detroit1

Thanks guys, i too have tried a swivel (sampo) up my line at various distances above the hook, but it only slowed it down a little. I really think my main problem is that i bring it up for another cast too fast, which causes it to spin around like a top. Oh yeah, i hate those "stand-out" hooks also, they make it even worse. I'll just have to troll an empty line a few hundred yards and re-tie it all again.

After you throw it a time or two - you'll know. But really, just looking should do the trick for most of them. You can make a 6' diver go 3 to 8' deep with a little practice. You don't need a different crankbait for every 2' increase in depth, crap- you'll be changing lures instead of fishing.

Jeez Stringjam, my hat is off to you! I have 5 Poe's cranks and i can only get 1 to run right. I did buy these in the 90's though. Once bitten, twice shy...never to buy again.

Are you talking worms? Looks like most people consider a worm to be any soft plastic (senko/fluke/tube/lizard) but those aren't worms in my opinion. Anyways, yes i like white worms (gycb cuttail) fished like any other color of plastic worm. Smaller 4-6" (no brand) works great on a dropshot. I fish in clear water if that helps.

I've got 2 yrs. in downshotting and always keep 1 rod rigged. Any med. to med./lt. rod will work. I prefer a 6'6" (spin) with 6# test line. In the summer, sometimes i'll rig 2 rods - 1 for smaller baits, the other with abigger hook/bait combo. D/s are my go-to rig if i need a bite. Also #1 for me when the water is FLAT and no clouds in site. If only i could figure out the line twisting little %$#@!!

Rapala husky jerks are my favorite, but also have a few rouges and bombers. I have 2 Rebels with nice paint but not worth tying on. I would like to try some Lucky craft, but i won't pay that much and nobody is giving those away...

I agree with Stringjam - I don't like RR's either - have three, never caught anything for me. My favorite is the old Hot Spot, the ones without the bb's. These more or less "knock" than rattle, like today's baits. Plus i know that probabally nobody else uses them anymore. Advantage-me. Sorry.

If the crank has a "flush" line tie - i remove the split ring, but if it has a concave bill i leave the split ring on the lure, and use a cross - lock snap for all.

You don't even need to be in a tackle store - that lil bugger can get you at the Home Depot , craft store , office r us.... you know- i could use that on my boat or lure or....

I can't remember the last spnrb8 i bought. I "assemballed" my own for ten or so years now. Sampo swivels and about any blade/skirt combo for under $2. In the clear waters i fish, i mostly use a whitish skirt, a 1/4 oz. frame with a 1/8 rubbercore sinker squeezed on behind the skirt. Two gold willow blades and a keeper hook. Then a disc of bicycle innertube punched out with a paper-hole puncher.

I don't think i've ever fished in water that i couldn't see at least 6 feet deep. Sorry.

I like them both. Yes, you get tired of catching dinks, but you are catching. But a biggun', ahhh, you remember those. Just be sure to try learn something everytime out. And don't forget, "eliminating unproductive water" is part of the game.

Circle of trust, right Falcon? I would love to hangout with Zona fishing someday.

Let us not forget the second most important part of the equation, speed. Sometimes your in the right spot, but just need a slower (sq. bill) or faster (trap) presentation. Let the bass decide.

Your rod is too short...(heehee) What works for me is 3/8 oz is the divider. Lighter than 3/8 use spinning gear, more than 3/8 oz., use baitcasting. 7' minimum rod length for both rigs.

Oh yeah? Go buy an airbrush. Now you have a reason to buy baits that don't even look good! Bargain bin.. oh yeah i could repaint this one and that one and jeez- i'm in trouble AGAIN! We need a support group,man!

Who could limit themselves to just 4 baits? Well, my dad could. Although he has passed away, i still hear him telling me to tie on a plow jockey every time i get out on the lake. (a pre-rigged 6" straight-tailed worm) These days, i guess a white 3/8 oz. spnrb8, a 1/16 oz. jighead pushed inside a white/blk. flake Bitsy tube, a Bandit flat maxx (deep) in perch, and a 3" berkley minnow on a dropshot.

Appropriate crank (for depth) along the edge, or if casting to the drop, a dropshot,jigworm, or tube. For reasons i won't go into now, i don't like jigs.

About 10 yrs ago i bought 2 - perch and shad colors. My shad color bait stays home, but the perch stays in the boat. 2002's big largemouth (for me) ate that bait and now i take it every time out. I don't use it unless i just can't get a bite with my favorite 16 or so tactics/baits.. haha..

I still have a lazy ike in the redhead color. Used it a couple of times back in the day, but being from the detroit area, Helin's Flatfish (local mfr.) were the norm for that style of bait. Didn't like those either, but man did they have the paint jobs! I have a lot of cranks from the 60's &70's that i would love to use, but i get too many pike break-offs, so they just sit in boxes waiting for me to build my museum.....

Rubber worms died in the early 60"s...if you don't want to sound like a newbie,just call them worms. I don't mean to be harsh, but i hate it when people call them rubber worms. A pet peeve, and me & my shrink are working on it.....

I can tell just by looking at it. Once you use it, you should be able to remember...LOL!

I love those dd22's also, but i use them from april to nov. 7'6" medium action flippin stick a 6.0 :1 baitcaster. When i first started with these big cranks i used a Quantum 3.8 : 1 reel, and you couldn't even feel the bait resisting. With the 6.0 reels, i crank them down and then mostly move the bait with the rod, and wind the slack. I get a better feel of the weeds or bottom while "pulling". But sometimes, they just want it cranked fast. Although it looks like a big lure, the body is still only 3" or so....get out there and sling it around.

Norman DD22 in white/olive back. Or a home-assembled spnrb8.

The worms and cranks are fine, but i wouldn't have bought that line!