ChrisD46

Great Tips !! ... Forgot to ask what is the temp and time range of hanging jig heads to bake in the toaster over ? I was thinking 325 degrees for 20 minutes (may be too much / too little though ?)

+1 ... I was in denial for a long time and can only use Fluoroclear with a loose drag and ignoring the # lb. test rating and remembering to go by the line diameter instead - Fluoroclear breaks very close to the stated line rating . Flouroclear #15 lb. strength is about equivalent to other brands #10 lb. or #12 lb. (even that may be generous) .

+1 or for $65 or so the Daiwa Fuego CT in 7:1 or 8:1 gear ratios are a great value .

My shakey head set up : 7 M / F spinning rod , 2500 series spinning reel , #10 lb. braid main line , 6' FC #8 lb. leader , shakey head jig weight of 1/8th oz. (95% of the time) I also drop down to 1/16th oz. or 3/32nd oz. (depending on the jig head ) and on rare occasions I may go up to 3/16th oz. *The pro experts like KVD or the West coast guys believe you lose too much action if you go above 1/8th oz. on a shakey head weight and I am with them on that belief - lighter is better in 1/16th oz. , 3/32nd oz & 1/18th oz. shakey head jig weights (Owner , Strike King , Picasso and a host of other good shakey head jigs) . For worms - you have Zoom Trick & Finesse worms , 6" Bio Spawn worms , 6" Fat Robo Worms , Strike King Baby Fat Finesse worms , Z-Man 6" Finesse worms and a host of others . Watermelon Red , Green Pumpkin and Junebug will cover most conditions any where .

I have the powder paint jars , a heat gun (Harbor Freight) and a toaster oven . If I shake the powder paint jars real good to get the powder paint fluffy then I should be good to go with a quick dip & swirl . Heat time for the size jigs I use a few inches away from the heat gun I have will start at 15 to 20 sec. *I suppose the key advantage of the fluid bed is it keeps your powder paint constantly fluffy - with the 2 oz. jars I may have to stop and shake the closed lid jar every few jigs or so . P.S. Harbor Freight has 16 oz. tubs of : Black , White and Red powder paints for $6 each .

My jig heads consist of Ned Rig and Shaky Heads from 1/24th oz. to 1/4th oz. which I would like to powder coat in small quantities : Do I need a Fluid Bed set up or is there an equal method for powder coating small size / small quantity jig heads I described ? Thanks in advance ...

I believe I got a 50 or 100 pack (I forget) but do know it had the #2 or #4 size 'Lil Nasty Eagle Claw Hook (either will work for a TRD) . A drop of super glue gel after rigging straight and you are set . I even powder coat mine or use finger nail polish to add a little color or contrast . Also , I don't know if it's the weight or that the TRD is slightly larger than the 1/24th ball head jig - but I never get hung up in the rocks , rip rap , etc. anymore . Lastly , the 'Lil Nasty hook is a quality hook for the Ned rig - just reel set and ease the rod back .

For interested Ned Rig users - I've been experimenting with a either half a Zinkerz or a Finesse TRD secured with 1 drop of super glue gel using 1/24th oz. round ball jig with a 'Lil Nasty #4 or #2 hook size , #6 lb. FC leader (6') #8 lb. PP Braid mainline , 7 ML spinning rod and 2500 series Daiwa . *The result is a little slower glide than using the same set up with a 1/16th ~ 1/15th oz. jig head and with slightly less feel while fishing it at or near the bottom . I find 1/32nd oz. jig heads to be too light with a half a Zinkerz and not quite heavy enough to keep a Finesse TRD down well . I will also note that while using the 1/24th oz. jig head I have not got hung up in any rocks with a Ned rig (which has happened to me using a 1/16th oz. jig head ) . With the above said , my Ned rig jig head sizes are now : 1/24th oz. , 1/16th ~ 1/15th oz. , 3/32nd oz. and occasionally a 1/10th oz. ~ 1/8th oz. under special circumstances which may / may not include a Big TRD ... At any rate - just another Ned rig jig head weight option to consider between that 1/32nd oz. (which I consider border line too light) and 1/16th oz. jig head sizes to dial in that sought after, alluring , TRD / half Zinkerz fall rate . P.S. I'm happy for those who have used and prefer to continue using a 1/6th oz. ~ 1/5th oz. Ned rig jig head - I'm just operating in a different Ned rig space is all ...

EWG hooks have their place with thicker baits like Flukes , Senkos , etc. Hook up ratio is not enough of a problem to complain about . 2/0 to 4/0 RB offset for thinner baits such as finesse and trick worms .

I like a 6'10" ~ 7' ML spinning rod rated for 1/8th oz. to 1/2 oz.

*My wife complains that my fishing shows hog all the DVR space - I tell her that's a strategy so that all her DIY shows can't be recorded - thus it keeps me free of new projects when I could be out fishing !

A spinning rod is a tool just like a bait cast rod - use the tool the application calls for ... Nothing more - nothing less .

Siebert Outdoors *Morel Jig Head in 1/16th oz. , 3/3nd oz. or 1/18th oz. ... All use a high quality Owner #1 hook which fits the Keitech 2.8 perfectly ! *While the Morel jig head was designed primarily for the Ned Rig - it also is outstanding on a Keitech 2.8" Fat Swing Impact . You also have a choice of color selection with the Morel Jig Head : I like a red color jig head with the Sight Flash , French Pear color Keitechs , Black & Blue color jig head with the Blue Gill Flash color , Green Pumpkin color jig head with the Ayu color , Cobalt Blue color jig head with Electric Shad color and Black & Silver jig head color with the Silver Flash Minnow and Shad color Keitechs . I will also use a chartreuse color Morel jig head on any Keitech if I need to add attraction in stained water or over cast day ... *Shameless Plug* : You can spend more time and money else where on a ball head jig hoping the hook will fit , hoping the jig maker used a high quality hook etc. With the Morel jig head form Siebert Outdoors you will have no worries - I've never had a bad jig head from Mike , every one is perfect and the color options can't be beat ... Did I mention the Owner #1 hook which is used ? P.S. If you think a 2.8"Keitech Fat Swing Impact can't be beat - then you haven't tried a Z-Man Slim Swimz 2.5" or 3" in Bad Shad color on the same Morel jig heads ... Equal to or better than a Keitech (specially at slow speeds) and 50 bass days on one soft plastic are common ... Try that with a Keitech !

Similar to a B10 S 1/0 would be a VMC Neko 1/0 hook .

Dobyns is pretty good about showing the suggested applications for each rod . I have the following Sierra's (but want more) : 704c : Football Jigs , T - Rigs , Spinner Baits , Chatter Baits , Swim Jigs 705c : Frogs , Flipping , Pitching 703sf : Shakey Head , Senko

*It's called a Strike King Red Eye Shad - best shimmy on the drop / fall going ... All kidding aside , I don't think Flukes are especially known for any shimmy qualities - for soft baits a Yamamoto Senko rigged wacky style is about as good as it gets for shimmy on the drop / fall .

Spinning reel comparison : Daiwa Regal vs. Pflueger President : Both cost about the same (2500 / 3000 series) ... What would your preference be as the better reel ?

*Hard to go wrong with this rod - sensitivity is not as critical for cranking , so this rod gets the job done .

Are you saying the Rage Swimmer has MORE action at slower speeds than the Keitech Fat Swing Impact ? ... I would think the opposite would occur ?

The 7' H makes an outstanding Biffle Bug / swing jig set up for banging and deflecting off of bottom structure using #15 lb. FC line . True - the rod is a broomstick but that's what you want for that instant Biffle bug deflection that triggers strikes .

The 705CB , 733C and the 702SF would be on my short list to buy next ! ... I am likely to end up in Florida the next few years so I may forgo the 702SF -however it is such a nice finesse rod for drop shot or light Ned Rig applications (Finesse TRD using 1/16th oz. jig head with #4 or #2 size hook) that I may have to have one any way !

*Nicely stated ! ... Straight green color braid though for Frogs on top of the salad or flipping / punching into the spinach .

^^This^^ or same in willow leaf blades ...While there may be better spinner baits , you can find Booyah spinner baits just about any where in a multitude of sizes , colors and blade type to suit your needs . Spending $5 for a more than decent Booyah versus $8 or $9 for other brands means I'm less concerned where I throw it - which is usually where the good bass live . The only thing I do is reinforce the skirt with a small wire tie to the hook or bend back the wire frame if it gets bent with a pair of needle nose ... Once it's ready for the "spinner bait burial grounds" - I save the blades or skirts for a future use . Conversely , if I see a Terminator , Nichols , Stanley , War Eagle , etc. on sale or in a color combo I just have to have (low IQ / shiny objects are my downfall) then I will buy with no hesitation.

Next time I see a sale I will be picking up a 703c for those applications where a 704C may be a little too heavy . I see no reason why a 703SF could not be used with a slightly heavier set up for drop shotting around structure and vegetation - something like #15 lb. braid plus a #10 lb. FC or P-Line CXX (if water slightly stained) leader and a strong #1 or #1/0 drop shot hook .

^^This^^ ... If I don't get bit - I reel in quickly and cast to another spot - I believe it is a waste of time to work a senko all the way back to the boat .