ChrisD46

At this price point , the best value may be for reaction type lure applications where a great deal of sensitivity is not as important . The Maverick series comes in a cranking model (MK 705CB) so I will be curious how it may compare to the Fury 705CB cranking rod ?

Makes me wonder what other uses split shot would have on today's soft plastics , in conjunction with hooks , etc. ? My specific current interest is adjusting the fall rate of lighter 5" soft stick worms (i.e. Yum Dingers) by placing weight in the center of the Dinger where I can add split shot right at the hook knot , I could cut a small slit in the center of the stick worm bottom and glue a split shot(s) inside , could be small nail weights trimmed to size could also be inserted dead center of a Dinger . Looking for a cheap solution to add weight to the center of a wacky rigged Dinger .

*Back to work business conference room meetings means I can view all of the Bass Resource Spring / Pre-Spawn video content with the sound turned off and CC turned on (lol !)

Thanks for the replies - a number of rod suggestions I was not aware were available .

*Shout out to Glenn for the time & effort he has put in to producing the recent crop of bass fishing "how too" videos hosted on Bass Resource. The most recent how to bass videos feature Bass Pro - Mike McClelland and without question these recent Mike McClelland videos can stand side to side with ANY bass fishing videos produced and hosted from any online bass fishing source. The techniques focused on are relevant, contain a lot of detail and lastly provide outside the box tips / tricks you may not have heard of before. Hopefully the success of these recent Mike McClelland videos now hosted at Bass Resource will lead to additional videos from other bass pros ... Good stuff - thanks again !

I realize I have a hole in my bait cast rod collection for a good value medium heavy / moderate action rod in that 6'9" ~ 7'2" rod length for treble hook lures, spinner baits, chatter baits - and anything else you would use a medium heavy / moderate bait cast rod for. Since I don't need extreme sensitivity for the intended applications suited for this rod - I would like to target spending less than $150 (closer to $99 even better) . What is your current favorite (or one you want soon !) multi - purpose medium heavy / moderate action bait cast rod ? ... Thanks in advance !

Red Lable FC is the current Seaguar budget FC line ... The better comparison would be between the Seaguar Red Lable and the new Basix FC . All lower line sizes of the Basix correspond to the higher price point InvizX - except the Basix #6 lb. is .009 putting it just slightly thicker than the #6 lb. .008 diameter InvizX .

Less than 0.10" line diameter if using on a spinning reel . Nice as a leader with braid main line or in larger diameter sizes on a bait cast set up for pitching into brush and cover . For ffinesse jigs - there may be better lines to consider which give good casting performance with good strength for jig fishing .

*For casting , I would think #12 lb. straight FC on a M/F casting rod 7:1 reel would be in the ballpark for weightless and wacky jig head Senkos ?

*What is your finesse wacky rig set up with Trick Worms / Finesse Worms ? I imagine downsized o-rings and smaller size hooks ?

*So , no need to put Testors Enamel painted jig heads in the toaster oven ?

Thanks - nice jig collection ! ... I will error on the side of conservative and do 300 degrees for 20 minutes to begin .

I use fingernail polish , model enamel paint and powder paint to paint my jig heads ... For hardening the jig heads with paint in the oven - what temperature and length of time are you using for typical 1/16th oz. to 1/4 oz. painted lead jig heads ? Thanks in advance .

*What is your experience with FC leaders vs. mono leaders with a shaky head ?

I believe the "Morning Dawn" color Robo Worm (plus close Morning Dawn offshoots) have been more of a spotted bass and smallie deal fished deep on a drop shot . I thought it must be a color wavelength situation whereby the Morning Dawn color looks different to bass deep .. Then friends were reporting they were catching spotted bass at all water depths (including shallow) with the Morning Dawn color , so go figure ? I say if you have confidence in the color - then cast it !

So , a 1/0 size octopus / circle hook used as a Senko wacky rig hook ? ... Next , the VMC Neko hooks appear to be pretty versatile !

Might be good having the clear coat polish applied over a painted enamel jig head ?

*I will have to try - just a reel set and hope the hook grabs in the corner of the mouth as advertised .

For your typical 4" ~ 6" soft plastic stick worm (i.e. Senko) - what is your current favorite hook and size for wacky rigging Senkos ? It used to be the Gamakatsu B10 S Stinger , or other straight shanked hooks similar to a modern VMC Neko hook were the most used hook styles with wacky rigged Senkos - now trailer hooks , special wacky rig , octopus and circle hooks , etc. are being used for wacky rigging Senkos ... Your thoughts and experiences with wacky rig Senko hooks ?

Seems to be a belief that a hard jerk bait should suspend or slightly fall nose down during late Fall through Winter . However , as the late Winter water temps begin to rise into Pre-Spawn , a preference for a slow rising nose up jerk bait profile emerges . What are your experiences , or what determines which suspend profile you select for suspending hard jerk baits late Fall through Winter into the Pre-Spawn (i.e. horizontal suspend , slow fall nose down or slow rise nose up profiles) ? Thanks ...

*That was my point: On a bait cast reel : Minimum line size is Power Pro #30 lb. braid (.11" / .28mm diameter) or equivalent other braid size to prevent bait cast reel braid line digging issues. Lastly , wind on new line tight using a rag for a good grip and to prevent braid line burns to your hand.

Bio Spawn Plasma Tail Finesse Worm (5") ; Rig flat side vertical to move best with bladed jigs .

Looks like that 6'3" to 6'10" M/F or M/XF are the jerk bait sweet spot for rods ... Now need to compare Pro's & Con's of spinning vs. casting set ups for jerk baits .

Which hard jerk bait rod for shallower applications is on your starting team for the typical Series 70 , 90 & 110 hard jerk bait sizes and around 3/8th oz. weight for Winter through Pre-Spawn jerk baiting ? I'm thinking 6'8" ~ 6'11" M/F , M /XF or possibly MH/F (depending on rod company and how rods are rated) as an ideal jerk bait rod . Thanks in advance for replie / updates !

*The more expensive rods can have what seem to be more hybrid / multiple actions built into the rod (i.e. MH / F with a soft tip . With less expensive rods , a softer tip only comes with a moderate action . A less expensive rod with say a MH / F or MH / XF rod is likely not to have a "soft tip" . **Often cheaper to change your line and rotate between: Braid - FC - Mono (i.e. no stretch to most stretch) to work around a rod's behavior / action . Let's hear comments by others who use the same line choices to dial in a rod you already own !