twitchfish

I just bought a bag of "Ocho"s today to try. Looking for a bait with little more durability tha the Senko with comparaable action. (I know, I know, there is no action like the Senko, but like Pappy always told me "It ain't the worm it's how ya wiggle it when ya get it to the hole) Wanted to try them today, but the wouldn't leave the tubes and Wooly Hawgtails alone. AND NOW MY POINT!! How does the action compare?? Between these and the Senko's? And above all, my next try is going to be ***, where do they fit? Sorry to ramble but fishing makes me happy. Twitch

So impressed with with CXX and not with Floro (trying 17# [all they had at the time] 100% Berkely) on my jig rod, seriously considering switching to 8# or 10# CXX on my jig rig. It is THAT strong. Twitch

Would you suggest just clean it up cosmetically and shelve it? It is not like it has any sentimental value, thought would be a good project. Also got a Silver Round 5000 and 2 5600C Red Round reels in the same box that seem alot nicer and definately more sturdy. I will then probably put more time and money into those, they seem much more fishable. Thank you for your input, these are my first "fixer-uppers" and all of the help I can get is appreciated. Twitch

Hoping for some guidance from some of the reel repair guys. I have an Abu Garcia 5600 PLUS that was given me by a neighbor to clean up and spool to see if worked and fishable. Took it apart, cleaned and lubed as much as I could, spooled with some original Stren mono and took it to a local point and threw it a few times. This reel has a flippin switch, very poorly placed, sliding magnetic brake adjustment and a cast control knob. Hidden on the plate side is a small door that has another adjustment dial under it that is calibrated for something?? I would like to change the handle to something more comfortable, the stock handle is very short and very small knobs. The reel also has a slight grind even after cleaning and lubing. How is best to attack this? It is a cool looking reel, that I think with a nice tune up, may be something to be proud of. My dad is a "hot rod driver". Builds from the ground up, repairs and tunes himself and drives. "Boy, I am a driver, not a hot-rod-looker-atter". I figure if I can tune this up nicely, I can be a Fisher, not a "Really cool-Reel-Looker-Atter". As always, thank you very much Gentlemen. Twitch

Boys, you make the call and I can be behind the wheel, rolling in 2. UNless the wife and kids are home, then, MAYBE, first thing in the morning. If I'm not fishing, I am thinking about fishing. Twitch

I have a spool of Seaguar Invisx 6# I have not used yet, would this possibly be a better choice? I want to use this set-up more, but kind of lack confidence in it because of these break-offs. I DO need to be more diligent about line checking, for I am not. What is the most reliable way to check your drag?

Having some breakoffs with 6# Suffix Elite on my spinning rig. 2500 Sedona on a Mojo Wacky still. Is the line choice the problem? It does not break at the knot it seems. Is the drag too tight? I tie a palomar every time. What tests do I need to perform to begin rooting out the problem? 2nd Question Trying my first Florocarbon line. Using 17# 100% for jigs. What knot do you recommend. I am trying the "Improved Cinch", but not sure I am tying it correctly, think so because haven't lost any. As always, thanks for your help in advance - Twitch

I have 2. A medium spinning rod with 15#Tracer braid been using for plastics and flukes and a MH b/c I put an Accurist Burner and 10#FloroClear (tell me about it now) that I have only thrown lipless cranks and a few Sweet Beavers with. I like both of these rods. the spinning rod has some bone to it, which is nice. Hard for me to say how much more sensitive it is than any other. I also got a Mojo Wacky, that is a very nice rod and seems to be maybe more sensitive, nut again, it is all subjective to my less seasoned angling skills. The MH b/c rod seems a little soft, which is why using for traps and the like. The Sweet Beavers on that rod required hooksets from way back in the kidneys it seemed. (Here it comes) May have been the line choice though. It is very light, seems balanced with my reel and I feel I can cast it all day long. If you have any other questions, please feel free to drop a note. Twitch

YYYIIIIIPPPPPEEEEEEE!!!! And HOT d**n, A GOAL!! I just set meself a new goal. Certainly the family, the counselors and therapists will be proud of me now?

Thank you from all my family's hearts. You are appreciated, a true Hero. Twitch

My name is Twitch and in my present state of denial, I too am an addict and it has been 7 hours and 38 minutes since I last used (1/16th&1/8th oz. weighted Gammy hooks and a small banking tackle bag), I would like to address this panel of peers I so admire and respect. I would like to know if there is a dollar amount spent or a volume of tackle aquired that I can refrain from calling myself a "junky" and start being addressed as " An Enthusiast"? Thanks - Twitch

One helpful thing I learned here with regard to Jig hooksets, and is applicable here, is maintain the proper position of your rod during this presentation. If you are holding your rod at the 11:00 or 12:00 postition, that does not give you alot of leverage to set the hook or if you do set the hook, give you the power to turn the fish and get her away from the salad bar. Because when you drop your rod tip to get more leverage, she is going to spit that perfectly pitched bait right back through the same hole you pitched it to her through. And when that bait hits you hook first in that little crease of skin it hurts like heck. IT IS TAKING ME A LONG TIME TO GET THIS THROUGH MY THICK HEAD!! But the fish provided acupuncture is helping. Twitch

JFrancho, you mentioned a floro leader for you spinning reel for drop-shotting. When you do that, where do you tie it? Obviously, above the hook? Uni-knot (not sure how to tie that one)? What poundage combination are you using? I am still not thrilled with any of the lines I have tried on my spinning gear. I threw half a spool of Fireline 14# I had left on a Gander Mountain 1000 size Competitor I found in a clearance rack and put it on a medium action Ugly Stick light that needed a reel (nothing more bothersome than a reelless stick in your garage). That rig has given me half the headaches my Shimano/Mojo with 6# Sufix Elite has. Any help is welcome. Twitch

I have one of each. I have the 6'6" MH BC that I put an Accurist on with 10# Floroclear for cranks and lipless. It is very light, could throw it all day, and as sensitive as I need a lipless crankbait rod to be. I really like it, but haven't thrown anything else on it. I also have a 6'6" M spinning rod with a 2500 reel on and 15#Fireline Tracer braid. I use it primarily for weightless and flukes. It, I admit, is not the most sensitive for this application. They have to hammer it, those really subtle strikes I am sure I might be missing. If anybody else has suggested uses for this set-up, they would be appreciated. All-in-all, very happy with both. Hope this helps, Twitch

I have taken the advice of many here in learning to fish a jig. I have a Black Max on a MH/Fast Clarus with 15# Floroclear that is my jig rod (for now, most likely). I have only taken this rig to honey-hole water that I know are loaded and know them fairly well. I am catching fish on the jigs and they are bigger fish than I normally pull from these waters. The problem is I only catch about 40% of the bites I get. I seem to be ducking jigs flying past my ears some, other times just moving more water back for the next cast. I have been, somewhat quickly after I am sure of the bite, reeling down the slack, dropping the tip and trying to cross their eyes. I would like to know "how" to set the hook on a jig and trailer, to see if I am doing something incorrectly. Sweep, sharp snap straight up, or away? I know it's me, just not sure which part of me that is fouling up this great process. Thanks in advance - TwitchFish

I am a fan of the Strike King Bleeding tubes. They seem thicker that others and have proven more durable for me. I primarily pitch and flip them T-rigged and sometimes stuff the cavity with a foam earplug saturated in whatever scent I have around for a better float. I got a C-rig Rig this winter I plan to float them on also. Found some Wave Worm Tiki Tubes in a clearance bin @ Gander today that felt as though they had a thick head on. Going to pitch those in the rotation too. Twitch

Catt, what rod do you have it on and what line? Is there a specific reason you throw that one? Special circumstance? When I feel the need to finesse 'em, I usually go to the spinning rig now. Is there a benefit to having a baitcaster for this, I think is the question? Thanks

Do you keep a finesse baitcasting set-up? Do I need a finesse baitcasting set-up? I drop-shot with a Sedona/Mojo "Wacky-Style", and throw wacky rigs and some other weightless stuff with it too. I throw some lighter weight T-rigs (1/16 oz and add the weight of the plastic) on a Quantum PT and a 6'6"Medium/Moderate Cherrywood and more with a BlackMax on a 7'0"Diawa Medium/ Fast. I live and fish in Bloomington and most of Central IL, so not really big fish waters nor do they tend to have alot of really heavy cover. I also bank fish 99.5% of the time, .5% is the rare falling in. What other applications would a "finesse" baitcasting set-up give me? (Other than maybe if I stumbled on a smaller Calcutta it would look REALLY cool). Thanks for your help because I am not really sure if I want to be talked into or out of another rig, ya know what I mean? Twitch

Anybody else any luck? I think the thicker body is easier to rig and is a little more durable. Finding these in alot of clearance bins, so they are most likely going away. Any other tubes that have this body style anyone knows of? Doesn't have to be "Bleeding" but I do like them being a little bulkier. Thanks everyone for your input. Twitch

I didn't have much luck with them, my thought though is not a big enough hook, for one, and second, I think they were particular about how they were rigged. I may not have rigged them straight enough either because the action was not good. Other possibility is the speed of my retrieve. It seems that I get a much better action with hollow body paddle tail baits with my slower retrieve. We are still suffering with unstable weather patterns and pretty cold mornings and having better bites with slower presentations. I am interested also because it is a good looking bait, and got 3/4 of a bag to use up.

I spooled, or thought I had spooled 20#PowerPro, but in looking at my spooler, might have been 30#. Rod is rated to 25#, I think, I can't think this is a problem, but if it is, can someone chime in please? The rod has Fuji concept guides. Certainly, they are more than man enough for some braided line? Thanks again - Twitch

I would like to re-ask/re-word a previous question, please. I have a 6'10" Team All-Star Heavy Extra-Fast rod that I got for the primary purpose of .....needed it, I guess. I purchased a BPS Extreme wide spool reel (had some gift cards I used up) and spooled it with 20# PowerPro. I was taught this was a great frog rod that could also be used for heavy c-rigs, t-rigs, big spinner and buzz baits also. Correct? Now, the real question. The rod is rated for 1/2 to 1 1/2 oz lures, i fish frogs without a weight, are they then too light for this set-up? I apologize for beating this, but I am confused. Thanks in advance - Twitch

I am looking at a BPS Extreme Wide Spool to pair with an All-Star Heavy/Extra Fast 6'10" rod for this and some other applications. With the larger diameter and test lines you fellas are talking about, is this reel of benefit? Or am I again over-thinking this?

What would be the best reel? Gear ratio, size? Then what line? Frogs, C-rigs, Jigs and light swimbaits would be other useful applications? do those change reel choice and line to spool? Twitch

Let's just say some dude had a 6'10" Heavy, X-Fast rod just sitting there, begging for something to do? This boy doesn't have a reel for company (which I find sad) and other than frog season, not really sure what other contributions to the team he could make. I told him, I know some folks, real good folks who are VERY well versed in matters such as these and I will ask them. All of them are very important, very busy people, so be patient and the real answer will come. He assured me, patience he has, reel-less, his choices are limited. Thanks in advance - Twitch