Blues19

I've never used them but I have read that they are similar to the Damiki Hydra (which I have also not used but just ordered a bunch). I was watching some youtube videos on them and those baits fished with the Neko Rig look pretty rad. You may consider trying that or at least searching it

I really like Strike King. They have so much, whether its hard baits, soft baits (Rage Tail are wicked), spinnerbaits... I dont just get Strike King, but I do like their products

Ok, good deal. Bass Pro has 2 Crankin Sticks. A micro guide and a standard guide. The Standard guide is $80 and the Micro Guide is $120. I have not used a micro guide so I cant really comment on them. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the rod you choose! Im sure they are both good. Probably will be happy with either.

I was night fishing with my uncle and cousin. They were catching a bunch of fish (all dinks) on a brush hog and paca craw. I was throwing something else. Put on a June Bug Lobster, first time trying a lobster. Caught a 5 fish limit in about an hour. They couldnt catch anything. That thing just straight up worked.

Same here. I hear too many people say they are not as durable as regular guides

I have an old crankin stick and it is pretty rad. Bass Pro Rods are normally pretty good, and so I would expect they have just gotten better. That being said, I have 2 Veritas Rods that I love (Not the cranking rods though). Anyway, I dont think you could go wrong either way. That being said, I would probably go with the Crankin Stick. Its $20 cheaper and I just dont see that you can really go wrong with them.

Fishing a 2" grub on a 1/16 oz jig head with ultra light gear hooked into the back of something. I was running back and forth along the bank trying to not let it get off. My cousin saw it and said it looked about 3' long before the hook popped out of its back. I was throwing a crankbait, trying to get it under a willow and just barely hit a low hanging branch. I managed to pop the bait free and was reeling it in, but there was a vine on it. Turned out to not be a vine, but a neon green snake that I had hooked through the middle of the snake with both hooks. That joker was squirming like a worm when you first put the hook through it.

I love fishing a shakey head. Depending on wind or depth, I will throw between an 1/8 oz and a 1/4 oz Spot Remover Pro Model jig head (I always use green pumpkin). I would suggest getting the screw lock cause the little push on one doesnt really work well. I throw differnet worms, depending on the conditions too. If I am looking for a bigger bite I will throw a Zoom Trick worm on the 1/4 oz head. If I'm just looking to limit up I will start out throwing the 1/8 oz jig head with a Zoom Finesse worm or a Centipeed. You can use any baits, for real, but I tend to try to use a straight tail worm when going finesse. It just seems finesse to me. Strike King makes the Elaztech plastics that some people like, because they float. So those are pretty rad too. When I use those I use the strike king shakey head jig. I do that cause its so soft its darn near impossible to thread one of those on to the screw lock and it will stay on a regular keeper pretty well. As for colors, I tend to go as natural as possible. I will use green pumpkin 75% of the time, but every once in a while I will throw on a summer craw color, or "dirt" in the strike king colors. Really, any colors you normally will work. Anyway, hope this helps. Any questions, lemme know

How do you typically use it? I always just figured it was a finesse c rig. May have to utilize this, this spring. Preciate it

I have fished mono with soft plastics, jigs, spinnerbaits, shoot, ive fished it with everything. Its easy to manage and casts well. I dont have any issues with sensitivity. I have used Sunline Flouro, Braid, Yo Zuri Hybrid. All kinds of stuff. I still rig a few rods up with Trilene Big Game and have caught many, many, many fish on it. Shoot I was fishing jigs on some 12 lb big game last year and was beasting a lot of fish. I wouldnt think its crazy at all. At very least, get a spool of Mono and try it out. Its a lot cheaper to try mono out than Flouro. If you dont like it, try out braid or something else. I feel Mono gets a bad rap at times. Its not bad line, and like others have mentioned, it caught fish for a LONG time before all these other lines came out.

I fish with my Uncle and a friend in their boats so I bring a couple Planos and then soft plastics. The Planos are sorted by Jigs, Terminal Tackle, Deep Cranks, Shallow and Medium Cranks, Frogs. The Soft Plastics are in Tackle Binders and then I have a few Gallon bags if I have too. Like someone else said, the Freezer Bags are much better. Another thing I really like are the stand up flat bottom (Expandable bottom) ziplocks. I find them to hold the original packaging about perfect and they are easier to go through than a regular ziplock. I will typically throw what I plan on using in one of those and set it on the deck. Its easy to get throug. Then if I need something from the binders, I know where the other stuff is. As long as you know where your stuff is, thats all that matters. There are thousands of ways to organize your stuff. Mike Iaconelli and Aaron Martens have some good videos on tackle organizing in the boat on youtube.

Never done this, but watched a Bass Resource video about rigging a grub and the Splitshot rig was one of the ways rigged. Is that pretty much just a finesse Carolina rig? Just chuck and drag?

Boomerang tool. I always have it when needed, or I am always looking for where I stuck the scissors or clippers.

I would personally get a small cheap toaster oven from Walmart or somewhere. You dont wanna mix lead with food.

I like my Veritas rods for $100

Missouri, Kentucky, Iowa, Arkansas, Maine, Massachusetts

I would probably get a fuji rod tip repair kit. It comes with the glue you need and a few guides. I wouldnt worry too much abut the yellowing finish.

I really like the Daiwa Exceller. Its a smooth reel. Been using it for a few years now and its done nothing but catch fish.

I have looked for a finesse jig rod, but I have never been able to figure out if I wanted a M or MH. Using jgs from 3/16-3/8. I would think a Medium would be good, but then I look at the idea of sticking that trailer on there. How much more weight does it put on there? Is a 3/8 oz jig with a trailer too much for a Medium rod?

I would get a few finesse jigs. I would go with a blak and blue or a green pumpkin color. Throw a little beaver style bait on there or a Zoom lil critter craw, and you are good. Match the trailer to the jig. The finesse jig will probably score you a few more bites and help raise your confidence in jigs. Just a little note, there i a chance you will lose quite a few jigs when fishing from the bank.

I use a lot of Trilene Big Game. Its a good line for the price

Im thinking of one that was older. good deal

Is that the white one? More of an off white i guess

So many people use baitcasters, but Spinning Reels are awesome for finesse stuff. What is your favorite Spinning Reel? I have 2 of the older Daiwa Excellors and they have been awesome for me, so that has gotta be my choice.

I would start with making a day box with just a few things. A few hooks, weights, jig heads. Maybe a few crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Put them all in a plano box and stick it in a backpack. Then take along a few plastics. Switch it up at times. If you dont have a whole lot with you, you are forced to use what you have, which will help you develop your skills and confidence with certain lures.