JMac603

Good to know! Thank you.

At least you got replied to! It's been over 2 weeks and I'm still waiting the 7-10 days they asked me to. I emailed yesterday to check in.

I take 3 rods. ML 7'6" Spinning rod for NED/Drop Shot/hair jig/slip bobber M 7' or 7'6" (depending on the water/cover) Spinning rod for tubes, grubs/swimbaits on ball heads/wacky/weighless weedless worms/lizards Casting rod (length and power depends on the day/water/cover) I finesse fish 90% of the time so I'm mostly using the spinning rods. When I'm using casting gear, the majority of the time it's a 6'6" for jerkbait. Works great from a kayak.

Not by choice! If I go out with a St Croix and a Daiwa, I can't physically bring myself to take another rod that isn't St Croix paired with Daiwa. If I go out with a TFO and a Lews...the rest are too. They all have to have the same brand line and baits as well. It will make me sick to my stomach if I mismatch. Oddly enough, I could give a d**n about terminal tackle.

I have a 6'6" MH Avid X I loved throwing jerkbaits on. Paired it with 10lb Big Game and was light and (for me) a great setup for jerkbait on my kayak. It snapped during a jerk last night - didn't get a strike and didn't have it hung up in any weeds. Just snapped between two guides 2/3 of the way up. I'm assuming it got damaged unbeknownst to me (I consider myself careful with all of my stuff) OR there was a flaw in the blank. I would've assumed a flaw would show it's face much sooner as I've fished this for 7 months now and have caught quite a few fish on it. Either way, I submitted to St. Croix for warranty this morning. I've never had to do this with St. Croix so I'm hoping for two kinds of replies here; 1. will they offer a different rod of equal value if they have none of these kicking around and 2. what rod performs similarly to the Avid X from them that I should consider if that ends up being the route to take?

It depends on what kind of cover I'm fishing. I'll drop down to 6"-8" if it's gravel/sand bottom. Most of the time I'm up around 2' given how much vegetation we have where I like to fish.

Late to the game here - I love my TFO trout-panfish rod. $99. I prefer longer rods so I have the 7' light which fishes more like an UL to me. Caught a 2 1/2lb Pickerel on it on 2lb test...such a fun fight.

I'm somewhere between you two depending on the day HAHA

I've grown to hate baitcasters...can we yell at each other and start trading insults?!

+1 for the Victory but my 7' ML St Croix Avid is heavier than the Victory and I find the grip VERY comfortable. I feel like it's not as fast as the Victory and I do better with ned rigs on it. I fish neds quite a bit and will use the zman grubz on them so I swim it as well and the Avid does me well with that.

It's been over 20 years for me so not the same perspective as a lot of guys on here. I wish I had taken it seriously sooner. I trash fished for years and didn't LEARN so it was really a passive thing to do. Once I started learning their behavior, it became so much more enjoyable. I still trash fish a lot but it makes fishing really enjoyable when you can target the right area and technique. I'm someone who doesn't use electronics so knowing how to break down the water I'm fishing and finding success gives me a feeling of accomplishment.

Agree that the Fuego LT is a great $100.00 option - fair amount of flex but that's the trade off for the LT. Old Fuegos were magnificent. Another to consider is the Lews Custom Pro spinning reel. VERY solid..and heavy. Decent drag. Handle feels really good and they're $140ish. I'm the opposite with the reels though - I won't spend a lot on a casting reel. "A lot" is relative, obviously, but I'm content with the Tatula. Drag doesn't matter on them as it's heavier line and winching them to the net and they cast plenty far for me. I'd rather drop money on a spinning reel as the drag MATTERS and I don't want a floppy jalopy.

Letting all you take them. Mr. Tackle Warehouse doesn't wear a shirt with my business on it so I don't need to advertise for him. Same with any other brands I use. Until they want my sticker, card, or shirt - they can keep theirs.

The wife asks to come fish maybe 3 times a year. I wager a piece of clothing for each fish. She's not shy so it gets pretty fun.

I've definitely gotten better but I'd estimate about $50/month. I have an issue where if I buy on, I have to buy two. This includes line. And if I so happen to try a new brand of line, well...I have to get 4, 6, 8, 12, and 15 in it. I have an affliction that my things need to be all matching and the same brand; same brand reels, same rods, same line, same terminal tackle, and (most challenging) same brand baits. I've gotten trapped trying to leave my house with mismatched stuff - caught in a loop of going up and down stairs trying to force myself to leave before respooling or leaving baits at home. It gets expensive.

Interesting perspective...I like it! I've definitely experienced losing too much line and I hate leaving line in the water.

An older Pflueger President 35. Caught so many d**n fish with that. It spent a few nights at the bottom of a local pond until I could get back to fish it out. Took it apart, cleaned it, and still chuggin. Don't fish it much now because I got bit by the upgrade bug..but I still take 'er out for a spin once in a while.

I fish a lot of grubs in place of swimbaits. I toggle between #8-#10 green or black braid to a #4-#8 ultragreen mono leader. I like long leaders - 12'-15' or so. Most waters are tannic where I fish so line color doesn't matter too much. If I happen to fish clearer waters, I'll use Yo-zuri copoly in 0.009. I don't think high vis with a longer leader would much matter but I only use it for dropshot and ned on my shorter rod. I like a longer rod for small swimming style baits.

Same as the rest of the answers - lighter spinning, heavier casting. That said - I've been fishing with guys who frogged with spinning equipment. And my nephew refuses to use the "ol eggbeater." Me? I leave the casting stuff at home 90% of the time and finesse fish. Much more enjoyable, in my opinion. Do what works for you and don't get bogged down in the minutia.

No experience with that list but can we all agree that it SUCKS when a company changes/discontinues a stellar product?!

I took my 3 out this weekend (all spinning). Started with the 7'1" MF and a 4" tube with a 3/8" jig in it paired with a Tatula LT 3000 straight 0.011 mono. Very sensitive. Didn't land any worth bragging about but the biggest was just shy of #2. Felt subtle bites from the small guys and the rod handled great, but really wasn't put to the test. Grabbed the 7'10" MMF next and had a 3/8" ball head with a 3" grub paired with a Tatula LT 3000 with #10 braid to a #8 mono leader. The length and braid really let me put that bait OUT there. I was swimming it in 25' of water back towards me at about 12' of water letting it bump bottom. Pulled a few large jaws and some smallies - again nothing to brag about and nothing that really gave a big fight. Moved to the 6'10" MLXF with a drop shot next with a Tatula LT 2500 again with #10 braid and a #6 mono leader. Caught every 12" fish that lake had I think..so again nothing to brag about. I swapped to a ned (my go to) and caught the nearly #2 smallie and the tip is very fast. It's not as stout as other ML I own but made that #2 very fun. I'm very happy with these rods so far. They are the nicest rods I own and I might have some bias because I WANT them to be great. Being that they are a step up from my others, I don't know if ANY $200.00 rod would have me saying the same thing. I really like the cork and how long it is above the reel seat (I have large hands so I still have my index on the blank and my pinky below the reel so it's a great/comfortable purchase when hauling one in. In hindsight, I would have gone with the 7'3" MLXF as the 6'10" just doesn't feel like enough..I'd like to have more rod to work with.

Your point and mine aren't mutually exclusive.

Ford vs Chevy vs Dodge, 30.06 vs .308, steel frame vs polymer frame...you name it, people argue over it. There's not one aspect of my life that I own something for "the Jones'" to be impressed. My F250 serves a purpose. My 30-30 does me just fine. Tell me how much you hate either of those things or how much they suck and I'll give you a thumbs up and sleep like a baby. You catch fish with Lews and enjoy doing so? Who cares what the gear geeks have to say. You geek out and like to trick you your Shimano or Daiwa? Who cares what us simpletons have to say? I couldn't care any less who owns what company and what they produce as long as I don't get a POS for my hard earned money.

+1 for Victory & President reel. Rod matters more than the reel to me but the Presidents are great for the money.

Just got the 7' 10" MMF yesterday. Cant wait to get it on the water. This will be for fishing small swimbaits and grubs mostly. Knowing me I'll end up throwing tubes on it too. Can't wait to fish it!