The 9 foot St Croix Avid is one awesome rods for inlet bucktailing, shads, poppers and any plug up to about three ounces
If money isn't tight and you want a reel you'll still fish in 2032, step up to the Lew's Speed Spool RX
The exterior withstands punctures, abrasions, and UV rays so that it will look nicer for longer, even with rugged adventures
If that doesnt produce, then Ill begin to mix up my retrieval methods until the fish tell me what they want
In highly pressured waters or very clear waters consider scaling down your tackle, both in terms of lure size and line size
Your fishing spot will also impact your choice of lure