BradGuenette

Have a look at the other frog rod in the Crucial line, the 7'2" MH Xfast frog specific rod, I think it will better suit your needs.

Xzone Lures was founded by a Canadian. he was practicing for some upcoming tournaments that best suited a drop shot technique and wanted a bait that might emulate most of the forage in the lakes where the events were being held. The lakes had an abundance of crayfish and goby so a profile that looked and acted like both with an action that could vary depending on conditions was required. This eventually led to the first “Slammer” designs. the “Slammer” has become one of the most dominant baits throughout Southern Ontario. It has been so successful that it’s popularity is quickly catching on all across North America! Xzone baits have been a hit on Erie for years and years. The xzone slammer was one of the first slammer style baits in production. JP is also up north alot, fishing Erie and the Great Lakes. He comes out with with hammershad that is almost identical to the xzone slammer, meaty head, ribbed body, into a slender tail. Now they come out with the swinging hammer, this has been going on for years, one company comes out with something that works and then other make their own take on it, it will never stop.

Swammer...http://www.***.com/Xzone_Lures_Swammer_Swimbait_6pk/descpage-XZONESW.html You cannot say that the new swinging hammer is not similar to it.

Power team lures has 2 baits that are in no way their own design. Take a look at the hammershad/swinging hammer sure looks to me like Xzones slammer/swammer

Oddly enough I feel the exact same way, not a fan of braid what so ever, fluoro on everything except my 734C spinnerbaits/buzzbaits. and Braid for frogs and flipping/punching. Using Tatsu I couldn't be happier. +1 I made the switch to all FC last season! I still have 1 spinning setup with braid.

The new Cumara's are leaps and bounds above the old ones in pretty much every way, the reel seat takes a little getting used to but i have come to love it! the reel seat and handle design is comfortable enough for me to use for extended periods of time. As far as how the rod fishes from a performance stand point I'm very impressed to the point where I am starting to sell some of my previous generation cumara rods.

Here's a jig head he sent that I made a switchblade with: Already a proven winner thanks to Mike. What's that tied on the shank of the hook?

A high quality mono Senshi/Sunline super natural would also work very well, 15-17lb.

Make the switch to braid 30-40lb.

Dobyns Champion Extreme 795 flip!

Loomis TWFR854. Specifically designed to fish soft plastic frogs/toads

St.croix has a heavy 2pc rod I believe it's in the mojo bass line

The Power Team Lures Craw D’oeuvre has been my go to bait on this rig, being neutrally buoyant it's floats just off the bottom while those claws quiver, it's drives smallmouth crazy!! My favorite is 3-/16oz with a 3/0.

I've found that Tatsu is the best of both worlds when it comes to invisx and abrasix. It's soft and supple yet very abrasion resistant. There is no better line on the market.

Go with tatsu or another high quality fluoro, sunline ect. I also used to hate FC until I spooled up with a quality one and used some KVD line conditioner. One spool will last me a full season used with backing, and that's fishing 2-3 times a week.

Hummingbird 596c HD DI

Rounded out my arsenal today for the 2013 season with two new Cumaras and two fj's. I'm done for now.. I think :\ Dobyns Extreme 743 Dobyns Extreme 744 Dobyns Extreme 745 Dobyns Extreme 795 G-Loomis TWFR854C Dobyns Champion 734 Dobyns Champion 705CB Glass 7'2" Cumara MLF 7'2" Cumara A MXF 6'8" Cumara A MHF

I picked up 2 spools of tatsu at work this morning, 6lb and 12lb it's a shame i would have got more but we only carry up to 12lb I was really looking for a higher # line for jigs.

This guy amazes me everytime I watch the video.

The plan was to use a copoly like yozuri or a quality mono.

Still not sure on what I want to run in terms of line on my setups this year. Any input is appreciated! Here we go.. 6'8 MH F Cumara/Stradic FJ-skipping/senkos/flukes 7'2" Cumara ML F/Stradic FJ-drop shot 7'2" Cumara M XF/Stradic Ci4-drop shot/shakey head Dobyns Champion 734/Lew's TP-spinnerbaits/Buzzbaits/swimjigs/vibrating jigs. Dobyns Champion 705cb glass/ Lew's TP-squarebills/topwater/jerkbaits Dobyns Extreme 743/Lew's TP-jigs/weightless t-rigs Dobyns Extreme 744/Carbon Lite-jigs/t-rigs Dobyns Extreme 745/Curado 200e7-jigs/t-rigs Dobyns Extreme 795 Flip/Curado 201e7-flipping/punching G-Loomis TWFR854C/Curado 200e7-frogs I want to go all fluro this season, for the main reason its better on slack line(braid stays on frogs/punching rigs) but it's hard to beat the no stretch of braid. I'm up north so I fish alot of wood/rock, but also have a fair bit of grass. any input what would you run in terms of line on these setups?

"Orange sky at night, fishermans delight"

I've had the best luck dead sticking/dragging tubes in those temps, 1/4oz-3/8oz tube jig with the tube of your choice, I prefer strike king coffee tubes in green pumpkin/watermelon red.Less action the better.

Just added 3 more, G-Loomis TWFR854C frog rod Cumara 6'8" MH with Stadic FJ Cumara 7'2" MXF with Stradic FJ

Whoops! Hahahahaha 4 rods!