GetFishorDieTryin

I prefer the shape and how the bait sits on the lites compared to the originals. The compromise is when they say lite they mean it. The wire is so thin I've broken quite a few lifting fish out of the water or using pliers to get them out. Trokar has a similar shaped DS hook to the lite and it's a little thicker.

IMO the Zako is actually fairly compact. I dont get many short hits on a Zako as I do with longer baits particularly a 4.5 pintail. If I'm swimming a chatterbait with a Zako and I want a smaller profile I'll thin the skirt and use a lighter color like GP instead of black. If that fails to get the fish to commit I'll either try to slow down or even speed up to get a reaction bite. If they still refuse to commit switching to a crankbait usually saves the day.

Mid 40s to low 50s

Most of the time that happens to me its sheer ignorance on the other guys part. I dont get irritated with the people that just dont know any better but the people that are aware they are being rude get to me every now and then. The guy who jumps you or cuts you off and refuses to acknowledge you or make eye contact when your within 50ft are a lost cause. They know what they're doing and just dont care. What's worse is when they have a kid with them.

Yes I have a 7,1 ML and I've handled the Mediums. Power can really vary from brand to brand and even line to line. The Tatula M F IMO is pretty much a spot on Med. When comparing to the majority of the newer M power spinning rods on the market now it feels about equal to most and maybe just a tad lighter then the more stout Ms. If you compare it to the older pre IPC SC Ms which feel more like a MH the Tatula is going to feel lighter power wise.

The 4.8 FS in bluegill w/ 1/32 owner wacky head gets it done for me. I think they work so well because the action/profile is different from most baits. They get thrown nearly as much as a senko or trickworm either.

Color matters but I honestly think 9 of 10 times you can get away with just green pumpkin and white or pearl. You can really get different looks just by changing the trailer especially with a GP skirt. I like to use black barred GP skirts, that way I can use a GP trailer to bring out the green or a black trailer to give it a harder silhouette, either color trailer looks great. I also use a orange or chartreuse bellied sungill like color with the GP which looks like a bright sunfish, it works really well for the fry guarders.

For JBs and topwaters you want a crisp tip so I would go with a Fast. Being a M power it's got give so you shouldn't have issues tearing trebles out of fish. I have a 7'1 M F Muse and the action/power makes it a great do it all rod. I use it for it for shallow CBs, JBs, poppers/spooks, 1/4 spinnerbaits/bladed jigs, lighter finesse jigs and weightless plastics. The only thing I dont like about the Muse is that the locking nut has like a spoked fitting that keeps the blank centered within the nut. The blank can momentarily slip from center and go between these pliable spokes, which I'm sure is supposed to happen. The issue for me is that it feels like the reel seat momentarily loosens which gives the sensation that the reel foot has play in the hood.

If I had to get pick 1 rod at that price point it would be a Tatula. Admittedly I've never heard of that particular technique which sounds like it's a good way to test vibration transmission through the blank. Not sure how the halo compares to the Tatula but the Tatulas are more then adequate especially at that price point. I like a sensitive rod too, but the balance, action, power (in context) and over all ergonomics are important as well and the Tatula IMO gets it right which makes them really fun to fish.

Another 100$

They're more effective then most people realize, but like anything else it's a compromise. You dont hook as many fish that just slap or roll at the bait as you would if you had trebles. If you get the fish to commit the bigger bite on the single hooks holds as good or better then trebles IMHO. They definitely are much easier on the fish and the angler. Even just replacing the rear treble on a bait saves lots of eyeballs. Releasing any fish much less a trophy with half the vision it had before you encountered it is a feeling I hate.

As long as the mouth is somewhat closed circle hooks will work especially if they're offset. Like anything else theres a bit of a learning curve which is frustrating. You could get the same weedless effect from single replacement hooks and still have confidence when you set the hook.

Can't help you with what model to get as far as crankbaits go, but I really like my 7'3 MH F Essence as a do it all MH, perfect for a yak or jon boat in the shallow ponds/lakes around here. Dicks in Deptford has a Catalyzer, so if your in that area stop and check it out to get a sense of how they feel. Check Dicks website to see if they offer to send models to that store for pickup because Blackwater, TD or any one else in the area sells them that I know of. I think Arks are decent for the money but they obviously have issues with quality control. A component on my reel seat broke after very little use. The rod was delivered to ark on April 13 and just today Justin called me and told me it was being processed and should be shipped next week. I think they save money by using unskilled workers and that's why you get decent blanks for the price. I dont think any one else offers a 36t for 70 or a 40t for just over 100. If they got their act together a little bit and fixed the quality control issue they would be far more popular. Blackwater had some of the lighter 13 Fate Black CB rods, they're rated 3/16-3/4 so they would be good for flat sides light cranks. I think they're composite but the 13 cranking rods are stupid light even there 7'3 chatterbait/cranking rods rated to 1.5oz feel crazy light.

The only difference in the salt and fresh triumphs are the components. The SW rods are more resistant to corrosion. A MH can handle 1.5oz but it's not ideal. A H would handle that weight without being over powered. I dont like to bomb anything over 1oz with my SC MHs. Are you throwing bait or artificials? If artificials then it's best to get a rod that can handle a little more weight then the max weight you plan to throw. Every rod has a suggested weight range and inside range theres a smaller optimal range that the rod performs the best with called "the sweet spot." The MHs SCs I have are rated .5-1.5oz but the sweet spot is 5/8 to about 1oz. For example the older 7' M power SC I have is older and rated 1/4-5/8 and the sweet spot for them is 3/8-1/2. Once you get towards the upper end of the suggested weight range the rod doesn't respond as well and feels overburdened. That makes it harder to work baits that you have to twitch or pop.

Eww

The LC DRS and silent 1.5s run about that depth depending on line size and position of the rod. The KVD shallow 1.5 will get down to about 2ft max if you keep the tip down and grind it.

I snagged a metal box that had a pistol in it. I wasnt very surprised given the area that I was in. When we were kids a freind of mine snagged the body of a 50 some YO angler in the lake right down the street from me. They said he had a heart attack while fishing and fell in the lake a few days before his body was recovered. I think his family had actually reported him missing. It didnt seem to really bother my buddy very much. I dont think I could say the same had it been me who found that poor guy.

Even if you fish all the time you should be able to get 9 months or a year with most braids if you dont have to deal abrasions often.

I would guess that the spool tension is loose and or you have the brakes on on a lighter setting then you should.

I find that zakos hold up really well. I can usually get 4 or 5 fish before they start sliding down the shank. Even then it's an easy fix with mend it.

I kind of use swimjig as an alternative to a chatterbait in clear/calm conditions. I also throw a swimjig over a chatterbait in wood, lilly stumps, really thick grass or basically anywhere where a chatterbait gets bogged down or snags.

Oakley Flak Jackets are great. Very comfortable and lightweight. They stay put on your face as well, so you dont need a lanyard. Costa Brines would be the other pair that I would reccomend. They hold up a little better compared to the half jackets just because of the full frame design. Costa offers a couple other smaller frames like the fathoms and white tip but I've never actually seen them in person.

The 3/8 zorros arent all that big and you can trim them down considerably with that smaller hook but you still have the wire length and dia that's a constant. Picasso makes a great SB and I know they make a compact single blade SB. Recently I've become a big fan of the thunder SBs. Had several days this year when the conditions were perfect for a big zorro colorado but the fish wouldn't commit, where they would crush the Picasso thunder. War eagle makes a similar blade as well.

I dislike the the business but I have to admit BPS makes a great beaver style bait called the river bug. You used to be able to get them for less then half of what they charge now if you bought them at the right time. Zmans palmetto bug has a beefy body, but it's a little bigger then what I usually use on my jigs. I really like them for pitchin and mojo rigs.

Not sure your talking spinning or casting. Either way a 6'8 M F are made for JB/topwater so it should do great for that. The weight of the jig heads your going to use is a big factor with the swimbaits. As for the jigs your better off using the MH unless your talking some really light finesse jigs.