Phil77

I've had good luck with both 30-40# braid and 12# and up mono.

The Big Bear L.E. and Kodiak look cool, then again the Phenix looks pretty nice. Flip a coin.

12lb Pline cxx. You can straighten a hook out before you break the line.

Lews custom speed stick topwater special, Its 6'8 or 6'10 medium but feels more like a MH to me. I haven't thrown it in a yak but I've done pretty well with it on the big boat. 13 omen blacks are good rods, have a 7MH as a back up t-rig/jig.

I can barely skip under docks, my future son in law can skip like a pro. Pretty sure lews makes a reel just for skipping and pitching, my future son in law uses an Aldebaran, think it's the older bfs one. My biggest problem is knocking the senko or creature off the tex posed part of the hook when it skips.

Thanks, been wondering what thickness you used.

The zero adjuster LOL.

I cant speak for the MH but the 7-6M is more than capable for 3/4 and up.

Threw it for three hours before I finally spooled it on a 2+ oz paddle tail that's normally used for striper on an umbrella rig. Guess I'll have to tie to the spool next time or get better tape. Handled like I thought it would, like I said the lure rating is just a suggestion. It has plenty of flex so will have to try with some other moving baits.

Here we go.

Heading to the boat ramp. I will throw a 1.5 oz glide bait, a 6th sense 500DD and 300DD 1.75 and 1oz. Going to use 30lb Daiwa J braid. Never thrown the cranks but my neighbor says the 500 will go 20 plus deep and the 300 is right at 20. Pretty sure the fiberglass broomstick is up to the challenge but I'm gonna have Popeye arms by noon.

Where can I get some of that kydex? All I can find is half inch around my area.

I dont crank below 15 ft. It's not productive for me and a Tokyo rigged paddle tail with a 3/4 bullet weight thins the school very quick when they are 20 ft or below holding on the bottom. So yeah my idea of a deep diver is 10-20 feet. My 6xd's sure dont feel or cast like they weigh an ounce.

Now you've got my wheels turning, I'm going to throw a 1.5oz glide bait on it tomorrow just for fun. I view lure ratings as suggestions anyways.I've thrown way heavier lures than is suggested and haven't broke a rod or lost a fish yet.

5 and 6xd's plus DT10's nowhere near 5/8. It's a broomstick so I think it could handle an ounce if I wanted to try.

Caught a few bass with it this afternoon. the feel reminds me of an older St Croix Mojo Glass rod. I was throwing a booyah xcs square bill, the rod has plenty of flex to keep them pinned. I already have a dedicated square bill rod so this one might be used for deep cranks. Got the rod and the 6 speed Ike baitcaster for $200 on FB so pretty pleased so far.

I picked up a 7'6M and the ike reel on local marketplace for pretty cheap. Guy said it was to soft for his liking and said the reel was to finicky for him. I oiled the brake ring and played with the settings in the backyard to dial it in. Seems like it will be good crankbait rod.

Looks great, I just red necked it and ran the cables behind the ram mount base for now. Might copy your work when I get more free time. The Garmin plate and rubber washer mount is working for now, still would rather epoxy a mounting plate for if I decide to run Garmin livescope for crappie next spring. Says my files exceed the limit and wont let me upload pics.

I tie a big loop, I have noticed a small loop keeps a walking bait in a very tight walk where a loop big enough not to snag the front treble gives a nice wide walk. Guess I'll have to try some snaps and see for myself, tired of having two top water rods on the deck all morning.

Been thinking about the same thing myself to quickly switch top waters from a walker to a plopper. Just don't think the action would be the same without a loop knot.

People have been crapping on the micromodule gears since the k was released but I have absolutely abused mine over the last couple of years and they are still buttery smooth. I don't "power fish" but have horsed plenty of 2-4lb'ers with no problem. I've never had to replace a gear set in over twenty years on any reel so there's that.

I have all three and if I had to choose one it would be the hyper mag. That being said I love the feel of the lite best, I have large hands but it palms very well for t rigs and jigs for me. I have used the first gen aluminum frame concept A's and C's and they are compact but require opening the side plate to adjust brakes. Not a deal breaker but I really like the ACB system.

Lews custom lite. Pricey but tiny and comfortable 90 yard 12lb capacity. I've not thrown anything over 1/2 oz but it does an excellent job and is super ergonomic. The slx mgl would also be worth a look. I fish from a boat or a yak so line capacity isn't a real concern for me. I've found 90 to 100 yard capacity works for my style of fishing. Dont get me wrong, I still have a few high capacity reels for things like glide baits and big swimbaits but most of the time I'm using a reel with 90-100.

The fish tape really helped. Decided to mount the transducer in the stock location for now. Spent most of the day trying to rig a mount for the helix 7 transducer, there was no room for the plastic pos mount that came with it. A trip to the hardware store for some rubber washers and maybe the stock location will work, if not I'll plug the holes and do battle with the plastic mount on a mounting plate.

Guess I'll mount it on the starboard side, can't wait to pull the panels and fish the cables through.