ChrisD46

^^This^^ ... I believe using one of the Owner Twistlock Weighted EWG Swim Bait hook offers more flexibility with a paddle tail allowing you to fish more different types of conditions without hanging up !

5/16th oz. Booyah Baby Boo Jig with a small Netbait BabyCraw trailer attached ... Flip , cast and skip that combo around from the bank for a while - then decide to expand to 1/4 oz. and 3/8th oz. larger combos using the Netbait Standard size Craw trailer .

The "new" Fenwick Smallmouth Elite Tech 6'10" ML difference is it's now an XF versus the previous version rating of F ... Has anybody compared the two to see if there is a noticeable difference in feel / performance ? ... My primary interest is as a drop shot rod - thanks in advance !

It appears more people will use a similar set up for a bladed jig / chatterbait as they will for a spinnerbait . For a swim jig almost everyone is going to a faster gear ratio / more heavy duty set up due to swim jigs being thrown in or near vegetation . Previously , I never considered the set up I use for a football jig (7' MH XF rod / 7:1 gear ratio / #15lb. InvizX FC ) would be ideal for a long cast swim jig duty while my spinnerbait set up (6'10" MH XF 6:4:1 gear ratio / #16lb. Sunline Super Natural) set up is better suited to a bladed jig / chatterbait set up throwing to more specific targets. For a football jig swim jig cast - I'm trying to bomb it for long casts and covering water !

smalljaw67 was a big help to recommend this : Elite Tech Bass 6'9" ML for drop shot - now the darn model is no longer made !! ...I could kick myself now for not buying it sooner - However I had no idea they would change the line up ?

There is a KVD video where he uses this approach in a pool to clearly show you his horizontal drop shot technique which he works pretty darn fast I might add !

Great replies - keep 'em coming ! A few observations : 1 ) It appears many are more apt to move a swim bait a little faster through the water thus a 7:1:1 gear ratio reel (versus say a spinnerbait) . 2 ) A football jig outfit I already have ( 7' MH rod , 7:1:1 reel with #15lb. InvisX ) could double nicely as a swim jig set up.

There is a natural progression / cycle to using various lures , some believe it's required because fish get accustomed to many lures . A spinner bait can do many things all through the water column and playing with various trailers can adust the look , fall rate and retrieve speed . While I like chatterbaits and swim jigs (here trying various trailers just like with spinnerbaits) - I'll stop using a spinnerbait when Jimmy Houston states the lure & technique are dead and no longer work for him .

As the title states - do you treat / approach these three above techniques with a different rod , reel and line set up ? Please list your set up for each : 1 ) Chatterbait : - Rod length , power & action - Reel gear ratio - Line (FC , Braid , Mono # test ) 2 ) Spinnerbait : - Rod length , power & action - Reel gear ratio - Line (FC , Braid , Mono, # test ) 3 ) Swim Jig : - Rod length , power & action - Reel gear ratio - Line (FC , Braid , Mono # test ) Thanks in advance !!

You stand a BETTER chance to score a left hand retrieve than a right hand at this juncture ! ... Stock on all right hand retrieves are the first to go .

Great info Goose52 & Mike (I presume) @ Deleware Tackle ! ... $8.00 for an improved drag set is a fair value & improvement !

I own a PQ'r ... Not rushing out to get a new drag set just curious if available and if a noted improvement . Good to know Mike @ Deleware can keep a PQ'r running good for a long time !

Some say they feel the PQ'r drag is not as smooth as they would like ... Is it possible to upgrade the drag set with a 3rd party / aftermarket drag set ? If so , what are your recommendations ?

Correction - I meant Veritas !!

Next KVD : Is your Veritas 6'9" ML a original or 2.0 ? ... This rod is on my short list to use for drop shot - is the tip limber and does the bend extend more down towards the middle of the rod like better drop shot rods respond ? Is the rod sensitive enough to detect light strikes ?

What about the Abu Garcia Vendetta 2.0 in 6'9" ML for $99... Curious if this would be an upgrade to the Sellus ?

I have three PQ's that I have bought during various BPS sales and all work fine . That said , at the standard price of $100 I would be inclined to buy a Tatula for the noted extra smoothness they have .

What rod bend then is ideal for a drop shot rod ? ...I would think you want a flexible tip to impart subtle action to the line / bait and a more limber mid section as you more or less just reel down on a strike to hook the fish ... Your thoughts ?

BPS - ATL : Picked up a PQ 6:4:1 Right Hand and a spool of Stren 14lb. Mono for top water applications ... I got there an hour and a half after they opened today and most of the line on sale had already been picked over pretty good . There was still a fairly good supply of PQ's showing on the sale stand - but most were left hand retrieve in 7:1:1 gear ratio . In the available PQ right hand retrieve that were remaining - most were 6:4:1 gear ratio with very few 5:2:1 or 4:7:1 gear ratios . The floor salesman indicated the PQ's people grabbed first were the right hand 7:1:1 gear ratio versions , not many of the low gear ratio PQ's were even shipped to the store . It worked out fine for me as I already have 7:1:1 gear ratio PQ's and was looking for a 6:4:1 gear ratio for general purpose . I half thought about picking up a low gear ratio PQ , however I don't crank at all so it would not be of much use to me ... Good luck visiting your local BPS store !

^^ This ^^

Curious if Mercer had an illness or gastro bypass surgery ? ... He has lost a ton of weight and has what appears to be excess skin on his face when viewing the new shows versus shows of a few years ago ... Great dude - hope he is ok ?

^^This^^ ... Also great on a small 1/8th ~ 3/16th oz. jig working it slow on the bottom .

I agree ... after a lot of research , the Pennicle Perfecta and the Powell 3D Max appear to have the best specs and performance for what I'm looking for . With upcoming Spring sales coming I will buy one or the other (unless I am swayed to consider a new rod not on my list ) .

Good to know !

Thanks for the update - I stand to be corrected on the Kistler grip lengths !