gulfcaptain

We fish the same waters. 3ft is all you need of leader to braid. Are you using standard guides, micro, macro? You need to check your connection, if you have any tag end mono or FC it needs to be trimmed as close as possible to the knot. If not it will catch. Feel they can see the braid, get a black marker and color 6" sections to break up the visual on the first 4ft of braid closest to the connection. Don't want to carry extra line, leave it in the car in a shady cool area. My biggest fish this year came off straight braid tied to a jig. Only time I use any leader longer then 3ft is when I fish swimbaits and then it's about 10ft. You have any questions about where we fish hit me back with a PM.

I use a few different rods for jigs. #1 how heavy of jigs are you fishing? #2 What are you fishing them around (rock, timber, weeds) You can use braid, I use it on everything (mainly 30lb Suffix 832) with small topshot leaders. I fish 1/4-3/8oz jigs on a 7'MH Mod Fast action rod, and 3/8-1/2oz on a 7'MH F action rod. Two different rod manufactures. I normally fish swimjigs and football jigs around rock and scattered grass. Heavier cover then I opt to move to a 7'6"MH F action rod which I can fish jigs from 3/8-3/4oz.

I use the clips they come with unless they need to be swapped out. Spit rings would make it a bit more challenging to swap out baits and heads if needed.

What rig are you looking to throw and what size baits and heads are you wanting to fish? Smaller say flashmob jr rigs and 3-4" swimbaits with 1/8oz heads then a 7ft H will work. If you're looking to throw larger size with the larger 4" baits and say 1/4 to 1/2 oz then you may want to step it up to something that can handle about 2oz. I throw 2 different rods, one is a Green *** 7'7"MH. I throw larger rigs but with 1/8oz heads and 3 1/2-4" swing impacts as well as smaller 3" dummy baits (CA can only fish 3 hooks). I use this one when I want a bit stiffer rod for say hoping it off the bottom or slow rolling it. Then I also use a 7'6"MH BPS Crankin Stick (old model) when they are wanting to eat it on the straight retieve. I like the softer tip to keep them pinned and helps keep from pulling hooks since I prefer to use smaller 2/0-3/0 size ball style jigheads. Feel it give the bait a better action. You don't want something so stiff you pull hooks when you get bit, but something that gets overpowered by the rig.

Something in the range of 22-26 IPT. Find the reel you like with the IPT you're wanting to achieve.

The action or lets put it the taper of the rod being it an XF, yes the tip is softer then the rest of the rod. I'm not talking power. Just the taper. A heavy rod will be stiffer then a medium. But if the taper of both is XF, then the tip will be softer then the rest as the rod "shuts off" and flexes very little compaired to the taper of a fast, or moderate. My flipping rod is a H action, stiff yes, but under a load it's moderate taper is seen as it flexes almost down to the first guide as opposed to the fast taper of my medium power rod that shuts down above the second guide, but yet is flexes enough to fish cranks. Power has nothing to do with taper/action of the rod. So yes it was a blanket statement as to the action/taper of the rod. A heavy XF rod will still have a softer tip compared to the rest of the rod just like a XF medium action spinning rod used for dropshot fishing will. They will both flex and shut down the same way, just one is a lighter power then the other and hence one will be stiffer then the other just as my medium moderate rod flexes the same as my heavy moderate, but yet my heavy is stiffer, but they both have the same action in the taper of the rod.

Well let me know what your results are when you get a chance to fish them. I'm going to give it another run tomorrow and see what happens.

^^^^thats the one

That hit $50 min for free shipping or did you have a few other items in there too?

I can't find it, it was titled......Tell me about this "ned Rig". I tried to seach it and reply on that topic thread but couldn't find it. So I started this one.

Well then get some local businesses to sponsor your fishing team at school. This is an "in". Build a relationship with those businesses while in school. Keep them updated on what your team is doing, your results. Not sure where you're located, but talk to some local restaurants and see if you can do fundraisers for your team. But remember, keep them in the loop of what's going on with your team. Get them a plac or a team jersey. Local support can transfer and play a role once you are out of school since you have built those relationships.

Do you have a fishing team at your school?

Hey I just stated what my results for.....sounds like he needs to go to the Bait Monkey support thread and post his grievances. I only tried these due to the pics bluebasser86 posted.

Here is a link with some facts and a diagram about my statement that you seem to think isn't true. Well it won't let me add the diagram nor link it to the website. Look under TW and that section below. http://www.***.com/guides/rodselection.html

A 3/8 jig.

As leader, yes for certain applications. As a main line....NO! Tried it, didn't like it. Too stiff and gave me more problems then I have ever encountered before with either mono or braid. I have broken a few fish off on a hookset with FC, but believe the line had a kink or a bad spot in it I didn't catch. So anytime I'm using FC leader, I constantly check for any bad spots. And beware, a tungsten flipping weight will cause the FC to break at the knot so you need to make sure you protect it if you do use FC.

I just remembered one night a buddy and I went to fish a park after hours. (parks close at 10pm) and do some night fishing. We got out and these two other people (who also weren't supposed to be there) asked if we were fishing for ducks. I replied no, but I hear they taste a lot like chicken. She then told me she was going to call the police for being in the park after hours and fishing. Think she forgot she was in the park after hours herself doing something shady with a guy a lot younger then she was in their van. Love that dock story though....that was pretty funny right there.

That's why they call it fishing and not catching. Honestly muddy water can be tough and you had flooded brush. My advice would have been to fish tight to cover. But then if they released water, now you have possible falling conditions which would pull the fish off the bank. My best advice would have been to try and find cleaner water if possible and take each day as a learning experience, good or bad.

Extra Fast rods don't have stiff tips. XF rods have softer tips but the rod shuts off faster where a fast action rod shuts down about 1/3 of the way down the blank, and each action a bit further until you get to moderate which is pretty much almost parabolic. But you should be fine.

No worries. It's all good.

fixed.....lol hey I'm not perfect.

Work hard, fish hard, finish in the top of your local tournaments, finish in the top 10 in several regional tournaments (BASS Opens, FLW Rayovac's, TBF) and then you can present yourself in a professional manner with a resume of your fishing acomplishments, why you would be a good choice to represent their product in the public eye. Understand if you're wanting sponsored to get free stuff, get in line with everyone else who thinks that way as they will file your request along with all of theres in the 30gal file next to their desk. Right now you just finished HS, what are your plans? Are you going to fish in College? Are you going to College? Hard work is the only way you're going to get yourself in the position you're looking for. Win locally first, get some local a local tackle store to sponsor you and get you a discount on your equipment. Win regionally, hit up some bigger local businesses around you. You place in the top 5 in some bigger events, or win an event that qualifies you for the Classic or the Forest Wood Cup and get a top 5, then the bigger guys will take notice. Remember there aren't any free hand outs, gonna have to work hard and prove yourself. Edit: Spelling and grammar are also important when you write them or send a resume. (wandering should be wondering) Just part of being a professional. Remember you asked, I'm just giving you some constructive criticism. Take it for what it's worth or ignore it.

If you go straight braid, get yourself a wooden dowel to wrap your braid around if you do get hung up. I use leaders if I know I'm fishing rocky areas just because it's easier to break the leader then the braid.

Having punched grass, watched it from the comfort of my home as well, it seems if the fish is that deep in the grass, then they go in after it. Fish rarely fight if you have them coved in grass. They just kinda lay there until you uncover them, the all hell breaks loose! If it's freeing them from reeds/buggywhips, then as long as you have him coming towards you then you have the battle half way won as long as you keep them coming your direction.

The best are the ones that pass by and it kinda goes like this Them: "Are there really fish in there?" Me: "There are a few" Them: "So are you trying to catch them?" I've always wanted to be a smart$$$ and say something but I've always been nice.