact that it doesn't float to high in the water. Rarely miss a fish because of that I think.

You might have put too much line on the reel and it was rubbing against the frame.

Same opinion as short fish. For bottom contact get the Ci4+. The carbon body makes it lighter and makes it easier to feel a pickup.

It could be a Calais DC also

I would cost you about the same price to send it in for a lube and inspection or to buy a new one. I would buy a new one and keep the old one for parts. If it's sentimental value, use the old one after a basic cleanup and lube and the new one for parts.

Trowing big Whooper Plooper

Those SSR hubs are hard to get in, almost impossible to get out, but they work well. Almost no prop chatter.

Is the transducer mounted on the left or the right side of the boat ? Is there anything blocking the sight of the transducer: livewell screen, bottom of the motor, another transducer …?

Did you buy them all from the same store ? Maybe someone is buying split rings, changing the one on his lures, putting the old ones back in the pack and bringing it back to the store for his money back.