OkobojiEagle

iiTzChunky, Keep a bend in your rod when fighting a large bass. Check your knots and line for abrasion often. Service your reels at least once a year. Now you've got three more important things to worry about when bass fishing... oe

The disconnect between weight and bait is what makes a Texas rig unique. A number of jigheads are built with wide gap hooks and can be "tex-posed" to fish more weedless but will give you the connection to the bait you're looking for. oe

While I've used Brewer heads for many years, I'll be the first to admit that the tackle isn't the important part of Charlie's success. Actually the tackle is only mediocre. Find a copy of Charlie Brewer's book "Slider Fishing" and learn his technique and understand why it's successful. The jigheads work fine when matched with appropriate rods, reels and baits, but its really about the technique. oe

Catt gets a little wordy, but you should go back and wade through his response... fish the spots you would fish if the weeds weren't there. oe

If I was in your shoes I'd keep the chatterbait tied on and not worry about a spinnerbait... oe

The Trilene knot is a dependable knot with both nylon and fluoro monofilament lines. oe

What is it about the Veritas you have that isn't to your liking? oe

My "rule of thumb"... lighter powers need faster actions. Light & med. light power rods need extra-fast actions, medium power rods need fast action and med. heavy rods need med. fast action. This works well for my bass & walleye fishing, your mileage may differ. oe

Where is your area? oe

Trilene knot with nylon or fluoro Palomar with PE oe

This time of year mine makes a pretty nice soft jerkbait rod. It works well for topwater baits as well. oe

Yep... 5" black leach pattern (lightly weighting the hook shank works better to drop shot with) oe

accuracy counts... oe

Fluorocarbon lines are monofilament lines. oe

Valuable information from all... thank you. I'm running through my head the idea of applying cork tape to the exposed blank then covering the cork tape with a shrink sleeve (both available from Mudhole). This would build-up the exposed blank diameter very slightly and give me a less slippery surface to hold on to with my left hand. Not exactly the same as having the butt knob closer to the reel, but maybe an acceptable compromise that won't screw-up the rod balance. oe

I understand exactly what you're telling me and have reservations for the same reason. My comfortable casting grip needs my left hand 2" above the butt grip which is currently on bare rod blank. My preference is to grip the cork butt. Another option might be to build up the 2" above the butt cork and not cut any off the blank. What product is available to build up the blank to the butt diameter? Thanks. oe

I have shortened several full cork rod grips, but this current rod presents a unique (to me) challenge. I want to shorten the grip of a split grip spinning rod by the length of the butt cork. I'm contemplating cutting the blank where the butt cork begins, sanding the outside of the blank above the cut and the inside of the blank below the cut until the 2" butt section will slip over the blank above the cut. First, do you think I will be able to sand the two ends enough to allow the butt end piece of blank to slip over the remaining blank end. Second, reattaching all of the original weight, will I end up with the same rod balance as before the modification although 2" less length behind the reel? Any and all opinions and other suggestions are eagerly requested! oe

Good to have you chime in Kenny. I try to re-read Billy's book each winter. For those interested in smallmouth fishing books, Tony Bean wrote two very good books. I think they are separated by about 20 years, but both are very good reads on the subject. oe

3 colors... dark, light & bright

I remember the bites I didn't bring to hand... oe

Henceforth they shall always be known as "Brian's Dizzy Jigs"... oe

Put them away in the bags DRY and STRAIGHT... they will fish fine. oe

I work a fluke much as I do walking topwater baits... sharp snaps with the rod tip then allowing immediate slack in the line. Loose coils will often develop on the spool. Loose coils are more problematic with a spinning spool than a casting spool, thus my reason for preferring casting reels with flukes, hard jerkbaits and walking topwater baits. oe

... is it with a spinning rod/reel or casting rod/reel? oe

It looks well tied... but I don't have a need for smallie jigs that stout where I fish them. oe