Bassin_Fin@tic

Berkley realistix 4 inch minnow. Tough bait to come by though and I think they only sell them in the blister packs now that come with 2 pre rigged on jigheads and a couple spares.\ Kinami/Yamamoto kut tail worm 4 inch and 5 inch can't go wrong.

Amen LOL Don't overlook a senko twitched across the top in a walk the dog manner,pop upwards with a lot of slack in the line while reeling.Use it just like the fluke or trickworm. Just about any of the Rage Tail baits work on top as well as a frog alternative too.

Yep that too. The chemicals used in coloring it or how well it is mixed. For instance there are a lot of zoom colors I noticed that have varying degrees of durability.

Not really... I will say this though that if your using Yamamoto senkos they are very susceptible to getting soggy from heat and moisture due to the very high salt content. If you put a damp one back in the package this will happen. Around Florida with this heat and sun they don't hold up well either.Packages must be sealed tight always and not left in the sun. Also just to theorize,since the color black absorbs the most light and gets very hot in the sun it may have something to do with it. My junebugs also get that way pretty often as well.

Anything thats on the end of my line when no one else is looking.

;D Man I hate that too. I can remember freaking out and flailing and screeching a few times when I got one of those buggers in my face like that. Around here in Florida you gotta really watch what out. Some of those that make their webs across the path are the size of golfballs. Black widows are very very common around here.You have to watch grabbing or touching anything outside. They seem to build a web just about anywhere they can.

I use the same kind of unit as well and another thing about the fish id: Any grass you go over or any timber or brush shows up as fish unless you turn it off.You will also never be able to identify a school of bait with it on. I too have a question though since this is my first unit as well and have been using it for a few years. I understand that seeing actual fish arches is hard to achieve. My question is: How does your boat speed and screen scroll speed(chart speed) affect whats showing up on the screen? I noticed when I am sitting still or barely moving I get tons of screen clutter or a supposed "arch" ends up being a drawn out straight line across the screen. I can't separate whats what :-/ Don't now if the question makes sense. Maybe some one chime in? Thanks. 8-)

Least your not coming on here swearing that they are just as good as the originals but half the price :-X

Which is why I never peg a sinker unless I have to. I despise fishing heavy brush and trees unpegged so thats about the only time I do it. If you want to add to your experiment try seeing what happens when you use different sinker weights with certain baits. Some achieve different or better action with more or less weight. Also the initial drop rate of fall after casting or coming over a drop off can trigger strikes as well on certain days.Light and slow fall not always better. Also the sinker weight can determine how far the bait jumps when you twitch your rod.Got to remember that something as light as a 1/16 oz per say will move forward several feet when moving the rod tip thus forcing you to fish very slow whereas say a 1/4 or more can be jiggled in place.

x2 or start moving to shadier areas and heavier cover if available.

Very Cool! 8-) I am interested in that new wide glide bait as well. Looks promising!

None. I don't buy that theory at all, never have. I have fished with cranks for a many, many years and although they will differ from brand to brand I don't think they vary much when using the same. I have had a few that I could not get to run right at all. I think most of our members feel differently about this. I believe that statement holds more truth when referring to balsa baits. Although the QC is high it still doesnt change the fact that no two pieces of balsa are EXACTLY alike. Different weights and desity can occur thus producing a bait that the fish really like or one that just works kind of good.

Don't ever try a double wacky rig,especially not with two different colored or sized baits. :-X

x1000 can't even figure out how they are still on the market. JMO To answer the question.You pretty much have to wacky rig it between the weights or whatever the heck that junk is they stuck in it. T-rigging it like a senko is kinda worthless.The inserts get in the way of rigging it correctly and it also ruins any potential action that the bait may achieve.

Besides locating the fish one of the hardest parts of fishing new water is fishing cover,structure,water clarity,or even depths that your are not accustomed to normally.At times this may even mean using equipment setups or tackle that you normally don't as well. Think of it this way though,it is a learning experience and one you learn these things you can duplicate it on many new waters that meet similar conditions.

I hate the yo-zuri because of that and don't like the action.Just not my preference.

Jighead,trailer, and skirt... The weight and style of the head plays a big part in the overall action of the lure.The position of the line tie and shape of the head changes the action a lot too.

I don't know what it is and it makes no sense at all whatsoever, but red shad worms (ribbon tails) tear them up around here. On the other hand I have never gotten a single strike on a red shad senko,fluke style bait,sluggo,trickworm bait ever. I got bags of this stuff and it is worthless to me. :-/

The torque from the churning blade will cause any buzzbait to lean a little.Usually more noticable the faster the retrieve.Some baits are built great for burning and some better for creeping. Do what he said and also try bending it the opposite way that it is leaning.

Happens all the time with rattletraps and topwaters when the fish are schooling.

Gamakatsu makes a decent hook but there are stronger options out there...and check those hook points every now and then. The weight will work against you on a carolina rig if you give any slack and the fish starts shaking its head or coming out of the water. Just do your best to keep it extra tight and give NO slack at all. Dont go overboard on the weights either. Most times a 1/2 oz will do the trick, even at 25 ft deep. As long as you keep the weight in contact with the bottom, thats the important thing. x2 a 1/2 will work well almost all the time. Step up to a 3/4 or more if heavy wind becomes and issue. Try to use a long low sweeping hookset to the side with the c-rig.It is normally more effective than an upward sweep.

x2 You don't need to be picky on colors for these.Light and dark and maybe throw in a chartreuse but as long as you got white and black your all good.

Culprit topwater shad My most recent debacle was the bump n run spinnerbait.Too many problems to even begin to type.Total joke of a lure.Beware of this gimmick. >:(Interesting and neat concept that will definitely hook a few fishermen.

In any event your going to want to opt for something with a bright opaque finish and probably a dark back. Shiny chrome colors and clear bottom baits like ghost minnow will not be the best choice for murkish water you need some thing to contrast and stand out.Chartreuse shad and white baits work extremely well for me in tanic stained water around here. IMO some other good choices would be:table rock,chart-blue,rootbeer,matte-chart,bluegill,royal shad. (wow I really like that crack color! I just seen it,must be new) Yeah you can still catch plenty of fish on these baits if they are on that bite and UP in the water column. The biggest difference is in in clear water they can see the bait far above them and choose to attack it. In dirtier water you are going to have to hit the fishs depth more precisely and get it nearer to them. I'd also use a bigger size than the 78 unless of course you know for a fact that they are feeding/chasing small tidbit forage. (Don't ever paint a crankbait or jerkbait black for dirty water.It will never work )

Also great for lubing line and sinker when flipping heavy cover. I used it last year on live minnows and small jigs suspended under a bobber for crappie and seemed to have decent reults.