Choporoz

zoombait * d-o-t c-o-m ?

Many years ago, I tried flukes and had same experience -- I honestly didn't throw another fluke for years. Rigging straight was only a small part of my issue. I was trying to 'swim' them -- like I might a swim jig or paddle tail. Flukes are the killer bait when you AREN'T trying to 'swim' them. Toss 'em weightless and let them settle and spiral and twist and whatever they want on slack/semi-slack line. Retrieve them with jerks and pauses. Neither you, nor the fish, will care at all if they are twisting, twirling, spinning, etc. Throw it weightless and jerk the slack line -- vary your jerks and pauses...and hold on tight I do, at times use weighted hooks, but again...I am not trying to swim them, so an unpegged texas rig works better for me than weighted hook --- it allows more 'erratic' action for me

I share your doubts, but I've aged past the point where I can muster any outrage....there was a time, however.....

He might well be doing you a favor. As your DNR probably figured out, the lake might have been getting stunted by having too many small bass. Thinning the one pounders MAY make a profound improvement in the number of future trophies in there. Too many small ones can and does lead to too few biguns.

Welcome to the neighborhood.

Another way to look at it....When a big shiny boat comes around the point, who ever set down their baitcasting rod and picked up a spinning combo?

Not I

I love my baitcasters, but I know a LOT of people who will argue with all of the arguments above....except maybe the one about the bait monkey. Absolutely no question that spinning rods in the hands of experienced anglers will: handle biggest bass lure; be as accurate; and cast as 'fast'.....especially when you factor in the time taken picking out backlashes

Are you 6'4", 240? Gotta learn to stick those arms out before asking "What's she weigh?"

I tried to back away, but I have to not answer the question with a non-answer. To me, you need a good lure retriever that you have confidence in. A hook that will straighten out of wood or rocks WILL lose fish. No question in my mind, whatsoever. Also, since you didn't ask about line, I'll not answer that, too. Consider line other than braid. I believe that 'other than braid' will allow you the 'give' to work around wood, rocks, docks, etc with less likelihood of getting 'stuck'....imo

uh oh...

What fish ARE you targeting?

After you buy one of those, check out Lee Roys Ramblings web site. It appears to be down at the moment, but its gone down before and always come back. Lee Roy will teach you a lot about your new motor.

Watched one from our group on Friday tip, and three rods went in the river. All 3 had rod floats and all 3 were recovered immediately. I haven't used them myself, but they're on next tackle shop visit shopping list.

Yes. They are perfect fit for PT tubes. Just this weekend, however, the smallies were looking for a slimmer tube and the PT heads were a little fat, so I had to downsize to some jig heads that I didn't like nearly as much.

No clue whatsover

Absolutely no clue. What did I have for dinner last night?

Conditions and tackle limitations finessed me into a particularly successful presentation for a few days last month. Less than active bass sitting in and under quickly emerging hydrilla. Slider heads worked, but I ran out. Switched to 1/16 oz tungsten trigged trick worms and killed it. The slider heads worked the weeds well, but the trig action was different enough to turn them on.

Pretty tough tails, too. Guy towed me for nearly 15 minutes

Welcome aboard. Lots of locals around here. Lots of good info, but outside of this thread and maybe the Occoquan thread, its a bit scattered.

My new rig for kayak carp: MM rod and LC LVRD7

Yo Zuri and whatever braid is on sale - mostly PP and Cabelas RipCord8 (but it looks like Cabelas brand has changed, and I haven't used the new RipCord yet. The old stuff was as good as PP and when on sale, far cheaper.)

and that's when the fight started.... OP, I'm guessing you don't have either.....you won't go wrong with either, but prepared to make a long-term commitment after you buy one or the other....reading these forums, it appears to be a very unique individual who is in both camps

tons....I'd be surprised if you couldn't come up with 1,000,000 different shakey head/tail combos just going to one Bass Pro Shop

I had similar experience....change 'white spinnerbait' to 'clear spook on the surface' and 'cormorant' to 'hungry heron'....I was pretty worried