islandbass

Really? I’m not doubting you, I really want to know. I find that shocking. The last curado I bought was a curado 101d and it can easily cast 1/4oz and even 1/8oz for me. I can’t believe a the latest curado took a step backward if it can’t handle 1/4 oz. To the topic, I might have to say the Tatula.

Nice job!! Seeing it makes me want to make crankbaits again.

Definitely a catch of a lifetime. ?Congratulations and best wishes to both of you.

I usually put the clothes in the dryer. Every once in a while I will find my ds weights at the bottom, lol. At at least you didn’t find those worms in the dryer. You wouldn’t be in dog house, you’d be outside, unless of course, the dog house is outside. Oh the horror of her finding out her favorite blouse got gooey with a few senkos and a couple of baby brush hogs, lol.

Q, hope you post a report man. As much as I love bass fishing, there is something about UL fishing that is a blast. You should still set the hook a little bit even when fishing with powerbait. The slower action also prevents you from ripping out their (for lack of a better description) “soft” mouths. Another reason you want to set the hook and not wait is you risk deep/gut hooking them. One it’s harder to unhook them. Two, it is literally a death sentence for them. Even if you plan to keep them, they’ll still die on you and won’t be as fresh so to speak.

You cannot think in bass terms, brah. You cannot expect a trout or UL rod to have the same characteristics of a bass rod, nor would you want it. I know where you’re coming from because I used to have that same perception. Those rods are designed that way for a reason and when you finally hook into a decent trout, you will know why. The action of the rod not only allows you to keep the fish on the line more easily for you, it is also the reason how you will be better able to toss live bait or something like powerbait dough or power eggs. Don’t believe me? Rig up your ML bass rod and try to toss powerbait and hard and as far as you can. Within a few casts, if not on the first cast, that dough will have flown off and sometimes unbeknownst to you and you’d be patiently waiting for a strike and and there is no more dough on the hook. I hated that whippiness in the beginning but I really like it now that the perception blinders have been removed. You think it’s fun catching trout on a UL? Wait til you hook into a 3-4 lb bass.... barring heavy cover, you will land that bass, have an awesome fight and realize the joy and awesomeness of UL fishing.

Indeed, that is a general rule but rapalas for as long as I have used them sport VMC hooks and those are solid, reputable hooks. Hooks should not bend if the drag is properly set, even against peacocks. Therefore, either the hooks are faulty or the drag is set to to a level a standard gauge treble ain’t going to cut the mustard. Change them out for more durable ones. It’s an easy fix. This particular case with the peacocks I won’t blame rapala on. The onus is on the angler to know and realize how his quarry will fare and plan to engage accordingly. Use the appropriate hook, lol. I’d even consider switching those trebles out for single hooks like a siwash.

His brother’s name is Shimano Jr., lol.

I think it’s an aesthetic idea. The okuma celilo line sports guides like this. I didn’t notice it until I got into the parking lot and thought some dip stick probably bent them on purpose I went back into the store to exchange the rod. Even the clerk thought that was messed up. It was was then I realized that every one of those rods were like that so I was the dip stick. That was at least 7 years ago and I’ve never looked back. I can’t see any advantage angled or perpendicular guides might have over each other but this rod has probably caught the most fish of all my rods combined. The look kind of grows on you.

I think I need to clear my eyes. I saw the words of your last sentence but in my mind’s eye I read it as, “I’m getting married with it.” ? I love my 20 Rapala 6sxi for spinning and my Curado 101d for casting. For salmon I love my Cardiff 301a.

That means it was a spot in the line weaker than where the knot is. This is not unusual. Every like bit of cumulative wear and tear on that spot ranging from small overruns (including tangling and untangleing) to that section of the getting scarped or nicked is the culprit and just part of the game. I agree that it means you’re tying a good knot, lol.

It can be done with brushes but it is far easier if the paint is projected on by airbrush or similar means. This is doesn’t mean it can’t be done by hand and brush. Most of the baits I made and painted were done by hand brush, but it was all I had to use. You can always thin acrylics so paint thickness should not be a show stopper to anyone with sufficient determination.

Thanks, Jigfishn10. I think the same way, but I sure could have used your help when my wife said, “It sure would be nice if we had (over the years): ” 1) hardwood floor in the living room 2 tile in the kitchen and bathrooms 3) a wooden fence around the house 4) new lights (chandelier style) in the stairwell and foyer and the honey do list goes on, lol. I told her she needs to stop watching that home improvement channel. I didn’t know how to do any of these things but followed your systematic approach and sought advice when needed when I didn’t know or to see off my plan was in the right direction.

I like that thought process! I would have come up with something similar for sure if I wanted to pursue this. Just to make things easier, do you think a smaller strip of tape to cover the hole might be sufficient for testing the buoyancy for whether the bait will suspend? I used an old cd holder cover as my test tank, lol, but any deep enough clear container will do.

I like big game as it is so economical. Stren is a solid line. Im going to share what I think is an odd story. If you’ve ever read my posts, for years, spinnerbaits were a nemesis, a “can’t even catch a cold with it” lure for me. I bought a filler spool of 14# stren for salmon fishing probably back in 2007 that worked well but it’s been in my line box for years in the garage. Spinnerbaits, curse those things. It didn’t matter what I did. How I retrieved it, the rod I used, the hours of online research, the different types of line and strengths. I gave up on spinnerbaits probably back in 2009. In 2018, I decided to give spinnerbaits another go. Same results. I was out of 12# mono and needed some before going fishing but had none and I didn’t want to waste time going to the store. I stumbled across that 14# spool of stren and thought, “It’s thicker than I want to use but beggars can’t be choosers,” so I spoiled it up. To make a long story short, I caught my first spinnerbait bass. Not only that, I caught 7 bass on a spinnerbait in about 15 minutes time. Even got my first buzzbait bass. Guys, I started fishing in 2004. That 14 ^#*}*#*}^ years long!!! Over the next few weeks, I was catching bass on spinnerbaits, ranging from strike kings to $1 Walmart specials, double willow or other blade combo. I had to analyze and investigate and what came to light was the 14# fluorescent blue line. This was the difference. I even used a different reel with 12# mono and 10#, no bites. Swap out for 14# fluorescent blue and WHAM!!!! These ornery Pacific Northwest bass in my area were in tune with this. Now, I like big game and I use it but for spinnerbaits, I am going to have to go with stren’s fluorescent blue. Therefore, I had to go with the bait monkey option ... both lines.

Reels don’t have true line ratings in that you have to use only that line rating. It is only describing a capacity it will hold. For example if is states some line 10/200, the reel’s spool will hold approximately 200 yards of line, usually mono by default or otherwise stated. This rating doesn’t mean you can’t use 8# or 12# line, but the spool will hold more or less of a given line. You can extrapolate or make an educated guess that is will probably hold 12/175 or something like that or 8/225. Also, just because a spool will hold a certain amount of line, it does not mean the reel will automatically work well with it. It is only telling you a capacity. For example, don’t expect a typical fc line that isn’t supple in its nature, say 14# fc line to behave well of a 2500 size spinning reel. Or, if you put 10# braid on a casting reel, you could probably expect to experience “dig in.” You didn’t specify the reel type. General rule the thinker the line with a spinning reel, the less manageable it might be. Casting reels generally work well with thicker lines and even thinner lines down to say 8#. Lower that that if it isn’t finesse, you might be taking a risk fishing heavy cover with 8# mono.

If you can find them, white chicken feathers. Everything already recommended is solid. I use fly tiers cement to secure my thread after completing the finishing knot.

Hog wash. This is not the 1800s, lol. As long as the two piece rod you buy is from a reputable company like Fenwick (and I almost bought that model but managed to repair my 7’ okuma celilo so I didn’t have to buy it) or okuma then you should be good to go.

Boy oh boy is there some truth in that, not only fishing but just about any other hobby. If and when you decide to step up in class, grade or level, it is very, very, very x 10^100 hard to go backward. Fortunately in fishing, good stuff is still reasonably affordable. I was a mountain biker back in the day when use of carbon fiber was coming into its own like on the Specialized Stumpjimper. Wow, that a ways back now, lol. All I had was my low end, chrome-moly Raleigh bike but I made the best of it and either kept up with with folks with better gear or kicked their butts, since the “engine” is almost always superior to the technology. To illustrate, Greg Lemond in his prime would still kick your phanny in a race even if you had that carbon fiber road bike and he used a huffy. To the topic, I think it definitely couldn’t hurt to use a rod that is more sensitive. Their was a video from the reel test where he compared to rods and I think one was an NRX and it seemed to him that it was better than the lower end rod in the sensivity department. Unfortunately for me, even an ugly stik is sensitive in my hands so I know if I held an NRX or like rod, I know I’m going to react too soon and that is going to cost me. That is why I won’t get GLX or NRX rods because they will actually make fishing worse for me. ? lol.

Do you mean lighter jigs? If you mean like a 1/4 jig, I'd go with the rod's specs and not its action. The rod should excel at its recommended weights, and may or may not handle things a bit lighter or heavier. That would be a case by case, rod by rod basis. Some will, some won't. I think you should be alright because a 1/4oz jig with a trailer is probably pushing 3/8-1/2oz anyway.

That is fantastic and you might know that the third time is the charm. Being a TW virgin, I find it very reassuring. I've on the fence about an Iovino rod and a couple others, that I want but don't need, lol.

You are not alone. I too have seen this. Bordering on the sacrilegious, lol.

Looks like he’s having a little too much fun playing with his rod. To the topic, I am so glad I am function over looks any day of the year. Pink or not. I’d use it, especially for that price.

Pink (cerise) jigs for pink salmon. Strange but true and effective.

I've seen this done while pier fishing for salmon. The school of salmon run the gauntlet of the pier, anglers throw down their jigs, rod but gets tapped followed by a swift and massive hookset, shortly after which is a burst of laughter and an occasional jig flying up and out of the water. Too funny. Since I fish solo 99.9999999% of the time, I have no one to pull fast ones on. It would be a sad day if I start pulling pranks on myself, lol.