Mike L

We need more information to help you, it will make difference… Casting or spinning? Action/Power preferences? Preferred techniques that you plan on using it for. Mike

5/0 Trokar TK130 Not necessarily for that specific worm but for others of approximately the same size Mike

Hello and Welcome Mike

Heat gun, hot water, hair dyer or the safest way without a chance of distorting them.….A hot dashboard. Mike

They’re out there, almost every national brand has a line of straight shank hooks. Just gotta watch as what you’re used too may not be the same size. Trokar’s have always been reliable and never let me down. You do have to rig carefully tho as the point will slice more easily as any on the market, which is one of the reasons why I use them for all bottom contact presentations except one. Mike

Good choice I’ve always used those until I changed to the Trokar line almost exclusively Mike

Like in all things, experience and confidence will dictate where and how to throw it in your particular waters. Mike

Ditto Mike

It is… Personally I only use the Magnum and 90% of time with a 3/16. The 1/8 is more suited for the standard size which I rarely use. Mike

Atta Boy!! If you have light to moderate submerged grass of any kind in 3-6 fow rig it with an unpegged 3/16. If you see any open areas, holes or isolated clumps of anything, slow down just a little approaching it and drop your rod with a tighter grip. Mike

St Croix GXR w/ Seviin reel combo 7’4” H/F 3/8-1 1/2 oz (with a little adjustment can barely handle a 2 oz) 65# Smackdown This whole setup was a total surprise to me as it’s as balanced as anything else I’ve used. The action is just a tad slower than the others which is an advantage for longer pitches but that’s countered on shorter flips. With the change to 8 carrier Smackdown from the 4 Power Pro I’ve always used, it can double as my frog rod. It immediately became my first choice now Dobyns Kaden 715C 7’1” Mag Heavy/Fast 3/8-1 1/2 oz (1 1/2 oz is a little over rated) 65# Smackdown Before the GXR this was my go to for moderate/heavy cover. Doubles as my C Rig Quantum Smoke 7’4” H/XF 7/16-1 1/2 oz 80# original Power Pro This one is reserved for the heaviest and thickest of Hydrilla and Hyacinth mats especially those that have flowered. Mike

I’m in Florida and recently switched from 50# original Power Pro to Smackdown. One of my better decisions Mike

Ain’t that the truth Getting worse and worse Mike

Punching through anything is one of the easiest presentations you can do. It’s less about the length of your rod and more about it’s power, your ability to read the water around it and the mat itself to give yourself a fighting chance. Assuming as in every mid to bottom t rig, your line and weight are dialed in, the hard part especially for co anglers is having an opportunity and especially the time to pick it apart. Knowing up front that the boater has the advantage and as hard as he may try there’s no way around it unless you both rotate positions. I own 3 punch sticks. A 7’3 and 7’4 with 65# Seaguar ‘s Smackdown which I just changed too, and a 7’3 with 80# 4 carrier Power Pro. All 3 have different actions for different conditions. I also use a 7’3 with 20# Shooter. Any longer just becomes to cumbersome without a distinct advantage, all you need are accurate, pinpoint flips and/or pitches Mike

A properly adjusted centrifugal brake system, dual or not is your best friend when casting. Mike

Ditto Mike

@scaleface Prayers sent for a complete and total recovery. Mike

How cool is that! Gotta Love a Grandma who has her own bait shop !!! Mike

June Bug the vast majority of the time. I’ll dip the tail in chartreuse up to just above the cut for the most tannic water. Yes, the original intent was to be used as a swim worm as it falls into that category, but it’s so versatile don’t just lock into one way. Especially my favorite, the Magnum Mike

Good suggestion I so rarely throw a stick bait I wouldn’t want to buy something specifically. I just keep a few beat up Speed Worms and use those if I had too. Mike

There was a time I only wore branded wicking shirts because I had too. Now I still do to some degree but mostly everything is just weather related Mike

Vertically at isolated weed/reed clumps When they just won’t commit to a frog Swim on top dropping in any hole you find Cut the tail with a razor for a different sound and a more spitting action on top Cut the tail off when on a stick bait bite when you run short (Magnum only) Theres a few more modifications and presentations I do but you get the point. It’s one of the very few baits that I won’t need to put down on any given outing Mike

First choice for flipping/pitching/punching is a Rage Bug. I’ve used those since they were just a prototype and was given a bag to try. 2nd is a Rage Craw. They have proven themselves more than once. When I need to slow down the action I use a Sweet Beaver When I need a larger profile especially trying to fire up a slow finicky bite, first choice is the standard sized Brush Hog Mike

Other than White Rage Bugs for sight fishing spawning beds I use…. Rage Bug, Rage Craw, Sweet Braver Standard sized Brush Hog All in June bug, watermelon red and maybe 1 or 2 in green pumpkin which I hardly ever use. Mike

I don’t even own 2/0 hooks and wouldn’t even consider using one or a 3/0 for that matter for a Speed Worm. I respectfully disagree about having poor or missed hookups with 4/0 or bigger ewg. Thats all I use and have a pretty good track record. How you guys get a solid set and not lose a fish during a strong retrieve through any type of grass where the Speed Worm shines, using such a tiny hook is beyond me. To each his own. Mike