Matt 825

It was real cold yesterday and way too windy. I was out sunrise to sunset and caught about 8 Bass all day and feel like crap today. It was so cold that the d**n guides were iceing up in the AM. Whats up with this cold weather already???? >

Wow...That is a true giant.

Can never take just 5 rods. LOL ;D

I dont know if it will fit the Arkie mold, but I have used the 32796 hook in a football head mold that took 32798. It was a little tight but no major modifications were needed.

I may sound like "Poison Tail Jig Boy", but again I have been using the Poison Tail jig for Flipping also and I like it better than the Arkie for Flipping now. Also the 32798 hook is probably not strong enough for flipping into real heavy cover but Mustad also makes a heavier version of the 32798 hook. I think it is 32796 and you could definatley use that hook for flipping.

Here are a few Poison Tail Jigs and a Football Jig.

Go with the Revo

I use the dots and strips when I want my jerkbaits to sink slowly. To get cranks to suspend I use soldering wire on the hooks.

I bought the slow sink and boy is it ever a slow sinker. I am going to have to buy the fast sink now.

I love ice fishing , but havent done much the last few years. Last year we only has about 7 days of ice that you could walk on. If the ponds actually froze again I'd love to dust off the auger.

I am dont really know RI waters that well, but that largemouth record seems like it will fall especially with all you swim bait guys catching these giant bass. Its just a matter of time before one of you hooks up with the new record.

I use all kinds of shades of Green Pumpkin and a little brown. Plus the old famous Black and Blue.

I am not really good with them, but I have caught lots of big fish on them. We dont have ledges up here really, so I usually fish them in 20-50' around big schools of bait (White Perch,Herring & Yellow Perch). They work really well when the bait is at least 8' off the bottom and the deeper the water the better they bite it. I am very interested in getting better with the jiggin spoon, so looking forward to responses

If you have the money I would go get a custom built rod by a well known rod builder. It will out perform any G Loomis or St Croix top of the line rod, but it wont be cheap. For reels I love Shimano, they last forever and work great.

I have been using Braid with a 10 IB Flurocarbon Leader of about 10' recently. I have been throwing it mostly in a 7' Medium-light spinning rod and I really like the way its been working. I may switch over to braid on all cranking rods that are soft enough to handle it.

I use silver probably 75% of the time. I do like the Cabela's Brand Jigging spoon Bleeding Shad color.

Cold Water Favorites #1 Silver Buddy #2 Jerkbaits #3 Jig & Pig or Hair Jig #4 Lipless Crankbait & Tight Wobble Shallow Crankbait

Crushed them last weekend with crankbaits running to about 6'. Look for any type of current and they will be stacked.

I do it 1/2 to the side and 1/2 down. Sounds a bit strange. lol.

But what do you do when your buddy loosens or tightens your drag when you are taking off a big fish because you are catching all the fish and he isnt? Then on your next bite he has a big goofy grin on his face as you are scambling to fix it. ( we have a buddy who is notorious for loosening all our drags before each trip, he thinks its hilarious) lol :-? I like your method Roadwarrior, I'd guess mine is set on about 1 pound for 4Ib test. I"ll check this week.

The Spit'n Image is a topwater lure. Its a walk the dog type lure. I have a few of them and I use them from time to time and they work pretty good. The Heddon Swim'n Image is the shallow crankbait/wakebait, it dives to about 2'. I have a few of them and they work alright. I prefer other shallow/wakebaits to this one. Try the Bass pro shops brand wakebait. They are cheap and I caught a crap load of fish on those baits this summer.

I set my drag differently depending what type of bait and what type of cover I am fishing. If I am fishing a Jig or something in heavy cover then I set it as tight as I can and if I hook into a monster I will press the button and thumb the spool instead of the drag. For light line applications such as dropshotting I am usually using 4 or 6 # flurocarbon so I set my drag very loose and adjust it as I go. For spinning reels make sure you get a reel with a good drag if you are using light line. I love the Shimano Stradic reels for light line. They have a great reliable drag system.

I am 6' tall and I use a 7' fast action medium power spinning rod for my jerkbaits. I use Braid line with a 12' 10# Flurocarbon leader. I like the longer rod with the soft tip in combination with the braid line. Feel every weed, rock, stump and every bite.

That is a nice fish you caught there. Great picture

I know big swimbaits are very popular right now and just wondering what type of equiptment you guys are throwing them on. I have one of those big Spro rainbow trout swimbaits and I throw it on a big 7'6" Shimano Crucial Flippin stick, but I cant decide on what type of line to use. My biggest fear is that a giant Pickeral or a Pike will grab it and there goes my $30 swimbait. (I lost 2 $13 crankbaits last weekend to Pickeral :'( ) So what type and what size line do you guys use with these big swimbaits?