ChrisD46

+1 , where ever you can get the sizes you need - try to use the Eagle Claw 'Lil Nasty hooks versus the Matzuo if you are looking for a sickle hook . I only tend to use them in a size #4 , #2 and #1 for Mid West finesse jig heads .

3/8th oz. ~ 1/2 oz. arky or football jig ; 7' MH rod ; 6:3:1 to 7:3:1 bait cast reel ; #15 lb. FC line (#40 lb. braid to #15 lb. FC leader is also an option ) .

*Excellent topic - I'd add lightweight long sleeve shirt option as well . As a kid growing up in Texas running around barefoot and shirtless in shorts with no sun protection applied - I pay the price today eaten up with sun damage and per-cancerous skin abnormalities which now need to be continually removed by a dermatologist . Pants , shirts , buffs , hats , sun protection lotion , etc. could hopefully lead to a sticky one day .

Most tend to standardize on a bait caster with either 30 lb. braid for swim jigs , chatter baits , etc. then jump up to 50 lb. or 65 lb. for frogs and flipping . Line digging in the reel is a consideration thus why the 30 lb. tends to be at the smallest end of what most throw without line digging in .

*There is also the Rage Tail Baby Menace Grub (3") which could be ideal for Western Maryland Smallies ... 2/0 ~ 3/0 EWG hook weightless or with a small bullet weight in Summer Craw would be where I would start .

Did you use a straight retrieve on the 90 ?

It could be it just wasn't the day for a WP110 (or perhaps even a top water bait at all ?) ... So many cool lures at all depths to try and so little time ?.

Good replies - thanks ! ... For a bass boat is the intended use which means a front unit(s) and a console unit(s) .

As the title states - are there any new top water baits you are anxious to try this Spring or have just started using for the first time as the water warms up ? For me , the Storm Arashi Cover Pop and the WP110. ... Your thoughts ?

Good replies - it could be that having a 2 ft. leader of 15 lb. ~ 17 lb. mono / co-poly leader could be a benefit with the 110 .

Watching TV and reading magazines I see all the ads for : Garman , Hummingbird , Lowrance and Ray Marine ... They all look great and have awesome features it seems . *However , after necessities - like built in lake maps and GPS , it all gets confusing pretty quickly ! ... Your thoughts on main things to look for when selecting new fishing electronics ?

*Cabela's seems to no longer be offering the XML line - only one action showing now .

No leader needed with a whopper plopper and can always run a short mono leader with a walking bait .

Similar to a VMC "Drop Dead" hook developed by Davey Hite - that 3/0 ~ 4/0 range in 3/32nd oz. would be a neat deal with a caffeine shad , super fluke and senko to cast out , give it a couple of twitches up top then let it sink and flutter to the bottom (If it makes it (lol) .

Thanks - was looking for a company with a range of easy to select technique specific rods . Initially looked at the Cabela's XML series but the whole series appears to have disappeared ?

Who has the best technique specific bait casting (and spinning for that matter) under $150 ? ... Top Water / Jerk Bait , Spinner / Chatter Bait , Football Jig , Frog , Flipping , etc. you get the idea ... Thanks in advance !

No concerns with breaking off or line digging in with 20 lb. braid and lures approaching 1 oz. ?

Thanks for the replies - The Sexy Dawg 300 weighs 7/8th oz. I believe while the WP110 is just under 1 oz. as well . I'd also like to be able to throw spinner baits up to 1/2 oz. and swim jigs / chatter baits up to 3/8th oz. as well using the same reel on a different (stiffer rod) . I suppose both 30 lb. & 40lb. braid would work and as A-Jay stated you might get a bit more distance out of 30 lb. braid .

I want to throw a KVD Sexy Dawg 200 / 300 sizes and a Wopper Plopper 90 / 110 sizes on the same bait cast outfit : *I can't decide between Power Pro 30 lb. or 40 lb. line size - your thoughts and experiences what braid size you would go with for these top water baits ?

Bluebasser 86 : Thanks to confirm the #20 lb. braid will work with a WP90 / 110 ... I just spooled up a Daiwa spinning outfit with a #3000 series / 7' MH F spinning rod - Now I'm ready to go: "Johnny Unitas" with it and bomb those smaller WP's out there a ways (lol) .

I have seen You Tube posts where those with experience use a quality swivel connected to a #3 ~ #5 split ring on the WP . Not to get off topic but it's worth stating that the WP90 size has a couple of design flaws (since corrected in the WP 110 size) : The rear of the WP 90 does not have much (if any weighting) thus it makes the head want to dig under water . To remedy , you have to keep the head up by keeping your line up out of the water a few feet in front of the WP 90 . I believe lighter braid (#20LB maybe - definitely #30 lb. braid) is the way to go with the WP 90 size to keep the line out of the water to keep that head high and rear end low (again , the WP 110 corrects that with a new internal weighting scheme ) .

Good replies ! I ordered the Gene Larew Rally Grub in : Glacier , GP Candy , Chartreuse and lastly Shimmer Shad - that should be enough to cover most any water situation !

I'm leaning towards putting the #30 lb. braid on both the Daiwa 400 series spinning reel with MH F 7' spinning rod ; BPS 6:3:1 with 7' MH F bait cast rod ... I am hoping #30 lb. braid will be just right for the WP 90 / 110 sizes (as long as I prevent any shock to the braid ) . *I also have #20 lb. and #50 lb. braid but feel the #20 lb. might be too light and the #50 lb. braid would be over kill ... Straight braid tied with a palomar knot and then call it a day .

Need help to dial in my Whopper Plopper 90/110 Setup for fairly open water (reservoir) : I currently have a 7' MF spinning rod , 3000 series with #20 lb. Power Pro braid , 7'MHF spinning rod , 4000 series , #30 lb. Power Pro braid with bait caster set up I have a 6:4:1 and a 7:1 reels available with a 7' MH bait cast rod and the same #30 lb. Power Pro. *I have some #50 lb. braid available - but I think that may be overkill with a WP 90 & 110 only ... Your thoughts on what you would use if again , only using the WP 90 & 110 sizes ? Thanks in advance ...

*I would think white / pearl would be a staple to imitate shad ? Dorado : Nice !! ... Chartreuse Roadrunner with a white 3” Zoom grub for the win !!