ChrisD46

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 .

*Coming from a centrifugal braking system (with 6 pins) - Still having a little trouble setting the ideal spool tension knob / MAGFORCE - Z braking system relationship for my new Daiwa Fuego CT : Some posters say to tighten the spool tension knob all the way - then slowly back it off while trying to wiggle the spool until you get just start to get some side to side play then the spool tension knob is set. Others say the same except slightly loosening or tightening the spool tension knob as the final step once the spool back & forth play is detected . Lastly Brent Ehrier states to loosen spool tension knob until you get side to side play - along with a clicking noise . For those with a Daiwa Fuego CT which method above provides you the best results ?