CrashVector

The oil I use is Rem-Oil. If it's good enough for my guns, it's good enough for a fishing reel lol

Next up: Garcia precision grease.

I fish 3-4 days a week

It looks almost like it gets metal particles in it, which can't be true bc my gears would be bald by now lol Unless it's just dirt or other "gunk" that is somehow getting in there, which I can't see how...

I might have to make the switch. The bps stuff seems to work pretty well, but I don't get why it gets discolored so fast unless it's reacting with the metals, or not protecting them well.

I currently use bass pro shops synthetic red reel grease, and don't really have any complaints...except that it seems to get "dirty" really fast. It turns from red to a dark reddish grey pretty fast it seems. I can't tell, but am mildly worried that it's possibly reacting with the brass gears in my reels? Anyone else experience this? Ease my mind lol..because I'm really persnickety about reel maintenance, and I completely take them down, clean them, and re-grease them every 2-3months.

In my experiences with a ned, it's the weight more often than the hook that gets hung up. Ironically, I've found a bigger weight gets snagged less. I prefer the 1/10 oz, but if I'm in a snaggy spot, I go to the 1/5th.

Black.

I use the VMC head listed above. Works very well. An alternative would be rigging the trick worm on a light wire 2/0 standard worm hook with a 1/26oz tungsten weight pegged. The tail will stand up if rigged this way, duplicating the result of a shaky head. It's how I rig it when fishing in mid-summer to early fall when there's still lots of grass, weeds, and algae. Using the thin-wire 2/0 hook and 1/16oz tungsten pegged weight means less fouling on weeds and such.

I fish a devil horse often. I didn't reply bc I can't compare the two as I only use the devil horse.

Yes. Lots. I fish straight braid. 20# Hercules 8 carrier no fade.

Eagle claw mono is also good stuff. It's not tempered mono like big game, but it performs very well. 20lb clear fluorescent big game was my go-to catfishing mono since I was a kid. Then, my dad put the 6lb on my old hunter green Johnson spincast reel for bluegills. I thought it was a high class rig back when I was 7 or 8 years old lol! Good memories...

Those maxscent flat worms are getters for sure Lol...try a zoom trick worm, black, on a 3/0 EWG. No weight. You'll catch fish.

8lb Trilene big game in lo-vis green. It's not even a debate. Leaders simply aren't necessary for bass fishing. I've fished all over the country...muddy water, stained water, gin clear water, etc. Bass don't care about braided line unless you're using 65lb braid that's as thick as a rope. At reasonable diameters, there's no reason for a leader. I run 20lb 8-strand Hercules braid without leaders, and never have a problem catching lots of fish

I use a VMC neko hook with a weightless presentation on a spinning reel with 10lb braid tied to the hook.

Same. Never understood that "problem". I don't fish places that ARENT loaded with grass and weeds....and I've never had that issue.

Agreed. All the micro guides on the rods I have are Fuji K's

Just twice, but not really fished it. I went out the day after I got it and put an old SilverMax reel on it to adjust my reel settings. Got in three whole casts before it started pouring rain. Yesterday, I played around with it for an hour at a local pond just to get a feel for it. So far, I feel it's slightly superior to my PLX tournament edition rods, but well below the Fantasista X in sensitivity. I realize it's a 7+ year old rod, so I didn't expect it to be on par with the newer model. It's decent...nothing special, but it DOES look awfully good. I intended it to be a kayak casting rod that I wouldn't cuss about if it got damaged. Id be awfully mad if I'd paid $300 for it though. Maybe back in 2014 it was the pinnacle of abu's lineup, but now, the Fantasista X is a FAR superior rod in almost every way. I'm glad I bought it don't get me wrong. It's a decent rod for $160. For $300, it's too far below par. The Fantasista X is the most sensitive rod I currently own, and also the lightest MH rod I own.

I have rods with both, and far prefer the micro guides. They're more accurate, sit lower to the blank, and are lighter. I don't use leaders as a rule.

Dude that sucks. I always check stuff like this when I get a new rod...the guides on mine are perfect. I'd send em back and demand replacements. It is heavier than I expected..mine was the same at just over 5oz. My Fantasista X in 7', MH/XF is 3.92oz.

...or drag was set waaay too tight

That had to be one hell of a fish to pull out a split ring.

Fair enough. I just think it looks nostalgic and has that certain feel to it that reminds me of my old fishing poles from back in the day.

Good point lol

This is the cork on my Pflueger Trion combos, and I really like it a lot...low grade or not.