ChrisD46

*Success is coming soon - stay with it as the next top water bite could be a PB !!

Thanks for replies - some I expected while others are new . *It's getting to be the 7:1:1 is "today's 6:3:1" and relegating the 5:4:1 for deep cranking only . *Yes , IPT is king in comparing gear ratios - but in general we can agree on faster gear ratios being more popular today.

Besides a day of flipping where you want to retrieve your jig / soft plastic back fast for the next cast - what else are you using a fast 8:1:1 gear ratio reel for ?

Full disclosure - the bass'n video that made me want to consider looking at braid main line more closely (especially since I use Dobyns Sierra bait cast rods which run about 1 power lighter than rated) :

*I have a Sierra 734c. and Sierra 735c. and with the softer tips they become braid main line fishing machines ... I want to add a Sierra 733c. as Gary himself calls this model an all - around "sleeper" rod in the Dobyns line up good for many things .

What about braid main line for a C-Rig and Football jigs and other bottom dragging baits (like a Biffle Bug) ? Would a short 3' FC leader keep you out of abrasion trouble using #40 lb. braid ?

*Curious what specific things did you not like about the Rapala Brat ?

*So essentially you still favor FC line for crank baits - is that mainly to help get the crank baits down deeper , for better feel or both ?

*Good reply - tell me a little bit more why you went back to mono for top water ? I ask because the trend is for more guys gong to braid for top water (i.e. ease of working baits / less tiring , better hook sets from a distance) .

Try the Gary Yamamoto inspired Owner T-Rig Hook for the Ocho / Senko in either 3/0 or 4/0 size : https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Owner_Twistlock_Light_Hook/descpage-OTLL.html For a little faster fall and different action try the VMC "Drop Dead" hook in a 3/0 or 4/0 size and 3/32nd oz. weight : https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/VMC_Drop_Dead_Weighted_Hook_4pk/descpage-VDDWH.html I believe you will have fun with either of the two hooks above with an Ocho / Senko !!

Started out at TW only wanting to buy a Bone color Choppo , then had to have a Chrome one and a Pearl Ghost ones as well to cover all conditions ... Then I spied some wake baits by Berkley and Rapala that I just had to have ... *It's like having your wife say : "How did you just go out for a bowl of chowder - then end up buying everyone in the bar a drink ? ... I gain comfort and solace by seeing others here who are far more gone in the clutch of the bait monkey than myself !

Looking at my collection of Co-Poly , FC and Mono lines in different weights makes me think I could reduce the number of bait cast reels I use if I switched to all braid main line + leaders (depending on the application) : #30 lb. braid : Top Water / Treble Hook Lures , #40 lb. braid : T-Rigs , Football Jigs , Spinner / Chatter Baits , #50 lb. braid: Pitching , Swim Jigs , Frogging . *Who has made the switch to mostly braid on their bait cast reels and is happy with the results ? ... Any applications for bass where you absolutely hated braid / braid + leader and went back to a non - braid main line ? Thanks in advance !

*Best usage for the SK Shimmy Stick is T-Rigged with a pegged ballet weight and a straight shank snelled hook for flipping .

Thanks for the replies - as for the 2.8 Keitechs , gosh every time I see those I just can't see rigging them or fishing them ... the 3.3 is my current smallest swim bait size and I'm more comfortable with 3.8 Keitechs .

*Top Water is a two rod minimum deal for me : A shorter M/F bait casting for poppers and a longer MH/F for Spooks and larger wake baits.

Thanks for the replies - LOL ! Yeah , perhaps best to have said "I fish depths usually less than 15' (in reservoirs that are 100'+ deep)" ... I suppose it's all relative .

*This is a good overview - I use the 6" , 5" and 4" Ochos ... I like them T-Rigged using VMC Drop Dead EWG weighted hooks in various sizes (great shimmy on the fall !) ... They are softer and may not last as long as a Dinger but have more salt content with more weight and girth for a lot of action . The Ocho also comes in some unique colors which I will always find a place in my bag for .

I fish mostly shallow (less than 15' ) and have just about settled in on 1/4oz and 3/8th oz. under spins with <4" swim baits or regular Fluke soft plastics. There are times to work it faster up in the water column OR work it slow along the bottom . Anything deeper than 15' or 20' feet I believe is reserved for 1/2 oz. weights and higher ... What weight under spins do you you prefer ?

*I may look into the Defier Armillo line when TW has their next sale ...

Thanks for the replies - While lines like McCoy Mean Green , Maxima Ultragreen , Sunline Defier are very good lines - I can't just walk in a local store to buy so at this time it looks like Trilene Big Game , Trilene XL and Sufix Siege will be on the short list as they are available locally . P-Line C-XX would be a good flipping / jig line ; their pound test ratings are odd as their #12 lb. is like others #15 to #17 lb. line diameter . Last comment is where does a mono like Sufix Elite fit in ? I see it on the shelf next to Sufix Siege - perhaps Sufix Elite better for treble hook lures or manageability in cold water ?

Looking for a good all - around mono line in the specific line sizes / diameters above on a bait cast reel for : Top Water , Spinner Baits , Chatter Baits and Swim Jigs ? ... Decent handling , abrasion resistance , lower stretch and good knot strength are pluses . Locally available Mono / Co-poly lines I am considering : Sufix Advance Sufix Elite Sufix Siege P-Line C-XX Trilene Big Game Trilene XL Stren Original * Some lines above only come in #12 lb. , #15 , & #20 lb. sizes ... In that case the #15 lb. line size is what I would consider .

Thanks for the replies - I'll try a fat Sharpie on the first 5' of braid before my leader ...

Thanks for the replies - I see a few mentioned I haven't tried yet that I will have to look into ... *A friend of mine just tried the newer Aaron Martens designed / Picasso Rhino Shaky head who indicated Robo and Zoom Trick / Finesse worms stood up well and hook sets were excellent (best he ever had on a shaky head) ... A little pricey (3 for approx. $5.79 + tax) but I may try (if I can figure out the rigging) .

For me , it's between Lowrance and Hummingbird - I just can't warm up to the Garmin look / screen visuals.

*I was gifted a new spool of Hi-Viz #30 lb. braid and as I sit here looking at the line I'm trying to figure out what applications to use it for : Top Water Poppers , Spooks , WP110's , etc. with a short mono leader ? While #30 lb. Hi-Viz color braid is pretty thin , I'm concerned the line still may be seen from underneath by bass in clear water ? Swim Jigs & Chatter Baits with a short FC or Mono leader ? Probably the same concerns as #1 above . "Bubba Shot" , Heavier Shaky Head , T-Rigs , Football Jigs and other bottom contact line watching techniques with a FC or Mono leader ? Probably the best use for a high- viz braid on a bait caster . *Your thoughts ? - Now that it is Fall I mostly want to throw top water for a while but not sure if a Hi - Viz braid help or hurt (especially since you watch the lure instead of the line for top water applications ) .