HOIST-N-HAWGS

Well, in my neck of the woods, 1/8 oz is a little on the heavy side. Sometimes I wonder if it 'really' boils down to personal preference or is it more about "peer pressure". Several posts make it sound as though casting gear is something we must force ourselves to get used to, ya know like castor oil. Then I suppose I need to learn how to cast with my dominant arm, then pass the rod to the other hand after every cast. How kool is that, now I must fight the fish with my weaker, less sensitive hand, while my good arm is wasted cranking up slack line. As preposterous as that sounds, it is exactly what millions of anglers have forced themselves to do. I'd be a little careful with that follow-the-leader mentality, and understand that the profit motive is driven by tournament fishing, which frequently conflicts with the needs and enjoyment of the recreational angler. Like Fish Chris and LBH, I too prefer spinning tackle, but have every intention of switching, just as soon as hell freezes over Roger Roger, I can fully appreciate your outlook and have seen it myself. Yet with me it wasn't that way at all. I very rarely use anything lighter then 1/8 oz and it's done alright by me so far. I had friends who were using BC's for years and occasionally I built up enough courage to give it a try knowing there was a high probability it was going to be retired for the day. Thankfully they were nice enough to take that chance. I found myself loving the experience as well as the challenge and wanted one of my own. One BC lead another and so on. If my memory serves me correctly,(not always the case ) the friend who tought me uses his BC sparingly with spinning gear being his first choice. Most of my closest friends use SG 90% and BC's 10% and I actually get pressured to go back to spinning. I own a 7' St Croix Legend/Stratic combo and like it a lot but very rarely take it with me. I can definately get the fish out of the weeds and into the livewell quicker with the BC then the SG as well. It's Just my preference. Now when the spinning gear is in my hands it takes a bit to get used to. I just feel more comfortable with the BC's.

I use to think the same way. Now after years of practice and the advancments in technology with the rods and reels, I can throw everything as light as 1/8 of an oz. on BC's. I do agree it comes down to personal preference.

Thanks Davis, very much appreciated

I think your question has many variables and is a tough one to answer. For me it's all situational. It's dependant on whether or not I know the body of water I'm fishing, what were my past results, how much time I have on the water, what the water temp is, is it windy or calm and what time of year it is. Is it a highly pressured body of water, is it the middle of summer where water and oxygen levels are low? What type structure is present ie: road beds, boulders, docks, vegetation all come into play for me. Did a cold front move in over night, did it rain and flood areas the bass wouldn't normally have access to? I will generally throw a jig or craw imitation first and stay with it for quite a while. If I then see bait fish breaking the surface or bass crashing the shoreline I'll switch to a LC Gunfish(topwater, walk the dog/popper type) Deps BuzzJet, Senko type or Fluke immediately. If there are bait fish all balled up suspending on the fish finder I'll go to something like Silver Buddy,Supending jerk bait or crank to get down to that depth. If the the wind kicks up on a relatively calm day I'll switch over to a spinner bait, a large Chatter bait and or switch out the craw type trailer on the jig and add a trailer with a bit more thump to it and swim the jig at a pretty fast pace. Gheeees, I could go on for ever. Being a simple wannabe I'm anxious to see the responses you get from the other more seasoned fisherman.

I read in another thread that someone was using these w/a shaky head. They look nice and wondering if it's a ring worm, it actually has rattles,is it a floating type etc....? There isn't much of a description on the site. Thanks in advance!

Just one that really stands out. About 38 years ago my Grandfather took me Saltwater fishing. My Mom was supposed to pack my saltwater rig the night before. We get to the ocean( a place called Colt State Park) low and behold I have a 5' pole and a Zebco. Gramp's decides he's going to modify the set up by putting 25lb test on. We sat there for what seemed to be a liftime w/o a nibble. Now duty calls and gramp's ain't to happy. After performing my "I gotta go" dance for ten minutes more " LET'S GO" he says.! We leave the rod wedged between the boulders along the shoreline and antsy pants it to the john. I do my thing, exit the building and turn the corner. All I can see is my rod bent in half. Gramp's says "go get-em boy"! I learned to get pretty quick in them days (running from Mom and Dad). I get there bend over to pull the rod from the rocks and.......................................... "SNAP"! :'( :'( :'( :'( All I have left in my hands is a blank a reel and about 2 feet of rod! Gramp's response was............Next time bring some friggin diapers! > ;D ;D ;D Wasn't that funny then!

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Copied from my reply to a similar question: To be honest I'm not a big fan of the flipping switch. Have had a few, the last one was a Diawa Pro caster. Experimented for a very short time and sold it after 4 months due to the F-switch getting in the way and accidentely engaging becuase of they way I palm the reel. I can pretty much do the same with all the reels I have now by making small ajustments.There are many more experienced and skilled fisherman here then I, that should be able to provide more indepth info and choices. Good luck in your search.

Hi Bobby, I would be one of those knocking the Heavy cover claim. By no means do I like knocking anyones product. When I saw the demo at the expo's I was very impressed and I think I bought ten packs. Spread the word to everyone I knew from beginer to seasoned tourny veterians. Soon I found myself berated with emails and personal assalts regarding the heavy cover claim(weed gaurd complaints) that at the time had not tried myself. I had been strickly using them in open water situations. I was extatic with the way it stood up. As I began testing in real life heavy cover I lost at least 3 on my first outing pitching to brush and another 4 in under six hours dragging through and over rock in a tourny. I do believe I would have lost jigs to the rock monster that day anyway yet not as many. I continued to use it throughout the year and found myself lossing more then I would feel comfortable with. I did however run right back out and purchase another 6 packs of the Heavy cover yet kept it to open water. I agree 100% that the heavier weed gaurds on other jigs inhibitated the number of hook-ups. I remind you this is comming from a novice fishermen. I felt the first design on the Evo weed guard was a bit to fimsy for brush and wood applications. I would never make a statement against any lure unless I have experienced it for myself and if I do it's in hopes of saving someone else the cost and disappointment. As I stated earlier if I'm fishing open water it's one if my first choices. I would like to see how the newly designed heavier weed guard perfoms and will be purchasing more to to give it another try. I believe in standing behind my statements and beliefs but there is no offense meant!. I can only hope my honesty is at the least appreciated. Thank you for the post and your time.

Here's a few pic's of it 1st one is from the other thread 2nd one from me under water. here's the other thread: http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1203042822/0

I was wondering if anyone else has had the opoptunity to see these new stick type baits at any of the expo's and what your thoughts were? The design is a flexible membrane the runs through the body so the hooks won't tear out and increase the number of use compared to other soft plastics. They had ten pound weights hanging from them. Seems like a good idea yet want to see for myself how the work in the water. Web site should be up and running by the end of February. www.ironcladlures.com http://lakeresourcesgroup.com/

Excellent work! Your post is extemely appreciated!

Being a top water freak (throw top water all year) Buzzjet,LC 95/115 Gunfish and so to cover all of the water collum: Hud-bug,Jig, LC pointer and Rapala's Husky jerk,suspending cranks.

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Please read thread at top of this page: "Read Me - Before posting Questions" Some nut job already inquired regarding coffee tubes. :-/ ;D ;D But you should have gotten Goby Luscious : JK bud! Here's the link: http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1202735917/0

$100 on bugs and your cryin? Whatchya got invested on the swim baits? ;D ;D

Just realized your in NH. Throw the Hud-bug/Pro-spot remover combo you 'll be glad you did. Lived in NH for a few years and the HB/PSR combo always loaded the boat !

;D ;D

17 lb test for me. Most of my succes with it has been pitching and flipping and just letting it flutter down. As stated above "HOLD ON" they crush it! I also use a treb off the eye on belly and seems to have increased the amount of fish landed. Here's a few pic's ogf the Perch

[quote This is why I stick to swimming in swimming pools only. I might run into a few crickets but they can't EAT ME!

To be honest I'm not a big fan of the flipping switch. Have had a few, the last one was a Diawa Pro caster. Experimented for a very short time and sold it after 4 months due to the F-switch getting in the way and accidentely engaging becuase of they way I palm the reel. I can pretty much do the same with all the reels I have now by making small ajustments.There are many more experienced and skilled fisherman here then I, that should be able to provide more indepth info and choices. Good luck in your search.

Very very saaaaweeeeeeeeeet! By the way just so you know, I do provide secure storage for all Core Lamiglas set-ups ;D

$$$$$$$$$$$$ It is very good line, yet as many times as I re-spool throughout the year it gets a bit pricey @ $28 per. I like the Halo for all my BC's