Bass Junkie

I prefer Terminator spinner baits, I despise having to tune a bait. The Terminator baits have hear skirts and colors, good hooks, and can withstand just about any abuse you can put on them.

They catch fish very well in an extensive range of situations. However, they are the ideal presentation about as often as other baits. It just so happens that fish will eat them even if its not ideal. This character trait is not just specific to the Senko by any means, but it is most often discovered by fisherman.

Ever used a Revo?

For fly line to leader I prefer a loop to loop connection. Simple, strong, and very time efficient.

I have not personally used a Powell, but I have used a Duckett, and really like it. It is light, sensitive, and I like the action of the rod.

A Sammy is a stickbait made by Lucky Craft, and MSRP's at $15.99 or so. They're really a nice bait, but it hurts to lose one.

I have a second gen Premier, and for $150 I don't think it can be beat. Just my humble opinion, but I'd take the Premier every time. Plus, you're already used to an Abu, so it's not going to be a transition. I've thrown both Shimano and Abu side by side, and I personally prefer the Abu brake system. I can throw farther with less effort, and it's more dynamic. Again, just my personal opinion.

Fortunately, the most expensive lure I can remember losing is a Sammy.... I have dropped a couple of combos overboard, but managed to grab them before they sunk out of sight.

Spooks call fish up better from deep water than buzzbaits, while buzzbaits are much more weedless. Spooks, especially in more natural and translucent colors, are more natural, and outcast buzzbaits. Buzzbaits have one large hook that is much harder to throw than the trebles on a spook. I use spooks over buzzbaits in open water, deep water, or clear water situations. I also throw spooks when I want a slower presentation, whereas a buzzbait covers more water, and more types of cover. I prefer buzzbaits in weeds, over wood cover, or when I am trying to cover water.

I throw 10lb mono on baitcasting equipment all the time, and have none of the issues you are experiencing. I think your problems come more from the braided line than anything else. I have 65lb do the same thing while frogging. I'd switch to the mono. Just my $.02

I remember the old Manns The Classic spinnerbaits... Wish I'd stockpiled a few of them... They're one of the only spinnerbaits I'd use over a Terminator. Those were worth tuning! The Berkley Power Bait Beast were great as well. The XCalibur XrK Rattle Baits are good little lures that are getting hard to find. The Team Daiwa T.D. Splash Walker Zero and Lucky Craft Rick Clunn single knocker square bill cranks will be missed as well.

I was making the point that Japanese anglers are highly unlikely to use a product with lower tolerances simply to be different. Forgive me if the illustration was a bit extreme.

In the last several days: 2 T.D. Slash Walkers Zeros 2 Lucky Craft Sammys 2 Packages Gary Yamamoto 5" Senkos 1 Package Gary Yamamoto Tubes Several hand tied jigs Case Plastics wacky rig tool (Why I waited this long I do not know) O-rings for above 1/0 Owner camo colored Wacky Hooks 4/0 Owner Twistlock hooks 1 T.D. Minnow, Bassmasters Limited edition. A Daiwa Fuego casting reel.

Check out the Sufix Elite mono at your local DSG. They always. Have it on "sale", down to within $0.50 of Trilene XL. I have not used the new Trilene, but I used the old stuff for years, and the Sufix is distinctively better.

Trust me, they don't. If you're from Palm Beach, do you buy an Echo because all your friends are driving Lambos and you want to be different?

Duckett Micro Magic 7' XH. It has a semi-parabolic bend throughout the blank, allowing you to really load up and chuck frogs, as well as skip a lot easier. But it also has all the necessary muscle to set the hook plus some. And it is certainly strong enough to pull fish out of the mats. It's also a versatile rod. I've thrown as low as a 1/4oz jig with trailer, and while It wasn't ideal, I got respectable distance. It makes a very nice topwater spook/frog/wakebait rod when spooled up with braid.

I personally acquired a mint one for $40 shipped just recently. A little patience will save you quite a bit of money.

Spro Bronzeye Jr. Sammy 85 Zoom Baby Brush Hog 1/4oz jig for flipping Compact spinnerbait of your choice

Any time. If you want more info, feel free to PM me, and I'll try to help you out any way I can.

If you want to go Quantum, grab the EXO and slap it on a Duckett Micro Magic rod, or a Macro Magic if micro guides aren't your thing. Either way, you'll end up with a very light setup, and I think you'll love the rod!

Alright, thank you very much. I just picked up a spool of 30lb Sufix 832, and will certainly look into the tiable wire!

30lb Sufix 832 Heddon Super Spook Junior Local Dicks didn't have too much that lured me luckily!

It's an exceptionally good reel for it's price point. It's relatively light for it's class, decently palmable for a round reel, has a very smooth retrieve, a good gear ratio for cranks, a fair amount of torque, a smooth drag, and can handle a wide variety of lures, although it gets iffy around a 1/4oz. or so. Over all, certainly a reel I'd buy.

I've searched for it locally, but can't find any. What brand would you recommend?

Ever used a Daiwa? They have done a pretty good job of making the zero setting an actual zero.