Hooligan

Good deal, I can load up on Paca chunks. (Like I need anymore...)

Mono Sucks! Go Fluoro for cranks!

I hate that bait! The only time I ever fish them I lose them to pike. Not that it doesn't catch fish, it's that I HATE remembering it when I'm fishing smallies on pike water, it's inevitable that I'm going to lose it to pike.

Are the Laser lure blanks not a composite versus glass? That was my understanding. I also thought the Laser Lure rod was considerably faster than the MM, and it recovered much faster. That said, I've not fished them, only fondled and coveted the Micro Magic 7-11 MH.

I just got back from a store that will remain unnamed and came away with a bunch of havoc baits at a steep discount. They were misordered and I paid cost in order to save the owner shipping and restock. Really like the Wide Load now that I've had it in hand. The Pit Boss is really cool as well. Craw isn't as wonderful as I thought it would be, but it will work. The Slop Craw has me really excited for fishing grass and punching. It just feels right. Overall I'm most excited about the pit boss. It just has a really nice profile with appendages that aren't as huge or bulky. Sometimes I want a smaller flipping bait that is a little more subtle, this bait fits that bill.

Congrats. I just ordered the DX795 myself. I'm excited to get my hands on it this week. Already have a Core to go on it, too.

I'm liking the grass pig on a swim jig right now. The Craw will likely come into play as a pitching bait later this year, as well.

NO, and you guys are compounding it. The OP is asking if the DD22 has hooks that need to be replaced. The respondent states the hook people are grousing about are actually the VMC Sure Set, NOT the hooks on a DD22. Way over complicating things for this. In regard to the OP, I've had numerous problems with DD22 hooks, mostly with the bronze variety, which not many come with anymore. If you look at the hook, you'll see that it is not always soldered down to the point the three hooks part ways to their bend. The shanks are very often exposed as three separate shanks for a good deal of their length, which in turn, weakens the hook. I've bent hooks on fish a few times and for that reason change them. I've been experimenting this year with the Mustad KVD hook on the belly, and a VMC round bend short shank on the tail. The reason for this is that I've upsized the belly to a #1 and the tail is a #2. In going to a short shank, the hooks will not foul one another. You can use Owner ST36, ST41, KVD Elites, VMC 9650 and 9651, Gamakatsu EWG Short shank treble all with success. It becomes a point of preference. On a DD22 I like the VMC 9650 for the most part, as it most closely matches the stock hook.

I disagree. I use the Alberto for flyline to leader, for instance. Butt section of the leader makes the wraps. If you're joining two lines of different diameters, the larger diameter gets the loop, the other makes wraps, that's the whole point of the knot, otherwise you should just tie a bloodknot. Um, this is exactly what I'm saying. The larger diameter line is going to be the stiffer of the 2 lines, so use it to make the loop. The smaller diameter will be softer so use it to make the wraps. No, exactly what you were saying is use the softer, that doesn't always equate to larger diameter as pointed to in that I use the knot for my line to butt-section knot.

LC Wake bait or Ima Roumba. I was skeptical of the Roumba initially, but man is that thing a fish magnet.

Nope, no issue. It's a knot that takes a little bit of practice, really. I messed a couple up the first time I started messing with it, and I've tied Albright's for most of my fishing career. What you're describing to me, is a failure to pull evenly on all four pieces of line. Once you're able to get your wraps situated in a fashion that works for you, you'll find it really is an easy knot to tie. One thing I do to make it easier is after my first set of wraps, I change where I'm holding the lines so that my left thumb and forefinger are holding my first wraps as I make the second set. When I have made the requisite number, I pull gently with my right, just getting it snug, then grasp two tags with my right hand and two tags with my left, and cinch it tight.

Supposedly, Strike King bought the TT molds. That's complete hearsay, and I'll put it out there as such, yet it came to me from a reasonably reliable person.

I disagree. I use the Alberto for flyline to leader, for instance. Butt section of the leader makes the wraps. If you're joining two lines of different diameters, the larger diameter gets the loop, the other makes wraps, that's the whole point of the knot, otherwise you should just tie a bloodknot.

Rods - Loomis/St Croix Avid/Shimano Cumara + Cumulus Reels - Shimano Core/Curado/Stella/Sustain/Ci4 Line - Seaguar/Toray Hardbaits - Rapala/Lucky Craft Softbaits - GYCB/Culprit Storage - FTO+Speedbags

I'm heartbroken about that... In regards to the OP, right now I'm low on TT, and looking. I've fished the BPS weights (New, and the holes are huge), eco pro, Rip LIps, Alley's, and EcoPro. So far Eco Pro is the best, in terms of finish, hole size and the like. I bought a ton of stops from Cabela's on clearance, as well as flipping weights. Spent $225 on weights when I heard about it, mostly flipping and 3/16.

Is it possible that you're using a different worm? Jackall didn't bring the Flick shake to market (Even in Japan) until just under two years ago. They brought them to their US distributors more recently than that. The actual Jackall Flick-Shake worm isn't that durable. I'll catch 2-3(four if I'm lucky) fish on them before they can't be re-hooked. The first that I got in late 2009 were more durable than what I currently have. Also, I've found a difference in the colors, in terms of durability. Cola, Cinnamon, and Sunburn Melon tend to be more durable, while Bluegill, Watermelon Pepper and Candy and Green Pumpkin Pepper and Candy tend to be not quite as durable as the others. I've been using Flick Shakes since at least 2006. Below is a copy of an ebay purchase from that time. My account name is crossed out because it was compromised. You can send me an e-mail at the listed address j_argese@mac.com and I'll confirm it's me. Wow, that's cool. One of my fishing partners is a rep, and swore up and down last year that it was only a couple years old. Turns out we were both wrong, if you were getting them in 2006, huh!

Congrats, man.

That brings to mind the time we were LOZ. We'd fished a couple spots around Fish Hatchery Cove, and had nothing but little spots. Decided to run a ways up to Pogue. We get up there only to find a gigantic party at one of the places on Indian Point. There were a few...uh...indecently exposed young ladies around that party, as well as some other shenanigans going on. We motored out of there pretty quick, it wasn't going to be long at all and there was going to be enforcement around.

Put the same CI4 on both, and there's no noticeable difference between the two.

Is it possible that you're using a different worm? Jackall didn't bring the Flick shake to market (Even in Japan) until just under two years ago. They brought them to their US distributors more recently than that. The actual Jackall Flick-Shake worm isn't that durable. I'll catch 2-3(four if I'm lucky) fish on them before they can't be re-hooked. The first that I got in late 2009 were more durable than what I currently have. Also, I've found a difference in the colors, in terms of durability. Cola, Cinnamon, and Sunburn Melon tend to be more durable, while Bluegill, Watermelon Pepper and Candy and Green Pumpkin Pepper and Candy tend to be not quite as durable as the others.

I got another of these today, and I noticed that the guide sizes are different between the two. The first and second are the same, but after that, they change. The spacing is different, too. I'm a little confused, never seen it before. Anyone able to pull a couple measurements from tip down to say the third guide down, then the second?

Depends on the lake, depends on the time of year, depends on the depth. I can't pick any single bait and say I use it first time all the time on a dropshot. Hook size depends greatly on the bait and whether I am nose hooking, wacky, or rigging. I could expand but we've seen how you feel about that.

I like them, thus far. I used them the other day and caught a few dink bucks on them.

Used them all through last year. They're durable enough for a few fish each, as long as you rehook, you're fine. I've tried a few imitations of the Jackall worm, and nothing comes close, like the Senko, there's other sticks but they're not Senkos.

That's pretty cool stuff. Thanks for posting it.