flippin and pitchin

I'm with islandbass. In Washington, steelhead anglers, myself included, use braid when fishing a bobber and jig. The braid floats and you can virtually mend it like a double taper fly line with the long rods we use. This allows us to get the longest drift possible without current drag. I use braid for fishing super spooks. Long casts, really long casts and the fact the braid stays on the surface and had almost zero stretch makes it very effective. Tangles with hooks? Not a problem. The occasional wind knot wrapping around your tip, a tiny problem, but not enough to discount the other advantages. I don't use a leader either. Try it. If you don't like it. Stop. It's all about options.

There you go.

The spider jig or skirted double tail grub is my confidence bait for smallmouth. I rig them on a 1/4 to 3/8 ounce football head with a 3/0 hook and fish them exposed hook. To date, the GYCB has been my choice with a Chompers thrown in from time to time. WCCT and I like the same color, #176. I started a recent thread to get Rage to add a skirted double tail grub to the line. The action of Rage baits is incredible and to think of that in a spider grub style bait....well that would be the deal.

I really like the variations you guys have come up with. I have cut the collars off of torn Hula Grubs, tried the GYB mini collars and even found some original Canyon Lures spider jig collars I bought back in the 80's, but having a " parted " bait is just not the same as a one piece molded bait. I want to use a football head with an exposed hook so punch skirts just don't meet the need or want. I drag them in 8 to 20 feet with rocky bottoms. Out here in the NW the Hula Grub is a staple much like a Trick Worm is in, say, Alabama. I just think that configuration in the Rage line, with that action would be the real deal. The Rage color pallet is also second to none. I can only hope.

It's snowing at my house right now. Just left a a friend's and almost didn't get out of the driveway. I have to get off now so I can get on Tackle Warehouse's website and order a Dobyns Champion 805 crank and some DD22's.

That is a 6 "m" Hmmmmmm and that makes me optimistic. I just ripped a bib off from my grand-daughter in preperation. Call it a Rage Crawlee Craw. Rig it on a 1/4-3/8 ounce football head with a 3/0 hook because they will be 4.5 inches ( hint ) long and crawl them babies. The smallmouth will will knock each other out of the way to get it. Is there such a thing as smallmouth domestic violence ? Okay, even if they cause a smallmouth DV we can set the statute of limitations at 15 seconds. I'M IN !!!!

Okay, The Rage Craw in it's veriations has, without a doubt, proven to be an incredible bait. Now, add that collar and give us a spider jig version and I will dance at your daughter's wedding. Can you imagine that bait in Falcon Craw. I will have to wear a bib just to keep the drool off my jersey. Great colors, great texture, more durable. I'll take 12 bags to start. Time to speak up and lobby Big O boys. Maybe we can get them on the shelves by mid-April.

The Lamiglas Excel is one of the best sub 100.00 rods you will find. The Competitor series is on par with a Mojo for weight and sensitivity. I recently picked up a Dobyns Savvy 702, Champion 703 and Extreme 742. The Savvy series really impressed me. I can easily recommend that rod.

I'm not so sure I would use the football style head to fish brush. I would look at a flippin style head that works through the limba and branches. Any trailer that gives you a controlled fall is in order. SO's head style would be my choice for brush. I agree with with outside in and work the entire perimeter. 50 pieces ? Some one has been busy.

Now I know why AJay is turning to the dark side and will be deep cranking this up coming season. Snow will do it to you every time. Here in the northwest it's rain. Rain will drive you to skip docks. It's uncanny what weather will drive you to do. RED lives in Waco and suffers through 110 to 117 degree days for months. Yeah.....he throws square bills. There has to be some form of treatment for this. Those poor buggers who live in Hawaii have the drop shot affliction. Sad, very sad.

It's your budget. I just mentioned the Saros as an option because I really like mine and got the Saros for 97.00 FJ for 127.00 (new) and coud not pass that up. The rod question will get about 600 responses.....the first hour:) Good luck.

Check the flea market on this forum for the Saros. There has been a couple for sale with photos. A Saros for 90 to 100 bucks would be a great choice. I have three and a Symetre and a Stradic FJ but I was able to get smokin deals on all of them. Welcome to forum by the way.

Half ounce Revenge, Char/wht with a ( modified ) single copper hammered oversize turtleback blade. You can crawl this bait at a snail's pace if needed.

With the advent of the internet, dozens of TV shows and just as many magazines, SELLING is not the same today like it was in the 70's and 80's. How many remember the original Dancin' Eel. Guys were chomping at the bit to get one or 12 in the day. Anglers today are much more savvy and descriminating. I see myself buying techniques, not products and then considering lure or equipment options. How you trust the pro's image will give the product credibilty. TV shows that are little more than infomercials get no attention from me. Anyone for a 2 ounce five hour energy drink ???

Now tell me the truth................did you buy that collection with your own green ??

It's still my LEWS original BB1N, pre-Browning. The new Tournament Pro is pretty sweet too..

Robo worm Yamamoto cut tail Big Bite goby Tiny Fluke Outlaw Baits drop shot tube These are always with me on a smallmouth outing.

If it didn't come out of the lake, don't throw it in the lake.

One of my favorite shows. Bummer.

There is a huge difference between the value of someone's endorsement and their ability to pitch a product and convince you of the advantages of that product and or the service it provides and separate you from your cash.

So the Ducks won the Rose Bowl. LaMichael James announced today he is eligible for the NFL draft and won't finish his senior year. Bad news. I hope it wasn't because of those chrome dome helmets. ( finger in throat )

What Kent said. Slick, supple and small diameter.

So do I. The DLN has been very good to me for smallmouth and largmouth. Normans discontinued a color pattern that has been my go to so I bought everyone I could find. Then another guy I fish with showed me his talent as a lure painter and matched it 100%. I'm set for life. He painted a Luhr Jensen Speed Trap for me in that same color scheme. SMOKIN !!!

It's interesting you read the opinions on the various Dobyns models because I just ordered the DX784. My buddy got his in April and I was able to fish it for a couple of hours. I really fell in love with this rod. I guess in several months I can give a better evaluation. The sensitivity and the balance won me over. It just doesn't feel like a 7'8" rod.

Spinnerbait Normans Deep Little N Yamamoto Hula Grub Sweet Beaver get an honorable mention