IAY

Yeah you should do whatever you feel comfortable. Although I have never lost a lure from backlash using .380mm Trilene Big Game 15 lb.

20lb CXX has breaking strength of over 30 lb and 30 lb CXX has breaking strength of 40-50 lbs. They are ridiculously thick lines and are over kill for the baits OP is trying to throw. A 200 size holding 100 meters of .370 mm line is perfectly fine.

Abu Black Max and Vengeance combo can be had for 60 dollars, and it is great reel to learn on.

I would go with the perfect pitch, should be more comfortable set up throwing the swimbaits

No difference, same thing. Chibitarel is just the JDM name.

Shimano x Jackall Poison Ultima 162ML

It is important to note that the way that someone like DVT or custom rod maker looks at balancing problem is different from end users. A professional rod builder like DVT will never look to compromise the performance of the blank by adding weight to the end, since there are plenty of options you can do before hand to adjust for balance. The end users have none of these options available to them. If someone cares a lot about balance, then adding extra weight could do the trick. You are sacrificing other performance factors though.

It's rated for 3/8th to 1/16. It actually balances right at the edge towards the reel, but hard to show .

http://imgur.com/IDT8VRb Pretty hard to get more balanced than this right at the locking nut. Pretty light rod too, coming in at 87 grams. Yes it would make the set up more balanced, but you are dampening the blank a lot more than it is worth in my opinion.

Lol

I would agree with you on most cases except for swimbait rods. Some of the sticks are very heavy and hard to balance even with 12 oz plus reel. The benefit from having easier casting will outweigh the loss of sensitivity imo. Most of the swimbait strikes are big hammering hits anyways.

They are both very good.

It's not automated. It's just located next to the DC system.

We all used to think that way about New Antares, but it's not true. There is a knob next to the DC brake internal setting which is the spool tension knob.

Yes

Interesting, I have exact opposite experience with their customer service. They usually respond within the 1 business day after I sent them a message. I had to get a rod warrantied(when the wind shut my trunk on the rod), it wasn't covered by their policy, but they sent me a brand new one within a week after I sent mine in. A lot of companies tout their customer services, but you are already paying for them when you buy your product, just like insurance. Megabass of America did me a great favor by going out of their way to help me out, and I truly appreciate it.

It pretty much applies to any swimbait. I have snapped off 1.5 oz Mattlures using 65 pound power pro and 25 pound leader on random tangles. It did not snap at the FG knot I tied but right in middle of the leader. Yes it was my fault that it snapped off, but it was from the tiny tangles that can form randomly. Braid is wayyy too finicky for me, but you could make it work I guess...

Black Max is the first BC reel that I have owned and learned how to use. It has pretty nice braking system!

Matt Allen from * uses 7.1:1 Curado E. Revo Beast should be more than capable.

Air BFS is nice because of the small SIC ceramic ball bearing that really helps it turn at low weight. I would go with them for finesse applications.

Bait finesse is a cover technique. You can use heavier fluorocarbon like 10 to 12 pound lines without management issues, and still go down to 3.5-1.8 gram lures. You can also put tighter drag with baitcaster to yank out the fish from cover, and disengage the spool to fight them when they are on the run, giving you more flexibility than spinning reels. I can cast 20-25 meters consistently for 3.5 gram lure and 15-20 meters with 1.7 gram lure with my upgraded spool. If you want to use ultra light lures, spool is FAR more important than the rod, its simply not going to turn unless it is really light.

You will eventually get tangles and dig ins with braid, throwing such heavy bait. You have to be 100% diligent about your line or you will lose lures. I would go with heavy nylon or fluorocarbon.

Metanium 13 HG or XG

Cool man, I think you will do really well with them! Do give us a report after you try a couple .

No one is trying to sell you anything. I think its wrong to blatantly call it gimmick.