OkobojiEagle

My line is probably the least costly component of my fishing and possibly the most important to landing a trophy. I only use backing to complete filling the spool when my freshly purchased spool of PE line doesn't completely fill the reel spool. oe

You should have been fishing a spinnerbait all year along with your other selected baits... oe

I always have a spinnerbait tied and ready to throw. Tied to the spinning rod would be a fluke, grub, suspending jerkbait or top water bait depending on water conditions. oe

How deep do you want the bait to run on the retrieve? They are labeled for the depth they will run DT4 runs 4' deep, DT6 runs 6' deep and so on. Buy as many of the baits as you feel you need to cover the depths you want to fish. Like wrenches you probably need a set to get the job done... and a couple of extra in the sizes you will most often be using. oe

I would first try to smooth out your cast by not launching your bait with so much "oomph". You may be wrapping the line around your rod tip when you are casting so hard. oe

Either shim under the reel foot with a thin strip of plastic or lightly tape around the ends of the reel foot. oe

I happen to like the 10lb fused Fireline on my spinning reels, but have used 20lb Spiderwire Ultra-cast happily on my baitcasting reels. I don't want my PE line so soft it "fluffs" on the spool. Stick with the white color... oe

I owned a Fishing Buddy unit like that some time ago to use on a float tube... it wasn't very useful. I wouldn't spend my money on another one. Are you wanting a unit to put on a boat? oe

Reel in a couple of nice bass with them... they'll smell just great then. Bass will hit them just fine as is from the package. oe

8 & 8... more wraps equals more line weakening friction when tightening the knot. I keep the Alberto knot inside of my mouth immersed in saliva when tightening. I also leave ~3/8" of tag on the PE mainline (back side of knot). oe

Stopped at the Owatonna, MN Cabelas this past Sunday... didn't have anything I was looking to replenish in bait/tackle. I left empty handed. This was the same outcome as my last couple trips to that store. My wife suggested I change my credit card to something other than a Cabelas card... maybe she has a point. oe

Maintaining a slower retrieve speed by slowing down your natural reeling cadence is more difficult than many/most anglers think it will be... oe

23"- 25" retrieve return oe

... yah, but I read it on the internet! oe

... with many formula changes (improvements) over those years. oe

I wouldn't say diameter has much to do with abrasion... but diameter does have much to do with line breaking from abrasion. oe

weight sensitive suspending baits need hooks of exactly the same weight... oe

Attila... thanks for the suggestion, I'm looking for one even a little shallower running. But on another note, I've never seen anyone rig their live bait to a jerkbait before? (You seem to be someone who can take a little good natured ribbing... and give it back) oe

Not to argue with success, but I've passed them up because I reasoned the "skirt" being molded of the same material as the rest of the bait, wouldn't be soft enough to lay back against the body on a slow dragging retrieve. oe

... I haven't been able to find a Flashminnow 95 for awhile, although there seems to be plenty of the 110 available. Koppers Livetarget has a perch pattern that fits my parameters and Luck-e-strike is supposed to have a floating version of the STX but I keep finding the STX labeled as suspending and it works a little deeper than I'm looking for. Unless I get a better idea I'll probably default to a Flashminnow 110, which isn't the worst choice I've ever made. oe

I'm looking for a couple of suggestions for a floating jerkbait... 4"- 4.5", plastic, shallow diving <2', slow rising, moderate to tight action', weight transfer system. Thanks oe

Translate my response as "more time on the water equals more success". Please forgive my vagueness as it is a direct correlation with my 40 years of marriage to the same woman... oe

10% of anglers spend 90% of the total angling hours... oe

Amen... oe

Yes. If you are working the popper very slowly, try holding your rod tip up to work the bait. oe