ChrisAW

Yeah, it could definitely could have been worse. I had to wait about 2 months to get the time to rebuild my motor because the crankshaft seals were bad, and this was my first actually fishing trip out since I finally got it all back together, so I was feeling a little more sour than I should for these two little things.

Went out to go fishing this morning on my day off, and boy did I get nothing but a waste of gas. First thing, after launching, started up the motor and reversed out. After idling out from the dock a few hundred feet, I went to go back into reverse to slow myself so I could jump up on deck, and it wouldn't shift back. I could go into neutral and forward, that was it. I should have just quit there, but I decided I would just use the trolling motor to get away from anything and turn around if I was to need to back out or what have you. Then, I after a run to the first fishing spot, I noticed there was a LOT more water in the boat than when I first dropped in. Ok, I give up. I loaded the boat and came home. I found the leak! Just so happens a rivet popped. Replaced it with a new water tight one, and thats fine. So I start to check into why it wouldn't go into reverse. Popped the cover off the motor, and looked down by the mechanism. Just so happens that this nut: Had come loose, and fallen down by the mechanism. Wedged itself in a spot that was stopping the motor from shifting into reverse. Is anyone else' luck THIS bad?

I've had the exact opposite experience. The first time I fished this crank, I had tried a regular square bill deflecting off cover, as well as just a shallow diver and imparting action with the rod. I went up the same stretch three times because I could make out fish cruising the shallows. I tried a spinnerbait first, no hits. Tried the shallow diver/squarebill, one hit. After remembering I had bought a couple of these on clearance at Wal-Mart, I tied one on. Went back along the same stretch and ended up catching 7 fish. Went along other shorelines and was getting bit pretty consistently. I'd say it had its place that day.

Well, by your logic, Storm would be junk considering they are owned by the same company that owns Rapala. So would Blue Fox, Terminator, VMC, Sufix and Trigger X. I guess you can have your opinion, but as many fish as Ive caught on Rapala without a single lure having a probem would already prove you wrong in saying they are "junk." The Scatter rap wil roll if you reel too fast, but it seems to be something that may trigger a bite or two so long as its not excessive. That lip is just going to cause that to happen. I personally throw this on 12lb flouro with a M Vendetta, and a Shimano Chronarch 201E5. I can cast the crank without much of a problem, but one cast here and there that catches the wind with cause a problem.

So long as it isn't constantly spiraling, I don't see a problem. Last time I fished one, mine would spiral on the retrieve a couple times, but I did get bit when it spiraled once that day as well. It seems to me like the bass might think the shad is trying to be evasive and go for it.

I bought some, but haven't had a chance to get out fishing yet. Will report back when I go, hopefully this week at some point.

I haven't had this problem. Sure, where the hook goes through gets torn up when you catch a fish. The tip of the plastics I use stay intact just fine, or atleast until I need to put on a new bait because the hook wont stay in. Same thing with Gammy or VMC flipping hooks that I've used.

The pocket frog may not be available for sale yet. They were only just shown at Icast 2013 as far as I know. You'll just have to keep a watch out for them on the major tackle retailers.

Thats why I don't use them as often anymore. I would go through a couple bags a day when I found a good bite, and replenishing was getting expensive. I keep a double stuffed bag of them on hand for special occasions, but I have since went to other craw baits (mainly my own that I pour) and have not seen a difference in bites.

Not entirely, what I meant by that was with a Trokar, I haven't had a fish come unbuttoned because of a weak hookset. They pierce very well.

Those edges are nowhere near "razor sharp." You couldn't cut paper with them, let alone flesh. The three sides just help make for a sharper point, and an easier way to do it versus a perfectly round point. Every fish I've stuck with these hooks have been hooked so well in the thicker part of their mouths, it wouldn't matter if I gave them slack, sat down and had lunch, or hand-lined them in. They weren't going anywhere. Any hook will tear the thinner membrane of a fishes mouth if you're horsing them in. I've had complete weakling hooksets on a surprise hit with Gami, Moaner, Owner, VMC, and Trokar. I have not missed a fish on Trokar yet. BUT! I will admit, the only reason I own any is because I got them on clearance at Wal-Mart for $3 a pack for some TK130's and some 3/0 SS-offset worm hooks. I still have a hard time buying them for $7 a pack.

I bought one, but haven't had a lot of time throwing it yet. Walks EXTREMELY easy, and because of the size of the body and hooks, I don't doubt this thing will have great hookup ratios.

The guys I work with have their vehicles' back window plastered with stickers. I have a TW sticker and a Bass Pro sticker. I would probably run an Abu sticker if I could get one. Thats about it.

Sad thing is, I missed a bigger fish on a frog earlier in the day before this one. It was obviously larger, tried to hit the frog once and came back after I paused. This thing caused a wake when it hit, and I was very angry at myself for not giving it the three count before swinging for the fence. I had it on the line for a few seconds and it came loose.

Other than loosening the mount so you can pop the one side of the ball mount out, no. Still would be easier to remove than a standard mount, I bet.

You're fine to slit the belly. It just gives the hook more room to move for the hookset. Even the Trash Fish, the 5 times more expensive original version of this bait, people will slit the belly to give the hook room.

I'll be going here in the morning again, hopefully I can catch her again and get a weight now that I found my scale. lol Or something bigger.

I use a 6'8" Shimano Clarus MH with a Johnny Morris Carbonlite BC, 30 pound braid with leaders if I feel the need. I am a bit up higher from the water in my boat so the rod length doesn't bother me. I like the Shimano rod because it has a softer tip for easier casting, but still has a good backbone. I've modified the Johnny Morris a bit, to make the brakes a little smoother and it skips like a dream for me. Usually skipping a Texas rigged beaver or plastic craw of some kind with a flat body, like the PTL Texas-Rig Jig w/ or w/o the skirt, Pit Boss, Paca Punch Craw... 1/4 or 3/8 oz bullet weight. Or a 3/8 Arkie head jig, again, with a more flat bodied craw. This is a little more forgivable with the craws body shape for me, I've used Rage craws or my own twin tail grubs, that the body is more rounded.

I've been going to a lake that I know is a honey hole for big fish,, and happened to catch this sow. But, I didn't have a scale with me. What do you guys think she weighed? Length is right about 21 or 21-1/2, judging by length of the rod from the butt to the T in Veritas. Its hard to judge by just scaling length to height what the girth could be, just kind of holding a tape measure in a circle comparing the size I remember it being, I'm thinking its atleast 18" of girth.

Sapphire Blue is one of my go to colors these days. You would have a hard time telling me they won't produce.

Rage craws have a place in my tackle bag for good probably, but I am a fan of the Paca Craws as well. Downside of them was the hollow body made them weak, and tore easily. Now, they have the Paca Punch Craw. A flat, solid body with the Paca action. Yes please!

If this isn't a testament to the value of a good quality hard bait, I'm not sure what is. This could potentially cost you 100 senko's, and thats about 60-70 dollars. (If you haven't heard of Mend-It!) 17.99 doesn't seem to bad if you think about it that way.

Not ONCE have I had a break off with a flouro leader on braid, atleast when it comes to the connection knot. I've been using leaders on one of my local lakes for years, being that it is a VERY clear lake with little weeds and a lot of docks. My skipping rod is 30# braid with a 15# leader. If you do it right, you will not have a problem. I might retie a leader 4 or 5 times a day. If you retie a lure because you had a nick in the line, you should retie your leader too. You lost a swimbait because you were using braid and flourocarbon for heavy swimbaits. Braid is zero stretch, if it digs in the reel on a cast with a 2oz lure, say goodbye to it. Flourocarbon cannot take the stress of beings stretched repeatedly by the bigger lures, and everyone knows flouro doesn't like friction. Pretty much all the big swimbait fisherman use heavy mono. If I were to make a suggestion, you don't have to go all out on buying a new rod and reel for a heavy cover combo. An in-expensive rod like the Berkley Lighting rods in MH atleast, maybe a BPS Bionic BC(Metal frame reel) if you see one on sale, and some 30/40/50lb braid of your choice. You won't break off another one of those heavy cover fish very easily. Your two mediums will play a good roll in most fishing, but they cannot handle heavy cover unless you want that factor of having to play the fish, to make things more interesting.

I've been a fan of micro guides, but as bad as the cottonwood was this year, I found one downside. I like the micro guides because of the weight reduction and balance, and the seemingly better sensitivity I get from this rod vs my old one. But, they will clog up with junk if you're fishing a lot of heavy vegetation or if you have a problem with cottonwood like my area seems to have.

How deep was the fish caught? -Less than one foot. Did the lure contain rattles or have hinges? - No Was the lure a natural color (brown, green) or was it an unnatural color (chartreuse, orange)? -Watermelon Candy craw / green jig If possible, what moon phase was your PB caught during? - Not sure exactly what this all pertains to, but it says waning moon phase, 95% full.