Bluebasser86

Straight braid, no leader. Only time I use anything different is if the bait has a front prop or with a buzzbait. I use 20lb, but it's not forgiving if you make a mistake. Great thing is you can walk the bait, a fish blows up, all you do is crank into them to start digging the hooks and then lean into them if they're there. If they miss, just keep fishing it, no need to swing on them like with mono. The bait doesn't tangle on the line for me like I keep hearing stories of it happening, and I can cast a mile with the thin line.

Welcome!

Feeling better too. My knees and back don't hurt like they use to after a long day in the boat now that they'll not carrying an extra 60lbs. Funny how that works?

I think the hardest part for me was how much the same but different it was than fishing a T-rig. I pretty much had one of those days I decided I was going to learn it, took a rod with a jig and nothing else, and made myself learn it. Didn't catch as many as I usually do that day but I caught better quality. That's when the light came on for me.

French Pearl

I've done a split shot rig with their finesse worms, but not a TRD. I'd bet a big TRD or the Bang Stickz would work. I've done good with a full size ZinkerZ on a C-rig.

The correct size hook, rod/reel/line combo, and hookset are all going to play a part in converting bites into caught fish.

Welcome!

Welcome!

Man, I was wading a little creek a couple days ago and a doe jumped out of the brush 10' from me, bounded twice, straight at me, I could have touched her nose when she put her front hooves in the ground and cut up the creek. I was braced for impact. Probably not the best escape tactic had I been another large predator, but I'd have preferred she just hid there in the bushes and I'd have never noticed her instead of scaring the life out of me.

I've taken to cutting short sections of pole noodles and taping them to the butt of my rods when I'm in my kayak so if I flip, they'll float. Maybe something to consider. It's a <$5 solution to save hundreds of dollars.

Never had a year like this one for smallmouth over 4 pounds in Kansas. Crazy thing, only one came out of a popular lake for smallmouth. 4.14 4.08 4.04 4.91 4.67

If you're going to keep them, keep the smaller ones, they'll taste better and have fewer toxins in them. I wish I liked to eat fish, I'd love to be able to get a "free" fish dinner occasionally. Slot limit lakes near me would be great places too where I could keep 5 12" bass to help the lake and get a fish dinner, a win-win. I've kept my limit of "unders", for the other guy in the boat before if they want to eat them, but I've also had very upset people yelling at me for turning loose a fish they could have eaten when I toss back a big one.

That sounds right. I've got #2-2/0 in my swimbait wraps so I'll just have to do a side by side comparison and decide which looks best. The Arashi is one of the 2 baits I brought with me to work to toss around when I get off in the morning. Bait looks good, haven't got bit on it yet though.

My wife has one, I bought it and the matching Quantum Energy PT reel for a Valentine's Day present while we were either dating or just married. It's basically an Avid with a thinner handle to fit in smaller hands. My wife loves it and has caught tons of fish on it.

20lb on a baitcaster is tricky. I like it for topwaters, but a weightless option like a fluke is asking for disaster, but you know that now. 30 or 40 is more forgiving and easier to handle. I'd opt for a spinning rod with a weightless fluke, but I'd opt not to fish a fluke if I don't have to.

I'm sure it's a fine reel. Honestly been really happy with my Daiwa Revros. I've got 10lb braid on one, 8lb mono on one, and 20lb braid on one, they've handled all of it fine. Awesome reels for the money. They've taken over the spot the President use to hold has my budget spinning reel of choice.

I'll probably swap mine to ST 36s like I do most of my baits. The hooks don't seem terrible, but I have the replacements already and hate to lose a monster to lesser hooks.

Went to the Academy by me for the first time this year I believe, at least since all the crazy started, they didn't have any of these.

If you're going to get into swimbaits, the first thing you'll have to look at is a dedicated rod and reel to throw them on.

I've caught big bass on fresh cut bait, and frozen cut bait. My dad even caught a nice walleye on a chunk of cut bluegill under a bobber floating over submerged grass for bluegills. I've also hammered the catfish on jigging spoons, bladed jigs, caught them on buzzbaits, frogs, and targeted big flatheads intentionally with big, deep diving crankbaits. It's only strange if you try to stay inside the strict guidelines we try to set for the fish.

Topwaters are an all day thing for me. They may not be as effective during the middle of the day, but some of my biggest topwater fish have been in the middle of the day. Find some shaded spots or good ambush spots and fish them there, they'll get bit.

It's just a question, nothing spammy or overtly promotional about it. Asking questions is a big part about what this site is about. As long as the question isn't about a blocked subject/company, and doesn't come off as spam (have you guys ordered from company X? wow they're amazing! check them out! *Insert link). I've ordered from them a couple times and never had a problem.

This and I'd also try flipping plastics, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, and a frog. A lot of variables to weigh, but assuming I was going to go out tomorrow in current time of year and water temps, those are the baits I'd fish.

I keep them in their bags. Putting them in boxes just seems like such a hassle and that's when the problems seem to start with colors bleeding, baits melting together or to boxes, and getting bent in the boxes.