ChrisD46

Thanks mredd07 - yes definately the bass boat TXW version ... Now have to study would a PT190 be the better option for two fairly large fishermen with more driver leg room or will the PT175 get it done in Florida lakes and St. Johns river ?

For 2016 models - besides the 20 HP increase for the Pro 175TXW , what are the other differenes between the Tracker Pro 175TF and the 175TXW ? The web site really wasn't clear to me as the both have the diamond coat finish and other features of the two Trackers appear the same .

Thanks - yes correct ... parallel to worm with hook point pointing up .

For those who have experience with a Neko rig worm - where are you placing the hook ? As an example if you were using a 6" trick worm with a nail weight in the head where would you place the hook for best action , less fouling and hook up percentage ? : In the middle of the worm (3" mark) ... 2/3rds up from the head (4" mark) ? ...3/4ths up from the head (5" mark ? . It appears hook placement in the middle of the worm or slightly up from there about an inch further up from the head towards the tail are what most instructional articles state to do - then there is Ike who has hook placement way up about 1.5" from the tail of a trick worm for the Neko rig . Thanks in advance for sharing where hook placement works best for you on a 6" Neko rig worm ?

Replies are running about 50 - 50 between straight FC line and Braid + FC Leader then a few "other" using mono , co-poly or nanofil for wacky rig worms / senkos . I will add I'm throwing wacky rigs in , open , clear water with rocky bottom (few weeds) . Since I have a a 2500 series spinning reel with #6 lb. straight FC line (drop shot) and the same 2500 series spinning reel with #10 lb. Braid + #7 lb. Sunline FC Sniper for a leader - I will swap these reels out on my Shimano wacky rig rod and seee how it goes ? Interesting - I thought there would be more of a decided preferance as to line type for wacky rig however it's not that clear cut !

I see a lot of pros on TV using the Vicious lines and many of them are touting the "new" versions ... Still , I'm suspect these guys are paid by Vicious to use their lines which currently makes me want to stay with Sufix , Seaguar , Sunline , Power Pro and the like ...

SCIII blanks are the key difference in the new MoJo rods - definately on my short list (after completing my 12 step bait monkey intervention program) .

For a dedicated wacky worm / stick bait set up - I'm torn between using straight Fluorocarbon line in #6 lb. to #8 lb. test OR #10 lb. Braid mainline with a Fluorocarbon leader in #6 lb. to #8 lb. test. What is your preference and experience between the two line type setups listed above in water say less than 12 ft. ? Which line type offers the most natural fall , presentation , etc. for a wacky rig worm / stick bait ? ...Thanks in advance for replies - I really want to get the most out of the set up and I know line type and size can make a big difference in a wacky rig presentation .

Ned has a saying (really a visual) that states something to the affect of "occasionally lightly kissing the bottom " or "lightly polishing rocks" ...Something to that affect . The visual this gives me from Ned is not maintaining bottom contact - but instead focusuing on that 4" to 6" water level ABOVE the bottom with the jig head only occasionally making contact with the bottom . **T9 or Bluebasser86 may remember this exact quote from Ned - it's a great visual to remember andd again is only ONE of the Ned retrieves - but an effective one ! My Ned Rig setup for Southern Spotted Bass : Gopher Mushroom Jig Head 1/16th oz. #4 hook , 6# lb. InvizX leader , #10 lb. Power Pro , 7' ML Fast action spinng rod , 2500 series Shimano spinning reel .

Yes , only see it at Dick's and otherwise fairly popular in Australia and New Zealand ... I use KVD line conditioner to help with the stiffness in the #14 lb and #17 lb. ratings . I'm using only on a baitcaster currently for top water , swimbaits and swim jigs . Would I go out of my way to buy again ? Not sure yet - For non - braid and non - FC applications I'm warming up to the idea of using co-poly lines as they offer a cost savings and the technology keeps getting better and better with co-poly lines.

Would dropping down to say a #40 lb. braid have any affect on casting a frog or do you stay with say a #65 lb. braid with no worries ?

Doubt it will happen again - however two years ago during the Spring Bass expo they had PQ's on sale (in store only) for $49 !! ...I only bought one that day and kick myself every time I hear the PQ name for not buying more !! I don't fish crank baits deep so no need for a 5:1 gear ratio but for everything else , having at least a couple of 7:1 and 6:3:1 PQ's is a solid investment !!

^^This^^ in clear water with few obstructions , OR try with #6 lb. to #8 lb. P-Line C-XX copoly line if water is less than crystal clear and you may encounter obstructions . Otherwise #8 lb. to #10 lb. FC leader + #10 lb. #15 lb braid mainline - join the two lines with an Alberto knot .

Thanks for the replies ! I'll try to work the redbug color in under the suggested conditions and see what bites I get . Funny though , red is the first color to drop out of the light spectrum under water , so hard to say what color a bass sees red bug as at 10 to 12 feet ? ...Probably light to medium grey with green sparkles .

Here's a twist : What is the WORST application for a Braid main line + FC / Mono leader where you believe you are much better staying with a straight FC or Mono main line ? ...We have all heard about the happy applications of those who have switched to a Braid main line + a FC or Mono leader , now I want to hear about those applications where you believe you do better with a FC or Mono main line ? Let's hear it ! ... Thanks in advance .

I usually throw Green Pumpkin and Watermelon soft plastic worms here in the South - a tackle store owner encouraged me to try Redbug color worms which I've never used before . What conditions might dictate when to throw a Redbug color worm vs. Green Pumkin or Watermelon ? ... Thanks in advance !

Bought a few packs of Zoom transparent glimmer blue soft plastics that looked great when new - now a few months later after being carefully packed away they are now "glimmer blue tan" in color ... What gives here ? It's as if the formulation changed causing the soft plastic color to turn tan ! They look ugly now - does nothing to instill confidence the way they look now ... I will also add I have been to a few different stores and seen the same end result with the Glimmer transparant colors turning to a tan transparent color . This is not isolated to Zoom by the way - I have seen the same thing happen with BPS Stick - O's and Big Bite Bait soft plastics as well.

The Mysterious Luck Tackle Box is a close reltive of the Bait Monkey !

Thanks Tom - at the other end of the scale that would make a #7 size about 1/16th oz. with the #5 somewhere aound 1/10th oz. or so rounding out that 1/8th oz. size down to 1/16th oz size for 12 ft. or less water depth .

The wife insists I have bought lures and soft plastics I don't even know I had thus she is determined to dig them out of the fishing equipment room , place them in a nice box a few lures at a time , gift wrap it and present me a new box each first day of the month . Thus the : "Mysterious Luck Tacklebox" is born - no new cost or shipping required ... Nothing like the process of "rediscovery" - I can't wait to see what June 1st brings !

For any soft plastic fluke , swim bait , etc. that are crooked simply heat up a pot of water on the stove to a high simmer and hold the tails vertical in the hot water for 20 seconds or so then lay flat and straight on a paper towell to dry - problem usually solved .

Question on weight sizes for split shot rig : I believe the range of weight sizes for a finesse split shot rig are going to be in that #3/0 to #4 size range with perhaps the #7 size and #5 size getting the lions share of use . * What are the split shot sizes you use most in say 12 ft. or less water depth for a split shot rig ?

^^This^^ - Bigger Baits + Larger Hooks + Heavier Weights = Heavier equipment and line . No reason why a 12" Bull Worm with a 3/8th oz. weight and a 2/0 octopus hook wouldn't work .

I talked to a Pro on the FLW Tour who said that while he likes a dipped color tail - he likes to use a lot less than found on typical colored tail worms in stores ... About 3/8th to 1/4 inch dipped in JJ's is what he uses - just enough to interest a bass but less than the 3/4th inch + dipped worms found in the stores .

Good replies - it seems to make sense . Also a short piece of #12 ~ #15 lb. mono leader keeps braid from fouling on front treble hooks and split rings . I would also think that it will not take as much rod movement on braid + mono leader to get a walking bait to walk good ! *I'm trying to reduce having reels with so many different types of main lines - it just seems stupid .