catchnm

When do you use them? Time of year, conditions, water temps, terrain, what presentations, trailers? 3/4 and 1/2 oz. sizes. I plan on using Rage Craws, Lobsters, and Senkos as trailers if that helps.

Not intentiionally.

Not bad. I like the colors.

http://www.google.com/search?q=jika+rig&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a I'm going to use #2 to the hook and #1 to the weight, seems to be the general consensus. If using a really large casting weight I'll probably go with 2-#2. I'll be using 1/2 oz. drop shot weights to start but found a guy who makes them in sizes from 1/32 to 5/8 oz. so I'll be sticking with that style for the most part. I may try some regular casting weights too but I like the slim drop shot idea and think tey will work for this rig best. Now I just have to aquire all the parts and start assembling some.

I'm guessing #2 or #3 but that is all it is.....a guess. I don't really know how the sizes are rated. Anyone with help?

I do mine according to the same principle as Alpster. I haven't reched the point of having as much or the total orginization the way he has yet. I do try to keep eevrything seperated by type, deep cranks, shallow cranks, squarebills, jigs, senkos, craws, jerkbaits, etc., and then pull and carry as I might think I need for the day. I do wish a had me one them big 20' floating tackleboxes though. I could carry all my gear in one of them.

Just take it in.....they'll replace it no problem. I've done it several times. No receipt = exchange fpr the original cost of the item, no matter if you replace with the same item or not. This is a big part of the reason I do most of my fishing gear shopping thru Academy.

I like cyclops2 post.

I'll offer you a rod choice first. From what you posted it seems a 6'10" rod would be your best best bet for an all around rod for the type fishing you mentiioned. MH action with a slightly limber tip. Check the tip actions before you buy as there are many variations even in the MH ratings. There are quite a few that are under $100 and are powerful and sensitive. Abu garcia Vendetta (6'9"), Shimano Sellus, Team All Star, just to name a few. As far as a reel goes the H20 Xpress reels are great and would fit right into your budget. Or a used Citica 200E like someone else said.

I don't know why it hasn't been stated more already but you simply must have a quality rod. By that I mean one that will transmit the lure's action to your hands successfully. It may be a really expensive one or not but it needs to be able to tell you more than I just feel a "bump" or a "hit". I have found that since I began to use better quality rods ($100 -$200 range) that I've caught more fish, had less snags, and all in all have become a better "catcherman" and fisherman.

Thank you gentlemen. Got it covered now.

Nice snag there Brandon. Check them for any grinding or other abnormal noises or feeling. If they seem right then go fishing. If not then just pull the spools out and clean and lube all the normal places and then go fishing. I wouldn't even worry with taking them down for a thorough clean and lube unless they are really bad.

Ok guys, I just spent a half hour Googling for a decent readable Solunar Table for Central Standard Time. I honestly couldn't find one to suit me. I just want to click it and see what are the best times, from - to for the certain month and day, for C.S.T. How hard can that be? I don't want to have to calculate it, or see the tide times.......just a simple click and see guide. Any help here?

The first gen Ethos rods were stronger than the present ones I think. As far as casting with the Mettle reels go, great for just what you mentioned. Smooth and easy to set and cast. They have brake settings quite similiar to the older green Curados and once set, are hardly ever needed to be messed with again. I've used them for everything from lipless cranks to light t-rigs without any over run issues. Their Menace reel with the 7:1 ratio for $20 more is a great buy also.

Best $50 reel made. I have three and would rate them right up with my five Citica 200 E. For half price..... during their occasional sales on these....Fine reel.

I like them. They have the same profile as a small bluegill. I have about 15 in different color variations and catch fish consistently on them here in southern OKla.

This is the way I rig a grub on a lead jighead or for unweighted open hook fishing like this one is........................ If texas rigging then I go with the bend of the hook the same direction as the bend of the grub tail.

I've always rigged mine where the end of the tail is the opposite direction o the bend of the hook. I have switched and rigged it what I call " tail up" but usually just switch when they get chewed up. I repair them later with a hot punch heated with a cigarette lighter.

The SCIII blank used on the Avid makes it a super sensitive rod as well. Haven't handled one of the new Crucials.

And Merry Christmas to you Goose!

My precious daughter gave me one of these for Christmas this morning. I will certainly treasure it now and...... can't hardly wait to try it out!

I figured as such. Might try having a double fluke rig as a back-up/break rig.

another site has one made by Venom Tackle that starts at 3/16 oz. unrigged. Interesting thoughts on the 80 lb. braid too, thanks.

My thoughts on this rig are this. (I don't own and haven't thrown one) Probably too heavy. Yes it does seem that it would tire you quickly since the originals run in the neighborhood of two to three ounces rigged. In that case a 7'6" to 8' foot rod with a heavy action would probably be required. What if you wound up with a double or triple of 3-5 lb. fish on anything lighter? Paul Elias was using a 7'11" Perfecta heavy action or maybe XH action rod on Guntersville. I'm thinking of purchasing one of the knock-offs that weigh 3/8 oz. or so unrigged. I'll try adding five 5" swimbaits or 4- 6" Sassy Shad rigged on 1/8 oz. long shank 2/0 hook round lead-head jigs. That will go a total of 1 oz. or so rigged and should work on a 7' heavy action rod. A 5:1 or 6.3:1 ratio reel should work fine too. I prefer to go as small diameter line as I can get by with so maybe 17-20 lb. mono? Any thoughts?

A Berkley PowerBait Realistix 4 inch Kicker Frog is well suited for under surface action as it is not an average buzz frog. It has some awesome action on the legs. Takes a 5/0 or 6/0 EWG though. Here's a picture of one in the "tree frog" color.