Micro

Can you imagine what Willie's dressing room must be like 20 minutes after Snoop comes over to visit Willie?

There are several different slider heads. The one I use is the Spider Slider, which has a faceted bullet weight. The hook is shaped so the worm is easily texposed on it. You can fish it any number of ways depending on what kind of worm you put on it. I like to use the 1/16 oz head and a Zoom Finesse Worm and flip it around docks. It sinks very slowly in a slightly tail-up manner. As it sinks is glides. If you drop it vertically is spirals down. I catch most fish on the initial drop. The Spider Slider is definitely finesse head. It's light and excels with smaller worms. I fish them on a 7' medium/fast rod with 10 lb test, and on a 7' medium/fast spinning rig with 8 lb test. Anything heavier is too heavy.

Unreal. All the controls work, too... http://www.craftsmanshipmuseum.com/park.htm

As much as I like Abu Garcia Revos, even I have to admit there is VERY LITTLE performance difference between the Revos and Curados. For me, each has it's +'s and -'s. So, I'd get whichever one I could get for less. As for rods, right now I'm partial to Fenwick HMGs. They run about $120. The rods are exceptionally well made and super sensitive. Lifetime warranty. But there are lots of very good rods out there around $150. A Revo STX on a Fenwick HMG is a great combo - and there may still be a $50 rebate going on if you buy that combo (???). A Curado on Shimano Crucial rod is a winner, too. So many good choices.

BTW, whatever hooks they use on this thing are friggin' SHARP. I tried tieing it on without the hook bonnets on and paid the price.

Rigging them texposed is very weedless. I fish super-heavy pads and slop and don't have a problem. Having some exposed hook underneath keels the bait and keeps it belly-down. Try some 3/0+ Gamy EWGs.

I went out this evening and saw some topwater feeding so I tried one of my Ima Roumbas. No fish. But next time... What's the best way to fish this lure??? This lure has a W_____I______D______E wobble. It's like having a small fish on your line on the retrieve. I tried a slow, steady retrieve which creates a huge wake, and some bubbles. A fast retrieve is just crazy - it's like fighting a fish. I tried fishing it like a jerk bait and it makes quite a racket - like a dying rabid rabbit floating on the surface. I'll figure it out sooner or later but just wondering if anyone fishes this lure and what manner has produced for you.

I went out for an hour tonight and my Zoom Finesse Worm (Watermelon/chart) on a 1/16 oz Spider Slider produced the only fish. A <1lb bass under a fishing pier. May have had more luck but the light rain turned heavy and it started to lightning. >

It's not a faulty reel, it's faulty set-up. Set up properly, the STX will cast with no thumb control at all (except at the begining of the cast). Set your reel's cast control knob so that you lure barely falls when you jiggle the tip of the rod, and stops when you stop jiggling. If it falls when you don't jiggle it, it's set too loose. Even a little tighter may be necessary. Set your brake to about the 1/4 position for lure 1/4 oz to 3/8 oz. A little more as lure weight goes up. Next, practice. It is an unrealistic expectation that the STX must cast like every other reel you may be used to. Once I got used to mine, it outcast every other baitcaster I ever used. Backlashes are 99.9% user error.

I've had the same problem and I know mine were rigged properly. The RT Toads I tried rolled over or suspended on their sides, like one leg was way heavier than the other. The ONLY way I could get them to perform correctly was when buzzing them FAST. I know the RT Toads gets mostly good reviews and I'm going to try another bag to see if I get different results.

I catch fish on both, but the X-Rap is more productive for me. Quality of construction wise, I think the X-Rap is clearly superior to the LC. The finishes on th LC seem very fragile, while the clear construction of the X-Rap will handle rocks and toothy fish much better.

I've been fishing Zoom Finesse worms on Spider Slider heads for several years now. It is quite possibly the most productive tchnique I've ever used. I like the 1/8 oz head with a watermelonseed worm flipped around docs using a 7' M/F rod and 10# test (flipping is best since I can barely cast it on this rig). If I have a go-to bait, this is it.

I rig mine texposed on Gamakatsu 3/0 EWG worm hooks. No problem with spinning except if there is a short strike and the body gets pulled on the hook. The body needs to be as straight as possible after rigging. The 3/0 EWG keels nicely and keeps the bait upright.

Old news???? Rapala buys Sufix 6/13/2008 Yao I Fabric Co., Ltd. has agreed to sell its Sufix fishing line property to Rapala, a move that triggers the conclusion of an exclusive supply agreement between the two companies. According to a release announcing the transaction, as part of the purchase, Rapala will also acquire all intangible assets related to Sufix-branded and other fishing line business, as well as all Sufix inventory from Sufix North America, Inc. According to the terms of the exclusive supply agreement, after an interim period and under certain conditions, Rapala will be selling fishing lines manufactured by Yao I and Yao I will be manufacturing fishing line for Rapala only, including subcontracted fishing lines for third party customers (OEM). Financial terms of the deal were not released. "Through this deal Rapala enters into the worldwide fishing line category in a meaningful way," Rapala CEO Jorma Kasslin said in the release. "As a result of this deal, Yao I will supply Rapala's global distribution network with a wide selection of fishing lines, including monofilament, braided and fluorocarbon lines. "While Yao I is strong in manufacturing and development of fishing line, Rapala is strong in global marketing and distribution. Therefore, this will be a win-win concept creating an exceptionally strong fishing line business for both companies. Rapala's target is to gain a significant market share from the worldwide fishing line business during the next few years." The deal is expected to be closed sometime in July.

You'll like that AG 700LX. They are built extremely well. Best drag in the business, too.

You mean like 'thingamabob' and 'little twisty thing.'

Only when I'm hunting. I've used my boat to get into some distant creeks with good squirrel trees around them.

One word: Caning There serious kind, performed by a Singaporean.

HS left hand? Abu Japanese website already has a lefty STX-HS and SX-HS listed. No reason they won't be available in the US - soon

I always thought the Spirex would be a good reel of they shaved about 7 pounds off of it.

Return IT and get yourself an Abu Garcia 800 (802 is great). It's all aluminum - body, sideplate, rotor and bail arms. It's built like a tank. Just as smooth and just as functional as the Stradic FI. But for robustness, I think it blows the Stradic FI outta the water. Less expensive, too. Best spinning reel out there for under $200 (and better than most for more than $200).

We have it all here in Virginia. Congrats, Sam.

Come on, man. Get yourself some ginseng http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1210571976/0#0

Way to go, Sam. Sam is a great resource for everyone, but a particularly good one for us Virginia folk. He always has great advice.

Not sure Shimano should be breathing easy, yet. No one has their new Curado/Citica or seen what corners they cut to get the price down. (Except we already know the 200E uses a plastic reelside sideplate, unlike the 200D which was aluminum). Abu may not have a runaway in 2009 that they had in 2008, but they may. Gonna be interesting to watch.