FishTank

You might try FC. I have used 8lb for walleye and I think I lost maybe one lure in the past 15 years. I have more than I can count brining bass in.

I don't think reel brake types and lure weight align, unless you are talking BFS and that might be debatable. The rod type and reel build are bigger players in that sense. When it comes to which brake type to use, its more of a personal preference. I would decide which baits you are trying to throw first, match the appropriate rod and then get the reel. For instance and this just my preference...... crankbaits.... St. Croix Legend Glass Med., and a Shimano Bantam 5x:1.

Most stuff from Lews is marked up at retail and can be regularly found for 20% or more off the retail cost. The SLX XT combo can be found for around $150 new. I would put the Lews stuff at half of the retail cost and the SLX combo for $100-$120. Just in case, I do buy and sell used stuff quite often so I am not trying to low ball you. Just trying to be realistic.

Either the Old Towne Sportsman with the trolling motor or a Hobie Pro Angler.

Warranty is the direction i would go. It could just need a cleaning but if it needs parts, sending it to Shimano is the way to go.

Ideally you want your leader to be the same or one step down in diameter from your main line. So if your main line is 30lb Sufix 832 at .011 in diameter, your leader would be would be around 12 to 15lb at or near the same diameter.

I have the 7' St. Croix Premier split grip from BPS and it's a pool cue but for things 3/4oz and up, it's not bad. Between 1oz and 1.5oz is were it performs the best. It's not very sensitive but it's great for pulling fish out heavy cover.

G Loomis 783C GLX.

A lipless crankbait or a heavier chatter bait. It use to be a spinnerbait but as of late nothing will bite one.

Thanks for the warning.....

I saw that. I got the email. Not sure if I need anymore at this point after my order from Scheels.

I have the Med. Legend Glass and I use it for all kinds of crankbaits but I would not use it for the baits you have listed. It's feels too soft to me for those baits. I would look for a rod that is a composite. I am not sure if the new LTB is but I have a G. Loomis IMX Pro 904CBR for the exact baits you listed above including shallow running crankbaits.

I was out yesterday on a boat with 20-30mph winds. It was not fun but the main lake I kayak fish at has a sustained wind of 10 to 15 mph with guests up 20 mph on a daily basis. I wish it was 8-10 mph.

Did you pick up the Pearl colored Magdraft? This the only place I have found it. It's supposed to be a killer in stained water.

Several weird ones..... a water moccasin, a duck, a bag full of needles, a severed deer head, a gun, a tennis racket, and diapers. There are probably more but that's about all I can remember.

I would pass. My last two Fenwicks (Elite Tech) broke about 6 inches from the tip. Usually I would say this was user error but not on these rods. They broke on a cast. I was able to warranty both and the replacements seemed to be of an even lesser quality. I sold them both.

I don't know what the magic snake oil is in the KVD stuff but it works. I will also add that it has been my experience that if you start with quality line, then this stuff isn't necessarily needed.

Here is their flyer.... https://www.scheels.com/current-flyers I picked up some Berkley Powerworms for $3.59, Gamakatsu EWG 4/0 for $2.84, Megabass Magdrafts 6in for $11.99 (one color goes for up to $30 on ebay), Dark Sleepers for $5.59, Roboworms for $3.99, Owner Shakey Heads for $3.97, Gamakatsu G-Finesse hooks for $2.84, Sunline Crank for $20.00, G Finesse weedless wacky hooks for $4.49 and some other odds and ends. All of this stuff is priced higher everywhere I looked. To give a comparison..... The G-Finesse hooks are $4.99 at BPS, again I paid $2.84. I didn't see much in rods and reels but a ton of great deals otherwise.

I am going to tread softly here.... I could tell you it's more abrasion resistant, more invisible, it's stiffer yet soft, it sinks better, it lasts longer, knot strength, it has a smaller diameter based on poundage and it does a lot more great stuff.... There will be a crowd that agrees and disagrees with these things and they probably would both be right. For me personally, it just works and I have confidence in it. Plus when, I first used it with my dedicated wacky rig set up my bites and catches went up. It just felt better for me so it is definitely subjective.

I thought of another line that I used for leader..... Runcl. It's available on Amazon. It was actually really good for leader and regular line. It's stiff (rigged), like leader, but has some stretch and enough shock absorption to get the job done.

I won't say never use mono as leader but Trilene would be like a last resort. For mono, if I would use it for leader, maybe Sufix Siege. Seaguar Gold Label has been favorite since it came out but it's FC. In the past I would use whatever I had left over from a filler spool. I didn't realize how far off the mark I was until I tried actual leader material. Don't take this as an absolute, it's just what I like after trying pretty much everything.

One word.... Scheels. Great sale this time.

7'1'' Heavy with spiral wrapped guides. Just got it and only fished it for about 2 hours. Just a mind blowing rod though.

Here is some 15lb Tatsu that has been on this reel for two years. It has been used for jigs and some bigger jerkbaits. I have fished some dark chocolate water and it has never been as stained as in the pic above. I wonder if something in the water caused the resin to break down. Some type of chemical maybe? I am sort of stunned by the pic. On the other hand, I have had this staining with several types of mono I have used over the years, just never on Tatsu.

I was just joking with you. Personally, I think the Stella is overkill to the max and is more geared to saltwater/inshore fishing. The Exsence is a great reel but it can get confusing when you start to look at the US and JDM models. Is the one you have from the US?