Spankey

Couldn’t be put any better. Pretty many of them here in S.E. Penna. They can get to be a pain on the butt when early season trout fishing. They’ll hit a Panther Martin hard as heck. You think you hooked up a trout and then they flounder out to nothing when reeling them in. Some do get to be a nice size.

I use both. I probably have more Shimano stuff but I don’t have a Daiwa or Shimano product that I’m dissatisfied with over a many year history. I could be wrong on this but it appears that both companies are trying to step up their game with their lower end/price point stuff also. Tough for some newbies to drop $160 - $200 on a reel. Or to justify it. I'm thinking about getting myself on the pre-order list from TW on the Crossfire Reel. Get them for grandsons in the 1000 series. They are starting to get a nice amount of fishing tackle together. Anyway, can’t go wrong with either.

Big Rapy fan here. Been fishing the 4, 6, and 10's since they came out. Can't say I've ever had a factory defect or cheap bill issue. Have bills wear but that happens when you get them down deep into rocks.

Hey man I know I’ve invented nothing. But I’ve been finesse fishing soft plastics forever on the river. Long before the terms split shotting, drop shotting, light T-rigging and stuff like that became popular by name. To me that Ned Rig is nothing but grub fishing. But it is a great product. Buoyancy is great. But I guess what I’m trying to say is some of us that are a bit older and started bass fishing seriously in the late 70’s and early 80’s have fished this way for years. And even older guys before that. But it’s all good. It’s all good stuff. Will do. Sure is cheap enough. Thanks. I’m sure that even though I think I know about Slider fishing I’m willing to bet there is a lot more to know. Would like to know now about the different shapes on those jig heads. Why the one is thin, flat and oval shaped. I have never used or tried itvover the years.

I didn’t try a search but the book you guys are talking about is it still in production? Or will it be something on eBay?

I agree those BPS Grips are no prize. I have and use the Rapala grips and like them. I want to pick up their smaller version also. I think the smaller version will better suite my river smallie fishing. Just a thought.

I’m one also. Started early 80’s with it. I never had the book or video to read or watch but maybe I’ll look for it some time. I still fish it quite a bit. I fish my soft plastic on the smaller and finesse side. River and smallmouth fishing. A local lake I fish is on the pressured side. Or somewhat pressured and the Slider style of fishing finesse worms is productive. I fish the larger Slider Grubs also. I don’t recall catching any of my larger smallies on it though. Back years ago ago I was fishing the Delaware River up near Trenton and I hooked one of those Charlie Brewer Slider rod and reel setups that went overboard on someone. Was not in water very long because it cleaned up very very well. Totally disassembled the reel. Was fine. I tried it but I gave it away not long after that to some young kid who was fishing with a real piece of junk at the boat ramp. They put out a good product.

Great post! ?? Thanks.

And you’re a good guy for doing that.

I have two daughters. 32 and 38 year olds. We go on Father’s Day, been traditional for some years now. I don’t get any fishing in. Don’t care to. Rather watch them catch them. We’ve been getting a lot of rain this spring and the bass bite was not great that day. They caught a few dink’s slider fishing. Than I put them on some bluegills where they caught probably 50 of them. There was a lot of talking and yaking going on but they had a great time. Than to the diner for late breakfast.

I hear you on that boss. That’s why I prefer to be by myself. I’m willing to work hard to catch bass if it comes down to that. I’m not opposed to concentrate on them. I guess I take it too serious. I’ve been told that on more than one occasion. Would prefer fishing than having a BS session. I like being more of a guide to newbies. They seem to enjoy it more. You must have the patience of a Saint to have dealt with that.

I’m myself most of the time. I don’t mind taking anyone out. Most of those time I don’t care about fishing all that much. I’d rather be like a guide and get them on some bass. Most people who ask me to take them along are men, woman or a kid possibly that have never been around a bass, crappie or bluegill in their lives. I try to make the outing about them sort of. I can go myself anytime.

Great bait, I'm sort of new to them this season. I'm a Rapala freak so I'm always somewhat ready to jump on board with their stuff. Been river and lake fishing with them catching fish with them. I agree with a post above that I do not believe I get 6 feet with them. I have not tried or bought the shallower version and probably won't. Their color pattern selection is good. Have only used carbon and shiner colors.

Been dealing with a lot of rain. “Rain in the summertime” The Alarm

Actually the lower ratio reel might be better if you’re throwing smaller size crankbaits.

I would say yes. But it still is not a fast or x-fast action. Those ugly sticks are good for crankbaits, topwater, in-line spinners and spinnerbaits. Good luck with it. They are good rods. As someone said they are not much for finesse fishing soft plastics but they make good inexpensive rods for that also. You really don’t need a $200-$300 rod to cover every technique out there.

I would not buy sight unseen or un touched. With any kind of luck you can get to a dealer that has the Bass X, MoJo’s and the Premier Series Rods. You’ll find the feel you’re looking for. If you can bring the reel you are going to use with you also. I like the Premier Series Crankbait Rods but that’s not helping you at all. I could be wrong on this his but I don’t think I am, but on the Bass X series rods I believe they are less one guide on average compared to the Premier or Mojo series rods. May mean nothing but maybe it does.

I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. If it feels right go for it. The only X series I own is ML-Xfast. I also have a Nasci on it. I fish Premiere and Avid Series Rods with full grips. Love them. Great factory warranty in case you need it. Only had to use it a couple of times and had no issues with them and I don’t believe I had to put out anything from my end. I got turned on to St. Croix Rods back in the late 80’s by some Susquehanna River Rats boys and have never looked back. I don’t own anything above the Avid Series. Good luck.

Mick, great post. I know it’s easy for me to spend your money but I buy both also. One thing for sure of the Premier Series is that it doesn’t break the bank. It’s a quality rod. You’ll find night and day difference between them and those ugly sticks. No dis to ugly sticks. The fast action will change your fishing.

Great post. I’m pretty much a St. Croix guy. Premiers, Avids and Mojos. Don’t overlook the Primier series Casting Crankbait Rods. Love them for my river smallmouth fishing.

Probably my log on pic. Pretty small. Unreal trying to take that lure.

I jumped on the Ned Rig bandwagon back awhile ago. Just another version of grub fishing for river smallies. I do like the Z Man product. I do better without the weed guard on the jigs. I have cut some of them back or off. I’m experimenting with a few other jigs. The BPS and Berkley styles without wire guard. Also cut up torn Senkos for bodies and they work well. But the Z’s are more boyant.

I bought some recently to compare them to Rat-L-Traps. Fished Traps my whole life. But I’ll be honest I got hung up with all the hype on this site over them. Bought patterns that should produce. If I run across your problem I’ll just give them away. They were ridiculous cheap at BPS. maybe that is why they were so cheap.

I’m dealing with all the above here in PA also. Water condition less than stellar. Suppose to be wet the majority of the week. Hope there are no flash floods and I stand a decent chance on the weekend. My wish is just less than selfish in comparison to many of you. I know a lot of you guys got slammed and devastated recently with the rains. My life does not compare. Wish you all the better to get out of it. Be safe and god bless you.

I only fish with mono and flouro carbon. My setups that get used the most and fished the hardest get changed out about every other time out. Conditions dictate it. I don’t replace the whole spool, I strip back to where I have a splice knot. I fish pretty light. I use a lot of 6# and 8# test and I buy it in bulk. I’m pretty sure I’m changing it prematurely. It’s surely a mental and anal thing to replace it that often.