kdubracing

I always use 1/8 heads. Sometimes I use 3.2ish and sometimes I use 3.8ish swimbaits. Depends on what I feel like would be best at the time. Also, sometimes I use Keitech style paddletails and sometimes RI Little Dipper style. Again, depends on what I feel like at that moment.

Okuma Guide Select Crankbait rod is great. I got one when they were new and like it better every time I fish it.

Man, I need to fish your lakes. My fish don’t tell me what brands they prefer I buy.

I like the Little John, but the 6th Sense has been outfishing it by a mile. OG Slim is working well for me also.

I really like the Tuna Alley frame. I have green mirror for fishing only and blue mirror for everyday wear. Both are glass and my next pair will be glass also.

Crush 50X squarebill

I have a few of them and I really like them. A great feeling lower cost reel. I like my Curado Ks better, but they are also $50 or so more. You can get the CT for near $100 when sales happen, and they are well worth it. I only have a year or so on the couple I have, so no long term feedback. But they still feel really good. They are user friendly also. My wife got one as a first baitcaster last year and it's been great for her.

I use tungsten drop shot weights also. For one, you can feel the bottom a little better. But mainly it keeps lead out of the water if I lose one.

My favorite is the Missile Bomb Shot. KVD Dream Shot is another good one. I didn’t like the Roboworm as much. It isn’t bad at all, just not my favorite.

My favorite size for 3/8-1/2 oz jigs are 3.5-3.75". 4" works well also. If something looks a bit long, just cut some off of the top of the trailer. I will also trim the skirt up near the bottom of the hook sometimes to run a shorter trailer and not interfere with the action.

I fish them on my 7'5 Okuma medium mod-fast crankbait rod (rated 3/16-1oz). This weekend, I was catching them mostly on shallow flats. Throwing it to the bank and grinding the bottom until the dropoff. Most of my bites were grinding the bottom, a couple when it went off the drop. One thing to note is I was on a power plant lake. I caught several closer to the hot water outlet where the temp was 60. But the 4.5 I caught was down the lake a bit where it was 49. She was right on the bank not too far from a channel with a ton of baitfish.

I did very well with the Flat 75X this weekend in Black Magic and Jaint Juice. Biggest was 4.5 in 49 degree water. The 6th Sense cranks always perform well for me, no matter the color.

If you don't find an XF, I've been very happy with my Tatula Elite 7'4" H/F for these specific techniques (although I haven't had the opportunity to punch with it yet). I've mostly used it for frogs and 1/2 oz jigs so far. I've carolina rigged with it a bit, but not much. I haven't found anything I don't like it for so far.

This isn’t what everyone does, but my approach to kayak fishing is a little different. Keep in mind, I fish big lakes in a boat and small strip mine lakes in a kayak. So what you are wanting to do is different. What I found is, for the most part, I do not like fishing moving baits in a kayak. I don’t even take crankbaits or jerkbaits with me in a kayak. I primarily fish frogs, jigs, dropshot, t-rig, wacky worms. Sometimes I’ll throw a chatterbait, but not much. I’m the opposite in the boat, I mainly use moving baits and cover water.

I never leave home without mine when it's below 60 degrees. Windproof gear makes such a big difference.

I've thrown a toad buzz a little, but not a ton. I seem to have more luck with a skirt. But again, I haven't thrown the toad enough for a fair shake. I really like the Jigmasters buzzbait for a skirted one. The head design keeps it running true very well.

Interested in the replies on this as well, but for a slightly different reason. Looking at these specific rods also but for a finesse jig/light or weightless t-rig/shakey head rod. If you have experience with them, please offer some insight on those techniques as well.

Outkast money jig

Jigmasters 30% off

Every year the sale thread gets blown up by TW questions. Please put them here so we can keep up with what sales are going on right now.

I'll second this. I have the 6'10 mh/f Tatula and absolutely love it, for a lot of different baits. I also have a Tatula SV on a different rod and love that reel as well. If you wanted to save some money, the Tatula CT is a good option as well.

I would suggest starting with something around 7', medium heavy, fast of your choice. Then a good solid mid-priced reel like a Tatula CT, Shimano Curado K, something in that ballpark. That will be a good all around setup that will last you a long time. Baitcasters don't take long to get used to. Don't bother with a "starter" set up. It'll just be a waste of money. You'll want something else quickly and that rod/reel will collect dust. Plus, backlashes only affect line anyway, so getting a better setup off the bat will only help you. Just start with the brakes up high and work your way down.

I ended up just emailing Daiwa and got the correct size. Ordered it up and some size D thread. Made a little wood rod holding rig and fixed it in about 10 minutes. Worked out really well. And actually looks a lot better than I expected. It ended up being easier than I expected. But I did figure out I don't have any interest in building my own rods. Just replacing broken guides is good enough.

Not using it any different way, but my wife slayed crappie this year on a DT10. She caught several on several different trips. And I caught at least 6 catfish this year, one a 7 lbs, on Crush 50x and one on a jerkbait.

Thanks for the help. I do know this rod has Fuji Fazlite guides on it. The info on the thread is a big help. I have some digital calipers I can use to measure the guide. Funny enough, the one that broke is the one I broke last year and had someone else replace it. He didn't use the exact guide for a replacement, it looked a bit different than the Fazlite guides that are on it. I'll measure that one and also the ones above/below the broken one and make an educated guess on the size. Or I'll contact Daiwa if I feel I need to.