mr.kagrise

I lost a $9 Sexy Dawg not too long ago. Not the price of the lure that got me. It was how I lost it....poor goose.

Though I'm a fairly new convert to the jig, soft plastics are my bread and butter. A LOT of creature baits this year! That being said, I gotta agree with the importance of your rod. For me, fishing a jig and trailer can be tough because of the weight. You go from hopping a craw with a 3/16 weight to working a 3/8 jig plus trailer, that added weight can cause a lot of false hook sets. There's nothing wrong with that, misses are free, but a quality rod takes a lot of that away. Once you make your mind up to learn a technique, fish that technique all day. Practice, practice, practice!

In hand, they do feel stiff. But after fishing them a LOT this weekend, I've realized that the action on them "softens" them up, for me at least. The heavy power is broomstick-esque, but after using that backbone for SOLID hook sets, the tip flexed easily while bringing the fish in. Also, and this could just be in my head, it seems like the stiff feel of the rods add to the sensitivity. There is a local sporting goods store in town that carries full Veritas line up and with the exception of the schooling rod, they're always priced at $69.99. Seventy-five bucks out the door can't be beat for these rods!

A week or so ago I asked opinions on using a M Vendetta or MH Jupiter for plastics. I got mixed responses. I ended up moving my MH Veritas into that role and got a H Veritas for Jigs and heavy plastics. I had an Orra SX on the MH originally and thought the rod was too stiff. Turns out the reel wasn't well suited for that application. (the brake system was limited) I put a Quantum Kinetic on the MH microguide Veritas and lemme tell ya, I've worm 'em out this weekend! I LOVE this set up. The Orra is great as a jig reel because of the way the brakes are set up. Thanks for everyone's input on the OP.

That's what I thought...but I sure do like that Vendetta! My total line-up is as follows: Alabama Rig and swimbaits: 7'10" H/XF BPS Extreme / 5500C3 Jigs and large plastics: 7' MH/F Veritas / Orra SX Deep Cranking: 7'8" Rick Clunn Deep Cranking rod (M/M?) / Daiwa Exceler in 4.7:1 Shallow Cranks and lipless: 7' Rick Clunn clearwater squarebill rod (MH/M?) / Quantum Kinetic PT Topwater: 6'6" M/? Daiwa Jupiter / Black Max 2 Spinnerbaits: ProMax2 7' MH Daiwa Jupiter OR 6'6" Vendetta ?!?!?!?!?!?!?! Worms and small plastics: Quantum Kinetic PT 7' MH Daiwa Jupiter OR 6'6" Vendetta ?!?!?!?!?!?!?! I fight the urge often to go into debt to feed my passion! But one day...ONE DAY, money will not play as big a role as it does now and I won't have to figure out what I need to do to optimize what I have. Until then, I appreciate everyone's understanding and input!

The Veritas is just too stiff for lighter plastics IMO. I know I'm overthinking the whole thing. Comes down to the fact I love the Vendetta and rarely throw spinnerbaits. Everything you read says MH for worms. I just don't want to lose fish on account of having an underpowered rod simply because I like how it fishes better. Maybe I should have asked "can I feel confident worm fishing with a 6'6" M rod?" I HAVE already caught a #3 and a #4 on that set up in the last two weeks...guess I just answered my own question!

I recently picked up a 6'6" M/F Vendetta rod and have been using it for Texas rigging 7.5" worms and craws. I have now acquired a 7' MH/F Daiwa Jupiter. Of the two, which would you use for spinnerbaits and which would you use for Texas rigs? I have a 7' MH Veritas I use for larger worms, Carolina rigs, and jigs outside of cover. Just wondered which one you would use for what and possibly a brief explanation why. I love knowledge!

Though a recent switch to both, KVD Sexy Dawg, JR. in white and ZOOM ultravibe craw in watermelon seed.

Good deal. Just wanted confirmation from somebody. Also, I'm "stealing" your tag by Homer Circle. Awesome!

I was in Wallyworld tonight and saw some three pack Storm pre-rigged swimbaits and wondered if I could use these on my Alabama rig. I just got a five arm Yumbrella and am gonna throw it with an Abu 5500c3 (I don't trust low-profiles for this thing!) on a 7'10" BPS Extreme flippin' stick. The yum kits look cheap and I'm not feeling the round jig heads that come with it.

Make a shim for it. Last time I had that problem I cut a small strip from a soda carton. Have stopped using that particular rod, but it worked like a charm while I still used it. I checked the forum and seems like it is a fairly common occurrence with various fixes. Good luck

x2 Only exception for me may be jigs. Then go up to 15#. (Please don't ban me, braid guys! LOL)

I'm sure I could find it on the web, but you guys are more reliable at times and offer much more "color" than stock answers offered by fact sights. Simple question: Have heard nothing but good things about the Kinetic, so I stole one off E-Bay and loved it. Recently picked up another but the picture seems to show a lighter red in contrast to the deep maroon I just got. Is this indicative of one being a newer model than the other or just a difference in cameras? Same hand retrieve, same gear ratio, same model number. What's the deal?

I normally just try to cover a lot of water with 'em, but tried to bring it past a bed watching beauty yesterday and just couldn't get the angle right. Glad to know it's a design issue with all buzzes and not a defect in mine.

Never been real big on buzzbaits, so not sure how to fix: tied on yesterday and started throwing a Booyah 7/16 and the thing kept veering left. I was using a burner reel and could straighten the path but good grief, it didn't look like anything could have caught it at that speed. I know how to correct a misguided crank, but this is a new one to me. Thanks for any help!

Today I was working a topwater and the reel became "wobbly" in the seat. I tightened the nut down as tight as I could but a cast to two later, it started right back. I got home and cut a couple of strips from a soda carton and put them in the seat before tightening the reel in and, voila! Feels great. My concern is the fact that I use this set up for topwater and jerkbaits. The need for feel is a non-issue with topwater, but how much do you think it will hinder feel for suspending lures? I'm not fishing for paydays, but nobody wants to lose fish. Is there something that will transfer feel and do the same job the soda box cardboard is doing? I've googled and checked BPS but don't see what I think I need.

I found that to be true today. There were several instances where the bait would get slapped or short bitten; I would give it three or four seconds and go back to my retrieve. I'm just happy I picked it up so fast. I was always intimidated by them because I'd never fished them. I believe in them now, especially after learning there's no exact rhythm to be kept. I never saw them to be that versatile. Now if I just figure out where the +12" are holding I'll be in good shape!

Imo, learn to fish a Texas rig. Pretty cheap, wide variety of colors and sizes (but keep it simple) and one of the most trusted and productive techniques. Once you learn the basics of detecting the Bite, determining structure, and hooking up, THEN you can start throwing ridiculous amounts of money into a bag or box... Only thing is, you'll ALWAYS fall back to that four dollar bag of worms or a three dollar jig!

This is more of a two question post, but I'll start with the topic: I have heard tons of chatter about "walking the dog." I'd never owned a spook or other cigar bait, but when the local Wal-Marks had 'em for a buck fifty, I picked up a couple of Zara Puppies. I snagged one in baby bass and the other in bone. (recently fallen in love with this color) So today I headed to the lake (banks, less than three acres) and within just a few minutes, I felt like I had figured out the cadence and started catching fish. That bone puppy was the only thing I threw for three hours and it produced in the neighborhood of fifteen to twenty fish. Only thing is, only three or four of them were over 12". My question (1) is how wide should the side to side motion be? Should it be a tight walk or a lazy, side to side? Should I pause it from time to time or keep the rhythmic cadence? I've been told of six and seven pounders coming out of this water. There are no boats, and I don't believe its pressured at all. Where are the bigguns?!?! I fished the same water yesterday and threw a brown pumpkin speed craw directly off bank to about fifteen feet out and a KVD red-eye in sexy shad in open water. Didn't catch near the amount I did today, but the five or six I did were small as well. What gives?

I knew this was the place to come. Thanks again, guys

I have scoured the web for what must be minutes and decided to come where I know the answer is: How much does a Zoom 7" worm weigh? I have been throwing one with an 1/8 bullet weight and just didn't feel like I was getting the most out of my new to me reel. I had to use a 1/4 due to wind and was humming this thing a country mile. All this made me think, is a 7" worm, 3/0 hook, and a 1/8 sinker enough to add up to the 1/4 oz. weight my rod is rated for? I may be splitting hairs, but I love the sensitivity of the 1/8 AND the distance and control of the 1/4. Whats a fella to do?

I am now the proud owner of the 7' MH micro guide. Had no problems with the reel fitting properly and can't wait to try it out. Maybe Mississippi will get another mild winter and I can put this thing to work soon! Thanks again to everyone for helping me feel more confident in my purchase.

I am a day or two out from buying a new Veritas (MHF 7ft), primarily for worms (7.5" and 10"), and have decided to put an Orra sx on to complete the combo. I have heard a lot of complaints about the reel seat on these rods and wondered if any of you guys have or have had this set up and if so, did you have any problems with the reel seat? Secondly, when "whipping" the rod in the store, the MH power that I have always used for worms and light jigs seemed VERY stiff. I've read a lot of discussions on the forum and have seen mixed emotions about this, but wanted to ask for myself. I almost never fish real heavy cover, slop, or pads. Usually in 10 acre ponds/lakes and sometimes on open bodies, but hardly ever encounter the mess a heavy action rod would be required for. Would I be losing anything by staying with a MH and it being stiffer than I am accustomed to? Are there any benefits to a stiffer rod other than horsing power? I'm ready to finally use one of these things, but want to be positve I have the best one for my needs. Thanks to everyone that helps!