mikeeasttn

I used Shimano Crucial Rods and still do my older ones. When they went to the split handle(not full cork) I went to custom built rods when I wanted or needed a new rod. The custom rods are great but would go back to Shimano in a second if they would only start putting full cork on their swimbait rods and crank rods once again. As to reels started out with the Ambassedeur round reels and now and using Shimano reels up to the point of having a Calais 100 and 200. Recently have started using Daiwa reels and am starting to buy more of them. I like the Zillions for swimbaits with braid line and P-Line for crankbaits. Have noticed I am using the Daiwa's more and more.

Speedbead see you on the swimbait forums all the time. Would like to ask you if you think since water temps are cooler this summer would the Hudds have an advantage over the other baits like the Triple Trout especially in deeper water. Thanks Mike

To esitmate this will be difficult for me. Since I have taken up throwning swimbaits my expenses have gone thru the roof but does it really matter if you enjoy what you are doing. So far this year I have spent over $1600.00 dollars and plan to purchase two new reels that just came on the market. That means two new rods for the reels and etc.

When Bass Pro discontiuned their Pro lIte Bait Casters I bought 1 of them and sent them to a pro reel service and he redid the reels to where they will handle 6# line and cast very light weights. I also use a Shimano symetre spinning reel but I prefer the baitcasters as I feel I have more control espically when I have a fish on.

A good day of fishing for me is when we go fishing and my grandson catches 3 or 4 fish and we return home safely.

I have never owned a Pro Qual Bait Caster but know many in my area that fish with them. All who use them swear by them and I see nothing but great reviews on them. This was the reason for my decision to purchase one. I purchased a Pro Qual spinning reel for my grandson in the 50 size which is the largest spinning reel available in Pro Qual I think. He is in to fishing the large swimbaits as I am and has trouble with back lashes with a BC. Had him a custom 8' swimbait spinning rod made and put Suffix 832 80# on his reel and the reel has given no trouble so far throwing the big heavy baits up to 12". Also the reel is very smooth when retrieving the baits and is still very tight after last season and this season. Unfortunately he has not caught anything over 8.5# so far so drag has not been really tested either.

The MS Slammer in 7 or 9" length. Also the Mini MS Slammer. At night I use them all in black but really most color will work it seems. They make so much noise with the joints popping together and move so much water a bass will come from a long way to get one.

I throw the dirty jig in a 3/8oz, 1/2oz and 3/4oz size with usually a swimbait trailer from 3 to 6 inches. I use a Shimano Crucial Crankbait rod 7'11" Med Hvy Action with a med fast tip. Shimano says it is a fast tip but is really a med fast tip or seems that way to me.

I use the Dirty Jig in shad colors, Ala Bream, and Ayu colors. For trailers I use the Optimun Double Diamond, Roboworm Shad, Keitech or Big hammer. I use the 1/2oz or 3/4oz size jigs.

My home lake is Norris Lake in East Tn and I am 5 minutes from a boat ramp. It is one of the largest TVA impoundments and has over 800 miles of shoreline and 34,000 acres of surface water area. It is 73 miles long on the Clinch River arm and 56 miles long on the Powell River arm. I am also less than 2 hours from Douglas Lake and a hours drive from more than 3 other large TVA impoundments. I am very lucky to live in this area and I do take advantage of most of the lakes as I can. There are 4 to 5 tournaments a week on the lake but in the summer the jet skis and ski boats are numerous to say the least. They are not a great problem if you "head toward the river channels". We still have the early spring fishing and fall fishing without all the traffic. There are no lakes in this area that I would not fish.

I have been throwing the Slug Go since the early 90's and still use it as my go to jerk bait. The alewife color works the best for me especially on my home lake. Not only will it catch LM and SM bass but have caught stripers up to 14# with it.

Definitely use the JJ Magic. I know it will help you get more stikes. I use it all the time on most of my lures. On my medium and large swimbaits I use a very oily base scent so it will be lubricated and the fish that hit a swimbait will not be able to bite down and hold the bait so you can not get a good hookset.

I use braid on one of TVA clearest lakes. Does it cost me stikes and fish. I really can not tell you for sure but I do catch fish. On everything except medium and large hard body swim baits I use 40# Suffix 832. I take a permanent magic marker and mark about 2 feet of the end of the line. Just go down a step in rod strength so you do not tear the hooks from the fishes mouth.

Thanks Bass Junkie.

I have lost a couple of Hudd 68's when I put a treble hook on the bottom ring and also lost a 9 inch bull shad on a steep cliff in 40 feet of water. Also may i ask what is a Sammy?

For my ultra lite bluegill rods and reels I use 4# Trilene XL. The only bad thing is as I get older I have a hard time seeing the line and even seeing it to tie a knot. This is where I use the help of my best fishing buddy forever, my grandson to thread the rods and tie knots for the really small line.

My home lake is 5 minutes from my door the to ramp. It is a large TVA impoundment. Norris Lake Dale Hollow 2 1/2 hours. Forth Loudon 1 hour 15 minutes. Cherokee Lake 1 hour Chickumagua 3 hours Tellico 1 and 1/2 hours Guntersville 3 to 3 and 1/2 hours according to the traffic. Douglas Lake 2 hours. As you can see I live close to some great fishing.

I throw the 68 on a heavy bass rod with 15# P-Line CXX to a med heavy Shimano Swimbait rod with 20# CXX. The heavy bass rod with 15# line is really a little light but will work.

I use 10# P-Line CXX on a 7'6" glass rod. Works for me. Deep or Swallow running. Glass rod will keep them pinned better once on your crank.

I use braid on all my rods except for 2 which I fish glide baits and top water on. Gives me more confidence that I will land the fish. Also for me it seems to last longer than the fluro or mono. Also I never use a leader.

I have fished the scatter rap quite a bit in the last 3 weeks but change the hooks on them to Owners. The fish that have hit the baits have stayed on so I can not tell you if it is the Owners hooks holding them or if the VMC hooks that came with the baits would have done the same job. Usually the VMC hooks are good but not as good as the Owners. Any bait I expect to catch fish I always change the hooks to Owners the first thing.

My favorite is Shimano with Daiwa running a close second. Although for my big swimbaits I must say my Ambassedeurs 5500D and 6600D are tops.

I have been bass fishing since the late 70's and thought I pretty well knew all there was to know about my type of fishing. After lurking on this site for several months I joined and what I have learned has taken my fishing to a higher level. There are many of the members on this site that have forgotten more than I will ever know about bass fishing and I learn something new each time I sign in on this site.

My Core 50

I fish swimjigs quite a bit. My favorite is Northstar and Dirty Jigs. Also use the V & M and have tried the Strike King. The trailers I use are paddle tail swimbaits, double tail grubs and have even use plastic worms. It all depends on what the fish will hit that day.