Redtail

I have 2 and think they are great.

Same as everyone else - poorly designed. Certain jigs fit great, but most don't.

I think some anglers use attractants just to keep the bait from smelling like whatever might be on their hands, gasoline, grease, oil, cologne etc.

WOW! And I thought I was bad, lol. Lot's of really nice equipment out there. I golfed for 30 years and thought nothing of spending 3 or 4 hundred for a new driver. I also thought $25 for a fishing set up was plenty. I guess it's all relative. I was out yesterday practice casting in the yard with my new toys. I can't wait for the season to start - The Ice is finally starting to melt.

Is there a "rule of thumb" for knowing how much line to put on a baitcaster and a spinning reel? I'm never really sure when it's full, and I don't want to under fill it either. Thanks in Advance!

I do it at least 3 or 4 times a week. I tie on a plastic worm and practice accuracy. Sunday the neighbor's cat keep chasing the worm on the way in. The neighbors love to come out and ask how the fish are bitin. I always tell them I can only catch catfish this time of the year!

What is your most expensive set up? Mine is a Shimano Chronarch on a Shimano Cumara about $460. My wife thinks it's a $69 set up from K-Mart. If she only knew!

I'm buying a Shimano Cumara baitcaster this week 6' 8" M basically for use with soft plastics (Senkos & Tubes). I'm going to put my Shimano Chronarch on it. I can get one with a Fast or X Fast Tip. Can someone explain to me when you need a fast tip vs. an X Fast Tip? Thanks in Advance.

I want to use a jig more this year, but the pond I fish most of the time has a very mucky type bottom and loads of hydrilla. There are very few places on it that have a rocky bottom. Is there any jig that might work better for this application? Thanks in Advance!

I have had a lot of success with the Fat Ika too. I also like the Big Ika which is a bit longer and a bit thinner. It's like a combination senko and ika. I rig it the same way with a 3/0 hook.

I also use a Stradic. Someone told me that if you close the bail manually instead of reeling it cuts down on line twist. Not sure about that, but I always close it manually.

50" Panasonic Plasma TV. It's what I use to catch all my favorite fishing shows on Saturday morning! Real Fishing all done for me in New England - my boat has been winterized and it's been cold!

Senko style baits overrated - that's like saying Tiger Woods is overrated in Golf!

5" worm 3/0 EWG 4" worm 2/0 EWG JMO

Spinnerbaits and Crankbaits for me. I always allow some time on each trip for them with the same result, Frustration. It's soft plastics for me or I ain't catchin any fish! I just like catchin, I really don't care what I am catchin em on!

A lot of fish we have been catching lately have been tossing crawfish parts. They are kinda brown and orange colored. What are your favorite crawfish type baits? Thanks in Advance.

Great Post as Always Dan!

Wow! Those pics are incredible. That fish looks like a submarine in the water.

Big Ika

It would obviously be an estimate, of course no one counts casts. An estimate. Hey Senile - You're a Funny Guy.

I asked this question last year, but didn't word it properly. Counting only large mouth and small mouth bass caught that were keepers (say 12" or better). If you divided the number of casts you took by the number of keepers caught, what do you think it would be? I know some days are better than others, but if you were able to count every cast you took all year and divided by all the keepers, what do you think it would be. I'm guessing maybe 1 in every 150 casts. Just curious what you guys think.

acar - I was wondering the same thing - thanks for the great article!

The big ika is very soft like the senko, but it is a little bigger around than a senko. They still tear, but maybe just a bit more durable than a senko. I seem to get a better hook up ratio as compared to using the Fat Ika. I also seem to get more lip hooks than gut hooks using this bait. The fall seems to be very similar to the Fat Ika as well. They aren't as heavy as the Fat Ika, but you can still cast them quite far.

I haven't tried forward yet, only skirt up. Since it worked so well, I didn't bother to try it the other way.

The only place I could find them was the Yamamoto site.