T-Billy

Reading up on it helps, but if you want to get good with any technique you have to dedicate time to it. You can generally catch some fish on a jig or T-Rig under most conditions. They'll produce shallow, deep, and everywhere in between. Just put that rod in your hand and keep it there. It'll come.

3 Speed Spool LFS, 3 Super Duty LFS, 2 Tournament MB, and a Pro SP. Several of them have 3 or 4 years of regular use. My SD's take a beating pitching with braid on stout rods. All are smooth and quiet. Don't know what your buddy's using, but your experience with Lews is very different than mine.

Congratulations!!! That's one heck of a bag of fish.

OOOHHHHH YEAH!!! I've had a few awesome early spring and late fall days on that very bait. When the smallies are on it, they're ON IT.

Outstanding rods at their price point. Better blanks than some rods costing three times as much.

Sounds like gears to me. Sometimes reels leave the factory pretty dang dry.

I'm generally pretty easy to get along with, but in your situation, I'd have tied on the heaviest crankbait I had, and opened fire.

Super Duty G LFS.

Still happy with it. There are more in my future.

You're welcome. It'll be next spring before they get a workout, but I'm 100% sure they're not too stiff. I just compared one with a winch again. Similar tapers. B-Hit is SLIGHTLY faster and has a bit more power. Think of it as a Mag MH vs the Abu MH.

I have the Tharp version. It's definitely a ML XF. Soft tip that gets quickly into the backbone. 1/16 - 1/4 is more realistic for this rod. It's my ned rod and it excells at that job. The Zodias was for sure the better choice for the baits you mentioned, but if you get in the market for a ned, hair jig, dropshot rod, this is a great choice.

I have a Fury 735 and would never throw a chatterbait on it. Too fast. Love it for spinnerbaits though. I have a couple Abu Veritas Winch 7'6" MH, and a BPS 7'3" H Crankin Stick. This crankin stick is a bit too stiff for chatterbaits IMO. The Abu's have worked well for the past couple years, but I feel they're just a little bit underpowered and I'm not a fan of the grip/reelseat. I just picked up a pair of ARK Tharp B-Hittay's to replace the Winches. They fall nicely between the winch and cranking stick. Almost as soft a tip as the winch but more power in the backbone. It''ll be awhile before I get to break'em in, but I expect I'll be very happy with them.

30# or 40# 832 for most single hook casting. No leader except for deep snaggy places. Trilene XT for trebles and spinning gear. Simple and works well for me.

I've thrown chatterbaits on a bunch of different rods, and a 7'3" - 7'6" MH composite is far and away the best for me. The slow rod lets them get it good, and as A-Jay stated, does a great job of keeping them pinned. I throw them on 30# 832.

This is just crazy talk. I sure hope my wife doesn't see this.

LOL!!! Made me think of this gem. I remember seeing these in the department stores when I was a kid.

Very good experiences with both Abu and Dobyns.

OOHHH YEAH!!! I wouldn't call myself an expert, but I'm pretty good at this also. One of my favorite ways to catch'em, and maybe the single best way to catch bigguns in the summer. I'll add a 1/2 or 5/8 oz chatterbait to the short list of baits, depending on depth. Not just any CB though. I make my own using the turbo blades from Barlow's or LPO. They start up instantly with a slow turn of the handle, crawl through rock better than any football jig, and just flat out catch'em. Edit to add the bladed jig in question. Powder coated turbo blade, Do-It sparkie jig cast with an underspin wire form for the eye, Gamakatsu 484 straight shank worm hook, either 4/0 or 5/0. Fastest, easiest startup of any I've ever used. At night on structure, I either give a few turns of the reel and let it fall back to the bottom on a tight line or just crawl it along slow and steady with the blade thumping slow enough to count the thumps. I always move it with the reel. They usually CRUSH it, but they won't hold it long. It pays to always be in position to set the hook.

It's a Flippin switch not a Pitchin switch. Just for letting out a length of line for flippin. I could see it beeing useful in that regard, but it's useless for pitchin or anything else for that matter. I highly recommend the Super Duty LFS. I have three of the 8 speeds with the flippin switch, but wish I had bought 7 speeds instead, only because that switch is a royal PITA come annual clean and lube time. I have an SP reel as well. I'm a fan. It performs well and it sure is nice not having to put backing under my braid. Backlashes can't get deep and are easily picked out. There are more in my future.

Called and left a message the day before Thanksgiving. Never heard back.

Jigs and T-Rigs in wood, brush and rock is straight braid territory for me. 40# Sufix 832 specifically. Great abrasion resistance and plenty of power to muscle them out of cover.

I stand corrected. It seems your priorities are in order after all. My apologies. Carry on. ?

Pulling them is cheaper and would leave you with more money to spend on tackle. You really need to rethink your priorities. ?

When I think of high sticking, THIS is what comes to mind. This got me thinking.......Instead wearing my Fish Monkey gloves, Maybe I should try put'n on the foil instead.