gobig

Try the Roboworm ez-shad.

Its not enough in certain places. The flip side is fishing mats that are that thick can be a double edge sword. Hooking up may not be a problem but getting them out is another story. Usually end up blowing out the mat because you have to go in after them with the big motor.

I am on the same page as J. The only other thing I can think of to add is once you hook up don't try to play the fish. Wench them to the boat/bank.

One thing I have seen with steel is that different brands can really pattern different. You can end up with big holes in your pattern. Steel is also going to hold a much tighter pattern than lead. So shooting a IC is like shooting a modified. I would go out and pattern the gun in both shot sizes with a few different brands.

I enjoyed reading the thread. But I wanted to point out that that Hud is not ruined. One word... MENDIT!!! I have one Hud in particular that has caught around 15 fish. They last a long time but you do have to repair them from time to time with Huddlebond, mendit or some other soft bait glue. One other thing on the weedless Hud. If you extend the hook slot opening on the back just past the bend in the hook. You will have a much better hook up ratio. You will see what I mean if you grab the bait and press the hook out. It has a tendency to hang up. I just take razor blade and put a small slice in it. Hope this helps.

Nice fish.

I use the punch stops with out any problems also. They are about the same diameter as eagle claw bobber stops. Maybe slightly larger. I would try something like this... http://www.***.com/Top_Brass_Bead_Peg-It_Pegging_System/descpage-TBBP.html

I am fishing these things in some really heavy cover on the Delta and they come threw it like a champ. Alot of the time I am throwing them over mats to get at the open water behind them. I have even had blow ups dragging them back over the mats. I am really digging em.

Use mendit on the tears. They hold up really well. They have a hook pocket so there is no need to bury the hook into the plastic. The one I have tied on now is the first one I have fished, it has caught over 20 fish and only had one small tear where the dorsal fin is. However I do not deal with pike so I can't answer that one.

I agree that NorCal and SoCal are different when it comes to lake size, but 20,000 surface acres being the average is way off base. Yes Clearlake (43,000 SA) is big, so is Shasta (30,000 SA) and a hand full of other lakes. However most of our lakes are somewhere between 4,000 to 13,000 SA. Then there is the Delta which is an animal of it's own. In my mind boat traffic and fishing pressure are two different things but they can go hand in hand. For instance on the Delta you can be fishing an area where there are not many fishermen, but a jet ski club or speed boat club blows by. The next time I have 1000 jet skis blow by I will try and snap a picture, it's actually kinda cool in a way. Now hitting a place like Clearlake after 3 or 4 tournaments can have a negative effect on the fish. It can take several days of recovery. No dispute there. But as you stated fish can still be caught.

I agree with bluebasser, it affects the fishermen more than the fish. For one there is a lot more to focus on than just fishing. Its multi tasking at its best. Throw wind in the mix along with a tide and it can really get interesting. Now if you were on a lake where boat traffic is not the norm and all of the sudden there was a ton of traffic. I could see there being a negative response from the fish. Out here in CA boat traffic is the norm and some of my best days are fishing mud lines created by boat traffic. Several times I have seen where the bite gets better with increased boat traffic.

They will work. Throw em in situations where you would throw a spinner bait. They make great rip baits also. This is one of the most versitile soft swimbaits I have thrown.

Here is the rigging video. I use the 8/0 beast.

Rod- Lamiglas Excel XL 735C (Bill Siemantle helped design this rod for 6in baits, also a good frog rod) Reel- Curado 300E Line- 65# Izorline (If I am in clear water I generally add a 20-25# leader with a Alberto knot)

I have thrown the 6 in and it is a killer bait. Rigged the right way it can be fished just about anywhere. The one I have tied on now has caught about 20 fish or so and its still in good shape. I don't know what pike would do to it, we don't have them here. Check out the little creeper website they have some good rigging instructions.

I agree with the currado 200e suggestion but for the rod I would look at the lamiglass excels they are great rods for the price. If you can wait until labor day weekend you should be able to get two set ups for $400. Tackle warehouse and bass tackle depot will run 15 to 20% off. Why pay retail?

I agree with the currado 200e suggestion but for the rod I would look at the lamiglass excels they are great rods for the price. If you can wait until labor day weekend you should be able to get two set ups for $400. Tackle warehouse and bass tackle depot will run 15 to 20% off. Why pay retail?

I do the same as bassclary, the length of the rod. Once it gets down to about 4ft I tie on a new one.

Maybe a Thermocline?

When it comes to line threw swimbaits my favorite is an Osprey. It is probably the most productive soft swimbait I have thrown. Especially when I fish places that have spots and smallies. The next one on my list that keeps working its way to the top is the Trash Fish made by little creeper. Its not a line threw but man do the fish like to eat it.

I have to agree with crestliner about braid vs floro and mono. I used floro on my dropshot since the beginning and late last year switched to braid with a floro leader. I feel the bottom and bites that I never felt before. Not to mention no line twist. I think I am going to have to give this nanofil a try.

I did not feel enough difference in the chronarch over the currado to justify the extra money. It is also going to be tough to gauge the reel after one weekend. In my experience when it comes to shimano's they take a bit to break in. It will only get better with time.

You can swing fish with that rod all day long. The only way that rod is going to break is if it is damaged before hand. Besides it's got a lifetime warranty.

I do not really pay attention to what direction I set the hook as long as its the opposite way. Hopefully it was not a basspatrol jig because you may have left the hook guard on You may not have done anything wrong, sometimes they just get off. The heavier the weight the more leverage they have to throw it.

In my opinion color may make a difference 10% of time. I think its a much smaller piece to the puzzle and does not have as much value as people place on it.