ChrisD46

I use an older All Star 6' M Fast action rod for lighter Rogues , twitch minnows , etc. as I can impart action straight down in front of me (versus off to the side) plus I can work the bait in one spot longer with small twitches (easier to do on a shorter rod) .

Thanks for the replies - quite a jump in line diameter when going from #12lb. to #15lb. so I believe #12lb. is the best all around size for a bait caster set up .

What dictates using the smaller 4.5" finesse worm vs. the 6' variety ?

Well put Longo - I was such a fan 3 to 5 years ago and now the innovation appears to have stopped . As a large body fisherman I kept waiting before ICAST each year to see if there would be upgrades to the Big Rig or the Coosa HD and nothing . Meanwhile Old Town , Wilderness Systems and others I have not heard of a few years ago are really coming on strong . As consumers we can vote with our wallets ...

Is it just me or does it seem Jackson Kayak is falling behind the last few years in serious fishing kayaks as compared to Wilderness Systems , Old Town and others ? ... I wanna like the Big Rig and Coosa but then you look at the new Old Town Predator XL , The Wilderness Systems new Radar , the Ride series and new ATAK series provide better options now for pedal , power or paddle . Not hate'n or troll'n - just wondering why Jackson Kayak has not been as aggressive as some of it's rivals to upgrade and provide the types of new innovation fishermen are looking for in a dedicated fishing kayak in 2017 (additionally where have the been at ICAST lately?) Take the Big Rig for instance - as wide as it is - it's still tippy as the secondary chimes are almost non - existent . Re-design the hull and give a pedal option and a factory power option for this tanker. The Coosa needs revising as well in the HD line with a expanded new 14' / 35" model with the same paddle / pedal / power option . Just say'n if I was after a new serious fishing kayak I would have to go with a company offering 2017 innovation / technology and not just providing 2014 technology re-issue kayaks in new colors ! ... Your thoughts and experiences ?

Likewise between the standard Booyah Hard Knocker vs. the One Knocker (tungsten) : Some pros will use the standard lipless crankbait with multiple rattles as a search bait - then slow down to work a school they have found with the one knocker / tungsten 2 tap . Other pros prefer to use the lower pitch one knocker / tungsten 2 tap in the colder winter ~ pre spawn period then switch to the standard red eye shad / hard knocker when the water warms late pre spawn ~ spawn period (same thing in reverse in the Fall ) . *What governs your use of the standard multi rattle lipless crankbait vs. the one or two ball tungsten versions ? Thanks in advance ...

Old Town Predator 13 holds 500lbs. with options to paddle , pedal or motor - I have not used one but the reviews are positive . In the Wilderness Systems line up besides the Ride 115 / 135 , the new A.T.A.K appears to be a nice big man's kayak for fishing .

Let me introduce you to my little friend ... "The Bait Monkey" !

I bought a spool of Yo-Zuri Hybrid #12lb. test to try for lipless crankbaits (on the advice of a few users) on a bait cast outfit .My first question is Yo-Zuri Hybrid #12lb. strong enough to use for spinner baits , chatter baits and swim jigs ? My second question is whether Yo-Zuri Hybrid #12lb. can be used for top water applications ? With a composition of 50% Nylon and 50% FC I would want to know if Yo-Zuri Hybrid is a sinking line or does it float ? Thanks in advance ...

Great replies - appears to be a pretty versatile soft plastic !

I'm curious about this soft plastic : What are your favorite rigging tips , retrieves , where to use them , etc. ?

I didn't say you couldn't use mono , FC , or co-poly lines with a LSR . I implied the rods are designed to be BEST used with braid (look it up on Berkley's site) ... If i'm using straight mono , FC or co-poly line there are better choices out there than a Berkley LSR .

These are all good suggestions - I suggest you take a look at the TW site in the spinning rods & spinning reels section (reviews are helpful) , then you can come back with any further questions you may have regarding what you find in your budget . You should also not count out: Abu Garcia , Lew's and Okuma as well as the aforementioned Daiwa , Shimano and Dobyns options . P.S. Quick story I moved from North Texas to Florida in the heart of bass lake country when I was 12 ... A few months later when I turned 13 my father bought me my first spinning rod and reel : A low end Shakespeare reel and a no name whippy ML glass rod which turned out great for keeping bass hooked up with twitch baits on mono line ... Fast forward to today and that first spinning rod & reel still means more to me than many material items and gifts since I have accumulated since then . Have fun with the selecton and make it a big deal with your son without spending a fortune - he will thankyou with a smile and good memories many , many years later .

Thanks for the replies , both are good options but I am inclined to try the CXX in #10lb. on a 6:3:1 with mono backing on it to see how I like it - about 60 yrds. with KVD line conditioner should do the trick. I would imagine the CXX down in #10 lb. should cast / handle well and be non-abrasive as a benefit around rocks .

The LRS rods are a different deal because they are designed for braid line thus a more parabolic / moderate bend than you may be used to (or at least "fast" versus "extra fast " ) . Still , I believe they are close to rated type for each rod - as long as you are using braid .

The reservoir I fish is without weeds or grass - just chunk rock , boulders , steep bluff walls and clear water (i.e. typical hyland reservoir ) . Most people throwing 'Traps and other Lipless Crankbaits are using FC or Co-Poly in #14lb. to #17lb. because they are ripping through grass and weeds to get that reaction strike . For my conditions glancing off of rocks , digging along the bottom chunk rock with the nose , Yo-Yo'ing or a straight retrieve are what I can do with a lipless crank on my reservoir . To sum it up - I'm not ripping through grass so what line and #lb. strength is best for these conditions in a reservoir devoid of any vegitation ? Rod & reel choice is no problem as I have enough combos for Braid + Leader , FC and Co-Poly to go and match with the best line for the conditions I outlined above . Thanks in advance ...

I mention sales thinking some dealers may sell more of certain sizes thus you can get a better deal . Otherwise it's kind of a "goldilocks" deal with me - an X17 may feel too small after a while where as a X21 is definitely too big and expensive for my needs . Than leaves a X18 and X19 as the ones to compare so ride , handling, room , etc. come into play (even if out by yourself) . The hyper lift hull and Xpress quality is the deal though as I never hear anything bad about them !

Technically it is calld a Hyper-Lift Hull I suppose ... The X18 & X19 and the X18Pro & X19 Pro are on my short list - would be curious out of the models and lengths I listed - which are the most popular or perhaps what Xpress sells the most ?

For those with experience in Xpress bass boats - what are the advantages of the Xpress Hyper Hull ?

The one knocker has it's place due to the unique sound it creates - but as an additional choice the RES tungsten model could be viable .

I have a few original PQ's I bought on sale over the years . I would buy a PQ 2.0 on a deeply discounted sale but no regular price as I would move to Lew's , Quantum or Daiwa at that $100 to $139 price point ... While the PQ 2.0 is a nice upgrade - it is too little too late in terms of weight freduction and feature set as compared to Lew's , Daiwa , Quantum and others offering 6 oz. packages in 9:1 gear ratios down to 5:1 gear ratios.

Thanks for the replies - I suppose which ever color chrome back you have the most confidence in is a big part of the equation !

Jackson Big Rig - wide , stable and better than you would think to paddle .

As the title suggests whether a new lure you want to try - or an old favorite you will use again ... What pre-spawn lures will YOU be throwing this year ? *Here in the S.E. due to such a mild Winter we are about 3 weeks ahead of what a "normal" pre-spawn period should be , so bass will be staging to come shallow any day now !

#30 lb. braid is fine to learn with on a spinning reel (2500 size) . Later I would reduce line weight by half and go with #15 lb. braid .