ChrisD46

*Just remember - the faster the reel the less torque you have retrieving heavier lures and hauling in bigger fish from the spinach... Eat your Wheaties !

Cavitron = the gold standard of Buzz Baits .

*Plus shaky head worm , football jig and Ned Rig ... If this plus above don't work - then there is always sports on TV .

I believe the only concern some have with the Palomar is with FC main line where some (A Mart) claim it cuts the line .

*I do too - also SK chunks for cold water pitching jigs and football jigs.

Thanks for the replies - I'm going to try the San Diego Jam and Pitzen knots to see how I like them ; not sure if a Uni knot is much different than the Trilene knot is terms of strength ?

*For open / crimped spinner baits / buzz baits with no closed loop to tie to - what knot do you find to work the best ? ... At this time , I use the Trilene Knot but am willing to listen to perhaps better knot choices for these open / crimped line tie lures ?

*Buzz Toad can skip better under docks , under limbs , etc. than a Buzz Bait with skirt. *A Buzz Toad can create a different look , sound and vibration : You have the surface commotion of the buzz blade rotating coupled with the toad's legs kicking sub - surface which both create a unique disturbance and vibration to bass. *While a Buzz Toad skips better than a Buzz Bait , you have to experiment with each to see what bass want at that particular time . *Good Buzz Toads to consider are : War Eagle Buzz Toad , Dirty Jigs Scott Canterbury model Buzz Toad , Strike King Greg Hackney model Buzz Toad . There are also models by Booyah , Green Fish and others for consideration . * 3/8th oz. is a good all- around weight Buzz Toad to start to throw (remember - the actual weight is closer to 3/4th oz. or more with Buzz Frame + Toad attached) . *Zoom has the de facto standard toad for a Buzz Toad applications as well as Ribbitt and Yum with there newer , cost effective Toad . *Experiment , Experiment , Experiment ...

Thanks for the replies - looks like for mono or FC line a MH / F action graphite rod gets the nod and a M or MH / Mod action is used with braid ?

*Here is Georgia we have been breaking records every day since June with most days EVER in the high 90's (97 today) and water temps are in the upper 80's . Bass are confused - the days are getting shorter but the temps are not dropping ,so they still think it is late August and not moving up shallow getting their fall feed bag on in preparation for winter . Everything is out of whack here - it's early Oct. and ledge fishing with large plum colored T-rigged worms rule the day !

Checking in to see what you are currently using as a 3/8th - 1/2 oz. bladed jig / chatter bait rod ? While there are fans of braid , mono / co-poly and FC main line for chatter baits , I am of the belief that using FC main line (#15 lb.) helps to keep chatter baits down in the water column , improve sensitivity while still providing a little line stretch . Next , most tend to think a bit of delay / soft tip in a chatter bait rod is a good thing to help with getting a good hook set... So if you believe a bit of delay/soft tip is good and you most likely will use FC main line - then what governs your choice of rods for chatter baits ? Say under $150 and 6'10" - 7'4" rod length ... What are your thoughts and experiences in rod choice (bait cast) with what I have laid out above ?

*Dobyns 734 in the Sierra series is closer to $150 and is a very nice rod for jigs in the 3/8th oz. to 1/2 oz. range .

*A good place to buy a fluid bed set up at a reasonable cost ?

*Probably better to compare a vibrating jig to a swim jig ...

Interested to read that you always want to use as small a split ring as possible on the nose of a walking bait - where none is supplied you may be better off using a small VMC #0 crank bait snap or tie direct. . For the hook split rings you want to match the existing lure size split rings closely to keep the lure working properly for top water .

Thanks - in my area no Owner Hyper Split Rings but plenty of Spro brand split rings (I believe Spro is a decent brand) ... The Owner Hyper look like they were designed for peacock bass in South Florida !

*On a related topic - what size replacement split rings for treble hooks (i.e. owner hyper wire) do you use ? I'm guessing #2 or #3 size split rings for walking baits using in conjunction #2 and #4 size treble hooks ?

Agree that split rings are important ; seems like the short shank treble hooks are popular for top water / jerk baits ? To start , my Sexy Dawgs (both sizes) use a #4 treble of unknown origin . My Spook One Knocker uses a #2 size treble of unknown origin . I'd be more inclined to stay with the same size treble hooks but try the shorter shank versions (not entirely sure of the short shank treble hook advantages though ?) ... Concerned going up a hook size may interfere with the walking baits action ?

Good info A-Jay and others ... There is a lot more thought on how good quality treble hooks are designed as well as what are best styles for specific lures (depending on what you are trying to accomplish) .

I did not see the VMC listed in their line up - does it go by another name as a treble hook ? ... The Academy near me has the Owner Stinger ST-36 for $5.99 per pack (about the best buy I will probably find) . I also saw the KVD Mustad Triple Grip treble hooks but know little about them as compared to the Owner ST-36 you reference .

A number of top water baits have pretty low quality hooks right out of the package (or shortly there after) ... Good quality top water hooks allow you to pretty much reel set and lean into a bass with a top water rod that may have a soft tip / parabolic action ... *What are your favorite top water replacement treble hooks for mostly #2 - #4 sizes and some #6's ?

It's not just a TW deal in my opinion as SK will raise prices elsewhere in the end ... Admittedly when you get into the $7.00 + price range you could have a nice hard bait .

Depending on the waters - a bluegill can have more green pumpkin than the silver bluegill flash color .

Good replies ! I noticed a large store had Jack Hammers on sale for $12.99 ea. but then I realized I could buy a few nice Foggy's for the same price with wire ties for the skirt ... I figure Foggys in green pumpkin , a white shad and maybe a shad color sub category like disco shad or sexy shad would make a nice trio for Fall vibrating jig fishing .

Instead of buying any more chatterbaits - I wanted to see who has tried the Foggy vibrating jigs , what their strengths and weaknesses are , etc. as well as their action in the water (3/8th oz. size ).