lmbfisherman

Always tie direct, I always use a Trilene Knot to all my lures.

Yeah the Chronarch 50E and even the Curado 50E are unreal I love them both. I bought two Chronarch 50MG which I haven't taken out yet, but I really love the size 50 reels. I definitely agree, very easy on the arms.

I believe jhoffman has one and he said it's a solid reel. I believe he has a review of the internals. Should do a search.

I'd 2nd the Chronarch or Curado G5/E5.

Very sad to hear, condolences to his family and may he Rest In Peace. I don't usually push it, rain with no thunder and I will keep fishing, but once I see a flash and/or thunder I'm out.

Use that same rod as my main Frog rod and agree it is great!

My favorite is Live Target, but I don't believe in the "best" theory. Just a preference, I also own a Snag Proof, SK KVD Frog and Spro. They all work.

x3

I would definitely vouch the Cumara gen1. Awesome rod.

Of those three I'd also go Avid, a very good rod for under 200.

Jigs for me too! If a spot allows me, I'll also power dropshot. 1/0 or 2/0 finesse EWG texas rigged with a 1/2 oz dropshot sinker, of course I learned it from one of glenn's videos,

My complaint about the Lexa is (own 2), the foot has a wide profile and it has issues locking down on my Shimano, Fenwick and even the Daiwa T Rod has issues locking it down . On my St Croix and BPS rods with traditional reel seats, it has no problem. I just don't understand why they did that. It is something that is a game breaker for me. If it didn't do that, I'd agree a very good reel.

Here's what I have experience with: Veritas - I own one and it is still often fished by me. Like Rockchalk stated you will need to inspect extra carefully to make sure you get a well made one. I own the 7'3" MH/F, it is probably my favorite "Jack of all trades" rod. What I mean by this, it is the rod I take when I am mostly shore fishing and can't take 6 or more rods. It can handle every situation that I've set it up to do... flipping/pitching, frogging, 1/2 oz spinnerbaits/swim jigs/jigs/texas rigs, 1/2 oz buzzbaits...you name it, it did it. Only thing it can't do well is obviously light stuff, which is where my spinning rod usually comes in when I shore fish. It is a solid rod, and the MH/F to me acts more like a heavy though. It also serves as my standby rod when I'm on a boat, it can have tied on any of the above when I need that extra rod for a specific technique. Compre - I own a M/F and a H/F, they are very good rods and a little more sensitive than the Veritas. They are always with me when I'm on the boat, both of them are in the 7'2" range, they are true to their power/action in my opinion. Plus the lifetime warranty, these two reasons alone gives it an edge over the Veritas. (Also own a Clarus for cranking, so can't really comment on how good they are for the techniques you've asked, I'm sure the Clarus will be close to par with the Veritas.) Fenwick Aetos - I own the H/XF 7'6" I use for Carolina rigs, I think this rod is a sleeper and am thinking of investing in another rod or two when the need arises. For the price (139.99) that I found on sale, I find the quality of this rod and blank to be great, the components are especially excellent. It is very sensitive and it it compares to rod in the 200-300 range easily. If it wasn't for my love of the old gen Cumaras (I scooped another MH/F on sale for 150), it will be the ones I buy from now on. It is awesome to fish with and am quickly starting like the Fenwick lines a lot. I also own two Elite Tech Smallmouth rods. Awesome. So those are my opinions you should look at. Although you didn't list Fenwick, I'd highly suggest you check them out.

I'll have to try it out, but as stated already, all my vanished went into the trash already. lol

In order to help you, we would need the power action of the rod. Unless I'm mistaken this wasn't listed. For instance my personal favorite all around rods are a Medium Heavy Powered, Fast Action Rod. They can be used for many applications.

Wow that is hogwash dude. Curado G is far from Garbage, I own 2 G Curados and 3 Citica Gs - and 1 PQ. I also own E series too,the Gs work just as good or slightly better than my E imo. Actually feel like I can cast a little further on my G than the E. Could be because I use the G series more often than my Es. They are my work horses, sure I like my PQ too, but I'd still pick the Curado G over the PQ as it is smoother in my opinion. I will give the PQ credit that performance to price ratio it is a hard reel to beat in that area, and harder to beat when you can get it regularly on sale for 80. I am not a "fan boy", but the majority of my reels are Shimano for good reason, they make quality products. I own BPS, Shimano and 1 Quantum reel.

I only have 1 reel with straight floro, most of them all are braided line and a couple P Line and Yo Zuri. I used Vanish as a leader, that was the main problem for me. My knots to the lure wasn't the issue. (My favorite knot for lures is the Trilene Knot) I use the uni to uni knot and that is where I've been seeing my breakage used as a leader.

Same here, same thing happened to me twice on a big pike, leader broke where the know was and happened another time. After that I tossed it out, not worth it. Oh and steer away from Stren too. Has the same bad rap. Now I have to go buy a new lighter leader, will be purchasing Seaguar next time around.

x2, I hear great things about the KLX too.

This is what I would recommend and use - (Note: I renumbered the setups in the order of what I would purchase) #1 7-foot medium-heavy power baitcaster combo Main purpose: texas-rigs and jigs ROD – Fenwick Aetos (150) or Shimano Compre (You might be able to find a clearance Cumara for that price range 150) REEL BPS PQ – best $100 reel – in my opinion. 7 ratio LINE – 30 or 50 lb braid, with floro leader or Yo Zuri Hybrid 12 or 14 lb. (This is dependent on what is the type of water you usually fish. #2 6foot, 9-inch medium power spinning combo Main purpose: shaky heads, drop shots, lightweight plastics or light jerkbaits and topwaters ROD - Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth (100) M/XF REEL – Shimano Sahara/Symetre (80-100) – You should be able to find the FJ model for the Symetere on clearance somewhere, since the new one was released. LINE – 6 or 8lb floro #3 7-foot medium-power glass baitcaster combo Main purpose: crankbaits ROD Shimano Compre or Clarus cranking (I know it’s not glass, but I can’t recommend one as I use a Clarus) – 80-100 REEL – BPS PQ 5 ratio LINE – 12 lb copolymer like Yozuri or P Line or floro your preference. #4 7-foot, 6-inch heavy-power baitcaster combo Main purpose: Flipping, pitching, punching, frog rod and swimbaits ROD Shimano Compre Flipping or Veritas (100) REEL BPS PQ – 7 ratio LINE 50 or 60 lb braid #5 6-foot, 9-inch medium-power baitcaster combo Main purpose: topwaters and jerkbaits ROD Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth(100) REEL BPS PQ – 6 ratio LINE 30lb braid and leader – whichever you prefer #6 7-foot medium-heavy power baitcaster combo Main purpose: spinnerbaits, vibrating and swimming jigs ROD Fenwick Aetos or Shimano Compre (150 or 100) REEL BPS PQ – 7 ratio LINE 30 lb braid with 10 lb floro leader Another addition, ever since I finally took the plunge into Fenwick (Elite Tech Smallmouth and Aetos). I quickly have become a fan, of course it's all personal opinion..but I find the Elite Tech to perform just as well as rods in the $200 range. It is light and sensitive, a pleasure to fish with and enjoy it. Further to this, my wife and the family went out to a local pond on Sunday. She decided she wanted to try out my Fenwick Elite Tech to see what I was raving about. (She is use to using my Avid Spinning Rod) She was like wow, this thing is light and I can cast much easier. It doesn't seem stiff and she said I never knew I could feel the bottom so easily (weeds, muck). So it looks like I will need to buy another spinning rod for her. Since it looks like I lost mine when we go out, luckily she doesn't go out a lot. But I wouldn't mind it! To me since I can get the Elite Tech for 100 bucks regularly up here, it is the best 100 dollar rod you can buy. Still I own other brands, because I believe each manufacturer has something that "stands out" just think I found my niche. (Fenwick, Loomis and Shimano)

Yep pike are pretty much everywhere up here.

The rating state they can, then sure. As the previous post states, sometimes a rod can actually handle more or less than what min/max is. Sounds they should be fine, I would test it to find out.

For wacky rigging I can't comment, cause I haven't caught a fish yet wacky rigging a senko/stick bait yet! I would second dropshot, it definitely is a feel technique and you don't need a slack line for that rig. I would also guess Carolina Rig too? Classic all about feeling. I would also think reaction baits would be good too, like using a spinnerbait, swim jig or crankbaits. What you are feeling for there is a thump, vibration is no longer felt (Crankbait and Spinnerbait blades), or just about anything that doesn't feel right when your are reeling them in.

Are you using spinning tackle? Do you have another combo to outfit for cover like that? In your situation, I wouldn't change how to approach a downed tree from shore or boat. Keeping in mind the obvious of course. I flip/pitch jigs into a downed tree/timber with a 7'6" H/F rod with 50lb braid using a baitcaster. The power of the rod would help you stick it to the fish and using 50lb braid would give you the confidence that it won't break easily. Definitely the 4lb test isn't a good idea around that kind of cover. I wouldn't use that low of a test in heavy vegetation either. If you are using spinning tackle, I guess the heaviest line you can put on a 3000 series or 4000 series reel with a medium heavy rod. (You probably can get away with 50lb braid on 4000 series reel) Just don't have experience using a spinning outfit for heavy cover. That is what my baitcasters are for. Hope that helps.

This one.