Hammer 4

Never used them..I like buying Senco's...

Ordered a new Irod, a bunch of line, some hooks, and some flipping jigs from TW...got em while the gettin is good..

I did share with the OP what I do from the bank and maybe that can help the OP to minimize gut hooking. I did reread his post and I think his extra long time of the dead stick with slack line might be the culprit. As a long time shore guy, I tend to agree re: the slack line. You can dead stick as long as you wish, but Not on slack line. While I'm at it...making super long cast's with say heavy jigs, or lighter jigs with trailers especially, almost any bait really, in shallow water is hard to detect a bite. I've seen a few guys do that and gut hook bass..Lucky for the fish, I had forcipes to get the hook out without any damage. Just thought I'd toss that in..

So, I was on the fence re: a swimbait rod for mainly 6" Huds, maybe some slightly heavier baits. Was almost set on the Dobyn's 795, then being that I had a 806 years ago, I switched to that in case I wanted to toss heavier baits, then this morning I went back to the 795. Then I saw this thread and read Irod reviews on TW about the 783 sb, and decided I'm going to give the Irod a shot. I'll report back once I catch some nice fish on it.

Early on, about 8 years ago I had breakage problems with invisX. I talked to rep at the Fred Hall show about, and he admitted to having problems. so I stopped using it. But, that was a long time ago.

Yes.

I have a few of the tatula xt rods, very nice. I also have a slx same size and power as one of my xt rods, I prefer the xt.

I'll be the odd man out..haha. I use 15# abrazX, but I might change brands at some point.

Update, just checked if chumming is legal in Calif..It is not permissible unless otherwise posted. This applies to freshwater.

In about 50 years, never had the line slip off a hook.

1...Maybe, depends on a couple of things imho..If they are aggressively feeding, no. 2...Always tie direct to the lure unless the maker includes a swivel, ect. 3...Never, not even when fishing saltwater.

Man, I hope it all works out for you guys. No damage, and no injuries...

If you decide on the Fuego, check e bay, you can find at very good prices.

Totally agree with WRB..I fish local park lakes a bunch, and I've used the drop shot for many years, never gut hooked a fish..I'll second using either the slip shot, or a split shot. The key is both watching your line and keeping contact with the line, use your finger when it's on the fall, as soon as it stops, keep the line Taught, No slack. I will usually give a tiny lift on the rod, just in case I get bit on the fall. This is regardless of the hook you use.

Just read about this. Hope all of you folks in the affected area are able to stay Safe and sound.

Owned a few E series reels in the past, 2 301E's 2 201E's..and all of them were great performers and trouble free. So yeah if you can get one or more for a reasonable price, Jump on it..

I'll toss in a vote for the Diawa Fugo. I have the 2500 size, the smoothest spinning reel I've owned. Fit and finish are great, great reel for the $$..In the past I've owned some mid-higher end Shimano reels, i.e. stradic..this Fuego is easily as smooth.

You realize this is a 6 year old thread..

Beginners luck...maybe, but you in fact guessed right. WTG..Put that in your memory bank..

Wizz, you may want to try goggle earth, if the water is clear enough you can zoom in and see all kinds of stuff. Worth a shot, and it's free.

Wanna barrow my Glasses..?

Some years ago some friends and I fished a small lake that required No barbs. Most of us did o.k. very few fish lost. Anyway, I crimped a bunch of single hooks and some treble hooked baits. I fished those barbless hooks and baits for a long time, infact the fish in my profile pic was caught on a babrless split shot, with a 4" hologram roboworm rig on 6lb copoly. Nowadays I'm to lazy to crimp any barbs..

Seriously, I've never seen bass do that.

My Feugo 2500 needed no washers. Smooth as silk and cast's very well. Pretty dang tough to beat for the price imho.

And Never keep JJ's magic in the house..