ChrisD46

If possible try to use oval split rings as the round split rings have a bad habit of catching your line on the converstion point of the split ring which can lead to damaged line ... The oval split rings avoid that issue (try TW ) .

Good replies to date : I have Big Game #15 lb. , Stren #14 lb. , Yo Zuri Hybred #12 lb. and CXX #12 lb. & #17 lb. available locally - I believe (based on replies) these would be in the ball prk to try on top of cheap backing I have on couple of bait caster reels . *I mention the possible benefit to slight stretch for spinner baits (mono / copoly) based on comments from Jimmy Houston to: "Let bass have the spinnerbait for just a split second delay before setting the hook and you will catch more fish" ...

I tried braid main line for spinner baits and swim jigs - but lose fish due to early hook sets . The slight stretch that mono , copoly or perhaps FC line have (as compared to braid) may help me get better hook sets due to the delay / stretch with these reaction style baits ... What is your favorite line and # pound test you use for spinner baits and swim jigs on a bait caster?

Open water get the Popping Pad Crasher ; for fishing on top of or through vegetation get the standard Pad Crasher . As for colors the Cricket color is great - you have to try the Sunburn color which Jason Christie uses regularly (it imitates baby birds and other rodents well) . Additional colors I like are Kuro (black & red is growing in popularity as a frog color) , Ole Smokey (cool looking transparent grey imitates shad , mouse - bass can't quite figure out what it is as it's translucent ) , Aqua Frog and Shad Frog (I like these in the Popping Pad Crasher to imitate shad) ... Hope this helps !

InvizX #6 lb. on a 2500 series is not bad : Use backing with 65 yrds. of FC , close bail by hand after taking up slack (usual spinning reel tricks) , etc. helps .

It would be great to gain additional casting distance with say a #20 lb. PP braid - but how guys can use that with success on a BC reel is beyond me ?

A few other options I may be interested in were : Gambler Sweebo worm , Crème Scoundrel and the Havoc Money Maker ?

Yes - you are on the rght path and could go up to say #10 lb. or #12 lb. FC line on a 4000 size reel without too much trouble . For #8 lb. FC it would be ideal but below #8 lb. FC a 2500 series would work just as well .

Thanks for the rod updates , I envision flipping 3/8th oz to 3/4th oz. jigs and pegged craw / beaver style baits mainly so I'm thinking MH with braid .

Beyond a stick worm (Senko , Yum Dinger ) what other worms in say a 5.5" to 6.5" range have a good wobble / action with a wacky jig head (i.e. 1/16th oz. ) ? ...I'm aware of the Jackell Flick Shake but curious about other plastic worms you have used with a weighted wacky jig head with good success ? Thanks in advance ...

Thanks for the replies - I will take a look at the Irod , Falcon and Okuma rods (going shorter to a 7'4" is also an option) but I need that moderate fast / parabolic action with good backbone .

* Also try downsized version using a 4" stick worm of your choice with a #2 or #2.5 willow or Colorado blade - works great when bass want a slightly smaller profile !!

Looking for a good Flipp'n rod under $179 to be used with #50 lb. to #65 lb. braid main line so needs to be a moderately fast , parabolic bend in MH . Most Flipp'n rods are fast / extra fast H for FC line which just won't do ... Your experiences and suggestions for a 7'6" ~ 7'11" Moderately Fast MH Flipp'n rod for braid ?

Thanks dam0007 - the #16 lb. SX1 or #15 lb. Power Pro + FC leader I imagine would work too , main curiosity is whether the SX1 braid helps to get down a little better with less bow in the line ?

Specific to Shaky Head & Wacky Senko - for both applications I'm down to considering Power Pro#10 lb. main line braid & Sunline SX1 #12 lb. main line braid ... For those familiar with both braid lines , is there a noticeable difference in the sinking qualities / performance between these two braid main lines for Shaky Head and Wacky Senko applications ?

Perhaps an under utilized color (being a blend of Green Pumpkin & Junebug) suitable for a range of water & light conditions (although I would lean more to stained water / lower light with Bama Craw) .

The hair band deal works fine - I have been experimenting with clear heat shrink tubing off e-bay : Cut a 3/4th" piece off , center it on a senko , hit it briefly with a heat gun then run the hook hrough perpindicular . *I'm sure it's just me but I just don't belive I get the best hook set wacky with the hook parallel vs. perpindicular . y way with the heat shrink tubing yeilds a few more fish from one senko buy the clear hair band or o-ring would last longer I believe .

First I have heard of the Crock-O-Gator (plus associated shaky head) and I am a regular lurker on TW's web site ... I like it - thanks for introducing me to something new Bluebsser 86 !!

To be safe , I will only use the Z-Man Bat Wingz and Turbo Crawz on silicone skirted jigs . *Not to get off topic - I just got the Bat Wingz for football jigs and the Turbo Crawz for swim jigs and chatterbaits ... Here's hoping they do really well for me !

According to experts : Once we hit the 13 hours per day of daylight - craw fish will be out in force ... What is your favorite craw for dragging on a C-Rig / Swing Head Jig , dragging / yo-yoing on a T-Rig and lastly dragging / dancing on a Shaky Head ? Let's hear your fav craw & set up for targeting large , mainly open expanses of water (think highland reservoir ) where primary / secondary points where rock , gravel , clay bottoms are the norm . * I purposely left out flipping / pitching craws and their set ups which are primarily target based applications .

That's what I want to hear ! Once you get say a bat wingz or turbo crawz on a jig head , chatter bait, etc. I would like to leave it there ... Conversely if a skirt has any living rubber mixed in - that might be an issue ?

I know not to store Z-man Elaztech baits with other soft plastics - but what about if a Z-man trailer is left on a swim jig with a silicon OR rubber skirt - will it cause the Elaztech material to melt ? ... Your experiences ?

FloroClear breaks very close to the rated #weight of the line - this is the greatest knock against it as compared to other lines ...

Braid + either FC or co=poly / mono leader if you want to do both top water & jerks / cranks with one setup . Using #10 lb. C-XX co-poly would also work for both .

OP here : Good replies ... I see colors I believed would be listed are holding true to form - about as far as I have strayed from the basics would be a Yum Dinger in Bream or a Senko in Green Pumpkin Magic color.