PatrickKnight

I fish a medium more than I do a ML not because of the baits or presentation but because of the hooks I use. I have found a ML even with braid to be less powerful than I would like when it comes to the hook set.

I use 10 lb braid on all my spinning set ups.

They are built to be 100% sealed for surfcasting.

Watch this before you buy a Sustain. It goes into really good detail about the differences between it, a Stradic Ci4, the Ultegra, and the Stradic FK. Basically all the Sustain has is the MGL rotor, X protect, and a carbon drag over the Stradic FK.

Skip the Sustain, but the Exsence is a noticeable improvement over the Ci4+ and would be a much better fit to a truly high end rod than the Stradic imo.

A couple of buddies were fishing for flatheads a last year and one caught a 17 inch smallie on a 10 inch warmouth. They are aggressive and will eat just about anything they can fit in their mouth.

I run 10lb 832 on all my set ups because I got a really good deal on a bulk spool of it.

Often over looked but good point. I tend to prefer rods from companies who are making the blanks in house such as Phenix, ALX, and St Croix. General rule is most companies who make their own blanks will sell you just the blank or the finished rod.

While you are in Columbus try the Big Darby creek and Allum Creek lake.

I own a Sierra 703 spinning rod that sits in the closet and rarely if ever gets used anymore (it was extremely tip heavy). I have fished most major brands from $250 and under and imo for an off the shelf rod nothing comes close to the ALX Zolo line.

There are some companies out there making blanks on the slower side of fast. I think the best band for the buck on a blank like that are what you can get from ALX. For 200 bucks you get a heck of a rod in the Zolo line and the customs that Alex and crew can make are really something special. Phenix is also another brand offering several rods that fit into that category. Most of the Megabass rods I have fished have been on the slower side of fast. I really enjoy the action on my Cajun Custom Rods Delta and Trigger as they are both on the slower side of fast with the Trigger being an almost moderate action.

Sadly it does not.

I wonder if the oscillation gear being slightly off might be the issue with my Daiwa Luvias. It has an annoying tick when reeling under pressure.

One thing to keep in mind is if a rod offers a replacement program like that you are paying more for a rod than it should cost. Lets look at a $300 Megabass XX for example there is no replacement cost on that so the company isn't having to sell it for more to help offset the cost when you break it and only pay $100 for the replacement "fee". Then take a $300 rod with a replacement option in there like the Dobyns Extreme line, so you spend $300 on that rod break it then pay the fee to replace it. Odds are the rod with the replacement fee in there is only a $200 dollar rod because lets face it company's are not going to lose money or they would not stay in business. If you aren't sure if this is true compare a XX to an Champion Extreme and even though they sell for the close to the same price its pretty clear which is the superior rod.

At $300 for me its really hard to look away from Megabass.