ChrisD46

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 !

Forgot to ask the following : Local store did not carry the standard Smithwick Suspending Rogue - but they did carry the suspending Pro Rogue ...What is the difference ? The main thing to confirm is does the Pro Rogue suspend in that 4' ~ 6' water depth as the standard Suspending Rogue does ?

Thanks for all of the replies - research indicates frogflogger has the general idea with respect to what those on the various Tours have to say . I will add colors suggested here to have jerkbaits on hand for varying conditions ....Went to Dick's today and was curious as to why they had set up security cameras with armed guards in the fishing section ? ...Oh , that was just the new MegaBass jerkbait display ($24.99 ea.) ... I left with a couple of Rapala Husky Jerks and one Suspending Pro Rogue and still had enough change left from a $20 dollar bill to hit the local burger joint drive thru on the way home ... I now figure that if I can't get bit on a Husky Jerk , a Suspending Rogue or a Bomber Pro Long A then it ain't the arrow - it's gotta be the Indian ! All kidding aside , I wish I was knowledgeable and experienced enough to appreciate how the subtle nuances of a Lucky Craft or MegaBass jerkbait could significantly increase my catch ratio plus lead to bigger bass ...Perhaps one day .

Recently was given a Smithwick Suspending Rogue in Chrome / Blue / Orange by a friend ...Need a few more colors to go with it . Mostly resevoir fishing for spotted bass and large mouth bass in stained but gradually clearing water color like most resevoirs this time of year in the SE. ... I thought about adding Clown and either Gold or the new Lemon / Lime Crush colors - what addtional color Rogues would you recommend or have had good success with in similar conditions ? Thanks in advance !