Ibock

If you are saying you can feel the bottom composition then how are you missing bites? I'm confused?

Listen I watch my line as much as anyone that's why I use hi vis braid to a fluro leader. If you decide to step up like I did and spend way too much money on a fishing rod and get an NRX you can pretty much fish with your eyes closed and catch most of the fish. If I didn't try it for myself I would not have believed it. Fishing rod are like cars and there is a point of diminishing returns. Can a Toyota get the job done...sure. They are great cars but make so mistake they are not a Ferrrai or a Porche. High end rods have more sensitivity, are lighter, and balance better. For anybody that loves to fish I truly believe fishing with higher end gear you will have more enjoyment. bI am only 38 and I use to think who care... I am a big guy what does a few ounces matter? After several hours of fishing with a super light rod you will notice big time. To each their own but I think everyone should fish with the highest end gear they can afford if they love to fish and spend alot of time doing it.

One of my favorite ways to catch bass because when they bite its bc I got them to based on how I am working the worm. It is deadly down here it Texas in the summer months. Big worms catch big fish.

Also if I only want 1 rod I have 50 pound braid with a 17 pound fluro leader and then I can cut the leader off in a want to throw a frog in thick vegitation and the braid floats making topwater presentation better.

I like to carry 2 rods. 1 Casting with chatterbait 1 Spinning with wacky. Small backpack with extra worm hooks, swimbait, frog or favorite topwater, jig. I only carry 3 colors. Something natural green pumpkin, watermelon etc, Black blue and redbug for the worms. For the chatterbaits bluegill, black blue, white. You don't want to carry to much gear its too heavy and you wont enjoy yourself as much. If I want to go really light. I carry 1 MH casting rod with 17 pound fluro with a 6 inch senko. In a super small backpack. Extra hooks, 1 bluegill or black blue chatter bait and 1 frog. Oh and pliers and something to cut the line

I agree the biggest factor is time on the water most pros are using 100-200 rods but the difference in sensitivity between a 100-dollar rod and say NRX+ is huge. Even the difference between a 100-dollar rod and a Shimano Expride is big. The only reason the pros are not all using crazy high-end gear is that they are being paid to use inferior gear. Remember when Tiger Woods was using Nike golf clubs years ago?

I order the 7ft M spinning Jade Python. This will be my first Megabass rod. If I'm not impressed I will get a NRX+ but I am hoping this will be an amazing rod. I am really picky when it comes to spinning rod handles.

just out of curiosity what kind of rod are you using?

That's very interesting to me. The majority of the time I feel the bite on a wacky rig but I know the Expride and NRX+ help a lot with that. I agree with the other post throw that says a tx rig is a great was to learn. Get a light tx rig and a 6 inch worm and you will catch fish. Equipment really matter on bottom contact baits and tungsten too.

My point was the best way to get better at bite detection in more bites. I don't think you can get more on any other bait year around than a senko. IMO braid is way more sensitive then fluro...Its not even close.

I highly doubt bite detection is the problem. Are you fishing in the right area and selecting the right lure is the question. If you want to get better at bite detection that comes with catching more fish. If I want to catch more fish I downsize and throw more plastics. Can't beat a wacky rig senko. If you want to do a few things to also help with bite detection besides what I mentioned you have several options. 1. Run braid to a fluro leader. Braid makes any rod way more sensitive. This will make a massive difference in sensitivity. If you have the money to spend move to option 2 while also doing option 1. 2. Buy a higher-end rod. Not all rods are created equal. Bang for the buck the Shimano Expride series is amazing they are around $300 bucks, and you won't find a more sensitive rod until you jump to the 550 and up price point. If you want the ultimate sensitivity in a rod go get an NRX+ but be prepared to drop $650. Remember though most pros are not throwing crazy expensive rods. Most of the time it's not the arrow it's the Indian. Will a more expensive rod make fishing more enjoyable absolutely but I don't want you to think you need a stupid expensive rod to catch fish. I am not a rod snob after fishing with high-end stuff. At this point, I don't think the high-end rods are making me catch more fish but they are more enjoyable to fish with. Higher-end rods from the right companies are a lot more sensitive, lighter, and better balanced.

Downsize. BFS is a great option. There also might not be that many fish where you are fishing. If you can't get bit on BFS or a wacky rig that is the conclusion I would arrive too. Probably not that many fish and highly pressured.

Thanks for all the feedback. So I decided to order a MB Orochi XX shaky head. I figured I would start there. If I don’t like it I will probably return it and get NRX+ 852s or wait and save up for Shimano Poison Ultima. I just need a good rod and from what I have read it’s a great rod.

Should I go Levante or Orochi?

90 percent of the time is going to be a wacky rig tied on. Looking at whipsnake and shakyhead Megasbass. I have heard there spinning rods are super comfortable to hold.

Yeah I am also looking at Megabass Orochii Whipsnake. I have heard the reel seat is super comfortable to hold. I’m a real seat snob. Like to hold the reel seat on top on the reel with no fingers in-between the reel. I have a Dobbins ecstasy that supersensitive, but I just don’t think it’s very comfortable to hold onto so I’m probably probably gonna sell it.

Anyone know any good rod builders in Texas?

I am looking for a high end spinning rod for my weightless wacky rig. Looking at Megabass Windbuster, NRX+. What are yall thoughts?