This doodle describes what I mean fairly well: So you can see how you want to select the right sinking weight: if you go too light, your bait will never reach the bottom, but if you go too heavy you will be dragging the bottom and getting snagged a lot
The Daiwa Lexa LC balances nicely on any trolling rod, and features a sturdy aluminum (not graphite) frame and gear side plate for extra strength without the extra weight
Im always looking to hear whats working for other surf anglers on the SoCal coast
If you dont have a dressed popper, however, you can easily dress one yourself with a little super glue, thread, and some feathers from the craft store
The Magic Cast system is best utilized for people who plan to cast the reel, as the system adds magnets to the interior of the reel lowering the inertia of the spool during the cast decreasing the chance of a birds nest