webertime

So universal truths about this question/request: 1. Sweeping Hookset... moves the hook and weight, jig type hooksets move the weight 2. Nobody agrees 100% on the rest I live on Lake Champlain and fish's 2-3 weeks a year on the St Lawrence. Prespawn to ice up I'll use a rig. Here's how what I have narrowed it down to. 1. short or long leader. I've only noticed a difference in current where the bait/leader gets slack knocked into it due to moving water. I run 18 to 50" leaders 2. Leader material. It's got a weight in front of it and a bait on the back of it. It's being pulled down in 2 spots. Mono or Fluoro work fine either way, your not gaining float over a 2 ft section of line behind the weight. That said an elastech type plastic and mono will get you a touch more float. I use 12lb mono/copoly. 2. Swivel... spro 50lber. No reason not to and have never broke one. 3. Main line. Again you'll get 1000 different responses. I am in clear to clearish water rocks and weeds (with zebra mussels). I use 16-20 lb fluorocarbon (Sniper, Abrazx, Tatsu). No braid for me for 2 reasons. Abrasion resistance lacks and more importantly (nerd alert) surface area of the line. Not diameter. Braid isn't smooth it's like rope with indents and raised spots those intendents catch water and cause a bow in the line thus you lose some sensitivity. Dragging 50-60 yards of Main line in 20+' you'll be surprised by the bow you can get. Again people will not agree but I've seen it with braid and not with Fluorocarbon. 4. Rods... I love rigging, it's probably unhealthy the amount I love it. I had a lot of rods and figured out what the best for me was and built it. NFC 807 blank with a handle that goes to my elbow. 8ft, they call it fast, it's 10000% not fast. I spiral wrap mine and the torque/twist you get dragging a heavy weight disappears. A longer rod without taking a reel into account moves more line for hook sets (add in a high speed reel and you have a lot of opportunity to make up for your mistakes). Rods that are commonly available that are good are (Levante Brailist and Perfect Pitch, The 7 2 to 7 4 Tatula MHR rods) faster rods (Disclaimer: for me) yank the hook away from the fish and the fish stay pinned better with a "slower" rod. Even a MH St Croix with a 1oz weight will work well (close to maxed out gives it the action I like). 5. Reels, it comes down to Capacity and ratio... make sure you hold enough 16-20 lb line and a 7 or 8 ratio for getting your long cast in. 6. Weights (for me) Phenix rockcrawler and MOJO Finesse. Lead is fine, if you can't feel an ounce of lead bouncing along the bottom get to a nerve doctor fast. It's the shapes of those particular weights that get it done. 7. Baits, Speedcraw works everywhere. Old Rage Shrimp (elastech) are awesome too. 100 sized DWalker swimbaits are a sneaky good bait. Retrieve... the fish tell you I usually sweep (long and slowish) the rod and then reel in the slack. Occasionally jump the weight off the bottom will work too. It can get really granular... on Champlian if you're drifting in the wind or whatever, .8 to 1.1 mph boat speed will get you chomped. Faster or slower nada. So that (Retrieve speed) is on you and where you fish.

Start at 4 min

Bottom up scooper frogs. Raid micro dodge. The scooper frog is legit in the weed. Fish on a Tokyo rig and pump the rod on the retrieve.

Anyone fish these?? How are they ?

The Hook Up has been running a 2 of 99.99 deal on on these rods for a bit. I thinned my herd a bit too much this winter and needed a new magdraft/tournament rod. Sensitivity is a non-issue for that bait so I could do without something expensive. I've owned Combat Sticks, Levante and Orochi rods that fit the bill for frogs and Magdrafts. So I thought what the heck and ordered a 7ft5in H med fast (up to 2 ounces) and a 66 Mf spinning rod for drop shotting. I've had them out a couple times... the short? No Brainer buy if they have a model you need. The Heavy is nearly identical in feel and performance to the 73Hmf Combat Stick. Awesome for Osakana Slides and Magdrafts for basically 50 bucks. The spinning rod feels nice and was plenty sensitive for drop shot or tiny jigs. If you're on a budget or are being pragmatic, you are not making a mistake with these rods.

I saw a picture on Instagram of the monkey hold you like a bass. "Worked this one for months, finally got him."

I live on the edge... Carolina Rig

Tatula 103 SV. Lh 6 and 8 ratios for $125 @ hook up

Speak of the Devil... MAY25 will get you 25% off at Kittery now.

A Levante Brailist will work for t rigs and chatterbait. It's a touch softer than a Orochi. Kittery Trading Post has 15-25% off sales fairly frequently and includes Megabass. I don't think I've ever paid more than 165 for a Levante.

Evergreen Combat Stick 7ft2in Moving Bait/Shower Blows rod.

Buy the scheels deal the save the $$ for ffs if you desire it. The garmin black box and lv32 transducer are 700 used all day.

Bait has consistently gotten bites for over a decade. Swimbaits that don't perform typically die a quiet fast death. S-waver is still kicking.

Any Daiwa in the last 20 years. E series Shimano too

If you're over 1/2oz most of the time the 7ft2in Moving Bait/Shower Blows rod from Evergreen is amazing. Like I bought 2, good.

Imakatsu Popper Mouse would be great over the top Jig Big weedless swimbait like magdraft freestyle just busting through

50ish is when they come out for me

I'm 95% sure Kage rods are tatulas with different color trim. Anything about the tatula version should apply

762 Phenix Recon is amazing for hair and neds.

Spend 250 on 2 nice setups 7ft Medium fast 7ft Medium Heavy fast 2500 or 3000 sized reel

Dawn in hot water and an old electric toothbrush

Enforcer?

Those weights are too light for my Brailist. X-bites is the rod in megabass. I use a 71 MHxf Tatula for those weights and it's been great.

Stretch your hips and back a lot

You can get a Tatula 200 for like 140 and it is a great swimbait reel.