ChrisD46

You want a heavy enough weight to maintain contact with the bottom , from the bank you could start with a 3/8oz. steel egg sinker from WM (also buy 1/2oz. size too) . Drag 2 to 3 feet then stop , reel in slack line and repeat ...this time of year you don't want more than a short 2 ~ 3 second pause between reeling slack line and dragging ...keep it moving in a steady cadence while maintaing contact with the weight on the bottom . If you want to stroke or hop a bait - go with a T-Rig instead .

Actually , I now modify my previous post : If you are unsure of exactly what you want - you owe it to yourself to try a Siebert Outdoors (site sponsor) shakey head ... Everything he makes is first class or he doesn't ship it ...Start with a Zennith shakey head in 1/8th oz. - you can't go wrong !!

What BigKev77 said !! Carolina weights used can be from 3/8oz. to 1oz. with 1/2oz. the most often all around weight used . Until you know for sure what you want in a rod (as well as gain some experience) consider buying a BPS MH Graphite Series 7'6" telescoping rod and load the BPS PQ with 40lb. braid , 12lb Big Game mono leader using a 1/2oz. steel egg sinker from WM , finish with a 2/0 ~ 3/0 EWG Gama hook and rig with a Zoom GP finesse worm or Baby Brush Hog ... You can succeed VERY nicely with this rig while keeping costs down (again , until you know what features you specifically want in a rod ?)

Use a thinner 20lb fluorocarbon line from Seaguar or Sunline and put on a reel of your choice with mono backing (cheap Zebco 12lb from WM is ideal) . Another option is using 30lb ~ 40lb braid (with the same backing) and use a fluoro or mono leader (depending on your application) . The BPS PQ is a fine reel and if you wait you can find for $79.00 on sale a couple of times per year . Another option is the H20 Xpress baitcast reel from AS that runs $59.00 every day , which is another fine option .

Picasso if you like a screw lock head and several good ones if you like a standard shakey head - in 6 feet of water I like a 3/32nd to 1/8th oz. and 6lb to 8lb fluorcarbon line on a spinning rod & reel ...Go watch Jeff Kriet , Aaron Martin , Ike , etc. on You Tube as these guys are the kings of shakey head !

Braid with a fluoro leader using double uni knot ...For top water 12lb mono + braid and double uni knot. * If throwing a Super Fluke then a small barrel swivel (Spro , P-Line) placed a few feet up the line prevents the Fluke from twisting your line ...Use a Trilene knot on the fluoro side and a palomar knot on the braid side (always tie the palomar knot first) . Oh heck , just buy a bulk spool of Big Game Moss Green mono and call it a day

What Aavery2 said ... First though Montanaro - what pound test Fluoro and what type of reel ? If spinning and anything over a thin 10 lb fluoro then you have a problem ...If baitcaster then not a problem with better fluoro lines such as : Sufix , Sunline , Seaguar , P-Line , etc.

I say DSG's had Stren Braid (in the green box) for 20% off ... This is not the Stren Sonic Braid you would see at bass specialty stores - anybody use this model braid from Stren before ? It either is a house brand made for DSG's or a prior version of the current Stren Sonic Braid - thanks in advance for replies ...I'm interested in the 15lb braid for a spinning reel (like that they have the "tweener" size braid as usually you find 10lb or 20lb but not 15lb).

Ever consider working a straight tail Trick Worm through and over the weeds ? A lot less snagging going on ...

Like the G-Man says : " Ain't no mirrors down there - bass don't know how big or small they are " ! I have had dinks bite a Rapala bigger than they were ...Rig a 10 inch worm with a 5/0 worm hook and up to a 3/8th oz. bullet weight then swim it or hop it on the bottom . Green Pumpkin , Water Melon Red Flake , Junebug and Black with Blue Flake will serve you well (depending on conditions) . Zoom 'Ole Monster is comparable to a Berkely Power Bait 10 inch worm - but I would add a little of your favorite scent to the Zoom bag to knock back the strong plastic smell Zoom baits tend to have .

Thanks for the replies - I saw a video with a Elite Pro jerkbait expert (Mike M.) say he will throw a soft jerkbait on sunny calm days but will switch to a hard jerkbait on a overcast day with wind ... Just curious if anyone has had success throwing perhaps a darker soft jerkbait on a overcast day with wind ?

In order to optimize fishing a Zoom Super Fluke (or similar) - what colors do you favor or use for the conditions at hand ? * Skies : Sunny / Cloudy ? * Water : Clear / Stained ?

Bill Dance recently had a show called : "It's A Short Sleeve Weather Lure Too " where by he was throwing a Smithwick Rogue suspending model in late Spring . Bill simply just fished it faster and shortened the pause and was successful to catch bass on it . It's all about what you have confidence in as well as the bass being reseptive . As the water warms I would have a 2nd rod with a Zoom Super Fluke on it .

For those who use / have used the Bomber Long A floating jerkbait please provide a few favorite color choices that would cover various conditions .

Anyone still using a Bomber Long A B14A / B15A Floating Jerkbait ? ...This lure still gets historically good reviews for a lure that has been around since 1980's and cost under $6.00 ea. With spring temps beginning to rise through the 60's (post spawn in the South) switching from a suspending jerkbait to a floater / shallow diver jerkbait could be the winning ticket ! ... I would like to hear from those who have or still fish this floating / shallow diver jerkbait - what are your favorite colors and tactics ?

Thanks for the replies - the hard suspending jerkbait has more versatility than I previously thought ! The ability to fish slow in cooler water and faster in warmer water is a plus - also can't forget about surface jerkbaits when the water warms .

Many state the best time to throw a hard jerkbait is from Fall through Spring - which can depend greatly depending on where you live ? Therefore perhaps a better way to ask the question is to ask : What is the best water temperature range to throw a hard jerkbait ? Lastly do you ever through a jerkbait in the Summer with any success ?

All good replies - a couple more good ones : 1 ) Periodically check your rod tip for any abnormal line wrap which could lead to a broken tip while fighting a fish. 2 ) While walking down a wooded trail , travel with your rod backwards (butt first) - the rest of the rod will safely go where you go.

As a number of us graduate to newer , lighter , more sesitive AND expensive rods I thought it would be a good idea to review best practices for preventing rod breakage and rod damage : The first one for me that comes to mind is : "High Sticking" which is to suggest fighting a fish with your rod held past 11:00 o'clock is the quickest way to over stress a rod and cause it to break . Let's here from you based on your experiences what tips and suggestions you have to offer to keep that prized one - piece rod from becoming a new two - piece rod !

What ww2farmer said ...The VMC Flipp'n Hooks come in standard (they run at least one size smaller) and the Heavy Duty (which run true to size) .

Remember to keep a index finger under or in contact with your line as you are dragging a jig , worm , etc. along the bottom or hopping it ...Just another receptor to work in your favor to detect a strike or something abnormal with your lure movement .

Yes , the *** 7'3" MH should definitely be considered in the mix (especially for the price point ) ...Just curious if that funky reel seat causes anybody problems ?

OK, first thanks for all of the replies...I have narrowed down to the following 1 & 2 lists - Your comments and how you would rate in the categories ? 1A Dobyens Savy 734 1B Kistler KLX 7'3" MH T-Rig , Jig & Worm 1C Phenix M1 7'2" MH 2A TFO Gary Loomis 7'3" MH Tactical 2B Pinnacle Perfecta DHC5 7'3" MH 2C Daiwa Tatula 7'2" MH

All : I should have stated M to MH rod action as different manufacturers specs can over lap OR you may like a M action over a MH rod action (and vise versa) for defined reasons as your most versatile batcasting rod .

If you had to pick just one baitcasting rod in the above category - what would it be ? Jigs , Spinner / Chatter Baits , Carolina Rigs , Moderate Flipping & Pitching , Frogs , Moderate Swim Baits , T-Rigs , etc. all would appear to fit in that often used 7'0" to 7'3" baitcasting rod length MH action category . Thanks in advance for the replies !