craww

If you want to keep a chatterbait down, wrap the hook with lead solder. Also use a heavy trailer (that doesnt create "lift") made out of heavier yammamoto type plastic.

Once or twice a year for a full break down. I flush spool bearings as use/performance dictates.

Made a resolution to get back to my roots and hit the creeks and rivers a lot this year, and this rod has treated me well. Currently using a Abu Orra SX w/15lb power pro, occasionally w/a leader. I've primarily used it for 1/8 poppers, rebel craws, and it is perfect for the bandit 100's. It also does well with a super spook jr's and RC 1.5's. I used it today with a shakey head as I only carry one rod, caught a bunch of fish. It does okay for close single hook baits at close range (braid helps speed it up) but obviously its not ideal.

I leave the drag SLIGHTLY looser on my shakeyhead/braid rod than when I use the mono spool. Even with the leader some of the lighter wire shakyheads will absolutey bend out or at least flex enough to lose a fish. As usual you need to match the hook and drag settings based on cover your fishing.

Sweet potato pie is my favorite color in all stickbaits Felix. Wish yammamoto made it. I copy it on senkos with spike it markers lol

I hear ya. After never having an issue in 15 years, Ive lost about half a dozen in the last 3. It probably has nothing to do with it, but the only thing Ive changed is running braid w/leaders alot. I suspect the repetitive "ticking" of that knot over time hitting an insert that isnt seated correctly could cause them to come out Another thing Ive noted is that all guides were pac bays. Never had an issue with rods equipped with fujis, ss304's, etc. .

Is it a community lake as in you must live in the neighborhood to fish it? Ive seen lots of records listed under "private lake". That may be a good question for your DGIF. I'm not much for tooting my own horn, but having an official state record (as long as the fish gets released in good shape) is a huge accomplishment.

This is the exact way a friend and I use our 1st Gen Sx's (mine has 2nd gen brake upgrade). It seems weird running the brake so high, but it works. These reels arent perfect but they are tanks. I mainly use mine with a heavy rod for squarebills, buzzbaits, and spinnerbaits. As mentioned by another poster, there is a video out there somewhere that I believe mentions a specific way to set the mag brake and cast control together, I havent seen the vid or tried the method.

I dont own that specific rod, but the 6'9" ML carbonlites are said to be a sweetheart of a rod. Not overtly powerful but a quick enough tip for plastics fished in open water. I have/had 4 other models in the line and they all fish nicely. I honestly reach for the 7'M spinning rod over my tatula if that tells you anything.

A solution Ive came to in similar scenarios (long casts in shallow veggie filled water) is taking the middle, bottom hanging trebles off with snips. This is the hook that grabs the most and you dont seem to miss too many bites with the 4 remaining hooks. It also lightens the bait some, which doesnt hurt. Hold the bait and pull the hooks horizontal, like they are on a horizontal retreive to determine which to cut . Be sure to cut it FLUSH. Use a spot (among the slowest sinking rattlebaits) and a thicker diameter mono. This helps a great deal.

I got a 7' Medium Spinning rod for $35 2 weeks ago. Sure wish they had some casting models in stock.

They work much better in areas that have algae covered bottoms. Generally a bullet weighted Texas rig will get hung up a little less than a shakeyhead; especially if you peg it. I think the lighter weights may let the bait wiggle a bit more. A senko still has its "shimmy" with a 1/32 or 1/64oz bullet sinker, put a 3/8 on and it'll drop like a stone.

Ive gotten to where I use straight up 15lb PP super slick as I throw shakeyheads in shallow areas with lots of wood cover. I love it. Leaders limit you. Too thin diameter mono\flouro and you're toast in cover. Too thick and it kills the action. I did some experimenting in a pool and the difference of action between #6 and #12 mono was very dramatic. The best habit you can have is be a line watcher. I keep a keen eye on where the line enters the water after each little hop.

Different style plastic, but the yammamoto hula grub is absolutely dynamite on a chatterbait. It will cast a bit better than a large minnow type also.

For bass fishing on spinning reels, I use 10-20. Anything over 20 and casting distance suffers greatly, also the bigger diameter bouyant braids effect the techniques I use a spinning reel for. Dont fully lock down the drag and you'll be fine. If you need to turn a fish just grab the spool so you dont pay out line and put the screws to em.

I dont know about it helping performance, but it really helps keep the color from fading.

Smalljaws take mirrors what I often see pond hopping. If a bigger fish is caught its usually among the first to be caught. Rarely catch a bunch of dinks then see a size increase. Then again, dont know the body of water but a 1lbr and a 2-3lb range fish eat most of the same things.

Brian I dont see them being any worse than other plastics, but you heres a few things I do. Stick a short peice of a toothpick horizontally through the eye of the hook/plastic, be sure to keep it short so it doesnt protrude out and grab algae. You can also wrap a couple wraps of solder wire around the end of the hook. Leave a point sticking out and it will dig into the plastic and hold it.

Great caster, palms well, smooth drag, durable finish, fairly light, plenty of support if you need parts. Buy with confidence. Flush and relube the spool bearings if your inclined, no special tool needed on these reels and the performance increase can be dramatic.

They have a long ways to go. Essentially losing 2 years of first rounders has to hurt. Offensive line is really bad and most are smaller shanahan style zone guys, not a fit for Gruden. Other than the inconsistent Hall, the secondary is also in very rough shape. In addition, London Fletcher retired. The Jason Hatcher signing was a head scratcher, he wasnt very good in his first 7 years in a 3-4, has one high level year on a contract year playing the 3 tech (on a D that lead the league in pass attempts against). He was known as a bit of a knucklehead in the Dallas locker room also.

I've had a few absolutely amazing days on buzz baits this time of year. Numbers of big fish. If a fish is on a bed a popper is an underrated bait.

More power to him. Many have tried. Haven't read the article, but TX/Mexico are hindered by the shorter life spans of their LMB compared to areas where big bass can spend a portion of their time in cooler water. Lord knows texas has been proactive in trying to promote trophy fisheries. I suppose if you had a way to regulate water temps and absolutely poured the coals to them with the feed it's possible. With that said I can't help but wonder what's swimming in the depths of lake biwa....

Another part of the problem Ive found is the on the BPS/Pure fishing type dual cast control reels, the individual systems dont often work well enough on their own. The optimum setting for max distance and usability utilizes at least a minute amount of both.

Keep an eye on how the line lays, if your spool stops due to a dig in or backlash you will be snapping the heavier, better casting plugs off and sending them into orbit (traps for example).

Been piddling around and found a few different ways. Ive gotten my blades sharp enough to butcher deer well, but I'm not quite where I'd like it to be. There are many different variations of stones, oils, and, gadgets and techniques. Out of curiousity, whats you're routine?