Todd2

This...and usually it's only a few inches. I usually don't re-tie often with braid. Usually just tie on before going out and that's it. I did finally lose my first jig on braid for the year. With mono or fluoro, I'd be down a dozen by now.

I use a Carolina keeper or a bobber stop...no swivels, works great. One of either of those is enough to not slide. On heavier weights, just put on two.

I tried several fluorocarbons before switching back to mono..and now to braid. Vanish was the best casting one I used but knot strength was questionable. I'd retie often if I were you, as I had to do with any fluorocarbon I tried. A Eugene Bend knot worked the best for me for fluorocarbon as i remember.

I became a believer when I had one of my best days ever on it this Spring, even though I broke off the biggest one and one other when I got wrapped around timber. I got back to the ramp and everyone was talking about how slow the bite was. That little light went off in my my head and I knew it was the real deal. That's also the day I decided to switch to straight braid and haven't broke off since.

I thought of that show as soon as I saw this thread.

Thats been my theory for a long time. I hear guys say they let a T-Rig or Jig sit for a minute or longer. For one, I don't have the patience. But more than that, I want to move it to that next "circle" as you put it. But deadsticking does work, just for me, there's a fine line between deadsticking and soaking it in fishless areas.

This will get you going... https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/12403-jig-fishing-questions/

I think you could let 30 preschoolers paint Senkos random colors and they'd all catch fish. But even though I know this, I'll probably take a closer look at Cinnamon Brown. ?

There are times when I've got the TM turned up some and slinging lures. But usually I'm fishing slow. Not necessarily plastics/jigs. You can slow roll spinnerbaits along the bottom with some success if you are patient.

A lot of great points by everybody...here's a few thoughts I had after reading. You sent me that article a few years back and it has helped me a lot and I do think we get bit more than any of us know. Yup, even from fish to fish on the same day it seems like they take it different. When they hit it and run, I've always heard there are more fish around. When they suck it in and don't move they are alone, or just too big to be messed with, or so I've read. I totally agree that my lightest bites are my bigger fish. I've using braid and tungsten for the first time and mostly night fishing (Saturday was a day trip) and it's almost like information overload. I can feel everything and it sounds weird, but I think that is some of my problem. I'm feeling everything. When I go to weigh it and feel weightlessness or movement, I can tell. But when just a steady pressure, I still can't decide. Most of the times I'm sure it's rock. But the only keeper I caught Saturday was a feel that I know I've passed on swinging in the past. Not anymore!!!

Yeah, I'm not concerned about the people so much ...more my rotator cuff....lol. I saw the video where Hackney reels into the fish a little and sweeps, that helps because it buys some time in determining whether its a fish or not. But.......the fish around here don't always hang on that long. Sometimes, but a lot of the time if you dont reel down and pop em pretty quick....they gone.

When fishing jigs and plastics, most folks can sense that tap. If you're watching the line for bumps and walk offs, those should be fairly easy too with just a little practice. The ones that still get me after 25 years of fishing plastics are those pressure bites. You go to move the lure after a bit and there is some pressure. Is it wedged between rocks, a tree, or is it in Big Mama's mouth with her just sitting there. We are told to swing on anything and that might be good advice if you are fishing a empty flat, but around cover, especially rocks, there is almost always a little pressure as the jig comes up through the cover. I'd be setting the hook 2 or 3 times a cast if I swung on every little bit of pressure. Here's where this is coming from...I fished Saturday and the bite was off...and the ones I were getting were just the small pressure. I don't think I felt one good tap all day, maybe one, but for the most part they were barely taking it. So I decided that I was going to swing on everything and caught a few doing that but if somebody had watched me from a distance, they would've thought I had gone mad on how many times I was swinging. How do you guys handle this when the bite is off?

The Float N Fly guys down on Dale Hollow do it in the winter for Smallies. Edit, I didn't see the previous post....

I hear people mention it in early Spring..Red/Orange, but that's about it. Not sure why..

I guess I'm confused. I haven't lost a jig this year since switching to braid. I've only lost one rig at all..a T-rig. Any chance your knots are slipping?

A 3/8 Arkie in Bluegill color is the closest I've found to perfect. Comes through rock and wood like a champ. Not too bad with grass, but I don't have much of that.

Another vote here for AllStar.

6 Spinning, 2 Casting. I only use the casting when pitching to cover. If I could learn to pitch with Spinning gear, I'd probably never use my casting gear anymore.

That happened to me Friday night. I was throwing plastics for a while and got nothing. Picked my crank and bounced it off a tree on the return and a solid 3lber swallowed it. I rode that pony as long as I could and had a decent night searching for stumps/standing timber to bounce off of. Still had to be close to a point or I'd get nothing.

Different strokes....I set the drag around 3lbs and forget it. Never back reel.

I saw the same video with Aaron Martens a couple of years ago when I started drop shotting. Pretty much the only way I rig it.

Sorry for your loss and thanks to all of those that serve in Law Enforcement.

Awesome..I wish I could remember my first Bass...lol You are hooked my man!

Simple and flat out catches fish. My older brother has fished this as long as I can remember. He doesn't keep up with the latest techniques, probably doesn't know the difference between a Ned Rig and an Alabama rig but I've seen him catch more Bass than anyone I know on it. He fishes like you said and sometimes with a slow stready retrieve.

That makes a lot of sense. I let it fall with just a bit of slack, then when it hits bottom and goes slack I never tighten up all the way. It's close though, like the others talk about.