ChrisD46

I prefer a walking bait topwater bait cast rod under 7' for using in a kayak or from the bank where you don't have a high platform (i.e. bass boat front deck) to fish from. So that means approx. a 6'6" ~ 6'10" top water rod length , fairly light in weight for walking baits without fatigue for pencil walking baits in the 100mm to 120mm size range using braid + short mono leader . Probably looking for a stout M / F or light MH / F rod action for said walking baits with braid ... What do you recommend for the above for under say $129 ? Thanks in advance !

*What techniques are you using the #12 lb. InvizX for ?

*Use the #2 EWG on a ZMan TRD and then you can peg or use plain a small 1/16th oz. tungsten bullet weight for a finesse T-Rig , peg a small 1/8th oz. weight 18" or so up the line and have a finesse C- Rig and lastly use the same #2 EWG on a drop shot with an 1/18th oz. drop shot weight . The #4 size EWG **** would be good on a Zoom Tiny Fluke using the above same techniques .

I say some nice jars of glitter at a craft store that would be ideal when you want to sprinkle on a little extra glitter / flash on the side of a hard bait (i.e. walking bait) . I would imagine you would spray some of clear adhesive on the sides of the hard bait first , sprinkle on the glitter , then finish with a slight top coat of the same adhesive spray ? ... What is your process including what type of light spray adhesive do you recommend for adding glitter to hard baits ? ... Thanks in advance !

*Typical Toad will use a Gamakatsu 4/0 ~ 5/0 EWG hook , you may try bending the hook point up 1 or 2 degrees to aid in increasing hook up percentage .

*After further review - I can't wrap my head around using a weighted Super Line (braid) 3X rated hook with a ZMan DieZel 4" swim bait . I will explore either using the VMC "Drop Dead 3/0 weighted hooks or use the 3/0 Owner 1X rated EWG hooks with the built in centering pin - then add my own BPS cylinder weights crimped on to the shank . **This is just my search for a weedless small swim bait option as normally I would reach for a standard small swim bait jig head.

*I believe you will find a set up you like with one of the nice rods you have ... Chatterbait user's rods run the gamut from MH/F bait cast rods to M/M rods with a parabolic action .

*I would only use a 5:3:1 gear ratio for large , deep running crank baits with large lips and a 7'6"+ deep cranking rod .

*Owner with CPS would be my normal choice - but not so much with elaztec soft plastics - in this case the Gammy EWG weighted hook is just easier to rig with the DieZel swim bait . I believe I'll get a pack of the Gammy 3/0 EWG weighted in both 1/16th and 1/18th and try a few retrieves .

I recently picked up a pack of ZMan DieZel 4" swim baits and want to try with a weighted EWG hook . Gamakatsu makes a 3/0 size Super Line EWG weighted hook in either 1/16th oz. or 1/8th oz. weights . Not sure which weight is more popular for fishing a weighted swim bait but for the Elaztec DieZel swim bait it possibly might be better to go up to the 1/8th oz. weight (due to Elaztec floatation material) while the 3/0 size appears about right for this 4" swim bait . As far as fishing a swim bait on a weighted EWG hook - below are what I think are the likely ways to fish it : Straight retrieve just under the surface Start / Stop retrieve just under the surface Slow Rolled just above the bottom or above weeds Yo-Yo retrieve on the bottom *For those who fish a EWG weighted hook rigged swim bait - what are your favorite ways to fish it ? *Also , most weighted EWG hooks come in 1/16th oz. or 1/8th weights - what is your preference ? Thanks in advance ...

Good advice - also either have a store spool your reel up where you can bring theem just your spinning reel spool OR buy a Berkley reel spooler where you can take off the spinning reel spool to spool line on ... Avoiding line twist is key when spooling up new line is key .

*I would try a craw fish trap primarily just to see what their colors are at any given time , so I can match the hatch with soft plastic craws , craw trailers and football jig colors .

Owner Stinger Treble Hooks or Mustad Triple Grip Treble hooks and take my chances on paint scratches .

+1 ... True Ned Rig set ups are 1/32nd to 1/16th oz. jig head weight and hook sizes between a small #6 (Ned himself uses) to as large as a #1 size hook (I stop size / weight wise at a #2 size hook and 1/16th oz. jig weight) - any heavier jig head weight or hook sizes larger than #1 and you are entering "Jig Worm" territory and leaving Ned Rig territory . *Nothing wrong with the heavier / larger size set up - just recognize it for what it is (i.e. Jig Worm technique) as both will catch bass .

*Arky style jig can pretty much do it all if you had to choose only one style to begin with (3/8th oz.)

*I also find it interesting that with a shorter (say 2' leader length) the action is more erratic on a C-Rig but as you get to 3' or more leader length the action is less erratic on the retrieve ?

4" Senko T-Rig : 2/0 EWG Gamakatsu 5" Senko T-Rig : 3/0 Gamakatsu (*Gary Yamamoto says 3/0 but I like the 4/0 EWG size better) 6" Senko T-Rig : 4/0 EWG Gamakatsu (*Gary Yamamoto says 4/0 but I like the 5/0 EWG size better) 4" Senko Wacky Rig : Owner #1 Weedless Wacky Hook 5" Senko Wacky Rig : Owner 1/0 Weedless Wacky Hook https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Gamakatsu_Offset_EWG_Worm_Hooks_Black/descpage-GOSWG.html https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Owner_Weedless_Wacky_Hook_4pk/descpage-OWWH.html

+1 ... I bought the Sierra's too over the Mojo bass rods after comparisons .

Thanks for replies - that is about what I was thinking would be the norm .

*What kind of jigs ? For rocks & wood I would try P-Line CXX co-poly in #15 lb. to #17 lb. This line can handle quite a bit of abuse !

Let's talk a Carolina Rig (C-Rig) leader length for a moment : What determines the leader length you use with a C-Rig ? Do you use a shorter / longer leader length in summer vs. winter (i.e. cold vs. warm water) or does it depend on where you believe bass are holding (i.e. relating to the bottom or suspending off of the bottom) ? ... Let's here in detail how YOU determine the ideal leader length at any given time of the year for fishing a C-Rig for bass ... Thanks in advance - your replies will be helpful !

+1 on the ML rod set up for the Ned rig , also +1 on the M rod set up (which is ideal for a Shaky Head set up) .

+1 ... You don't need to go that small though as a #2 size EWG Gamakatsu hook would be ideal for a Zoom finesse worm (a #4 EWG hook would not provide enough gap for a Zoom finesse worm) .

*Interesting that weights are usually not provided for frogs - only length.... While I prefer the larger frogs - there are certainly times when having a couple of smaller frogs with you can produce bites when the larger ones do not .

Sounds good - I appreciate the replies !