Will Wetline

Been using size 0 Spro-Gamakatsu ball bearing snap swivels for spinnerbait blades for many seasons. http://www.barlowstackle.com/SPRO-SW-Gamakatasu-Ball-Bearing-swivel-with-Interlock-Snap-P878C123.aspx Stay away from the less expensive imported bb snap swivels if you want your blades to rotate reliably for any length of time.

I fish the same water as Crestliner2008 and, following his lead, throw blade baits into Quabbin's water when it's below the low 50ºs (along with bucktails). I assemble my own from Barlow's Vibrating Blade Lure body. http://www.barlowstackle.com/Vibrating-Blade-Lure-P2631.aspx I'll be experimenting this year to see if I can figure a hook setup that will hang less frequently.

Hoo Hoo Hootie! Want a good laugh about the state of American English usage? Google Weird Al Yankovic's "Word Crimes." Please note that some may find this objectionable to some extent.

My home water has the same degree of clarity and beside what's mentioned above, I do very well with a cinnamon w/black flake, specifically GYCB #176 in a 5" Hula Grub.

I'm glad to see Lunker City get the credit they deserve for the Slug Go. BTW the 3" version makes a real good drop shot bait. http://www.lunkercity.com/firstpage.html

My understanding is that oval rings were designed so you don't carelessly tie off in the split.

If you're fishing smallmouth in clear water try a Duo Realis Spin Bait 80. Fish it on 6 lb. fluoro, no heavier. Smallies also ate Gene Larew's Biffle Bug last year and will again this year.

Josh, for a number of years I have been building spinnerbaits from components and using Spro-Gamakatsu snap swivels, size 0. http://www.barlowstackle.com/SPRO-SW-Gamakatasu-Ball-Bearing-swivel-with-Interlock-Snap-P878C123.aspx If you don't care to assemble your own, you can open the loop on a spinnerbait of your choice and replace the standard 2 split ring swivel with the Spro-Gamakatsu. Be sure to close the loop so there is no gap. One disadvantage to a snap swivel is that if you're fishing a weedy environment it will foul more than a 2 ring swivel. It works fine for me because most often I burn a spinnerbait close to the surface but sometimes slow roll over rocks with sparse weed cover.

White vinegar takes the shine off lead in a matter of hours.

I like to click on "Shop By Brands" on TW. Then I have a look at what AA's worms has to offer. This year for sure I'm going to see how I like Z-Man's Elaztech products. I keep a pad of narrow ruled paper handy and write everything down. Doesn't mean I'm going to order but it's all there if I do decide to whip out the credit card.

4 lb. smallies bend spinnerbait wires! I'm not worried about that style box (which I also use).

I did so well with their Spin Bait 80 last season I bought a couple of 100 SPs, a 110 SP, and a Pencil 110 for 2015. Ghost Gill and Komochi Wakasagi worked fine for my clear water smallies.

Take an arbitrary number of posts say, 368. That bassmaster should win.

I watched the last day video of Casey cleaning up with that bait and thought it was Do-It's larger "horse" head mold thinking that fluke type bait was too big for the Pony, but you may be right that the mold was modified. Here are a couple of pics of the Sea Horse: These molds are nothing new but Casey and Powroznik (Watch his final day video too) certainly made good use of them!

I noted this same potential problem using size 2 split rings and Gamakatsu 584 EWG hooks. I've used this hook for years and it has served me well fishing very clear water with 8lb. and 10lb. mono or fluoro. I didn't fish my homemade Jika rigs a lot but a 3 lb. smallie did not cause a problem with the eye of the hook settled into the split of the ring.

That's a great idea. And the keel-weighted hook ensures that the rig tracks straight rather than rolls, yes?

Greetings from your neighbor in Greenfield. I throw the bismuth/tin jigs that I pour, paint and dress at the smallmouth in Quabbin Reservoir as well as other baits. Welcome to BassResource!

Duo Realis Spin Bait 80 4.5 lb. smallmouth

I do some tying and have thought that a Woolly Bugger type fly or Zonker (bunny) strip would work on a 4X long hook but haven't tried it yet.

http://www.buckosparts.com/ These people do good work.

I can attest to the success of the Duo Realis Spin Bait 80. Bought it out of curiosity and it turned out to be my best new bait of the 2014 season. Presentation is critical, however. you must be a patient fisherman. This technique is not for the run-and-gunner. If you use the search feature on this forum and Google "Duo Realis Spin Bait 80" you will find enough information to keep you busy for quite a while.

Thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks.

Thanks for posting this video which covers the basics of the Ned rig. I'll be trying it with Elaztech plastics this season.

Nice work!

. . . And if they don't hit a big one be sure to try a Pointer 78.