J Francho

I typically nose hook them. Dead stick them longer than you feel is comfortable. Especially good directly post spawn, just outside weed lines.

I agree, I feel like I retie about as much as when I did using mono. I'm kind of a freak about retying. It's bit me in butt too many times being lazy about it.

I recommend something entirely different. Tuf-Line Supercast in 30 lb. size. It's a bonded micro fiber superline with a mono core, and a coated exterior. So, zero stretch, floats, casts smoothly acts like mono, and holds knots well. It's about twice the strength of mono per diameter, so 30 lb. is like 15 lb. mono. It's almost like it's made for topwater. No leader necessary. I use it for all my topwater plugs now.

Ned rig. Because I don't throw it. Bought some stuff for it, so I'll give it a try.

DOn't sugar coat it, T9

I tried 6#, many years ago. I had issues with knots, and it seemed to break really easily. A buddy liked to use 10# on his crankbait rod, and after his line broke in the middle of a cast like three times one day, he stopped using it, too. I think it's just a really supple, stretchy line, which isn't necessarily a bad quality, but didn't work for me at all. Line choice is VERY personal, and there are so many variables as to why people prefer one over the other. Sometimes it's something mechanical in the way a person fishes or ties a knot. Other times, it's what they bought, and it works, so it must be the best.

I've said this once today already....person had the same issue. I have yet to find an 8# fluoro that plays well on a spinning outfit. What has worked well for me is Finesse 7.2#, and Tatsu or Invisx in 6# size.

I can't really comment on that, although X-FAST side by side were very similar.

That's pretty much it.

I've yet to meet an 8# fluoro the behaves on a spinning reel. Seaguar 7.2 Finesse is pretty good. So are Tatsu and Invisx in 6# size.

Texas rig them, with a pegged weight, and pitch them into the slop.

My Avids all float with any reel less than 9 oz. Don't ask how I know this, it was not in a controlled environment. ?

I forgot about Gulp! products, but it's been a few years since I used any. I doubt they'd phase them out anyway. Too popular.

Line capacity is the only reason I think it's pushing it.

Ahhhh.... So not on our side.

I know a guy....

As reported on the local site: http://www.nybass.com/showthread.php?110873-State-record-Walleye-caught-on-the-St-lawrence-River

I lost a G.Loomis with a Chronarch years back. I dropped a way point, and went back with a snagging hook and got it back. It none the worse after a thorough cleaning.

Same here, we were just fishing off the dock for whatever would bite. Occasionally someone would catch a bass. Later, when I was a little older and better at casting, I used "lures" which were various cranks, topwaters, spoons, and inline spinners. Until some nice guy in a bass boat caught two nice fish in a row from "the slop" near our dock that I avoided because baits didn't go through. When I asked how his bait gets through, he showed me a proper Texas Rig, and gave me some worms, hooks, and bullet sinkers. That totally changed the game for me.

Many, Many, even expensive reels, use a bushing here. It's not a high stress contact point, and a bushing serves well enough. The upgrade adds a bit of smoothness and piece of mine, plus it's a cool upgrade to do. Definitely not a rookie upgrade.

Definitely getting robbed by panfish. You can fish for them, by downsizing the hook. There's no worry of missing bass with a smaller hook, and you'll hook the little devils to prove it to yourself what's happening. I merged these into one thread, so we can get the whole story into a single thread. That way, when someone does a search, and finds one thread, they won't have to hunt for the other.

I throw the same two top waters most of the time: a one-eyed Sammy 115 and a Popmax with more hook rash than paint. I probably have over a hundred other topwaters, but these two specific baits always produce, irrespective of water clarity.

0% effect on me. I can't think of a single product I use from any of those companies. Not even PowerBait anymore.

Define big. I use a 200 for one to three oz. stuff. A 150 would be pushing it.

Exactly, you don't need that up front in the way of fishing.