PhishLI

https://youtu.be/BoEj8GXkw2w?si=oLb77ycEEG2Tk572

Try these in the 3.6" version at 5/8oz Fish Arrow Heavy Poop Stick Bait | Tackle Warehouse Use this hook in 5/0 Owner TwistLock Open Gap Centering Pin Hook | Tackle Warehouse Swap out the hook's stock Medium spring keeper with these in Large Owner CPS Centering Pin Spring | Tackle Warehouse This bait rigged this way will come through the heaviest of veg and pads, and it's heavy enough to where it'll fall nicely into holes. Fish it fast or fish it slow. Lob it up and it'll punch through pads.

I crop them by using the edit function on my iPhone. Then I send them to my email. There's a drop-down menu that appears which allows for sizing all the photos in one shot before you send the photos. I then save the sent photos to documents on my laptop, then upload them here. I assume you could do that on your phone, but I prefer to use the properties function on my laptop to strip all info from each photo.

🤣 Solo mission. Had an apocalyptic nightmare that woke me up wide eyed with heart racing at 4:30am. Dante's Inferno meets Jacob's Ladder( Jacob's Ladder (1990) - IMDb). Chimeras and other 'thingz". Yeesh. No more melatonin for me! Figured I'd take advantage of the adrenaline rush and buzzed up for some swings

13 Omen Black ll 7'1" MF. More like a crisp MH. Quantum Vapor PT Straight 30lb Daiwa J8 Owner Twistlock Light 6/0 positions the hook's point farther back into the fluke which really helps with short strikes. Got em good early this morning throwing a 5" Big Bite Baits Jerk Minnow in very clear water.

Found a decent first light bite. 1.8, 3.1, 3.3, 5.2. Big Bite Baits Jerk Minnow.

I'd pinky bet he means pitching. Even most pros call pitching flipping these days.

I'd say it's 95% around here. I see way more random, inexpensive, plastic reels from a clamshell on inexpensive rods in my travels than anything else, and I always glance at other people's gear when I pass by 'cause I'm a gear geek. Also, it's extremely rare that anyone comments on my more expensive combos, like almost never.

Trade deal.

Which braid? It matters. A lot.

I have the latest version, and it's great for bombing heavier frogs with 50 lb braid, but won't do as well with lighter frogs, but not bad with those either. If you're concerned with frame size and plan to throw lighter frogs, the Tournament Pro does very well with them due to its much lighter spool. I've beaten the snot out of mine for nearly 4 years fishing very heavy veg and pads with straight braid and it's still going strong.

The 7.5:1 gear ratio SHL combined with a 36mm tall spool has plenty of line pickup for frogs.

Sort of. I fixed the issue you're having by never pointing my rod directly at my bait. I either hold it tip-up a bit, or at least on an angle to the line that's out. Once I feel a bite, and for only a split second, I drop the rod just a skosh to "give" the fish the bait a little, then I set. Give it a try. Works for me and I'm fishing mostly straight braid in super choked out places.

Just for perspective, are you 6'5" tall, or 5'6" tall?

Making a final judgment on any brand new reel, especially ones like a Zillion that come out of the box with over greased spool bearings is, well, you know. After they're flushed and oiled, or have oil added to dilute the grease, or simply used enough to sufficiently break down the grease, their performance changes, and sometimes radically better. That was the case with mine. It opened right up. Over greased bearings sort of act like added spool tension.

Buy UPF 50 rated types in the lightest color possible like white or titanium. Very light greys too. This makes a big difference in comfort under high sun.

I've thrown weightless 5" dingers just fine on the 6'9" Tat Elite I linked to. No problemo, and that was while using a BB1 Pro with 50 lb braid. A 5" senko is a skosh heavier, so even better. When I had my Zillion on that rod it was obviously better with those weights. a 1/4oz jig and trailer loaded nicely and flew.

This is it for me. It's got some tip, so it throws light baits well, but will chuck 1 1/2 oz nicely too. I'm surprised by how versatile it is. If the new one uses the same blank as the previous gen silver ones, you should be good. It also has a downward-facing loop hook keeper, so no un-skinhooking skin hooked plastics, which is just peachy, IMO. Daiwa Tatula Elite Casting Rods | Tackle Warehouse TTEL691HFB 6'9" Heavy Fast 16-30lb 1/4-1 1/2oz 8+Tip 14" Cast A - EVA

IMO, the T-wing's only really a factor when using plastic lines greater than typical 17lb test. With braid, no meaningful difference.

Depending on your line's diameter, it might catch sometimes when reeling it in, but not to a dead stop especially with a FG. Might as well get a Fuego if you're concerned as it's the same reel as the CT other than the line guide.

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On par, except that the Zillion is better behaved when its brakes are set on the hairy edge for distance. SV boost is essentially a better version of standard MAG Z, IMO. Mag Z when set this way will be touchy, as in a fast, hard, spool locking backlash in the beginning of the cast, especially with braid and heavy baits cast hard for distance. This is precisely where quality centrifugal brakes have an advantage in the sense that you can be more reckless with your casting stroke.

Maybe with a percentage of types with a plastic handle-side side plate, but in general, not types with an aluminum side plate. My brother's haven't. Mine haven't either, and I'm always fighting fish back through dense veg and pads.

If you set it for no play but no tension, you're good. If you then turn the dial just a smidge counterclockwise and get the slightest click, you'll be alright too. I prefer no play no tension myself mainly because it makes sense to me from a mechanical standpoint, but either way will put it close enough to where it's supposed to be for proper operation. Assuming you've set it either way, this has little to do with your newbie issue. Most of us have been there for a spell in the beginning. It's hateful, but eventually it clicks in your head, and you get it, then you'll love it. Don't give up.

x2, especially if you're brand new. P.S. Start with a roll cast until you get your feet under you.