ChrisD46

*^^This^^ ! *^This^ !

Good advice for a bait cast reel - A -Mart starts with a few feet of mono , then cheap braid backing and then finally his preferred main line braid . Supposedly added casting distance due to lighter spool (bait caster) ... For a spinning reel I just eye ball it and spool about 65% ~ 70% with cheap 10 lb. mono then my main line Power Pro #10 ~ #15 lb. braid and what ever leader - of the - day I'll be using .

Although there may be newer , more exciting winter fishing baits for bass - a 3.5" ~ 4" single tail grub on a 1/8th oz. ~ 1/4th oz. ball heads will still whack 'em ! For those of you who fish a single tail grub on a jig head - list your winter grub set up . Mine : 7 ft. M/F spinning rod 2500 series spinning reel #8 lb. co-poly line (or #15 lb. braid main line with #8 lb. FC leader) Zoom Fat Albert Grub (Green Pumpkin , Watermelon Red & White Pearl ) 1/8oz. & 3/16th oz. Gama Round Ball Jig Head

Jigs , 1/2 oz.to 1 oz. spinner baits (i.e. slow rolling a big single Colorado blade thumper) , 5" or 6 " paddle tail swim baits on a 1/2 oz. - 1 oz. head , Super Fluke / Mag Super Fluke on a 1/2 oz. - 1 oz. Scrounger head , pitching a 6" Senko with a 1/2 oz. - 1oz. pegged weight and a 4/0 or 5/0 flipping hook , perhaps even a mega size sexy dawg top water walking bait ... These are the things that come to mind .

Even if you don't buy one , look for reviews on Ish Monroe's new 7' 4" Daiwa Tatula Elite Frog Rod - that man knows very well what goes into the best frog rod action , length , weight - you name it and Ish knows it about frog fishing ! My new frog rod will be the Sierra 735c I picked up during the TW clearance sale ($119) ... So versatile for other applications as well - it's a no brainer . If I get tired there is always a $1.00 5 Hour Energy Drink !

I take it a darterhead is more of a vertical presentation than a cast and retrieve (horizontal) presentation ?

Sierra series ...

Chatterbait yes , Swim Jig no .

Thanks for the replies , I would think a darter head and a grub would still work well (especially in the winter ?)

*#30 lb. braid mainline would be good for both poppers and spooks - then all you would have to do is swap out the leader (#12 for poppers & #15 for spook jr. ) ... Just food for thought .

*Similar to the Senko versus other brand stick worms debate - only I believe more reasons why the Keitech are worth it .

Darter Head fishing for bass is a recent curiosity of mine (never used it - still researching) - however when searching most darter head entries are 10+ years old ... *Has the darter head application / technique given way to newer techniques such as a small , finesse swim bait head (1/8th oz. - 1/4th oz.) used with small 2.8 and 3.3 Keitech Fat Swing Impact paddle tails and similar OR other techniques ? Thanks in advance ...

*Nice !!

I watched a recent Jimmy Houston episode where he was throwing his new spinner bait with up sized willow leaf blades on it in 1/2 oz. (made by Lucky Strike) with great success in open water , near targets in shallow or deep water . *Jimmy Houston is the KING of spinner bait fishing for bass and has forgotten more than I will ever know - his one tip I liked was to retrieve a spinner bait where it is just out of sight on the retrieve with an occasional jerk in the retrieve . I plan to buy a couple just for grins to support Jimmy's 401k plan . My PB came on a 3/8th oz. Booyah white / chartreuse willow / colorado combo in 14" of water nearing the end of spawn . *Sweet spinner bait setup ... I had to breathe into a paper bag after viewing to keep from hyperventilating !! ... Beyond traditional color offerings - Dirty Jigs and War Eagle have some newer , interesting spinner bait offerings .

*That's a spinner bait slaunch !!

*Agreed Tom : Drop Shot setup of ML rod , #4lb. to #8 lb. line where you don't want to inhibit the worm action along where a reel set type hook set is used .

It's possible the swivel type drop shot hook (i.e. Gama , VMC) do better fished vertical with a Z-Man type elaZtech type baits which float or are at least neutral in the water . I'm thinking on a more horizontal drop shot retrieve with a not floating soft plastic the bait may rotate behind the line on the hook swivel thus being on the wrong side to stick a bass ? *Perhaps someone here who has experience with the swivel type drop shot hooks can chime in what works best for soft plastic types , retrieve , etc. ? Definitely lake structure will be a deciding factor whether you go T-Rig or exposed hook with a drop shot . I encounter more open water situations than not so exposed hook works for me . *Tom has me thinking though and may wish to standardize on one style drop shot hook that works for more situations . Reduced line twist is / was a feature of the swivel type drop shot hooks ; without them I will want a high quality drop weight to reduce line twist (plus not reeling the drop shot rig back too quickly helps and or braid main line)

*Thanks Tom - That Owner Cover Shot looks to be a cool deal - it will also serve other finesse applications besides just drop shot .

Jc90 : I got the Dobyns (Sierra 703sf) recently for shakey head , senkos and light jigs (mainly) - very versatile rod . I played with a 702sf at the same time and my gosh is it a nice rod too ! ...I already have a Cabela's Ned rig ML / F rod and a Shimano drop shot rod (ML) with a great tip - however I liked that 702SF so much it will be the next rod I buy for sure as it is such a nice rod for finesse . *Buy once cry once - launder money away from your wife and buy the 702 AND the 703 at the same time ... Life is too short !! (lol)

I just saw the new Owner "Light" Mosquito Hook which to me looks like a improvement to the "beak" down turned hook point I don't particularly care for with the standard Owner Mosquito hooks . My current preference is a Gama Drop Shot / Split Shot hook size #1 or #2 for nose hooking Robo Worms and such ... The Trokar drop shot hook looks deadly , there is the newer Berkley drop shot hooks with some kind of slick coating applied for easier hook sets , the VMC "Spin Shot" and then the fore mentioned new Owner Light Mosquito drop shot hooks . *What is your current favorite drop shot hook and size for nose hooking worms , as well as, what feature(s) you like about them ?

*There are aprox. five ways to fish a senko - if you are only fishing a senko one way there is MUCH more to explore just staying with a senko .

Dobyns 702SF (ML / F) versus 703SF (M / F) : Dobyns has nice suggested primary and secondary applications for their ML & M action spinning rods for comparison and consideration ... Many good comments here on Dobyns rods for finesse applications .

Good replies to date - thank you !

I'll attempt a start to replies : A M/M should be considered for square bill 1.0 / 1.5 sizes and 1/4th oz 1/2 oz. lipless cranks in mostly open water with little to no grass . The MH/M should be considered for square bill 2.5 size and up square bills and 3/4th oz. lipless cranks in mostly open water OR for 1/2 oz. and 3/4th oz. lipless cranks when ripping them through grass . *I welcome others to offer suggestions - I believe this is a good "which rod" starting point for square bill and lipless cranks.

*Not the correct way to set up a Daiawa with MAGFORCE Z braking system ! ... Other brand reels - yes .