Thad

I'm looking for a drop shot rod that has a strong backbone and a really soft tip. I've heard good stuff about GLoomis' DSR822S except that the tip is just a little too stiff. I need a rod that really flexes at the top. Any recommendations would be appreciated. If anyone uses Shimano's Crucial CRS-DX72M I'd like to hear how soft the tip is and how far down it flexes. I'd also like to know about Shimano's Cumara CUSDX72M.

I'll let you guys know how the bottom three do.

Generally speaking, people will suggest using a flat side bait with a tight wiggle when the bight is tougher such as cool water or high pressured fish situations. Round profile cranks usually create more disturbance in the water and are recommended for active fish and for low visibility situations. Like you said, it's still a "feel" thing. We don't know exactly why one works better than another. These are just observations made by others and it provides a guideline to begin with. Also just because a crank is flat it doesn't mean it will have a tight wiggle and the same holds true for round baits and having a wide wobble.

The newest ones made from a two part mold do have the same action as the old ones. They don't seem to have that irregular action that some of the old ones have though. I'm not saying it catches more fish but there is a difference. Once again this is an aspect of fishing that proves confidence is what matters.

The Tornado is a great shakey head bait like you said. Try the GrandeBass Rattlesnake when you want a bait with the same body style that sinks a little faster when used weightless.

The color I have the most confidence in is rootbeer. I prefer a bone body with a green back and a little orange on the chin. I feel with this color you can imitate a craw, a bluegill, or a shad depending how you fish it. It's what I start with in clearer water and I adjust from there.

They have "WIGGLE WART" under the lip.

I've been fishing a drop shot for a while now but this year I really started catching fish with it. I went away from the smaller baits and less action. I almost exclusively used 6" Roboworms and I imparted a lot more action during the retrieve. This resulted in my best producing setup this year.

Downsize the hooks on them. Taking that little bit of weight off the lure will give it great hunting action. It's hard to find a balsa that will consistently hunt but I haven't had a Flat CB SR that won't.

But the lure doesn't project the light source out like a laser pointer. The light only illuminates the bill for the most part. I'm not saying it works, I just don't think it's the same as a laser pointer. I guess to me the light "shines" more than "points".

X2 I tried this too, but for me, if it does snag, the dropshot sinker will break off before the rest if the rig. Isn't that what you want to happen? The split shot pulls off and you get your hook back at least. yes, it is what you want to happen, but I must have squeezed the split shot too hard and broke it off. I then went back to the dropshot sinker. If that's what works for you, great. It's probably cheaper than what I do anyway. my mistake, thought you meant you didn't want it to break.

X2 I tried this too, but for me, if it does snag, the dropshot sinker will break off before the rest if the rig. Isn't that what you want to happen? The split shot pulls off and you get your hook back at least.

I ran out of drop shot weights earlier this season so I just put a bullet sinker on top of a split shot weight. I haven't bought any drop shot weights since and I drop shot a lot.

One of our best baits so far this summer in shallow weeds has been a weightless swim senko fished basically like a senko. We've also done well on 10" worms, flukes, and flappin hogs.

Beautiful cranks.

I don't think Andre is making baits for McNaughton though. I was talking to a pro staff member and it seems they don't like each other vary well. They said R.I. was going to make a copy of the Paca craw because NetBait ripped off the Beaver almost exactly. That's just hearsay though.

They do tear like other soft plastics but between Mend-It and melting them I got over 30 fish on one bait last year including some mean smallmouth.

If you're saying the grass all the way around the pond is actually in the water you could try a Skinny Dipper on the edges.

One of my favorite baits. I've caught fish almost everywhere there has been decent clarity. I usually go with the 5" around here. I had one of my best days ever last year on Guntersville with one.

I was going through some pics today and found some from this February. My fishing partner and I were leaving from Virginia for a college tournament on Guntersville. We got over 20" of snow that week. I wish I could explain how hard, and fun, it was trying to get the boat out of the yard. It took almost an hour. So when we finally get on the road this is what it was like. We finally get to Alabama and of course they're getting more snow then they have in years. We had a decent tournament but I did manage a good fish that almost made it worth it. :

I stopped by my house after class today to change clothes and go to work. My neighbor yelled at me as I was leaving and told me there was a yard sale down the road that had fishing stuff. I was already late but I had to stop and see if they had anything good. I was 30 minutes late for work. Did get an old Big O, 3 old Shad Raps, an old Poes, 4 bags of Senkos, 20+ bags of Zoom stuff, and 2 Stanley Wedges all for $20. Addicted? Yes

Luhr Jensen Speed Trap

I'm in.

I know when the pros are there. We went the same time last year and it wasn't crowded to us. We were able to fish everything we wanted and we caught a ton of fish.

Because we did really good last year during the exact same time. We'll get there Sunday evening, they're finished then. Don't know why I have to defend our decision of when to fish though. :