ChrisD46

*I think for swim baits that 3.75" ~ 4.5" range is best ... Could be Keitech Fat , Strike King Rage Swimmers , RI's Skinny Dippers , Yum Pulse swim baits or one of my favorites - Z-Man Diesel Minnow 4.0" .

Thanks for the replies - I'll instead be researching the other brands listed above . Technique specific rods can be a good idea - but the manufacturer / brand has to provide a reliable , quality product .

Sunday afternoon geek research - results were interesting : San Diego Jam Knot vs. Palomar Knot - Mono - YouTube

White / Chartreuse Spinner Bait - One blade silver and the other blade gold .

*As Gerald Swindle would say : " First you step on the tag end with your left foot , then come over the top of your right foot , bring the line around your back counter clockwise while facing North - now create 4 tag ends making 26 reverse forward to the left over laps of each" ... At that point I was like reaching for an adult beverage while shaking my head and saying "no way" ... If a double uni or Crazy Alberto Knott doesn't tie two lines together properly - then I'm fishing something else !

*People who tie the FG Knott are freaks of nature - born with a third hand !

*I ask what knot as I have read issues using the improved clinch knot (slippage) ... I appreciate the replies !

I've seen a couple of favorable reviews for the KastKing Speed Demon Pro Technique Specific Rods (chatter Bait) ... Anyone have experience with this or similar rods in the Speed Demon Pro Rod line up ?

For those that use Yo-Zuri Hybrid #12 lb. for spinnerbaits , bladed jigs , swim jigs , etc. what is your favorite knot to tie using this line ?

^^This^^ I then lay them on a paper towel straight to cool .

*Great points ! Admittedly , I was not much of a fan of the MLF format vs. the "Biggest Five" - but I completely reversed my opinion now ... Wheeler is a "machine" for sure !

*Same with Spotted Bass !! Black & Blue , Green Pumpkin , Shad (transparent) , Shad (solid White) and Chartreuse / White are what I carry in chatter bait colors . I make minor / moderate changes to main colors using different trailer colors .

*lol !!

*TV tournaments which feature the leaders drop shot fishing (or similar tactics using electronic fish finders) is about as exciting as watching paint dry ! That is why when TV tournaments move North where drop shot fishing rules - I'd rather be watching re-runs of Lake Fork , Sam Rayburn , Guntersville , Okeechobee , etc. I have nothing against drop shot fishing myself - I just hate watching it on TV tournaments ... Is there any specific style of bass fishing you hate watching ? Or conversely , what is your FAVORITE bass fishing technique to watch on TV ? ... For me hands down - Frog fishing or Spook fishing are the most exciting bass techniques to watch on TV when a big bass blows up on a top water frog / spook !

*I do appreciate the replies - a topic worth discussing ! Water Proof shoes / boots are of course needed as well . I have Keen brand hiking boots that are water proof Gortex with a water proof liner which are light weight and breath ell . I'm sure there are better for boat use .

*Thanks Glenn - if anyone has experience with rain suits it would be the WA. bass fishermen !

Looking for good value in rain clothing / rain suit suitable for bass fishing . I certainly want it to be breathable as here in the South East the humidity can be quite high , so you want to have good rain protection with a way to wick moisture properly . *I recognize I give up too many days on the water when I could be fishing (i.e. no lightening) ... Thanks for replies !

*Great clarification - thanks ! ... Need to be sure with pictures how to hook up two batteries in series vs. parallel for us newbies .

I just saw these appear in a couple of local stores - I held up the "Ghost Shad" color and depending on the light it is about 3 or 4 different colors which is interesting ... The 3.75" is a nice size alone and possibly with swim jig , chatter bait , etc. How is the action at various retrieve speeds ? Any negatives (other than maybe having to straighten the occasional paddle tail out in boiling water ?)

* This ^^ ... Remember you also have the "thump" of the paddle tail swimbait to help bass find your offering .

For a shaky head in cold / cooler water the Finesse worm is ideal ... As water worms then the larger profile Trick worm comes into play more . I believe this same rule of thumb would apply to other techniques as well (T-Rig . C-Rig , Drop Shot , etc.) . Later in the "Dog Days Of Summer" or pressured bass situations - the Finesse worm shines more than the Trick worm . I hope this helps !

lol !! ... I keep it on my wife's arts & crafts work bench for that reason !!

3/8th oz. or 1/2 oz. size chatter baits using yo-yo technique : Cast out let chatter bait sink to the bottom . Then reel up a few feet and let it fall back to the bottom creating a yo-yo retrieve (just like with lipless crank baits !) ... Too many folks want to fish a chatter bait like a jig or spinnerbait - instead of a crank bait with a single hook and maybe a trailer . Fishing chatter baits still have room to create / learn new effective retrieves .

The rule of thumb is "the lightest foot ball jig weight you can maintain bottom contact with" ... *If no wind at all a 3/8th oz. size would work but in reality I hardly see such perfect conditions , so I start with 1/2 oz. size football jigs as my starting point now and then go up to 3/4th oz.

*Buy what you need one season ahead !! ... That has been my M.O. since last summer when COVID became apparent it was really going to mess up supplies for a long time .