QUAKEnSHAKE

I caught and lost pike on braid would say braid not the best for pike use.Though I only use up to 20# braid so the 50#-65# may hold a bit better. Braid has low abrasion resistance

Isnt a heavier spool/backing (to an extent) more apt to give better distance than lighter spool. Though lighter spool is better for casting 1/8 & lighter lures. The heavier spool will start slower but want to stay in motion, the lighter spool will start-up easier tend to slow quicker.

The Aruka Jr 3/8 size caught me my biggest bass so far this year'

Yep lightweight sure is a plus. My Legend Elite,Cumara,LTB are getting very little use. My CH50E getting so little use I figured heck rather have my 2bills back so instead of just hanging on pegboad returned it. Reason for this my Core50/Smoke 7'mf rod combo is just super light & sensitive yet has the power range to use 3/4oz lipless cranks,1/2 frogs,jigs down to Caffeine Shads,Senkos,Flukes. The rod also balances quite well with the 50 just adding to the overall great feel of the combo I take and use this the most.

Here from another thread http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/118183-rattlin-rapala-or-the-rippin-rap/#entry1293191 They catch fish for me plus havent got any bad ones so far cant say that for a number of my RES. My good RES though catch the fish as well. No reason for me not to continue use of both. Its a different profile more compact yet nearly = weight, like mentioned little less vibes but in clear pressured lake that can be beneficial at times. In thread above very good used around shore rocks that got flooded finish held great RES would be naked from same use.

There are reels that match or better shimano reels but nothing matches or betters the senko.

MEGAStrike I dont use it a lot but the other day I was just getting nips no takers. Fish after fish just tap then nothing. This went one for a few hours its around noon so I had tube of MEGA Strike in my bag got it out spread it on my Palm Tree and 2 casts later fish on felt tap waited felt another tap and tug got it. Followed with a few more fish only thing I changed was the use of scent. Not sure how it would work with moving presentation but it helped me on the non-commiting fish this day.

19 1/4"

Spro 65 size frogs rated 5/8oz my actual is .60095oz plenty heavy for bc use. I use Pad Crasher JR with bc as well those rated 1/4oz actual weight .31085oz.

LTP

Just a heads-up FYI call first to check if that specific Cabelas stocks *** rods. I just went to Cabelas yesterday its an hour from me they didnt stock *** rods. My main reason for going was to return my Chro50E so no big deal but just leting you know not all Cabelas carry those rods.

Yes a 5" senko is plenty heavy enough for bc use.

Tossing lightweight presentation far to me a longer more moderate rod is the ticket. One of my fav things to throw is what you mention and thats crawlers on a #4 hook. I dont have the particular mojo spinning model but I have the LTB 69MLXF rod in casting dont think I would like it in spinning for distance nor would it be as good as what I do like/prefer. What I have is an Avid 8' ML Mod spinning rod and it works great for just crawlers, small cranks like Bitsy Minnows mini fat raps in like 1/8oz size, small spinnerbaits like SK Rocket Shad, and it is my rod of choice for wacky senko. Weighs only 3.6ozs On the reel I feel a 2500 size will give you better distance than 1000 size. I have a 1000 stradic and a couple other brands 20 & 30 size the larger spool reels just throw better. Im in agreement about going better on the rod and less on the reel in this area having $60-$170 reels just not much of a difference between them to me. Line yes nanofil will be the best for distance you will need to experiment with knots find/use a good knot and the line holds past its rated strength its not a superline so its closer to its rating. Braid would be my defacto line for distance,line management ease,strength. Now you didnt say conditions surroundings you fish so the 8' may be too long, if not its very much worth considering.

Kimani Palm Trees

I jump on clearance rods that are of quality IMO. In store snagged 2 St Croix Premiers $24 each at DSG, a Shimano Clarus for $30 at Gander. Online a Camo Stick for $30 from Cabelas, a 7'6" Cumara for $99 from TW. St Croix has their bargain room I got a Legend Elite 7'6" M/F for $130 a LTB 6'9" MLXF for $115. Reels though I dont get the great deals as much the best was a Curado50E for $100 from BPS kick mysefl for not getting at least 2 maybe 3 at that time. Got a Pflueger Supreme XT for $75 from Gander.

Thumbing here, added ABEC7's to my core50 have one brake on loose spool tension letting my Palm Trees soar getting distance Ive never gotten before.

Yeah weights if you are sure they weight what they are rated would work. If you have a scale that you can read while lifting go ahead and try as well. I test my knots this way. I tie to hook and tie to scale then put hook through anchor hole, cover with towel, then lift steadily. Example my 15# PPS8S breaks at 20-21pounds, 15# Kanzen 9-12pounds, 6# Nanofil bit over 9#.

X3 With about 10hrs combined use Ive yet to get a strike on one. I pretty much stopped using it. I use straight braid and found it to walk fairly easily.

Costas dont protect any better than Oakley,REVO, Maui Jim, Strike King or other brands as long as lens are rated to block 100% of UV rays. But this is where prior mention of fit comes in. A poor fitting pair of Costas or any brand can do more harm than good. Openings to the side,above, below, around frame can let UV rays in and with the darker tint your eyes will be dilated more allowing the chance for more UV ray exposure.

Awesome job achieving that milestone, beautiful catch!!

My favorite bc combo is my Shimano Core50 on a Quatum Smoke 7' M/F rod super light yet has some good power to twhip 3/4oz lures. I have Cumara and LTB but this combo just feels best.

Ive caught plenty of fish bass/catfish within a rod length of me. Im on shore wearing a bright yellow shirt even but give them what they like (juicy nightcrawler) and they will ignore me and take the worm. I will say though movement and vibration plays a bigger part in spooking the fish in this instance. Dont stomp or move fast keep movement to a minimum.

X2 Ive bought pair after pair of Costa (8 total) only to return them after a few outings couple weeks and tried many of their other frames over and over. One pair of Permits can fit differently than the next same pair so trying multiples of same is needed. For my wants I cant find a frame that fits me well. One that wont slip while sweating. One that gives very good coverage top bottom sides to block out light. They just dont have the frame selection for larger/wider/flatter skulls. The Fisch came close but light enter from upper corners. Plus even the blue mirror I would like to be a bit darker. With Oakley they have a fair number of frames that fit larger different shapes. A few frames close around my eyes, above the eyebrow, back farther on sides blocking side light from coming in better than any Costa Ive tried. The unobtanium holds great even on highly humid days with sweating heavily the frame stays put much bettter no slippage this with sunscreen applied as well. I dont use the fishing specific lens I opt for the black iridium polar it just better for me on mostly to bright sunny days but may be helped from the light blockage of their frames. When I tried on my Pitbulls it was literally like, fitting like a glove, fit great not squeazing my temples the covering above around eye is excellent. Ive also purchased REVO and MJ but those had a few of the above issues. The REVO lens though had a distortion to them that bugged me. So yeah price not the factor for me its the fit function that drives my purchase.

I use mostly the 1/2-5/8oz rated size FLIP 'N' THE BIRD 15.46g 0.544 ounce IOBEE FROG 15.46 0.54535 DAHLBERG FROG 16.32 0.5757 SPRO GREEN TREE 17.037 0.60095 SPRO MIDNIGHT BLACK 15.187 0.5357 SPRO POPPER LEOPARD 13.952 0.49215 KOPPERS GREEN FROG 18.653 0.65795 KOPPERS BROWN FROG 19.211 0.67765

Through eye twice 7 turn uni knot. My own testing it holds a few more pounds than a Palomar. And Knot Wars did head-to-head comparision of palomar and this uni knot with just 4 turns and the uni won.