ChrisD46

*I'll load up Power Pro #20 lb. on my BC reel and let you know how I make out !

Ayu , KVD Magic or Green Pumpkin Pearl .

*While I know and can appreciate the higher priced Megabass Vision 110 , I am trying to keep hard jerkbait prices reasonable as I will most likely lose a few in the shallower areas where I fish .

*Along with their crazy cousins - The Spotted Bass ... Chartreuse color is a mainstay - then started using pinks and lavenders and the spotted bass were liking those colors as well . *What looks like a 3.5" Largo Shad in Electric Chicken color would be ideal for Smallies and Spotted Bass .

Helpful replies - thank you ! My current set up has #12 lb. Yo - Zuri Hybrid line on it but I may experiment with dropping down to #10 lb. YZH which is perhaps more in line with the sweet spot of line diameter size for hard jerk baits .

What is your current favorite mid - priced ($7.99 to $12.99) hard jerk bait that runs 2ft. ~ 5 ft. down ? Based on the parameters , this would include such shallow running , mid - priced jerk baits as : Rapala Shadow Rap , Shadow Rap Shad , Yo-Zuri 3DB Jerkbait , Ima Flit , Smithwick Rattlin Rogue , Strike King KVD 200 , SPRO McStick 110 , etc. Your thoughts and experiences ?

I use both however I like the T-Mac on a shaky head better . I like the T-Mac colors , scent (anise) and the fact that you get about a 45 degree tail rise / hover with the T-Mac which is better than the Zoom Trick Worm while affixed on a shaky head jig .

*Morph right into the "Rage Rig" .

Academy H2O Xpress 7:1 bait cast reel : Good quality all aluminum one piece frame , precision cut brass gears and 10 ball bearings . Only available in 7:1 gear ratio though . Watch for sales when the list price drops by $10 ~$15 . : https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/h2o-xpress-mettle-m3-baitcast-reel?gmc_feed=t&campid=71700000087427731&adgroupid=58700007424094169&device=c&keyword=92700066706370436&Channel=ps&&ogmap=SEM|PLN|GOOG|SHOP|c|OUT||Non-Brand-SmartShopping-Outdoor-Stream|Stream|||&gclid=CjwKCAiAo4OQBhBBEiwA5KWu_2NM90ESz5Y1ndeSG7_xOqlM5Wvdr_7hkb69j_t6Kps0JPZVKQw0EBoCpWYQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Here is your answer : The Siebert Mini - Swim Jig - Products (siebertoutdoors.com) . Get a couple in shad and bluegill colors . Ad a 3.5" Yum Pulse swim bait or Big Bite Baits 3.5" Cane Thumper in trailer colors to match the mini - swim jig colors and you are set ... A quality mini - swim jig with great components , spend the extra for a wire wrapped skirt

*Senkos are great - I especially like their Green Pumpkin and Watermelon laminate colors . But at over $7.00 per pack for Senkos I was simply trying to find some more cost-effective alternatives . To each their own but with the right weighted hooks and a decent hook sharpener - I am in business for quite a while . The Yum Dinger also does surprisingly well still holding up to multiple fish long after a Senko would have been shredded . *Valid points - I look at the added cost with weighted hooks and such as the "up front costs" then with a hook sharpener I am good to go for a while with the Yum Dingers . I still use Senkos , as well as the BPS Stik-O and I like the Strike King Ocho as well (only the 5" and 6" versions in the Ocho) .

I read where a good number of bass fishermen are not particularly fond of the performance of a Yum Dinger (soft plastic stick worm) citing they are either too light or don't have the action of a Senko . Conversely , the Yum Dingers are less expensive , have a wide color and size selection , very consistent quality and are readily found at stores . *Two ways I have found to improve the action are as follows : 1) T-Rig with VMC Drop Dead EWG Hooks which come in a variety of weights and sizes . For the standard 5" Yum Dinger I like the #3/0 or #4/0 hook size in all the hook weights offered (1/16th oz. , 3/32nd oz & 1/8th oz.) depending on wind and depth I am fishing the Yum Dinger . The VMC Drop Dead EWG hook has the hook weight placed further to the rear to assist in a Yum Dinger to have a more level horizontal fall as well as assist in getting the Yum Dinger ends to become a bit more lively ... Next is the second hack to add performance to a Yum Dinger : 2) VMC Weedless Wacky Jig Head - which comes in either Green Pumpkin or Black / Silver flake and weights in 1/16th oz. , 1/8th and 1/4 oz. I typically use the 1/16th oz. in both GP and Black colors and if the wind picks up for fishing deeper I will reach for the 1/8th oz. weight versions . For further reading I have listed the above two "Yum Dinger Improvers" below. Conversely , there are other weighted weedless wacky jig heads to choose from - but less options when it comes to the equal of a VMC Drop Dead EWG hook due to the superior hook weight placement , so therefore the only alternate I like is the Moaner Hooks Rage Rig EWG hooks in the same hook sizes / weights ... Here's hoping at least some of the above helps for those who are interested to get a bit more lively performance out of Yum Dingers (or other soft plastic stick worm brands that could use a bump in performance with the end tips. VMC Weedless Wacky Jig Head : https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/VMC_Ike_Approved_Wacky_Weedless_Jig_Head_4pk/descpage-VMCWWJ.html . VMC Drop Dead EWG Hook : https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/VMC_Drop_Dead_Weighted_Hook_4pk/descpage-VDDWH.html . *Please Note* : I have no association with VMC or Yum - my only purpose in this post is to help those who were less than fond of the Yum Dingers how to bump up the performance with new T-Rig and wacky rig options .

I trim my jigs to look like "Moe" (bowl haircut) from The Three Stooges .

Z-Man Finesse Eyez Jighead

*Tip : Go to Walmart and buy the 75W or 90W blue bottle gear oil (synthetic or conventional gear oil - doesn't mater) and use sparingly on your bait cast reel worm gears ... It is just the right thickness , offers great protection and stays put real well . I found it doesn't get dirty very fast - but if need be spray the worm gear down with WD4 with straw adapter to clean then re-apply the fresh gear oil .

*How about a working link to share ?

*Also (per Tom) try to stay less than .010" / .25mm mono / co-poly / FC line diameter on a bass spinning reel . This is usually #8lb. to #10lb. line size but always check the line diameter first and again don't exceed .010" / .25mm line diameter on bass spinning reels. Lastly , a great all-around co-poly line is Maxima Ultra Green : #10 lb. for leader material and #5 lb. to #8 lb. as a bass spinning reel main line .

Good range of replies - thank you ! I look to use Smithwick Rogue , Rapala X-Rap and Shadow Rap jerkbaits that dive / suspend no deeper than 4' or so .

Curious what your current , most often used hard jerk bait set up is ? ... I always though fishing a hard jerk bait was a deeper , offshore deal so I never paid much attention to the technique . The recent Mike McClelland hard jerk bait fishing shallow video sparked my interest .

Winter soft plastic colors (shaky head) : Black & Blue flake , Junebug get the nod for cold water bottom fishing . A dark green pumpkin (like ZMan makes) is a close 3rd.

6:4:1 ... As Gerald Swindle says : "We're bass fishing - this ain't NASCAR" !

*I always thought Tubes were a Northern deal for Small Mouth - you don't here much about them down South . It doesn't mean they won't work and for sure the Largemouth and Spotted bass here have not seen much in the way of Tubes before .

The Z-Man Elaztec 4" finesse worm (and SK 3X finesse 4" worm licensed from Z-Man) could possibly work - but the head is small , so a small nail weight is the norm here .

*Both the Dobyns 733c & 734c are keepers for the techniques , lure weights , etc. stated by Dobyns . That said - any rod you feel is slightly too soft for the intended lures / technique there is an easy solution : use Braid Main Line !! ... Just by switching reels out with Mono / Copoly , FC and Braid mainlines , you can make a rod respond three different ways to what you are trying to fish .

*Yes , basically a down sized Neko Rig using a finesse TRD set up (lol) . Due to being slightly larger / longer than a TRD , I would target using a SK Ned Ocho or Robo Worm Ned Worm as they are not quite as buoyant to begin with as the ZMan Elaztec soft plastics. I also would consider the Ned Neko rig to be a close cousin to the "Tiny Child Rig" .