Dye99

This. JDM gets you more quality for a tad bit of savings. I love my SLX reels.,

Ive got the Shakeyhead. Actually thinking about selling due to its lack of sensitivity for wacky and Shakeyhead fishing compared to its DESTROYER cousins. Dont know anything about the expride but Ive heard good things from fishing buddies who use them.

I would say because you didnt STOP and dead stick it after the first hit. At least thats what Ive done when that happens. This last weekend I spent some time fishing for smallies using topwater before the sun came up. I had dozens of fish basically come up to tail whip my bait. Had trouble getting fish to commit...

Clean em when dirty, and seal the cork every once in a while and your Golden.

What AJ said... The only thing I would add is timing. My area is shallow water smallies until the sun is directly overhead, then they back out to 8-12 feet where the sun cant get them as much and find cover. Shallow is easier for me, boulders and deeper water is dropshot or ned rig work. Which I like, but its far slower and not as exciting as burning small swimbaits or topwater

Im a southern largemouth guy who now lives up against the Canadian border. Spending years fishing I did a ton of research, asked questions, and ended up getting skunked a bit at first. Then I stopped over thinking it, and started doing what I always do with largemouth just downsized. For me, Wacky senko, Ned rig, drop shot and small swimbaits ( okashira/keitech) have been my go to. Landed 25 fish this morning, few mid three's and one 4.5lb Just go out and do what you know how to do with a little smaller baits and you will smash em!

Ive got two 2500's and three 2000's and none of them are showing the signs you are seeing. I would suggest sending back for a new one.

I did for the longest time but finally stopped last year and went to straight flouro. I primarily use vision 110s and 110 jr. and have found the flouro just gives me better action, no leader issues and far better hook up ratio...

Im with ya. I use MH spinning rods to skip jigs and flukes in cover alot. Just seems easier than stopping to clear birds nests every three casts. But I have to add I am getting better using BFS bait casters though..

Medium light for me. I prefer the Megabass landsat or Loomis 822dsr.

I own the Shakey head now and use it a lot. I also owned a Maestro which I did not like and sold. I know it's all personal preference to what you like, but I found the ALX rods not to my liking at all. Not even close to the sensitivity of Megabass stuff. But again, thats just my two cents.

same here. I dont even get too crazy. 30lb green gets the job done fore me.

weightless wacky senko Finesse swimbaits ( okashira/sparkshad) Top water popper

Thats my belief as well... I use a Megabass Flyssa for hair jigs and light swimbaits for this main reason.

lightweight- SLX BFS reel, PopX stick. Poppers and Karashi. middleground- Dobyns 765 Abu Garcia MGX. Walking baits and whopper plopper. Frogging rod- Cashion Frog rod, Abu Garcia revo rocket.