J Francho

I picked the Stradic CI4 2500 for my three dedicated vertical DS setups. I have two ML and one MED. The reels are light weight, and for their size take up the most IPT. Smallies tend to rocket to the surface, and keeping up is important so you can have pressure on them when they jump. Notice I did not use the phrase "if they jump," LOL.

I use this rod and reel, though spooled up with 20# Sufix 832 and I use a leader of whatever 8-12# line I've got hanging around. Mostly to make breaking off hang ups easier. http://www.bassresource.com/fishing_lures/pinnacle-DHC5-performa-review.html For hooks, I actually do it differently, most times. I use a 2/0 Gam. Wide Gap Finess hook, and nose hook the super fluke. It works:

Lunch today....

As far as I know, it's no and no. I thought I read the CI4 will be $270ish.

Blue thread lock should work fine.

It tastes wrong?

Yes, soft tissue will heal. Scales will grow back. Torn fins will regenerate.

There's a lot hiding in the sticky topics, and not all are visible from every forum, so you sometimes gotta dig.

LOL, I've been there - talking in my sleep about stupid bearing retainers and e-clips flying!

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/112746-good-sellertrader-list/

I'm real happy to have JT writing for BassResource.com. He's got a real down to earth style, and his advice is built from time on the water. Thanks, bud!

I'll bet the drag spring washers were installed nested: (( instead of opposing, like this: ()

I get my best frog bites in open water, just outside heavy, emergent slop or pads. Look for small alcoves in the surface vegetation as ambush points for bass. If those areas are immediately adjacent to even slightly deeper water, or a channel through the weeds, even better. Walking a a frog is not necessary, but it is effective. If you can walk a spook, just dial back the motion by about 75%, and you should get it. I find a somewhat shorter rod, 6-10 to 7' is a little easier for this.

Similar threads come up almost weekly. I always have the same answer. One lure? Jig.

Start out with 1/2 oz. or bigger. Once you get the pitch cast down, move to lighter baits. It's easier to feel the "fulcrum" and generate momentum with a heavier bait, but soon you can pitch 1/4 oz. baits. Also, practice with a spinning rod. It is sometimes much easier to pitch finesse rigs, like the drop shot or mojo rig than to cast.

I don't know, but I swap them out for Owners before I even fish them.

Rub a marker 1/2 way around your spool.

Yep, bigger bass usually quietly slurp the bait.

Jig.

That is called running on pad. Performance bass boat hulls are designed to run like that. My Bullet doesn't operate properly unless I'm properly trimmed and running on the pad, and that means all but the pad is out of the water. There is a lot going on in this video, and while it might seem like he knows what he's doing, he doesn't. In many of the passes, he's attempting to drive through chine walk. You don't "drive through" it, you prevent it with steering input. The only way to stop chine walk is to trim down, and then lift off the throttle - IN THAT ORDER. When passing a wake, or turning, you should trim down a bit, and lift off the throttle a bit, using the hull to split the wave. Otherwise, the wave causes the bow to slap, and you see the worst possible scenario here. You don't even need a a wake to do it, just lifting the throttle without first trimming the bow back down will do it. It's a great video for showing how not to drive, but as far as the advice to wear your PFD and attaching your kill switch, that sort of goes without saying.

There's an unwritten rule here about Yoda speaking not going on for more than three posts, lol. Here's an origamy Yoda.

Ones I like: RI Skinny Dippers American Trash Fish Lake Fork Magic Shad Keitech Fat Swing Impact All can be rigged on an open hook swimbait jig or with a keel weighted hook like the Owner Beast.

I sometimes bring a small transister radio with me to listen to baseball or football games, if I'm fishing for fun. Sometimes I like to kick back and relax while having a snack as well, and some music off my phone is nice. What I can't stand are the wakeboats towing a skier, and blasting whatever god awful music from those goofy tower mounted speakers. Why on earth does someone need a PA system on a small boat?

Did you use leaders before? Why start if not, just color the last few feet of line with a permanent marker. If you already use a leader, and that works, then carry on.

I can't help but to pop my drop shot fish with a snap set, so I can't say. That's a great observation and tip for the hooks. I use the spin shots when fun fishing. In a tournament, it takes too much time to retie, more than double the time for me, since a Uni knot can give me trouble if I've got the "shaky hands" from my diabetes. They do prevent twist nicely, though they won't remedy already twisted line.