shootermcbob

Sounds like your best bet would be to bite the bullet and get what you want, and let him use it. Doesn't make sense to spend a hundred dollars and have it sit when this trip is over vs. spending 170 and getting something you can use?????

Cabelas has their Prodigy line of spinning (and baitcasting) rods on sale for 59.00 right now. That is 40 bucks off normal retail. I recently bought the 7 foot medium power fast action rod and so far, I like it. It would save you some money and give your brother-in-law a decent to good rod to use. Just an option, but at least 20 to 50 bucks cheaper than some of the other rods mentioned.

Ok. Glad I asked, I was gonna put the smaller hook up front. Thanks for the help.

As always, great pics and great stories.

I recently cut off the old hooks on a couple jitterbugs because I was losing some fish. I added two number 2 hooks, and now they tangle. I lost 4 fish this morning before I figured out what was going on. I realize I need to downsize or go with a shorter shank hook to eliminate the tangle problem, but which hook should be shorter, the belly hook or the last hook on the back of the lure???? Thanks for the input.

The cabelas prodigy is a fine reel. I have 4 of them. Watch for them on sale, I paid as little as 54.00 for them. My advice would be to stay away from the cabelas tournament ZX baitcasting reel. It is a graphite framed reel now and they used to be aluminum framed. I used to have a couple aluminum framed ones, and they were fine. However, since they redesigned it and went to the graphite framed reel, I see several in the bargain cave every time I go to cabelas. This means folks are returning them because they are obviously unhappy with them. A friend who works for cabelas told me they really cheapened up the reel on redesign and were having lots of returns. I also like the Revo S reels at or around a hundred bucks

Nice review. Sounds like a very nice rod.

I removed them from all the crankbaits that had them. I too found that the sure set portion was sure to set in wood/rocks and since I fish from the bank, many times i could not " go back the other way" to try to free the bait.

just to add to the discussion, I was fishing the last two days. I fish along a state highway and there is lots of rip-rap. I started off throwing a strike king 1xs in sexy shad, and gizzard shad?, then I moved to bandit 100 in two different colors, then I threw my rapala dt 4 in bluegill, chrome w/ blue back, and silver, and caught nothing. I then put on a cabelas grave digger in bluegill and also a white color, again nothing. Finally, I pulled out a cabelas dig-it in baby bass color and whacked three fish in the next 8-10 minutes? Was it the size, color, or tight wiggle that triggered the bite?? I was fishing standing on the same rock, casting parallel to my left and right, (All three fish came from my right side), and using the same rod/reel and same (consistent retrieve..w/ starts and stops) cranking method. I am always left wondering what it was that turns these fish on to bite? Since I am standing right near a causeway, I don't know if the fish were even there when I started fishing.

Powerful. Thanks for sharing Catt.

Wow. just Wow. Awesome pictures, story, and Wow. Thanks for sharing

Does anyone here use the cabelas or bass pro hard baits..such as jerkbaits, crankbaits, etc??? I was fishing over some grass a couple days ago, water is really shallow, about 2 feet deep. I am fishing from shore so access is limited. I threw spinnerbaits, tubes, flukes, worms, and got nothing. Not a nibble. I then pulled out a 4 inch jerkbait that I bought at cabelas for 99 cents. It has a yellow back with a white belly and a really wide wobble when retrieved slowly. Three strikes, two landed fish, and a bunch of fun later made me think that might have been the best buck I have ever spent. anyone else have luck with other "lesser" name baits?

I have a shakespeare Dimension spinning reel in the 30 size that I like for throwing lighter baits. I bought it in combination with a cabelas tourney trail rod. I have caught many fish with it and have had nary a problem. I also owned at one time two dimension plus baitcasting reels that had mag braking system and 10 or 11 ball bearings. I liked them both, very smooth, price was right, and I learned to fish baitcasters with them. I have since moved on and sold them to buy others, but there was nothing wrong with them for the two summers I used them. I sold them to a fellow on another forum, and has emailed two times since, commenting on how nice they were. Much better than his pflueger echelon, according to him. Like most others here, I have moved up in my gear selection, but I can not say one bad word about either of my shakespeare products.

I can't comment on the towing part as I don't have a boat. I did use my nissan patherfinder (1991) to tow my brothers 22 FT? bayliner boat for a couple summers. It handled the boat just fine. As a side note, We put 292,000 miles on that pathfinder, with nary a problem. It always started, went through snow like a tank, and came through 4 deer, three rear end collisions ( we got hit), and an explosion in a car next to it. If not for the rust taking over, way over, I would still be driving that Nissan. Great Vehicle.

black jointed jitterbug. I fish them along rip rap, over roadbeds, and around any other cover I can find from the shore. Why, the fish can't resist it.

Ok. Thanks.

Spotaholic, why do you fish the fluke with a leader and a swivel???? does this help the action of the bait?

It was good, but it hasn't been for a few years now. He has not evolved, nor improved, and the sport has passed him by. It is unfortunate, because he has a certain charisma that appeals to many fans

I have one, and though I haven't hooked up anything yet, I think it is a matter of time. Has a really tight wobble, and will almost turn completely around if you twitch it every now and again. Trackersc, you should email strike king about the bait, they had problems with some earlier models. I bet they would replace it for you.

Wow. That was hilarious. ;D

Congratulations on your 1st boat, and also congrats on your 1st two fish from the boat.

I have had success fishing a black jointed jitterbug during very early or very late, dark hours.

I use both. I find that I am much more effective throwing lighter baits (1/4 oz or less) on spinning gear, including spinnerbaits. I use baitcasters for as much as I can as I prefer the baitcasting setup, but it is easier for me to throw lighter stuff on spinning rigs. I also throw some 1/4 buzzbaits on spinning gear with no problems.

Sounds like a great 1st tourney to me. Congratulations to you both.

So many are true in everyday life. I always appreciate when someone puts into words the simple, yet highly meaningful thoughts that race through our heads on a daily basis. Thanks for sharing.