gulfcaptain

Suprised no one has mentioned Kietech's Live Impact's or swing impacts for dropshots. But will say Robo worms and Zman Finesse worms are also great choices as well.

Signed up for all the Western Divisional's as co-angler. Talked to one other member on here that fished it last year in the western division and if you have the funds and time to do it, go for it. Never know until you try. I would read over the rules several times to make sure you haven't missed anything and if you are going to get in, put in the deposit for all 3 as they will give you priority entry over an angler just fishing one of the events.

I started with a Cardiff 300 spooled with 40lb braid and 25lb CXX topshot for the reel and not wanting to spend a huge amount of money on something I was new to purchased a BPS Graphite IM6 7'6"H Musky rod. Use this combo quite often for most of my swimbaits. Only difference now is I have another one but with a Lexa 300 on it. This way I can fish both soft swimbaits as well as having a hard floating swimbait tied on as well. The Cardiff 300 and BPS rod will run you somewhere in the $170 area and cover everything from 2oz to 8oz without any issues. '

So basically pretty costs more. Makes sense to me. Nice info and post. I'm sure there are a lot of reels in the lower price bracket by manufactures that are just as good as their flag ship reels, just aren't as pretty and flashy but still get the job done.

Yeah I made my first order this summer, since made several others. Great jigs and colors.

Every reel I have is spooled with braid...either 20, or 30lb. Swimbaits 40 and 65. Spinning 10lb. Topshots added as needed either FC or mono depending on what I'm fishing.

X2. They make a 7' as well as a 7'10" I believe. Even if they aren't on sale, they are right around $60 and well made rods for a store brand. Or can go with BPS Crankin line.

One good thing about fishing gear and no job, at least if you're hungry you can catch a meal. Keep your stuff, go get a job, and go ride on your days off. When you don't feel like riding on your days off, go fish.

flukes have to be really bad to boil straight. Paddle tales, yes for sure. I want them to kick and run right. If the tail is rolled over then it won't swim right. Used to do this years ago with the Mister Twister Sassy Shads. Had to always straighten them out since the tall section would almost always be kinked.

Noisy is good. The bronzeye shad is a great frog, also look into snag proofs Ish's Phat Frog or Poppin Phatty. Comes with a rattle in it as well and is impossible to sink, easy to walk, and has a good hook up ratio.

A-Jays right on. I tend to stick with just one outfit most of the time, a 7'3" H action and straight braid. Smaller frogs(live Target small field mouse, deps slither) I'll fish a 7MH .

You aren't going to need a trap hook 99% of the time. I'd say 80% of the fish I have caught on the hudds have choked the bait. I've had it where I've had to pull the back part of the bait out of their throat.....yeah they eat it when they want it. So I wouldn't worry too much about the stinger hook unless like mentioned above, unless you're around spotted bass....which I don't get to fish around so no need for the stinger. Smaller 6" baits, wouldn't even think of adding them. I rig mine BB way but use a #1 or 1/0 size.

Wow, now that's some detailed fishing logs. Shoot I don't even balance my checkbook with that much detail.

^^^^ That would def help.

There are a bunch of good swimbait rods. Depending on how deep you want to get into the swimbait world is up to you. If you're looking to get your feet wet, I would suggest Diawa's new swimbait rods at just over the $100 mark. The Okuma big bait rods I think run up around $120-130. Personally I got my feet wet throwing the 8" Hudd with a BPS IM6 Graphite 7'6"H Musky model rod. It ran me about $60 and had the action I needed. Still fish it with great success. But you are going to need a rod that can handle the 3-8oz lure rating.

I looked at the Sonarphone from Vexilar. Will be looking to get one of these probably sometime in Febuary for sure. Always wondered what some of the ponds looked like that I fish.

The line thru a floater or slow sink?

I don't fish the holographic print baits, mainly stick to the Hudds and Savage Gear line thru's with the few 6" Rago BVD's. Glide baits, the S Weaver is probably the most inexpensive bait or Savage Gear's glide bait. Hard Gills are hard to find but have no experience with them. As far as fishing these "bigger" baits, one tip, get yourself a rod and reel dedicated to fishing the bigger baits and when you go take nothing else with you. Fish only the swimbait. You have to throw it to be successful with it. It can be frustrating at times, but it can also be really good. Don't give yourself the option to stop fishing it when you start by bringing another set-up with you.

Ceramic, zirconia inserts will give you no problems.

What do you consider swimbaits?

So 1 rod and 1 reel with 5 baits and a body of water.....okay Reel: Lexa 300 Rod: IROD Genesis II 8' swimbait rod. #1 Deps 250 #2 8" Huddleston ROF 12 #3 8" Savage Gear Line Thu Floater #4 10" Triple Trout #5 68 Special Huddleston Diamond Valley, CA

I use the deep 3600 size boxes for my hudds and triple trout's....up to 10" baits....Don't fish the shell cracker's but I know guys that fish the bigger baits use different containers or the open 3600 or 3700 size boxes. Think the biggest thing I have to store is a 10" dead twitch.

Was the tip plastic ringed?

Well yes, you don't want to wrap ANY braided line around your fingers or hands......IT WILL leave nasty cuts. But as for guides nope......Fingers....yep.

Myth, been using braid on ALL my rods for the last 4yrs, longer in saltwater. There isn't a bit of a groove in any of my rods.......quality braid you will not have any issues. Stick with Power Pro or 832. Look at frogs that walk easy. Spro Bronzeye Shad and Snag Proof's Ish's Phat Frog walk very well without any kind of bait alterations.