Choporoz

Tried them last year and lost all 3 pretty quickly. I have gone back to Big Ugly plug knockers. I think there's two reasons. The gap in the clip will allow finesse-y stuff like drop shots and small worms and weights to pass right through. Additionally, if not straight up and down, the weight may not impact where you need it to when you drop it.

I use MF nearly as much as MHF

Reins scuppernong Swampmover....by a lot

My favorite short handle rods are Fenwick ETSM and St. Croix Rage, neither of which is made any more, unfortunately. At a fishing show last year, I handled some rods with green accents (Enigma, perhaps) that had short handles and felt great, though I have never fished them. (Wasn't thirteen, Lews, Favorite, carrotstix....wish my CRS wasn't so advanced.) Another I haven't fished, but is on my short list is St Croix Mojo yak, which is designed for yakkers with short handle. I've considered custom and may still do that. Kistler He3 (last year's) and Fenwick Aetos are short enough for me, but I'd like maybe a half inch less on each.

For some reason, I have trouble finding the info on this most years. Glad this thread was easy to find...and also glad they still use the same link as above that @joshua van wyk posted above Saturday, February 1, 2020 from 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the Hillendale Fire Dept., 13511 Hillendale Drive, Dale City, VA 22193.

bites came on fall? drag? hop? twitch? deadstick?

Great discussion, but I'm not sure we've gotten near an answer to OP question....or at least, my interpretation of the question: Is there a difference in hookup ratio using wacky senkos, between: hook parallel to worm, and hook perpendicular to the worm? I'm not sure I ever read a convincing answer, but I have to believe that there is a difference.

What about Salmon Huggers?

You're welcome! Uh...ok....Why is the word wrong spelled wrong in the dictionary? I got a weird email from Hormel...If you get one, just delete it. It might be Spam A pun has not completely matured until it is full groan. Half the people you know are below average.

Advice and opinions are no substitute for personal trial and error. Just looking at ratings, reviews, etc., I would NEVER have guessed that my favorite chatterbait rod is the one I use now...or that I already had a better jerkbait rod for years..out of two dozen rods, I only found out by mistake. You need to use experts and interwebs as a guide, but then go and throw different stuff on different rods with different lines.

This is going to sound like a cop out answer, but my thought is that you should get familiar with two to five of those and see what works for yourself. They all involve putting a smallish plastic in front of a bass' face and then not moving it a lot. Your platform, waters, gear, cover, etc. will all affect how you are able to manage the subtle differences between the presentations. Was a time when I had far more confidence putting a shaky head in a brushpile than anything else. Nowadays, I will probably use a drop shot first. Rocks, docks, weeds, laydowns, depth....all will affect how well you deliver the bait --- and only you, through experience will find differing levels of confidence in each. There aren't any rules. And when there are, they are wrong half the time.

I have a lot of old lures from my grandpa and father. I display many and enjoy just looking at them. I'd overlooked this one and came across it today. Apparently it was pretty common, but I don't remember them. Vivif soft swimbait. Weighted, double hook and a paddle tail. Pretty cool.

Include a plug knocker in your budget. The sooner you are confident that you will get them back, the sooner you will be willing to put them where the bass hang out.

2007 Dodge Durango. I primarily fish from kayak, don't have a garage, so I pretty much stay ready to go within minutes. My wife also fishes from kayak and her stuff is mostly in there year round, also. I sometimes rent jon boats and have a trolling motor and two batteries in there from around Easter to Thanksgiving, not to mention a portable fishfinder, anchor, boat seat and boat cushions. I don't leave my outboard in there year round, just load it and gas can when I'm going to rent on a lake that allows gas motors Year round: - One or two kayaks on top nearly year round. - 12-17 rods suspended on vehicle rod straps - 2 crates, yak seat, cart..... - Duffel bag with 10 3600 boxes - 2 paddles, 2 pfds, two fishfinders, numerous bags of plastics..... - 2 pairs of water shoes, 2 pairs of muck boots I needed to use the Durango for a trip over Christmas. Emptied and cleaned it or the first time in many, many years....found a Bluetooth earpiece that I lost over four years ago...lol

Thanks, @Tennessee Boy! Tourny is first week of April. Pretty sure entire lake, up into TN is open.

I fish with Northern Virginia Kayak Bass Anglers. NVKBA. Last year was my first. It is a fantastic club. Are you going down?

I've been a few times and never regretted it. But, then again, most Januarys are too cold for me to fish. If it's back in the 50's in a couple weeks, I may have better things to do. @Sam, the Jackhammers are certainly very, very good. If you are looking for a cheaper alternative, get some from @Bluebasser86. Nearly as good, but a fraction of the price.

With a field north of 600, I'm guessing that there's a good number of BR members headed there with their kayaks in April. Any body have experience with past years NC's? Tips, lessons learned or suggestions? I'm staying on the south end and a bit anxious about crowded conditions - fishable water and ramps. Sure, the lake is most of a 100 miles long, but even with even spacing, that's 6+ yaks per mile at any one time... but I'd guess it'll be more than double that in the southern 1/3.....kind of crazy to imagine.

I use my plug knocker almost every time out. I have tried many types of retrievers and for kayak use, there is one that is far and away better than anything else I've used ....and cheaper than most: https://www.ebay.com/itm/BIG-UGLY-Plug-Knocker-Fishing-Lure-Retriever-Quick-Easy-To-Use-NEW-IMPROVED-/333140284499 Takes up little space; very fast and easy to use; effective; cheap.

I probably lost more of some other lures, but only because I don't throw blade baits year round. However, blade bait loss-per-cast is far and away the highest of anything else I use.

They should put green butt caps on them. Like the valve stem caps on car tires that are 'supposed' to be filled with nitrogen.

Thanks. I'm not optimistic I could effectively work a drop shot in heavy cover unless it's very nearly vertical. But, could be worth a try, I suppose. 10# line doesn't sound like anything but lost fish.

Please elaborate.

X-Rap Sub Walk - Rapala --- easily the best looking bait in the water that I own that will not get bit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3NJhPNW0fM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXWtbRye4VU These aren't going to answer your questions. However, I found them fascinating....if you have even a tiny bit of interest in blank construction, take a look.