kLuo

Have a '15 Metanium DC and my favorite part is the versatility. I can effortlessly cast a 1/16 oz jig head with a tiny plastic on it and then switch to a 3/4 oz punch rig no problem.

From my experience, the Fenwick Aetos lines are lighter than other rods in terms of power. I think you could get away with throwing the Whopper Plopper on the HMG but I could see how it would make the Aetos feel floppy.

I gave it a fair test for a full season and ended up hating it. It's too supple so you get wind knots very easily, the abrasion resistance is poor, and the weave comes undone quicker than any other braid I've used. It does cast smoother than original PP but there are so many better 8 strand braids out there.

+1 on the Fenwick EliteTech Ice Rods. The ultralights are perfect for finesse panfish jigs and the medium-lights are perfect for spoons. I have size 20 Pflueger Presidents on them and it's a great setup.

Those look awesome. Were you able to ask what brand of boxes they are?

Sebile magic swimmer for me.

I have 2 in the 30 size and a few other Pfluegers in the same size. Never felt the need to go bigger. I agree with DVT that they are the best bang for your buck.

Hey Matthew, Shooter is much more abrasion resistant than Sniper and has a bit less stretch. A lot of people like Sniper (myself included) because it is really easy to manage and is fantastic on spinning reels. If I had to pick between the two for a braid leader, I would definitely choose Shooter since you don't need the manageability and would want the abrasion resistance. Take a look at Sunline's website since they show you what each line's characteristics are like.

Yes, the MGX is a Gen 3 Revo model, but it is a different shape than the rest of the Gen 3 Revos. It is shaped much more similarly to older Revo models. If you hold the two in your hands side by side, the difference is very noticeable.

These two reels are built for different things. The Revo Rocket is basically a Premier with the only difference being that a Premier is lighter due to a carbon side plate but the Rocket has a faster gear ratio. The Rocket is also built on the newer Gen 3 design which is MUCH more comfortable to hold in my opinion. The MGX is built to cast light baits but the reel itself is bulkier due to the different design. MGX is lighter than the Rocket though. Long story short, if you want a reel that is designed to throw light baits, go with the MGX. If you want a reel with fast retrieve that would be good for topwaters, flipping/pitching, or anything else where it is important to take in line quickly, go with the Rocket.

I have both a 1 piece and 2 piece 6'6" MF Aetos. Use the two piece as my travel rod and I can't notice a difference between the two. I tried out the 7'0" MF one and the action felt significantly different. Much more whippy and did not feel like a true fast action.

Hair jigs are my #1 lure for ice out. A light weight jig crawled along rocks has gotten me bites when nothing else has.

I wouldn't make this comparison since the baits are different enough. Using this logic, I could then say that Ikas are pretty much tubes...tubes imitate craws...craws go on jigs...so small finesse jigs should catch the same as TRDs? The IKA has tentacles and has a significantly larger profile than the Ned rig. At the end of the day, I think we are all agreeing on the same thing. The Ned rig is just another finesse tactic that catches a lot of fish...BECAUSE IT IS A FINESSE TACTIC. For what it's worth, I fished alongside someone fishing the TRD with 1/16 oz jig head last weekend and I smoked him with a 4.5" drop shot worm. Catch rate was 3:1 in favor of my drop shot.

What size Trokar tube hook do you guys use for 3.5" tubes?

I do the same thing except I use a paper clip wire. Also, is that a Buckeye J-will head I see? Excellent choice, sir.