Big Bait Fishing

i did , they are obviously replacing the curado with a new smaller tranx , see my post above there kid

replacement for the curado 300

Try the Owner Shakey Head . it has the perfect hook length and has the CPS centering pin spring keeper , doesn't get better then that ....

both of those don't stand up on the bottom , none of my Hudds stand up and the few times i threw my Savage Gear baits never did either

even though they are not made any more but you can still find with research is the Decoy Hydra-tail

use a ceramic ringed guide

do your research on native baitfish in the place you'll be fishing and go from there !!! bass are bass , put a bait that looks edible in front of a bass and it will eat !!! sounds like you will have some fun exploring new ground by the way , BEWARE OF THE JDM BAITMONKEY , your in his backyard ....

if i were you i'd use a Fuji BLCAG in size 6 for the stripper guide and 11 size 4 Fuji BLAG

keep it in mind to check tip sizes on the blanks you are thinking of building on , in order for you to use a micro tip top ( a tip top with a size 4-4.5 ring ) you need to find a blank with a tip that will fit a size 7 tube . some people will tell you to use a regular tip top , but to be truthful , it will look fugly and look completely out of place . there is not much things that look more ridiculous looking than a rod with micro guides topped with a big tip top with a size 8 ring !!! keep in mind though , some blanks with a tip size of 7.5 will still fit a size 7 , my St.Croix has a tip size of 7.5 but after i removed the finish , a size 7 fit perfect , there will always be litte variances in tip sizes on the blank , that is one of the reasons i chose that blank besides it being a beast for throwing BIG swimbaits ...

a really great blank that will be great for the lure weights you want to throw is the Phenix USB-8000H , an 8' blank that is a heavy power with a fast action , lure rating is 2 - 8 oz. . this blank will throw Hudds no problem and is great for glide baits . the blank is rated correctly as it will handle 8 oz. baits very well . for the power of this blank , it is pretty light also , the ISWB945 weighs 4 oz. , the USB-800H weighs 4.4 oz. look up some reviews on the blank or factory built rod .

i use a Fuji BLCAG size 5 double foot surf guide as the stripper guide. the one pictured is actually a 5.5 on my St. Croix swimbait rod ..

i have a ISWB945 , it's got a moderate fast action that i didn't care for as far as hooksets on a long cast . the blank will flex all the way to the handle which , in my opinion , causes a lot of wrist fatigue . i lengthened the rod so it's now 8'7'' , i use it for catfish , which it excells at !! if you're looking for a rod that has a moderate action , it's pretty good . it will handle up to ROF16 Hudds ( 5 oz. ) 6 oz. will max it out . i also had a ISWB946 , it had the same moderate action but will handle 7 oz. , 8 will max it out . all in all , the rods are rated correctly and a great buy if that kind of moderate action is what your looking for . i now only use fast action swimbait rods ....

been contemplating trying them for awhile , took the 75 minute drive today and bought 2 30 packs , 1 frog by a brand we can't mention , everything else is way to expensive .

i use Pro-Cure scent on my swimbaits and soft plastics . the stuff is made out of real bait and is real slippery , and yes , i do notice a difference . i always carry a bottle of Trophy Bass , Shad , and Crawfish . been looking into getting one of those empty plumbing PVC glue cans with the wool dauber to make appling it a breeze , so far the only place to get some at a reasonable price is Alibaba , still looking though ...

i use leaders around 15 ft. ( braid to flouro ) , but it's not about line visibility at all , it's about taking the bow out of the line . using that long of flouro leader makes a straighter path to the bait , making slack line sensitivity go up and being able to react quicker to light bites ( not having to drop the rod down and reel up slack , that's for the birds )

an excelllent blank for big jigs is the Phenix Ultra 707H , a 7'7'' heavy/fast blank that's light .sensitive , & strong . they retail for $139 ..

act like a grown up ......

if i were you i'd get a curado 70 ( strange for me to even type this as i detest shimano ) , the tatula's feel very boxy and don't palm well in my opinion ( out of curiousity , i held all of the models at a bass show last month ) i really don't like the square front to them , they are like a rectangle , no taper the front . - the 70 feels a lot better in hand .

i would suggest a 3'' schedule 40 tube , any skinnier and it will flex ( bend ) , i have a 3'' sch.40 tube that is at least 1/4'' thick walling and is pretty indestructible , when Mike ( DVT) gets it in a week or so he can attest to that

this one from Mudhole , it's longer but not cone shaped . why do you want a cone shaped one , why not use regular winding check ?

have one made at a machine shop

to me , i like a 7 or 8 speed reel for frogging , long casts across mats to open holes and other targets , i want to fish certain spots , so if i fish the frog past the spot , i want to reel in quick to cast back out there especially after a blow up or missed bite . i think any reel speed will get a fish out , but prefer a fast gear ratio to be able to keep get my bait back in the zone !!

makes reeling a little smoother by having the handle knobs closer to the body of the reel it's less prone to wobble .

hey Tom , i think your '' submit '' key is stuck ....