Here's a list of things I have used the last few seasons that has performed well above what I expected.

What have you guys had great experiences with?

 

Daiwa Tatula- 7'1" ML spinning rod

Z-man- Baby GOAT

Cabela's-3.5" and 5" swim minnow swimbait

Boss-Dock Knocker and Finesse Flip jig heads (very snag less around wood)

Keitech-6.8" and 8/0 beast hook combo

Rod Sox Pro casting rod covers

 

Keitech knockoffs:

swing impact

Easy Shiner

 

 

Abu garcia cardinal spinning reel and eagle claw monofilament . I swear I can stop my boat in the rapids by hanging a rock with 6 lb test 

 

rapala husky jerk, suspends perfectly and catches bass 

I have Penn Senators that are older than me and these reels still work great. Have caught many sharks on these reels.

The Owner Down-Shot offset worm hook.  
 

a great drop shot hook. I was using a straight shank bait keeper type (still do) but the néw hook stabs the bass lips perfect. No deep gullet hookups. Not a single one yet with the offset worm.  But when a bass near-swallows a hook it’s not fun. I’m good at removing them, but prefer not to have to.  It rides on the line perfectly. It is slightly hanging high so the bait weight brings it down nicely. 

8 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Abu garcia cardinal spinning reel and eagle claw monofilament . I swear I can stop my boat in the rapids by hanging a rock with 6 lb test 

 

rapala husky jerk, suspends perfectly and catches bass 

100% agree on Husky Jerk

Tatula Elite is an incredible reel..... I had my hands on the Tatula SV (Slightly less expansive) and a Chronarch MGL (slightly more expensive) over the winter, but they don't compare...

The Piscifun Phantom mounted on an Okuma Epixor 7'0" mh. 

Shimano Sienna spinning reel. Hard to beat for 30 bucks

H2O Express Lures, the jerkbait and square bill in particular.  

Fish Hard

A-Jay

Pline CXX

Power pro superslick

Kast King Royale Legend Elite. I dunno know man, it just works for me. 

The drag on my tatula 100 

 

And a controversial one......... pline fluoroclear. I'm waiting for it to give me an issue. It hasn't yet and love it so far. I use it as leader only.

Dobyns fury rods and shimano sienna spinning reels

Ultrex  

 

Nothing has changed my "fishing life" like my Ultrex.    

Yo Zuri Hybrid

KVD Line and Lure

TSI321

Mend-It

KVD Line Conditioner.

In the past I was never one to use conditioner because I never found one that I thought was any good.  I read all of the comments on this site about KVD, and went out and bought a bottle.  Good stuff.

TRCovers.com

 

Got tired of having hooks get caught in the bottom of the mesh.  These made to order covers have a hardened base, custom lengths, custom colors, and custom text.

 

Lew's Carbon Fire rods for me. Grabbed a few for 39.99 a piece 2/3 years ago after I lost all of my rods in a fire.

 

I figured by now I would have upgraded,  but I'm not going to for a while. They aren't the high end Fenwick and St Croix I lost, but I'm very impressed.

I bought a 2021 Metanium and a 21 Zillion SV TW. I wish I would have waited to buy the Metanium. Th Zillion is probably the best Reel I have owned by far. 

17 hours ago, LrgmouthShad said:

And a controversial one......... pline fluoroclear. I'm waiting for it to give me an issue. It hasn't yet and love it so far. I use it as leader only.

 

I love Fluoroclear but only for certain applications.  It casts great, has reduced visibility in the water, and is cheap.  It is not very abraison-resistant compared to other lines so I don't use it for bottom contact baits.  But I love it for jerkbaits (10-12 lb), chatterbaits/swimjigs/spinnerbaits (15 lb), and A-Rigs (25 lb).  

 

Leaders?  I definitely would use straight fluorocarbon over Fluoroclear but you can't knock your success and confidence.  

Any of my Saint Croix Avid Rods

My 20 year old Daiwa HSDL pitching reels

Calcutta (need I say any more?)

Megabass PopMax

Original FishGrip

Seaguar Tatsu

Okuma Guide Select Rods

 

Not exactly fishing gear, but the collage I had made by Trophy Hero blew me away.

 

The Daiwa Tatula Elite I got for Christmas slings baits farther than any reel I own.  It is an absolute machine for covering water.  I want a second one for jerkbaits.

So far for me I would have to say the Daiwa Tatula line of rods, and the 2021 Daiwa Zillion SV have been my biggest two. 

Sunline flouro

Trokar flipping hooks 

Original Pro Qualifier reel 

 

 

 

 

Mike

 

I've always had pretty low budget gear, so for me it's my Daiwa Regal LT. That thing is so smooth and casts really well. The drag also held up to me snagging a 25+ lb. carp in the tail with a chatterbait. I fought that thing for a good 10 minutes and it nearly spooled me.

 

The Husky Jerk line would be a second for me. Though, I can't comment on hook durability as I haven't used them for more than one season.

Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon

 

DSG combos that are under $100 (Lews American hero, Lews Carbon Fire)

 

Reaction Innovations soft plastics - they simply get bit!