ChrisD46

*Expensive too ! *You have forgotten more than a lot of us will ever learn about bass fishing - having you on the forum is immeasurable !

Very true ! My slower more moderate action rods are reserved for braid use .

One of the challenges of using braid is "shock" or slack braid suddenly pulling very tight - no line stretch causes line snapping , so a loose drag is crucial . Otherwise most braid is 2.5X higher rated strength shown on the spool .

VMC Neko Hook #1 or 1/0 .

Thanks A-Jay ... Here are a couple I will add as good candidates : https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Gamakatsu_G-Finesse_Worm_Light_Hook_w__Tin_Keeper_4pk/descpage-TIN.html . https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Gamakatsu_Aaron_Martens_G-Finesse_Heavy_Cover_Hook/descpage-GFHC.html . The A-Mart G-Finesse Heavy Cover Hook perhaps more for a power shot set up or using say a Zoom Super Fluke rigged T-Rig weedless or a open hook set up rigged like a swimbait on a jig head .

I see more and more instances of improved drop shot hook up percentage by moving to a longer straight shank hook T-Rigged either weedless or simply threading a worm on with the hook exposed out of the back of a soft plastic . Such a trend versus nose hooking a soft plastic using a traditional short shank drop shot hook by Owner , Gamakatsu , etc. The Owner Cover Shot , Gamakatsu G-Finesse Worm Hook and the Roboworm Rebarb Hook are examples of the longer hook shank trend for drop shotting bass . *Do you have a preference for a longer straight shank (T-Rig) versus a standard short shank drop shot specific hook (nose hooking) for drop shotting ? ...Maybe you even use a light / medium wire offset worm hook for drop shotting ? Please share what you prefer - thanks !

*Either the BANG garlic scent contains other enzymes that attract bass or the garlic scent simply inspires confidence in the fisherman - which leads to greater success .

*I believe you mean 2/0 , 3/0 , etc. I like these : https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/VMC_Hybrid_Swimbait_Jig/descpage-VHSJ.html in 3/16th oz. and 1/4th oz. for the 3.3" and 3.8" sweet spot Keitech Fat Swing Impact.

*Immigrant bass brought in from Italy (lol !) ... All kidding aside , I have no idea - but it works for me and because I have found it to work - my confidence improves as I believe I will get bit more when applying BANG garlic or Kick'n Bass garlic scents to soft plastics .

Use #15 FC line (naturally sinks) and try rigging a 3.5" ~ 4.0" paddle tail swim bait as a trailer upside down . Rigged this way the paddle tail will work to help to keep the spinnerbait down . Other tricks include use double willows , double willows one size smaller than current spinnerbait set up , keep rod tip lower to the water and of course slow your retrieve (try a 6:3:1 or 5:1 gear ratio bait cast reel) .

ThanksTom for confirming - love having you as a forum resource ! ... TW has all Don's soft plastics on close out now .

Lots of great replies - love reading the versatility of how you are using your jerk bait rods for other bass'n techniques !

What are your favorite fingerless fishing gloves for sun protection that come in various sizes ? I bought some Glacier brand (L) fingerless sun protection fishing gloves I was disappointed in : While the fit was fine - all the rubber pebble grip surface in the palms disintegrated in less than 3 months of a weekend only fishing season ... I'm looking for name brand fishing gloves that are robust and will hold up !

Of course, you buy a jerk bait rod for jerk bait fishing - that said with your typical 6'8" ~ 6'10" M/F Jerk Bait rod (bait casting) - what other tactics can or do you use with this rod ? ... *I'm thinking maybe top water ? - It's nice to be able to get more uses out of a rod set up than using for just one tactic .

*What is your current Berkley Stunna set up ?

Always appreciated Glenn - Dean is a knowledgeable speaker on other bass fishing topics (besides frogs) !

*Since I was committed to the : " Restful Meadows Institution" -Bait Monkey Ward I have served three different solitary confinement stints for breaking the rules : The first time was when I got caught smuggling in Berkley Frittside Crankbaits in between layers of a cake , the 2nd time was when the BPS Spring Fishing Extravaganza brochure got sent here to inmate #BM06528 (me) ... Yeah , I now know that was stupid - but I just had to see the new lures ! Lastly , a friend smuggled in some PP # 80 lb. braid I was going to use to strengthen bed sheets tied together to make my escape - but I again got caught ... Now for punishment I get to watch the same video loop over and over again of using dough balls fishing for catfish (I'm slowly losing my mind !)

Has anyone tried the Zoom Shakey worm 5" on a drop shot : https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Zoom_Shakey_Head_Worm_5_20pk/descpage-ZSHW.html ? *I think either nose hooked (Aaron Martens way with hook point inside the nose) or Gilly Hooked (another Aaron Martens favorite drop shot rigging) would be impressive with this worm with the tail dipped in chartreuse or pink Spike It !

*The West Coast guys doing hand pour worms for drop shot had it down to a science . Outside of the popular Roboworms - I'll just have to experiment . I believe gentle , short bounces of the rod when working a worm on a drop shot along with a simple rod griping / releasing rod grip pressure are enough to move a drop shot worm to entice a bass (versus the drop shot "seizure" school of working a drop shot worm) . It could be a Roboworm may be as good as it gets or I may find a simple Zoom Finesse worm has enough neutral buoyancy to do fine on a drop shot as well .

In your experience what are your current favorites as far as a neutral buoyancy drop shot worm is concerned that will sit more horizontally level while working it on a drop shot ? The Z-Man and Strike King elaztec finesse worms look good on paper but will tend to float up from the tail (desired on a shakey head - not so much for drop shot) . the standard thin Roboworms may still be the gold standard , while the Reaction Innovations Flirt Worm may be a good candidate ... I'm not sure what makes for a neutral buoyancy finesse drop shot worm (other than less salt) - your thoughts and experiences ?

I picked up the Owner Cover Shot in 2/0 (smallest the store had in stock) which should work for 6" Trick Worms (or equivelent) . Next , I picked up a G - Finesse Worm Light Hook w/ Tin Keeper (1/0) for 4.5" ~ 5" finesse worms ... I like that the Owner Cover Shot & the G-Finesse Worm Light Hook have the keeper slightly lower on the shank than the Roboworm Rebarb hook - but any of these brands will do in a pinch for T-Rigging drop shot worms . For additional hook gap or for creature baits on a drop shot - the Gamakatsu Aaron Martins G-Finesse Heavy Cover Hook could prove interesting (although hook size runs a little large) , so would drop down to a 1/0 or even for a Z-Craw Jr. Baby D-Bomb) , etc. style creature soft plastic . It will be fun to experiment with the different hooks and soft plastics for different drop shot set ups .

*You still favor the 1/0 size for 4.5" original , thin Roboworms ?

Very timely video Glenn ... In bass waters void of ice the Keitech Fat Swing Impact 2.8" , Strike King Rage Swimmer 2.75" , etc. on a small 1/0 , 1/8th oz. ~ 3/16th oz. small jig head works great fished along the bottom slow rolling using finesse spinning gear .

Using a VMC #2 ~ #4 size Spin Shot hook for nose hooking finesse worms / shads : VMC Spinshot Drop Shot Hooks - Tackle Warehouse . I use Seaguar Red Lable FC 6 lb. connecting to the top of the hook and 4 lb. connected to the drop shot weight and tied to the bottom of the hook . If I get hung up , the 4 lb. FC line will break before the 6 lb. mainline FC .

* When I think of a custom soft plastics company - I immediately think about Drop Shot soft plastics ... Who do you like in that regard ?