FishTank

For me, I have two current favorites... 12lb Invizx and 12lb CXX.

I have the Legend Elite 7' MF and it is a great rod. Light, sensitive, and surprisingly powerful. It almost the perfect rod.

I have the Steez SV TW and it is great for t rigged plastic (weighted and weightless) and light jigs. It's smooth and casts a mile. Is it worth the price tag?..... Maybe but I think the Antares is worth a look as well.

I would say with salt for most fishing but if I want to do a shakey head or some other type of finesse I would go with the one without salt. Personally, I have not had much luck on the zoom trick worm over the years but everything else zoom makes has been killer.

I don't know about you guys but every time I have a day off to get out to fish, it has been raining and windy here in Indiana. I usually don't mind fishing the rain but when the boat gets blown around the lake and a trolling motor and an anchor are pointless, I find it hard to get out on the water.

https://www.pehub.com/2019/06/peak-rock-to-sell-lews-to-bdt-capital/# Some how I get the sense that this may not be a good thing. I think the real winner here is Peak Rock Capital.

I can't speak for the Zodias but I have a 7 MH fast Avid. It's a great solid rod, sensitive, and casts just about anything. I even used it to cast a Mepps #3 pretty much all day when the crappie were biting. My only complaint would be the hump by the reel seat sometimes feels weird compared to other rods. I have had various Avids over the years and they have never let me down. The newer versions do seem less stiff (which is a good thing).

Earlier this year I picked up an Eagle Talon from DSG for $320. It was on sale for $400 and I had a 20% off coupon that was good on anything. It's not too great but not too bad. The tracking so far is questionable in open water. Otherwise, it has been a lot of fun so far.

I would just let it be. You would need a special tool to remove the bushing and add the bearing.

Just a guess, but it looks like it is over spooled.

For me, the best fit for most crank baits is a 7'+ M Moderate. My favorite is the St. Croix Legend Glass 7'2'' M Moderate. Best crank bait rod I have ever used.

Personal preference ........... jerkbaits + braid + spinning gear = aggravation Baitcaster 7.x retrieve, 7' and under MH Fast rod with a soft tip, and 12lb FC = ?

My favorite so far is a G. Loomis 783C GLX and a Shimano Core. The rod is just about perfect.... Soft tip, sensitive, shorter length, and a slightly shorter handle. As far as the reel goes, it just does the job well.

Sunline Natural works for me.

If you can't get it fixed, I have a the Abu Garcia ALX (new version is the AL-F) and it is a fun little reel. You can pick it on Amazon for about $200. The only down side to this reel, is the finish.

I had the Chronarch 51e do the same to me a few years ago. I had cleaned and lubed it each year but one year it started giving a back lash about every other cast. I kept scratching my head as to what it could be.... I cleaned and lubed it again, same result. I replaced the brakes, same result. Took it to a local guy to look it over and repair, he found nothing wrong with it. But then.... As usually with stuff like this, it was something simple. I found one of the pins that the brakes rest on was dull looking, sort of a worn appearance. I oiled (very lightly with a swab) the pins and cleaned and lubed the inside brake frame. It has worked great ever since.

I have been using a Curado K this year and so far it has been great. You can get it on Amazon for $152..... https://www.amazon.com/Shimano-LowProfile-Baitcasting-Freshwater-Fishing/dp/B0756NR3Z7/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=shimano%2Bcurado&qid=1558130062&s=gateway&sr=8-1&th=1&psc=1

...If I had to pick one, G. Loomis 6'6'' MH Fast 783C GLX but an alternative St.Croix Avid 7' MH Fast (way less sensitive but it covers everything).

I think there are a bunch of factors in why they produce so well........ Salt, fall rate, they wiggle differently, maybe overall quality. But IMHO, the thing that makes them hard to stomach sometime is also the thing that makes them great and that is how soft they are. With a 4/0 EWG, this bait is usually a one fish and done piece of soft plastic but I think the softness also allows the hook to sink in better/faster.

I have couple that I like for jerkbaits. My personal favorite is the G.Loomis 783C GLX. It has a nice soft tip and the 6'6'' length is perfect. The sensitivity is about as good as it gets. Also, I can use this rod for just about anything. My other favorite is the St. Croix Avid 7' MH Fast. I like this one for Vision 110's and LC 100 SP's and anything bigger.

One of the guys I fish with uses the E6X and loves it. Personally I did not care for it that much. I love Loomis rods but this one was not my style. It just seemed way different from anything G. Loomis has ever made. The St. Croix Legend Tournament is a fine rod series though. I don't think you can go wrong with this one. But if you are comparing St. Croix to G Loomis, the LT is closer to the old IMX line. Both great rods. If you want to save a few bucks, I would also look at the St. Croix Avid. The sensitivity is similar to the LT, just a fuzz less sensitive.

Grease on gears only. If you put it on everything it might effect the performance over time. Oil on everything else. Also, a little goes a long way.

It would be a couple bucks over you budget but the St. Croix Avid series has been great for me. This would be the three I would pick. Spinning> 6'8 M X-Fast - Soft plastic (weightless), spinner baits, and light jigs Casting> 7 MH Fast - General purpose, topwater, jerk baits, jigs, and weighted softplastic (has worked for everything) 7 M Mod - Crankbaits

Agreed. I like the DC over the K. It's weird how it is somehow slightly smoother. The E was great but the BSF was the one that lit the fire for me on the Curados. With that said, I also have the G and it has been a great reel. I know people dog it but I have never had an issue and it cast great.

I saw a duck lure on a shelf at Dicks, feathers and all, and got a chuckle. I thought who would buy such a dumb thing. Then I saw this. Never saw this happen in real life but I guess that is how nature is....