Spankey

I use them all season. Early on to until I wrap it up. Shad Raps and DT’s are very very productive. It wasn’t all that long ago that I would not ever entertain the idea of No.8 or No.9 Shap Raps. They have become a norm for me now. As far as the jointed ones I use them as a change up. I’ll be throwing Shad Raps and if I am not getting results I make casts with the jointed. Sometime it is enough to trigger strikes. Sometimes that did save the day. In my fishing I rank a Shad Rap as high as a Rat-L-Trap. Flat out productive. But there are days it doesn’t matter what you are throwing, they are not home.

Hopefully the temps are not so high that the fish are turned off. Use some search type baits to trigger some reaction strikes. Don’t under estimate the effectiveness of a Rat-L-Trap. I take it this is new water to you guys?

I don’t eat them and I don’t catch them and bring them back home to my hood and show them off.

I love the various Rapala tools I have. Good price, good product. But I’m not using them in saltwater. Brackish and freshwater.

I remember that years back also. I think it was going around how great that color was for gin clear water. Well gin clear water leaves my part of the world out. Oddly enough In the fall when the water is the clearest for me, blue version on crankbaits does work the best. I’m pretty much a Rapala freak. Silver w/ blue back, Bruised, and Ole Blue have worked good. I throw those DT’s in October with no reservations. They set the rest of the season. Don’t draw too much of a bite with them.

Most of my T-rigging is on the lighter side. 1/16, 1/8, 3/16 oz., I have not tried it. Seems like anything I heard talked about was on the heavier side. I might be interested in trying something in a punching style sometime. I fish the drop shot quite a bit. I find non removable split shot to work best for me. If you do get hung up, the split shot is sacrificial and no rig damage or loss. At least very minimal. $$$ and cent wise is a lot cheaper but that is not my main reason for use. #5’s and #4’s primarily. Step up to 3’s if windy.

Very interesting. Great post. Thank you. But, do they see colors like a human? I hear not. A bass have never told me, at least not yet.

Good choice. My soft plastics has finally kicked in. My preferred way to fish. Not sure why I have struggled until lately. Probably a mental block where crankbaits have be productive and I felt just stick to what is working. Straight watermelon, watermelon red fk, watermelon purple fk, seem to work for me in pretty much clear to stained water. Watermelon red crankbaits is a good choice. It has worked for me. It’s a natural color in the crawfish world.

I use pre Rapala and newer versions. Patterns produce well. Pretty simple crankbait.

They are also productive in weed lines and holes or pockets of Lilly pads. Good bait to have a few of. Try the SK KVD’s. They are productive and don’t break the bank $$$.

On the river over the years Mr. Twister Worms and Grubs have treated me well. They can’t seem to keep the variations of worms of yesteryear. Not sure why because they are not setting the world on fire with anything new as of lately. The Exude line was pretty good. Not sure why they fell off the earth. A great worm use to be a Mr. Twister Pro Bandit. Was a ribbon tail with a laminated look to it. Was very productive. With any kind of luck they will hang in there and keep what you guys are using. If you need a pack of something order 2 or 3 packs. Never know what’s in store with companies today.

I feel so good about my choice and quality that I’ve seen over the last 8 weeks of using It on these three setup that I ordered more. Biggest spools I’ve found were 660 yd. spools though. Wish I could find 1/4 pound or 1200 yd. spools for more cost savings. Ok for now, if I dig I’m sure I can find it. This COVID and economy has fishing tackle and associated products screwed up. I’m not hard up for anything. I have all winter ahead of me to find bulk spools.

Guys nothing fact based on tinsel strength testing or using a caliper checking published diameters of lines (could do it if necessary). My review is just flat out use on (3) of my set up that are used pretty hard when out. (1) 6’9” ML X-Fast Act. Spinning - Drop Shot, Split Shot, Neds and light T-rigs. SUNLINE 6lb. Super Natural Clear. (1) 6’8” Med. Fast Act. Spinning - Weightless Senko, Neko rigs, 7” Power Worms and weightless trick worms. SUNLINE 8lb. Super Natural Clear. (1) 7’ Med. Moderate Act. Spinning - nothing exceeding 3/8 oz., Shad Raps, DT’s, Bandit, Model A’s, Cottons and Rat-L-Traps. SUNLINE Super Natural 8lb. Super Natural Clear. Line stays limp, no knot problems, not suffering from breaking off problems, line holds up well to abrasion resistance. Seem to be holding up very very well to sunlight and heat. I did see some bad reviews prior to buying. Seen just as many good reviews. I threw the reviews out and was willing to try it. This season so far I like my results with it. Fishing a light line I do realize things could go bad in a hurry. I’m willing to take that chance. * I do not work for SUNLINE, I got no FREEBIES from SUNLINE, no ties to SUNLINE. After years of being a Trilene and Stren user just experimenting and trying to think outside of the box. * I’m using some Sniper Flouro. currently. Not ready to comment fairly on that yet. Also fishing some McCoy copolymer. No real fair comments yet on that either.

Real run on the Boat Buckle Brand. I’m two weeks on my replacements. Love them. Was a nice upgrade.

Willing to bet your trailer need can be found if you have a cargo type trailer sales place near you. Nothing special about any of the markers or bulbs. Are made standard.

On the control for your trolling motor, if you are setup that the switch is continuous/off/momentary. Just keep the switch in off position. Keep speed control on off. Just a habit I got into doing. I’ve never had much in the way of charging problems. Did have an onboard charger go bad once but it was easy to troubleshoot with a meter.

That how I live bait fish for trout with 2# and 4# test. Not really for bass. To OP not much in the way of rights and wrongs. Just a matter of how you fish. Personal thing. What feel you like. And a rod don’t mean crap for feel if a reel ain’t on it.

I guess rods handles, grips types, butt lengths and foregrips are personal preference. I prefer full cork over split grip. But I do fish some split grips. I’d rather use cork over EVA, but the foam handles are better today than 30 years ago. I have a couple of Abu Rods that are foam and I like the rods very much. I like a rod with some fore grip section, I don’t want a rod that has threads showing in the fore grip. I keep a finger tip on the blank. The longer handles are great to lay along your forearm. Can’t imagine a 7 foot + rod with a short handle. You don’t see many rods around with pistol grips to them. That’s ok by me because I never really liked them all that much. I’ve never used a rod with that rod wrap material built into the handle. I’d like to try it. Will have to go feel a bunch of them and see if I’d like one. I think it is what you get use to and like. I think better rod manufacturers have it engineered correctly for handle lengths. A $9.00 Wally World Special, I’m not sure what your gonna get with one like that. But not to say that $9.00 rod can’t catch a 9 lb. bass.

I’ve had the same scenarios as the rest of you guys. He/she did not go to waste. Got cleaned up and hit someone’s frying pan. I don’t eat fish but the other persons were grateful so that makes you feel a lot better. I have not had this happen in quite some time. It bugged me in the past and I will bug me in the future if it happens again. What gets me the most is when you have what appears to be a good hookup, didn’t by any means over play them fish and the fish gets hurt. I can’t comprehend that. I have a live well and it comes in handy to get and keep fish healthy. Gets good oxygen back in them. Don't over think it. Don’t let it get you down.

I’m fishing older Stradic’s they are white and have them because they were cheap when they upgraded their version years ago. Big fan of the old Symetre. Alway thought that was their best reel for the $$$. Shimano lost the trade name Symetre. Shimano factory guy sold me on the Nasci at a show plus they gave show price. Had to buy it. I love it. Some aspects more than the Symetre. But as much as a Shimano fan boy I am. I been digging some of the Abu Revo stuff I been fishing with. Maybe I have some loyalty but I’m not getting any real freebies. I’ll find it in a box somewhere. Cripes you want to touch it before you buy it. How the heck are you gonna do that with a sealed clam pack.

My 3000 I bought was boxed just like that. I keep my boxes in case I have to send something out. Never really happens. Easy enough to fix yourself as long as you have the parts. Thanks. I’m holding out for the boxed ones. That clam pack one will never be right in my mind. Not gonna deal with that. Fishing can be a head game every once and awhile anyway and I ain’t playing that. I can wait. I’ll find it that way. Somewhere.

I hope I stay lucky than. I went with the VMC’s. I have not fished Strike King Crankbaits much until the last few years. Every once and awhile inspecting before use I see ones that are bad and replace them before use. I fish a lot of Rapala versions. Can’t say split rings were ever a problem. Willing to bet a lot of guys don’t even look at rings and connections.

Good find. That is where I notice it the most when it’s brand new out of package bad from the factory. TW had a good selection of split rings. I’ve been using the VMC they sell. They May have a variety kit also.

You are probably right. That is what my wife is telling me. She thinks times being what they are currently, that is how they (shop) got then in. I can be thick headed for sure.

Guys not really much of a question on the reel itself. I’m pretty much a Shimano guy fishing some Symetryes, older Stradic, Corodos, Sahara’s, Nasci’s. And have no real complaints. I was kicking the 2500 Nasci around. I have a great Falcon Rod Spinning Rod to pair this up with to throw smaller crankbaits on. Thinking this would be a great setup for my one grandson. Anyway I go to get it and finding it in a clam pack. I realize it is not a $400 reel but any Shimano I’ve bought in the past came in a box. Admittedly I’m anal as you can get when it pertains to fishing, hunting or shooting items I buy or use. I walked. I’m not buying that in that blow mold pack. I take that as being a second. I’m probably wrong. Maybe a poor way to think. Tackle shop reels come in a box. How did yours come? In a box or blow mold pack? Thanks.