JediAmoeba

I run 50# braid to leader on almost all of my swimbait setups up to 6oz. On a pistol pete or a megabass islide 135 I throw on a mh rod with 30# braid to an 8 or 10 leader - those are basically finesse glides

Ok...a few things. Are there any guides on the Lakes you have fished? Go on a trip- you will learn some things. Ever back seat with some of the people that consistently catch? You should - you will learn some things. Do you pay attention to the small details? In today's heavy pressure environments the small details make all the difference. Take time to learn 1 lake very well. It will take time but that information will translate to other places down the road. You should ask some guys that consistently catch to go fishing with you - pick their brains. They won't give you all their secrets but you can learn some things that will help you connect the dots. Take time to mark areas that hold fish - a line in the water in the wrong place isn't the key to success.

Best Wacky rig hook is hands down the Berkley Fusion with the fluoro guard. VMC is possibly the worst.

Crank down while swinging like a wild man...that's what I do. With an 8 foot rod from tip down while reeling you easily bring in more line than you need.

For the most part I am talking 15+ feet down with at least a half ounce. But even with hair jigs in 15 feet or less, I find setting the hook easier with a longer stick.

Curious- I have always found a longer rod to be better on the hookset since I pick up more line with it. I also run braid to leader on everything so stretch isn't ever a concern for me...

I use a Daiwa TD-X from the late 90s.

I use a Tatula 7'6" Heavy. Works great

That's kind of the whole point to slower action - it's more muted. Everyone has a preference for spinnerbaits and action - I subscribe to the school of a fast action rod and a drag adjusted accordingly.

One thing I think most people forget is the length isn't as big of a deal as the effective blank length is... If you take the same blank on a 7'0 rod with a 12" butt handle it will handle and balance a lot different than a 7'0 rod and an 8" butt length. My jerkbait rod is 6'9 but has the same effective blank as my 7'0 rods because the butt is shorter for jerkbaiting.

I only have 30 or so lipless that I never throw but I think you are fine. I have about 300 chatterbaits so I am a bit of an expert in sanity.

A quick search produced this: https://www.fishusa.com/Shimano-Sensilite-Spinning-Rod/?sku=163294&gclid=Cj0KCQiArsefBhCbARIsAP98hXTcT3d7IuQI59mcvbFdRDxeB4oRC8V7BzaL4fb9-4YMRBSg2YjfUEYaAqsqEALw_wcB

To me scent doesn't really get your more bites- but when that inactive fish sucks it in I believe they roll it around in their mouth a bit giving it a taste. In turn this gives me an opportunity to set the hook.

I have never even heard of anyone using 13 fishing reels for bfs. Typically people use a Shimano Aldeberan, some form of a Daiwa steez, Zillion or Air or one of the Kastking models. There are also some other budget models but they seem to be hit or miss to me.

I don't even consider the 7" all that big. I have caught a bunch of 2# Bass on them.

If you like magnetic braking - find a Daiwa Tatula SV for under 200. If you like centrifugal brakes get a Shimano Curado for under 200. Both these reels retail for about 210 but can be found for around 175-180 shipped.

Sometimes you don't need the washer. Also, don't tighten the screws all the way - dab some blue loctite on the threads so they don't move.

Small Swimbaits and heavy jigs - Daiwa Tatula 8'0" Heavy with an 7.3:1 Daiwa Zillion Swimbaits - Daiwa Tatula Elite 8'0" XH with a 6.3:1 Daiwa Lexa HD 300 Texas Rigging and smaller jigs - Daiwa Tatula 7'6" H with an 8.1:1 Daiwa SV Chatters and Spinnerbaits - Daiwa Tatula Elite 7'3" with an 7.1:1 Daiwa Tatula SV Jerkbaits and Topwater - Daiwa Tatula Elite 6'9" ML with an Zillion SV TW 7.1:1 Deep Cranks - Daiwa Tatula Elite 8'0" MH Crank with a 5.5:1 Daiwa Tatula 150 Swimbaits - Daiwa Tatula 7'9" XH with a 7.1:1 Tatula 300 Hair Jigs and Dropshot- Dobyns Sierra Ultra Finesse UL 7'4" with a Daiwa Alphas with an aftermarket spool and Ceramic Bearings Small Cranks - St Croix 7'0 M Premier cranking stick with a Tatula 5.5:1 I have decent spinning combos but I don't use them unless I really have to...boo to all spinning reels!

You think the Tatula is a step backwards of TD-X, TD-S and such? I paid 200 dollars for a those over 20 years ago and a Tatula SV is light years ahead in performance and durability. I have over 50 Daiwa reels at this point and they get more refined with each generation imo.

Probably a 7" bgc glidebait. Only because I fish that more than anything else. A close second will be a jig.

I find 4 carrier braids cut through better. They are noisy and rough so you lose some stealth but they seem to saw through the pads.

There is a reason why swimbait guys have so many trebles and split rings. Every resin bait has its own nuances and the same set up may not work like you want on each bait. ABS plastic injected baits are much more consistent but with different water Temps you may want different hooks/splits. Each manufacturer will have size 1/0 hooks in a 1x, 2x, 3x, 4x and above. Each manufacturer uses different materials and the hooks weigh a different amount. Play with hooks and find what works for you.

Not the size - if you are using a 1x hook, move up to a 2x. I know some.people don't mind wrapping wire around the hook shank but I prefer to use sticky suspend dots. Most decent glides have weight chambers these days

What kind of swimbaits? Soft ones you can use nail weights. Hard ones, play with the hook weight, add lead sticky strips. I don't like adding anything to the hooks as this adds a piece that can reduce hookups

I can't fit all of them in the picture but someone recently told me there are other brands besides Daiwa. I don't believe it. In the Pic- 4 Daiwa Tatula SV 2 Daiwa Tatula 3 Daiwa CT Type R 2 Daiwa T3 Ballistic 1 Daiwa Coastal 1 Daiwa Alphas 1 Daiwa Zillion 21 1 Daiwa Zillion 17 1 300 Lexa HD 1 400 Lexa HD 2 Lexa Winn Models 1 Tri Force Z 1 Tatula 300 1 Tatula 150 1 Laguna 1 Daiwa Arachnid A bunch have aftermarket bearings, spools and drags...