Jrob78

So they are meant to catch shad, just not Threadfin or Gizzard like most of us are thinking?

What are Shad Darts? My guess is they aren't meant to catch shad.

This is the scale I have as well. It's actually the 2nd one. The first worked great for about 5 years and then just wouldn't come on one day, I think it got drenched in a rain storm once though. Its on/off switch was a little iffy also. Sometimes it wouldn't come on immediately. This new one has a better switch. Both were very accurate and well worth the $20 or so that I paid for them. I would buy another if I needed another scale.

Me too

You can't just replace the inserts. The guides will have to be replaced. I would contact DVT Mike, he can help you or maybe recommend someone in your area. Check Mudhole.com to look at the different guides that are available.

This is why I cringe every time I here beginners talk about using snaps. I crank with fluoro and usually get a pretty good amount of casts in before I retie but I check my line every few casts when fishing cover/structure.

I never re-use plastics. I use them as long as I can but when I take one off a hook, it's done.

I agree, action is usually always more important than color. I try to buy 2 or 3 colors of a bait and just buy multiples of those colors instead of trying to buy every color. I usually go with a bright for off color water, a shad and a bluegill. Those 3 patterns cover everything I fish.

There are no rules and the fish don't know the difference.

Actually, 99% of us don't need to be convinced of anything. It's you and the other 1% that keep trying to convince. Most of us know that both spinning and baitcasting have their place in a well rounded bass fishing arsenal. Some of us prefer one or the other but still use both.

If you're going to use a snap, at least use a good snap. Those swivel snaps are junk and you don't need the swivel anyway. Get some decent duo-lock snaps and you will be good to go.

Those are designed for kids, probably not very high quality.

One of the other benefits of tungsten is its hardness. If a big bass takes your bait and gets the weight in his mouth, his teeth are going to catch the softer lead and slow down your hook set. This could lead to poor penetration. With the smaller, harder tungsten, this isn't a problem. That said, people were using lead for decades before tungsten, they still caught plenty of fish. Only you can decide if tungsten is worth the money, it is for me.

Spro will be releasing a new rat swimbait.

Agree with the other guys, backing is great for cutting down on how much braid you use, slipping doesn't enter into the equation for me.

Great colors. Lucky Craft is my favorite hard bait company. Great color patterns, great designs, good hardware, durable and very consistent.

There isn't anything to disagree about. What I said wasn't an opinion, it happened to me. Just be careful out there.

Getting burned through a cotton t-shirt is actually what prompted me to go the full coverage route and ditch the sunscreen. I have a shaved head and also got a nasty head burn while wearing a regular camo boonie hat. Between all that and the pita that is sunscreen, I decided to stop worrying about it. Best fishing decision I ever made.

Not anymore.

Ardent's are made in China.

I agree with everything the other posters have said. Bottom contact baits like worms and jigs benefit the most from a sensitive rod.

It seems like it would tear to pieces but it actually shapes really easily. I've never tried to shape grips on a rod that already had them glued on but I build rods and shape my own grips. That's why I know it's easy to work with.

Eva shapes just as easily as cork. Probably easier as a lot of it is softer.

Yeah you're right, the 7'7" probably wouldn't be very good for the big, deep baits. Hopefully they will add something to their line up that will work for that! I love ICAST season!

One of my Tatulas is on a rod that I throw weightless Flukes, Senkos and light t-rigs. It handles those baits really well.