Jerkbaits are my favorite baits to fish, especially if I'm targeting multiple species on a single trip. My favorite ul or small jerkbaits are the old version of the yo zuri pins minnow. There were two sizes that I used to own. The smallest was 2" and very lightweight( maybe 1/16oz) and the bigger wa...

Depends on water temperature and whether I want a slow rise, neutral suspension, or a slow sink. I use lighter wire trebles like Vmc round bend if i want a slow float. For neutral suspension i like gammy trebles with the magic eye, owner stingers, or mustad short shank round bend. And if I want a sl...

Very subjective, but I experimented a lot of breakage when I tryed this line, and I wont use that on my reel's anymore. I agree. I bought a spinning reel spooled with 10lb nanofil and I broke off at least ten times the first trip I used it. I broke off fish on a small popper, hard jerkbaits, light ...

Walk it off on a football field or use a line counter to accurately divide it between several reels. Instead of trying to calculate how much backing to use just spool the braid first, then tie a connection knot and add your choice of backing until the spool is full. Tie the end to something secure a...

My most productive soft plastic for brown trout are the thin 3 inch "trout" worms fished on a drop shot or split shot rig. Berkley used to make powerbait plastic salmon eggs that came in a jar like the real thing. I don't know if they make them anymore but they are dynamite on the stocker rainbows. ...

The 13 envy is the only I've fished that I liked as much as the klx or helium 3. Those 3 IMHO are a step above any I've tried around 200-250 dollars or so. I'm no expert by any means though, but I've fished a lot of rods around that price including the St Croix avid, avid x, dobyns champion, and sev...

The best one I've owned is the Powell max 3d 683c. Check put the old tt review on the discontinued max version. It was designed based on the glx mbr tapers and has the tip section of the 3 power mbr rods and the backbone of the 4 power. They threw everything from 1/4 total weight to 2 ounce swim bai...

I've seen a lot of pics of stradic ci4 plus reels with the Eva knob swapped out for the powergrip II knobs

I'd keep them all and still get the nrx. I know you said you like fishing shallow but sometimes you have to go deep or get skunked. The next is THE rod for fishing bottom contact in deep water. The fish are moving shallow on my home lake now and gorging on shad, but soon they will be back out on dee...

If you want a shorter rod(and handle) for walking baits, I'd look at the loomis 752 or 753 sbr(spinnerbait) rod, or the 752 or 753 jbr. I love the 6'3" length. I was going to get one of those for bigger walkers and jerkbaits, but ended up deciding to go custom

I'm kind of surprised at all the votes for long rods. I know the 893 usually gets all the votes on most senstive, but personally I don't like a rod that long for Texas rigs unless it's in 20ft or more of water. Has anyone tried the k2, nfc high mod, or archangel vs the x7 em, nrx, luxxe oltre, poiso...

I would put 8 more dollars with it and get a daiwa Procyon. Aluminum body and all the latest technology and more than 40 bucks less than retail on eBay. The shimanos are okay but I'd rather have aluminum frame than the graphites and composites if the weights are about equal. The pfleugers are made b...

The zillion and Fuegos can if you have spacers made, but the td-z 100m spool fits and is a pretty darn good spool too, but probably cant throw light stuff or skip as well as the sv spools. There is also a diy spool if you do want to throw lighter baits, and very affordable. There isn't a lot of line...

Wow sorry the auto correct on my phone got me. It was supposed to read Fenwick aetos and daiwa tatula

If you want to save some money, check out the autos rods on clearance on the Fenwick site. Very nice rod in the same retail range as the chronic with titanium guides and lifetime warranty for under $100! I love all of mine they are very sensitive for a sub $200 rod, let alone under 100, and crisp, w...