islandbass

The easiest way I've seen it done I learned from Tackle Underground. I also use this method. Purchase a forstner bit that is the same diameter as your dowel. After you've shaped the tail end: 1) Secure the dowel onto a scrap piece of wood. 2) Add the forstner bit into your drill. 3) Place the bit where you want the mouth 4) Apply pressure and start drilling until the bit starts to dig into the scrap wood. The popper's mouth will be moon shaped and cleanly cut. You might not even need to sand it. Look at my avatar. This is a homemade lure I call a popper-prop. The mouth was made with a forstner bit.

Line: 6# SeaGuar Invizx (awesome!) Reel: Size 20 Rapala Sxi6 Rod: 7' Lamiglas "Drop Shot Special" Sinker weight: varies but for the most part 1/8 - 1/4 but mostly 3/16 oz Hooks: Size 2 gamakatsu splitshot/drop shot hooks for everything Baits: usually robo worms and sniper snubs. I'm telling you, it isn't even a fair fight for the fish with this set up. ;D Drop Shotting has accounted for 100% of my bass this season. I love it because of its simplicity I've landed 3-4 lb bass with size 2 hooks. BTW, what are you using, fishingdude?

For a super tight budget, the Berkley Cherrywood rod is not a bad deal at all. They are less than $20 and are sensitive enough to drop shot with. I have a lightning rod I bought on clearance for $9.99 but never got around to trying it out after I bought a Shimano Crucial MH for $59.00. The Crucial filled that nitch. ;D So yes, I am pleased with the cherrywood especially for its price.

Premiers Sport SCII graphite and Batson forecast aluminum oxide guides Avids Sport Alconite guides and SCIII graphite. So road warrior is right. They are not basically the same. On components alone, and though I don't have either, my money would be one the Avid. No doubt!

Yep, I agree 100% A 4000 spool is over kill and notably much heavier.

You can get yourself a drop shot set up and an ultralight or light set up. I also have a 101 abu spinning and I use it with my 7' Okuma Celilo Light action set up. It is rated for 2-6# test and has a 1/32 - 3/8 oz lure weight range. I use it for tossing light and ultralight weights. It is a blast to fish with and the reel is spooled with 6# trilene XL. Talk about fun!

I see both reel types as tools and because of this each has its advantages and drawbacks. Spinning reels excel in certain applications while Casting reels in others. The only way you will really know if the take the plunge for yourself. I tried a casting reel just after a few months of fishing (4th season this year) and I asked why I took so long. You are right about accuracy. IMHO it is a myth for those skilled with a spinning reel. I am accurate with either. With that said, casting reels are a blast to use. You will soon see why once you get started.

I would second this. I like Invizx because it acts like mono. According to the latest test at TT which I jest read a few minutes ago, Invizx while it might be poor in some of the test, touted the best knot stregth retention. After fishing both FC and mono at 6# test. I have observed a marked increase in strikes in clear water. Heck, it could be just darned luck.

Congrats on your PB! Great report and pics to boot. 8-)

That's it. I'm going to buy some today. Should I be thanking you or the bait monkey? ;D

I use both and seem to have more hookups with the Gammies. Sizes 1 and 2 for me, moreso with size 2 for both Owners and Gammies.

No problem! If only I had the skills to make a crankbait. ;D

You are on the right track. Check out www.tackleunderground.com and ask there for some advice. The folks there can help you out. Here is a pic of a rapala lure just to give you an idea. It's not that hard. You can also opt to use screw eyes that you can get from Stamina. I use them for the top water plugs I make.

I'd also say yes. I live less than two hours away from both G Loomis and Lamiglas. Shame on me for not paying them a personal visit. ;D

Big M, Glad you like it. I've only had to use it once since I made it but I felt the need to make it after losing too many lures. When I bring it, I don't get snagged, and when I don't, I do. : Anyway, all you need in addition to the banana weight are two split rings and two larger snap swivels. It was my daughter's idea to add the fish eye and glitter.

Here is my homemade one and it works well. If you have a cheap spinning reel, spool it with line 65# braid or whatever line you want and attach it to the bottom half of a cheap two piece spinning rod. You won't need the upper half. Feed the line from the spool through the first guide, and attach it to one snap. Attach the lure remover to your main line and let it go. Oh yeah. Don't forget to leave the bail open. It really works! BTW, it doesn't need to be painted but I coated the weight with 2-ton epoxy prevent young ones from foolishly trying to put exposed lead into their mouths.

As a symetre wielder myself, I second this statement.

First, I'd like to say thanks for all of the awesome responses! Alpster, That hit me like an epiphany. ;D Sal, Thanks for the braid recommendation. I have used it in the past and am well aware of how it increases sensitivity for the angler. One low end I have made my walmart special seem like a st. croix. Alright, that is stretching it, but when I used braid with that rod, I know that the braid help me better discern the feedback. Raul, So did your buddy ever buy a similar rig? Great story! 8-) -Alex

We have all heard that better rods offer greater sensitivity and notion is generally accepted. I commented in a few other posts that I was quite surprised at how sensitive the Berkley Cherrywood rod was, especially for its price and indeed, it is sufficiently sensitive, even for drop shotting. I have a rod designed for drop shot and other finesse techniques, a Lamiglas Certified Pro Drop Shot Special rod and I know it is an ultra-sensitive rod. However, I haven't fished with it for quite some time and had forgotten about how well this rod transmits the feedback to me of what is happening on the far end of my line. Two Fridays ago, only having the Cherrywood rod, I still managed to read the bottom terrain well and feel the strikes and thereby catching some bass. Then this past Friday, I had my DS rod with me and I realized just how sensitive the rod really is. This might be a poor analogy but here it goes: The Berkley Cherrywood rod is a good rod with a decent amount of sensitivity. It is leaps and bounds over my first $19.99 Wal-Mart special combo. In terms of sound, the Wal-Mart special equate to mono-audio and the Cherrywood Stereo. So back to the last Friday. As soon as my DS weight hit bottom and I dragged the weight, my hands couldn't take information. If the Berkley Cherrywood rod offered stereo sound, Holy Smokes! My Lamiglas was giving me the same show in THX, cinema worthy!!! You ever watch a DVD movie through the TV and the through a Home Theatre system? You will hear and feel things that you couldn't if you heard it only through the speakers of the television. That is exactly how wielding the Lamiglas felt. Fully THX, a complete listening experience! This is not meant to be a bad mark against the Cherrywood. It is a good rod and I like mine a lot. But after having fished with both rods, I found the difference between the two was very noticeable. I would not hesitate to recommend a Cherrywood rod to anyone whose budget is at this price point. My dad fished with me this past Friday and he used the Cherrywood rig. I felt a lot more strikes than he, but was that the result of the equipment or does the difference in experience between the two of us play a significant role? Granted, not all things were equal. The Cherrywood rig he used had 8# Rapala Finesse mono/2500 Shimano Symetre and the Lamiglas rig I used had 6# Sea Guar Invizx/Size 20 Rapala Sxi6 reel. I will try to go through this test again but use the same reel and line for both. So I'd like to know where you fall on this. How important is sensitivity? Perhaps with certain applications, it may not be as critical, but for something like drop shotting or finesse fishing, an angler might wish to give himself the best possible chance to feel what the fish is doing on the other end.

Hey guys! I just wanted to give you an update about my rod quiver. Minus the straps or pontoons to make it float, it is pretty much done and I really like how it has turned out. I will be able to carry three rigs which if I put it on my back would allow my hands to carry other things. Here is the bottom end. The white things are 1 ¼ pvc pipe end caps. They are cushioned with pipe insulation foam. Here is the top end with the slots completely carved out after two holes for each slot were made with a forstner bit. Here is the quiver holding the rods. From the other side. A closer look at the slots. They are lined with red felt to help protect the rod from getting scratched. In addition, the rods are secured by industrial strength Velcro, whatever that means! The Velcro holds the rods surprisingly well. Anyway, just thought I'd give you an update. If and when I build a pontoon for it that is functional, I will post it. Oh yeah. The purpose of the quiver is the keep the rods with me while I am fishing/wading so that I don't have to leave it on the shore where it can get stolen at a moment's notice. The thought of leaving my cruado D/crucial combo on the shore while I'm dropshotting when it can get stolen is a terrible one! If the rods are on my back or floating close to me, any no good thief would have to come through me to steal my rods. Thanks!

Absolutely! Any bc reel worth its salt should be able to toss a senko. You might not know this, but a senko weighs aboout 3/8 oz all by itself. So even if you toss it weightless it is sufficiently heavy for pitching or casting. Have fun!

Finally! I had a chance to go fishing earlier today and I am glad I did. I was going to target smallies for the first time and my gut was telling me it was going to happen. Upon receiving excellent advice from a friend who works at a local shop, I headed out to the Ship Canal. Another thing he told me was that if I didn't catch anything after about 5 casts to move to another spot. He told me that the last time he was there he was killing them with chartreuse colored crankbaits and it might still work or they could tune out cranks. I told him that drop shotting was going to be my secondary tactic. He recommended a brown snub as a good first choice. I got there at about 12:30 and it wasn't until I got to my third spot that I finally got into some. There was a seemingly nice college girl sitting on a bench to my left as I made my first cast. I had on a brown sniper snub on and shortly after it hit bottom I felt a tug and then the line went slack. I figured the fish ripped the bait off and I was right. No problem, I'll just put another one on I thought to myself. Much to my dismay, I discovered it was the only snub I had. #$@$@#@. Fortunately, I had one of my favorite baits, the Robo Worm in the Aaron's Magic color and it has a brown tone similar to the snub. I quickly nose hook it and make my cast. Next, I feel the hit. Wohhhh Nelly!!! I've only heard and read accounts of a smallmouth's fight but never experienced it until now. My goodness! The fight in him was so strong. I thought to myself, You had better not lose this. I had to climb off the retaining wall and onto the rocks to get to the smallie and lip it. I was beyond stoked! My first fish of the bass season and first smallie too and she wasn't too shabby either. The fight caught the attention of the girl on the bench who watched my climbed up the wall to take a quick photo with my phone. Here is my first smallmouth bass!!!! Yeeeeeeeehaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!! The young lady was gracious enough to take a picture of me with the fish. I quickly released it after that and the fish swam away with the same vigor it displayed during the fight. The next cast yielded another smallie. Unbelievable!!!! I quickly let it go and I decided to see if a larger roboworm would yield a bigger fish. Apparently, it did not. Look at the size of the smallie compared to the roboworm. Talk about being aggressive! The little bugger fought like a 2lb. Largemouth. I had other strikes, 7 total. Three successful, three with the worms ripped off and one short strike on a crankbait. As much as I wanted to stay, I had to leave to pick up my little girl. The ironic thing about this outing is that I did not have my best gear with me. A lower end rod did the job! I only get to use my true bass rods on the weekend because they won't fit in my car without being exposed. The Rod I was absolutely impressed with the performance of the low-end Berkeley Cherrywood rod. It is a 2-piece medium action rod too! I was fishing with 8# mono and despite this, the rod was able to give me enough information to paint a picture of the bottom in my mind's eye and feel the strike. This is awesome for a sub $20.00 rod with stainless steel guides! This is a far cry from my Lamiglas Certified Pro Drop Shot Special rod. So if you are on a tight budget I would definitely recommend it because it will not break the bank. It was mated to my steelhead reel, a Shimano Symetre. I don't think I need to say anything more since it is a solid reel. Imagine that; A sub $20 reel performing superbly, sensitive enough to drop shot with. I have to say thanks to my buddy who goes by the name Kokanee King at a local forum for his willingness to share his knowledge about this spot. He knows his stuff and had the number of those smallies. I am still stoked about today. My first bass of the season and my first smallmouth bass at the same time. Weather: Sunny probably about 60 deg F Gear: 7' (2-piece) Berkley Cherrywood Medium Action Rod/Shimano Symetre 6'6 Shimano Claurs (2-piece) Medium Action Rod/Pflueger Trion BC reel The only thing that would have made it a better outing would have been if my daughter were with me. She really wants to catch her first bass. Having my true bass rigs like my Crucial/CuradoD, Lamiglas DS Special/Rapala Reel and other set ups couldn't have hurt either. Throwing down the dough for such gear and not being able to use it. Oh, the horror! ;D

I don't know if it is that we or I hate ugly sticks because I don't and I don't mind using them. However, one thing I don't like about them relative to other rods is how heavy they feel compared to other lighter rods. I am not a weight weenie by any means, but one trait in a rod that contributes to a rod's sensitivity is the rod's weight all day enjoyment by way of less fatigue. So if you really love them and that is cool, then you might not want to pick a rod like a compre or even a clarus or other rod in this class or better. The weight difference is considerable and it might spark a temptation within you to try something new. ;D

Sounds like a "line dig" problem coupled with tossing a lighter weight say 1/4 oz and 20# braid or less? Line dig can stop any lure from going out though, but heavier lures can usually bust through line dig. When on the spool braid can "dig into itself" and if not noticed or if you're unaware of it, the spool just about stops spinning and since you're not expecting to put your thumb on it yet, a little backlash. The sequence is a spinning spool, then the line dug into itself nearly slows the speed of the spool but there is still a lot of energy and the bird's nest or overrun occurs. Lighter baits, smaller diameter braid, say 20# or less contribute to this as well as freeing snags with rod and reel or stripping line off with a tight drag. The easiest things to do would be to go up to a higher # braid, at least 30# test, and if you need to strip line off, do it while the reel is still in free spool and if snagged, free it by removing the rod and reel from the removal equation. The force exerted by the latter two (stripping line off with a tight drag or freeing a snag) make the line "dig" into itself and thereby awaits to surprise you on the next cast, sidearm or overhand. In addition, overpowering casts with braid can lead to breakoffs because braid doesn't stretch much. It would rather break or snap that stretch.

There is no such thing. The higher the quality you buy the easier your experience will be and less likely you will get frustrated - Agree 100 % I'll second that 1000% A newbie will learn much faster with a higher quality reel and I am speaking from personal experience. I bought a Curado BDF as my first LP reel and learned the mechanics and basics of baitcasting in 3 short practice sessions. I had an older abu g as mt first reel and all I learned from it was #*@#($@$##$~~!!!! At least until I figured out I shouldn't have been trying to practice with floating rapala minnows! ;D