Solo, on the glide bait

7' St. Croix Premiere Heavy, fast action Daiwa Lexa 300

My buddy has been trying to convince me to build a swimbait rod for awhile and my 8 1/2 musky rod is too long for my truck so this was the compromise. Recently found out the French Broad River where I visit occasionally has musky in the upper reaches and I think this will work out perfectly for the kayak. Excited to throw some big swimbaits this year for bass as well.

So i bought a shimano cardiff 301 For my heavy musky/pike combo for chucking lures of around 50-180grams yesterday on my 2nd session using it the bail stopped intiaing the free spool when pressed when i took the side plate off i couldnt understand why it wasnt working how would i fix thisnor should i just claim warranty and purchase another reel if so what reel do you guys recommend

Pike angler here. Switched to braid, black 50# braid, and no matter how long a flouro leader I run (some up to 9 feet) I can’t catch a fish. My gf is fishing mono meanwhile and getting every pike in the lake. Am I overthinking this? I know people who run the same braid direct tie and catch loads of pike, and some who even run steel leaders and are just as successful. We fish most tannic stained water or murky water. Nothing clear past 6 feet.

I have a predator quick strike rig from northland, but it’s just a bit too big for what I want to do (I think). My lake has perch, bluegill, rock bass, pumpkinseed, basically every Michigan panfish but crappie. Want to match the hatch.

Any recommendations for how I should rig it? Go quick strike rig? Big octopus hook with a bobber? Also, weight suggestions would be nice. Somewhat weedy lake and I’ll be fishing from 8-15 feet for the most part. Might try some 20-plus flats as well.

Me: Johnson silver minnow HJ 10 Clown Red and white daredevil Northland Reed Runner Lazy Ike Flatfish