iabass8

I'm a big Dobyn's fan. With that said, the savvy line is not a line up of rods I would use for any sort of bottom contact baits. I use all champ extremes for those purposes. The 2 savvy's I do use though are the 735c for frogs and 733c for northern swim jigs/spinnerbaits. Both are great at those purposes. You can find the champion line for less than 200 at times during 20% off sales. I'd recommend trying that.

Depending on your price rage, most 2500 or 30/35 size reels will work just fine.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/12403-jig-fishing-questions/ Big-O and others talk jig fishing in this thread. It's a sticky at the top of the fishing tackle section.

Palomar works fine and will get the job done if you are constantly checking your line. I found the San Diego Jam to be a much superior knot in my experiences. Very easy to tie and holds the %#$% out of baits/snags.

Wow i really didnt expect lake owen there. That brings back memories. I have friends that went to the skate camp there and my family has a cabin in danbury which is roughly an hour or so from cable. Its been years since i have fished that lake but it wss extremely cover oriented. I had a lot of luck pitching jigs and shakey heads on all docks away from the swimming area thats roped off. Im sure the area is even more so commercialized and pressured than it was when i was there. The lake as you know has a decwnt amohnt of size. I didnt have a lot of time to pick it apart but in the few times i did fish it i focued on the coves.

wow

I love tatsu on my bottom contact rods. However on my moving bait rods I use seaguar red label and have no issues with it. great knot strength and handles pretty well with some line conditioner. it's not the most abrasion resistant line though but it's not horrible either. I've used it for a few years now with no issues. I hated trilene 100% and vanish is named that for a reason...

What time of year and which lake?

There's also been a lot of talk/spoilers given that a curado "upgrade" is going to happen in 2014. nothing definite about the curado specs though.

The kvd 1.0 is roughly closer to 1/4oz than 3/8 oz. I have no idea why that bait is labeled as a 3/8 oz bait. maybe somebody with a good scale could weigh in.

chronarch 51mg

Wish I could help with the Senshi. Jerkbait and topwater line is something I have always been happy and never wanting more with 10-12# xl. I've bounced back and forth between fluoro and mono for jerkbaits but the mississippi doesn't generally call for deeper diving jerkbaits so I usually stick with mono to keep the bait running a little higher than it would with fluoro with great results. Walmart has 12# XL in 330yd spools for around 4$. I seem to go through a lot of line topwater/jerkbait fishing switching baits so it's great to have inexpensive line i'm happy with. For squarebills and lipless baits though, i always run 12-15lb fluoro. I like a little less stretch with reaction baits. I did use (I believe) 12#cxx and that stuff is the strongest non braid stuff around. Can't find it locally anymore though. I've never actually tried Berkley Big Game due to the fact i'm really happy with my current line but if you research the line a bit you will find lots of people swear by Big Game in 10-12# test for topwater and jerkbaits. The line is incredibly inexpensive as well and sold it bulk spools just about everywhere.

Tw's memorial day sale will be towards the last week of may so you could get a few brand new for 20% off. I'm more a fan of the champ extreme and legend xtreme but those duckets do feel nice in hand. incredibly lightweight. not a fan of the action of them though.

Kind of. It's more of one of those situations that if you are fishing an area that requires a heavier jig weight you are already using heavier line. i.e punching grass, pitching brush, etc. As long as you aren't using a dud of a line, 12lb (i'm assuming fluoro) would be fine for open water or light cover 3/8 and 1/2oz jigs but i would prefer and use 15lb for those situations. 15 will be a better choice for more moderate cover as well.

But they are sure to hook the fish...duh. I can't stand those hooks either.

I change out all my stock hooks for the most part with kvd mustads ewgs or gammy round bends. rapala and xcaliber don't seem to need (at least i personally haven't had many problems with them) hooks changed out until they dull. I always change the rapala dt hooks because i like ewg's on cranks and lipless baits. jerkbaits i only change hooks to the same size in a different more quality brand if the stock hooks aren't up to par.

x2. the mississippi is muddy and this color and gold/black/silver flat out work in muddy river water in the spring. jerkbaits only working in clear water is a complete myth.

jig

I noticed that as well. We have nine boxes full of the same assortment you mentioned all for 1.50.

Be glad you guys can actually be out fishing now. I'm with ww2farmer here. River and lakes are still locked up with ice with snow to come tonight and tomorrow.

A lot of people on here have. It's getting great reviews so far.

I'll be fishing the Great Lakes Division on the Mississippi river La Crosse as a co-angler and Prarie Du Chien as a boater.

Rainy river

With northern style swim jigs, bending of hooks is inevitable(newer style jig hooks help with this) unless they use some larger 5/0 heavy wire hook. The 723 /w 30lb braid is a perfect fit. you can muscle fish out of some thick stuff with that set up and a 1/4oz swim jig and not bend the hook out.

I understand what you are saying about a rod having more give to play the fish with braid. However, a more parabolic or moderate action rod won't drive the hook into the fish effectively enough as a f/xf action rod. It can do the job, but it isn't the most effective tool to get it done. I'd opt for the 723. My swim jig rod is a dobyns 733 /w 30lb braid and I fish in the same kind of stuff you are mentioning. I love the rod. Mind you though, I fish northern or wisconsin style swim jigs that don't have a heavy gauge hook. For reference , i fish mostly brovarneys 1/4-5/16 oz swim jigs and the rod is perfect to drive the hook home and get fish out or moderate cover. If I were using a heavier hook(like Strike king hack attack swim jig) or a 3/8+ swim jig regularly in heavy slop, I could use a 733 but would be better off with a 4 power f/xf rod. Same idea for spinnerbaits. a 3 power will fish 3/8 spinnerbaits as well as 1/2oz depending on the pull from the blades but larger I would prefer a 4 power. I would not want to use a crankbait/glass moderate action rod for either situation.