Cgrinder

I dunno. I'm still very happy with the CH51E. I don't know how much there is to improve that cannot already be done using aftermarket parts.

Try a 7' ML BPS Crankin Stick.

Got Sol?

Do the rods come with a complimentary set of green contacts? Please say yes.

You should try braid with topwater walking baits. The hooksets are excellent at long range.

Braid's good for fishing grass, weeds, pads, etc. It also behaves very well on spinning reels. If visibility is ever an issue, attach a 3' fluorocarbon leader. Boom. Versatile.

Core 51, clearly.

I haven't, but I probably wouldn't pick it over the ***. I handled the new HMG's and put reels on them at Bass Pro but I was not impressed. They felt heavy and I didn't care for the all-TAC handle. If you're going with 1/2 oz lures, you might want the MH ***.

You're certainly right. There's always room for improvement.

I can't say, as I have never used a Lamiglas. However I can say that I have an *** Black and I am very happy with it, especially considering the reasonable price. If $87 is your hard limit, I don't think you can do better from TW.

A 7'1" M *** Black would be $85 during the 4th of July sale. The 7'3" would be like 9 bucks more I think.

Lucky Craft Gunfish 115 in Shell White. Missile Baits Shockwave in Candy Gill on a 5/0 Owner weighted Twistlock. 3/8 oz. Siebert Outdoors tournament swim jig in Smoked Jelly paired with a Paca Chunk or Rage Bug, both in PBJ. Draaag pause draaag pause draaag pause shakeshakeshake FISH!

Currently using 20 and 30 lb. original Power Pro on casting reels with no issues. I'm not trying to be snarky or argumentative, but it's not the fishing faux pas that many in this thread make it out to be.

I'd buy a KLX. The new Crucials might be a good value if you can wait until iCast.

Siebert Outdoors makes a ball-head jig that has a good hook. They're available plain or painted.

Kent Lake is a tough place to fish most days. The best tip I can give you is to avoid the weekends and try to fish mid-week when the boat traffic and picnickers aren't so crazy. PBJ jigs and green pumpkin worms during the day and big walking baits after the sun sets. Some days you get the skunk, other days you get lucky:

I'd throw topwaters, spinnerbaits, swim jigs, chatters, and other moving baits on combo 1. Fast action + mono should give you enough forgiveness. I'd probably throw worms and drag jigs on combo 2. I've been dragging jigs on 15 lb. copoly myself and it's worked well. Braided line is an option but it's not necessary unless you want to frog pads or punch grass.

No bass in SE Michigan. Especially not in Kent Lake. No bass there. Ignore my avatar. Welcome!

Another vote for the KVD Caffeine Shad. Softer and heavier than the Zoom flukes.

I don't feel that the Tatula is strictly superior to the T3 platform. The T3 beats the Tatula from an ergonomic standpoint and Magforce 3D is a very good braking system, not even adding the 1016 spool into the equation. The Tatula has some strong points, like the excellent 90mm stock handle and knobs, but it's certainly not a "better reel".

The price is probably the best thing about PP. It's common to find 150 yd. spools on sale for $10.

Oh yeah, that too.

Yeah, I found the Magforce 3D braking system to be very user-friendly. I think it's very hard to beat the Ballistic at 15% off of $109. The only negative is that you will need to replace the stock handle, but our friendly neighborhood Hawgtech handles are also on sale for the 4th.

I would throw a swim jig instead of a spinnerbait in ultra clear water with thick weeds.

I hear good things about the Phenix K2 blank. It's supposed to be at or above NRX level. We'll see when the production rod comes out, eh?