gulfcaptain

FC sinks so you will get a little depth there. More to do with dia of the line you're fishing. The heavier the line the more drag it inccurs causing less depth. I would say 10lb FC will probably give you the depth you are looking to achieve from your crankbaits.

Have a digital Rapala scale. (25lbs) Haven't had any issues with it and have used it since Dec. Still on the same battery as well. Think it might have been $29.99

I agree with WRB, everyone has their preferences on what they fish. Some spend a fortune on their rod, others find a rod that fits what they are looking to do. As for me, I choose to fish an IM6 rod since I prefer to fish topshots of mono or fc and prefer the softer action IM6 has. As for what brand, well use a BPS Graphite Musky Rod in a 7'6"MH as well as the H action. But that's my preference and fits my fishing style and the requirements and spec's of what I was looking for.

Honest advice, I would save and buy the upgraded unit/units you want. I would probably save up and get the Gen2 HDS-7 with structure scan. I'd save up and pay a little extra and have a bigger screen, this way if you wanted to move to a 9" or larger unit you could put this one up front. And with the different views, the bigger the screen the easier it is considering you could have 3 screens up at one time so looking on a 5" screen split up isn't going to be that big of a display. Hope this helps a bit.

Also tried the spinshot's and I don't think I have lost a fish on one yet. I like them in the size 1-2 and like the set up. Makes switching weight lenghts much easier as well as being able to use a lighter line going to the weight especially in some nastier areas as so I have a break away sinker using cheaper sinkers then the dropshot weights. And they don't seem to take away from the baits (Keitech swing and live impact) action.

I'm still waiting for the Betencort Dying Bluegill to be in stock....that thing's action is wicked looking.

I'm hoping the bait monkey is like the tooth fairy and magically 2 EXO's I want will appear under my pillow....

Did you happpen to clean your reel lately yourself and possibly take all the grease out and out of that gear. Also where that little tooth that rides that gear, look and see if it's loose, if you took it apart, is it straight and lined up in the groove? I have had one that stuck every now and then and a simple piece of plastic (think it came from a crankbait package) inserted in the bottom of the holder to bring the tooth up just a bit fixed it. You might be able to take it to a reel repair place and have them fix it. If it's missing a piece then it's gonna take some time for them to get it. Check all the above first incase it is one of those.

I'd rather look a bit "goofy" as some has told me. Rather be teased about my clothing then deal with the pain of that nice sunburn.

Thats the worm gear. You should be able to look underneath and see where the little piece that rides that gear gos. It may be loose which would cause it to slip and not ride up in the groove or it may be worn out. Take it into BPS and see if they have that piece so you can get it fixed since it is their reel.

May not be letting them take it all in. You could try putting a small screw in eye in the back but it may ruin the action of the bait.

Yeah, I invested in some sun gear from SIMMS a couple years ago and use it religously anytime I'm gonna be out in the sun as well as one of those full brim hats and a good quality pair of sunglasses. I preach the same thing to my 9yr old, have gotten him a few shirts to wear fishing that are SPF 50 as well as a neck gaiter. My only complaint I have is I can't find any of the sleeves they make or any of SIMM's sungear for kids. But always have a can of SPF 50 in the trunk for the legs when wearing shorts and for my face as well as my boy. Only time I have been sunburned since I bought all this....the day I went to Seaworld....but my son had on his long sleeve shirt I have for him and was fine. Just wished I had one of mine on as well.

When you get bit are you reacting to the pressure or the splash of the fish attacking the bait?

If you're really into learning more about the bigger swimbaits, honestly I would get a copy of Southern Trout Eaters DVD and watch it. Gives lots of tips and answers quite a few questions about the bigger swimbaits. And Tackle Warehouse has the DVD's. Good advice on Hudds, MC Slammers, Triple Trout, different rat style baits, and also the Bull Shads.

Um, did anyone think to do this at night when all the little bas#@$ds are sleeping. It's just like wasps, you can't attack the nest in the day because there will always be wasps out roaming for food. Foggers work great, just like a grenade, set it off and toss it into the bush (AT NIGHT). Or use some of that high dollar wasp and hornet spray but do it in the dark when they are sleeping. Or you can do like everyone else said, hire someone.

I would suggest this. As long as you can get the bait back Mend-it does wonders on putting them back together and saving you money as well as being able to get a couple more fish out of each bait.

Use Power Pro original and super slick, also use Spiderwire Stealth, and recently tried Suffix 832.

Well first thing about fishing an umbrella rig, be patient. Some days are good, other days are well that's why we call it fishing. The rig you have I personally haven't fished, but have fished a few others. I started with a MH 7'6" Fast action rod but found out that I would pull hooks. Prefer to use 30lb braid with a 20-25lb mono topshot. I have although switched to a 7'6"MH BPS Crankin Stick. Like the softer tip action as it keeps me from pulling hooks which happened on the heavier flipping rod. I would also switch to a little slower gear ratio. My preference is a 5:4 as it lets me keep the bait moving and really like the bladed umbrella rigs so it makes it a bit easier with a lower gear ratio. But the biggest advice I have is in the first statement......be patient. Most I know have tried to fish these rigs and after about 2hrs of no bites quickly abandon it for something else. They tend to produce best in fall through the post spawn, so summer is a bit tough. I try and use as light a leadhead as I can as well as have different swimbaits and grubs I fish depending on what the situation calls for. If the primary forage of where you're fishing is about 3" long, try and match the hatch and you will have better success. Good luck.

I agree with Raul, topwater is a 24hr deal. Some decide to fish it at certain times but from my observations fishing bigger swimbaits, everyone of my fish I have caught on a bigger swimbait (8" or bigger) came between the hours of 10-3. Biggest was during the mid morning on a bright sunny day. But have caught many a bass during the day on topwaters and wakebaits.

Cast it out, and work it back in. You don't have to have a boat to dropshot. To vertical fish it yes. But it works good as you keep your bait up off the bottom as you work it in. Just a different presentation that can work on heavily pressured fish. Use a 4-5" straight tail worm, or curly, up to you. Can nose hook it or wacky...normally fish it with a 3/16-1/4oz dropshot weight. Did this in Louisianna at a buddys house that had a drainage pond behind it and lit them up. Normal worm fishing produced a fish or two, dropshotting produced over 40 fish in a 5 day period up to 5lbs.

and the c-rig is more then just a weight and a bead. It's a way to fish as well as feel what the bottom is with the help of that heavier weight. And the weight and bead dragging across the bottom can perk their interests as well, but then you have your bait anywhere from 12-36" back behind there kinda being flylined out and moving somewhat on it's own. Lets the bait rise up off the bottom and you can cover water pretty quickly since you're just dragging the rig along. The plastic you're fishing has it's own movement depending on what it does as you slowly bring it in.

If it's heavily pressured, I would try a dropshot rig or a Fat Ika depending on weed growth.

Look for edges, irregularities in the grass. Also, I've said this before, idle around and watch your depth finder. Make a note of what depth most of the fish are at. If most of the biomass is at a certain level that may give you an idea of how deep to start looking for the bass as well and help eliminate quite a bit of water.

I agree with with most of this as I do fish all braid with topshots of either mono or FC depending on my needs. But in order to get the shock absorption from the mono, you're gonna have to fish a longer topshot (20-30ft). The amount of stretch in a 3-6ft mono topshot isn't enough to absorb and stretch. A lighter drag setting will help with the lack of stretch.

I have found that around where I live the fish get blasted by the "spawn fisherman".....these guys can't catch anything the rest of the year, pound them with a jerk bait and fish the same fish day after day...the same fish...and say "yeah I caught 2 yesterday and a couple today". They were the same fish. I tend to stay away from the spawners, if I see one I may pitch a bait at them and if they respond and I get a reaction I may fish them, but quickly put them back ASAP to do their business and stay away from them after that. Found there are plenty of fish that are still in prespawn waiting to move up while some are spawning as well as later both pre and post spawn fish available as well as a few still spawning. Focusing on the other two have greatly increased my catch at this time of year as well as size as most don't target those two groups of fish.