iabass8

I wanted to like it. I gave it two honest shots pitching jigs/plastics on wingdams and rock once in spring and once in summer. I also gave it a shot with a fluoro leader for shakey heads. I used 10# and 12#. I casts incredibly well. It seems to have a better slaack line feel than braid but not better than fluoro. I never once had a knot break at the jig so its straight knot strength was fine. It frayed like crazy but i fish a river with a lot of rock and zebra muscles. 832 doeant fray as much as nanofil. I didnt have a fish break the fluoro leader ever but i was anle to pull the leader free when caught on a few snags fairly easily.line management was fine on stradics but it did twist a lot. The line can break easily at the knot if pulled but ive reeeled in 20# cats on 10# without an issue. I rwally wanted to like the line even more so now that it is available in high vis colora but 832 is just stronger amd better. The line is amazing though in cold weather for panfish in lower # tests.

x2. I went through an OCD phase trying to determine if split rings on or off made a difference with a snap. Personally I felt that I was getting more strikes with a split ring/snap that produced more wobble on the muddy rivers I fish. There are a few videos from John Crews where he recommends using a loop knot when tying direct to a crank. This will give you basically the same action as using a snap. Quality snaps are something I have grown to appreciate as well. Some of the less expensive snaps can bend out or break.

No reel is necessarily "too big". If the reel isn't comfortable to use and a smaller reel is more than adequate than there serves no purpose to use an oversize reel that will be uncomfortable to fish with.

A 2500 size reel is more than enough to handle a DS. The stradics drag is effortless and very smooth. On my vertical jig rod, I use a 1000 stradic jigging down anywhere from 20-40ft for walleye and have brought up countless flathead cats, big head cap and common carp in the excess of 20# and the drag has never failed or slipped once. There have been some times than the large car[ and catfish has ran me into my backing but that is very few and far between and almost non existent for bass. I'm sure the 2500 would be more than adequate for drag. It will be better for you to put the reel on the rod rather than blind buy for such a technique because comfort will play a bigger role than other techniques.

i'm 6'3 so i prefer a longer 6'10 MF for the baits you mentioned.

The jika rig isnt a very talked about rigging method and excells at fishing heavier beaver style baits in a stand up manner. You can use the same hook with your method and just attatch a bell sinker on a split ring to the hook eye.

Aaron martens or ike. The way they explan things in such a simple manner would be amazing to listen to all day.

well if it was i had the exact same issue a couple years (not 25 bass but a few that got me scratchimg my head)ago testing the bait on a hot lipless bite. Wss using a MHM legend tournament /w 12lb fluoro and couldnt keep a fish hooked to save my life. It was very frustrating as shallow cranks and lipless presentations are something i take pride in and do considerably well.Switched baits and the issue was solved. Switched out hooks on the cotten cordell and it fixed the issue.

Have you tried using the jika rig? The beaver will stand straight up using heavy gauge hooks.

out of curiosity, was it a cotten cordell lipless crank?

I generally fish RI beaver baits but Gander Mountain had such a crazy deal on these I picked up a few packs in some colors I like. I've never really thrown the "perfect plastics" line so my knowledge of storing these is minimal. Does anybody know if these "dry out" or harden keeping them in their own plano boxes. I use a deep plano for most plastics that can be stored outside of their bags so mixing with other plastics won't be a concern. I'm not overly concerned about the coffee scent as I usually use none or megastrike.

Np. The prarie du chien is one of the distribution centers so they usually have quite a bit of stuff not listed online. Gl.

X2. Great for being out on the river at ice out and during the fall.

First try to match the size of the bait to the forage. On the river i frequent in the fall the 1.0 worked exceptionally well with the abundence of small baitfish in shallow rock during low water.

After catching more than my fair share on a trailer hook ive been convinced it can only help. I use them 95% of the time.

Rage craw-blue craw/green pumpkin /w gold&purple paca craw-magic craw

Im about 3 hours west of you and the prarie du chien cabelas has them in their display case next to stella/tranx/premiere/core etc.

Great idea. Let's direct all the hate towards the only person in this thread that has given a very good detailed and more than helpful explanation towards the OP's exact question....

The scissors i mentioned above..or a lighter

Westcot titanium bonded scissors in the 5" size. Cost around 5$ at home department stores and are ridiculously sharp.

I usually throw RI but found some strike king rodents for dirt cheap and coloes i use the most so we willsee how they fair.

Im mot 100% cetain but i dont believe you can get paddle handles for the sustain/ci4. I think the only option is cylindrical cork like the foam shape.

The increase of weight in the new xtremes is to counter the old xtremes tip heaviness. The new ones balance and feel much better. About your ultra light weight jig question, id use the 610mlxf over the 610m for that. just noticed they don't make the xtreme casting rod in mlxf anymore. the 610m should be fine based on the specs. It's probably a less powerful blank than their typical M rods. don't get high and drive.

I don't care for the lower end Shimano rods so I would choose the cashion. They have always looked intriguing and get good feedback. GL.

paca craws when the bite is on fire. rage craw when the bite is a little tougher.