F14A-B

There are many great casting crankbaits made, that aren’t 20-25 dollars apiece. Some people don't care what a bait cost as long as it’s MB or Evergreen etc etc. Yozuri makes an affordable crankbait Damiki is South Korean made and they make a very good crankbait that defies the wind and will get you all the distance you need. LuckyCraft is another company that you can get oftentimes get for under $10 that throw great.. You can spend more if you like but to obtain a crankbait that throws well and catches bass you’ll find plenty available that are more affordable. BTW, they all will get snagged and lost no matter the price. I bought all of the aforementioned crankbaits from Tacklewarehouse this year for between 3-5 bucks apiece. There ya go, affordable crankbaits that cast great. 😉💯

I’d add that living rubber is my personal favorite, but feather jigs are nice also, I just can’t ever locate them & when I do they’re ridiculously high..

I’m not gonna write a book or post anything from AI, but if fish are in the mud, (belly on the bottom) I’m using a 1/2oz football jig or even lighter with a crawfish trailer, or a 5” Yamamoto twin tale grub. As always locate the balls of baitfish and don't worry about whether or not you can correctly ID them just fish like they’re LMB. Spoons are effective if fishing in an area where fish are. Baitfish are key, because even a novice can id that on a basic graph & that’s what most fish types are hanging close to..

Imo, it’s a better platform to convert a Daiwa Zillion to BF due in part to a much stronger drag system, a stronger gear set, a longer (stock handle) and the ability to change out 34 mm spools as needed. It’s more expensive though that much I can promise. However if you know you love it, and you love thread line, this might be a great option for you. Btw, I tried the Curado BF reel. Weak drag and to me it was @bulldog1935 that tipped me off on why.. drags designed for mountain streams. Makes complete sense huh? Well it was a great caster with mono and had great braking.. my son owns it now and complains about the drag also 🤣 I told him!

So we get to rant on manufacturers now? Hmm, I remember a time when this was taboo, perhaps times changed huh..

Yep it’s ridiculous.. every update seems to complicate “actions” more so than anything. I had to do it though because the prior update was apparently missing some code which made casting to a smart TV near impossible. That seems fixed now. Had to relearn how to edit and resize pictures also. Just a lot of normal everyday type things. No more updates for me..

Give it up. She clearly doesn’t want fishing on her lake & with all the water available in Florida..

I love spinning and nothing is going to change that. I’m well aware of the pro’s and con’s. Use what you like and enjoy it..

This is insane.. 8 months and you still have no rod.. insane. Ought to be a law against this. 😉

I’d say a controlled slack line or semi slack line. Feeling line movement is proper as Tom stated (as it pertains to FC) When you have 10 titanium/SIC guides you’re going to feel that movement very nicely. Different rods impart different feel. Same with line types.

By 1 point! ⚓️⚓️⚓️

Great advice A-Jay, my most cherished piece of life safety equipment during my many cruises. Go Navy!

Add some pics..

@bishoptf Totally understand, that’s what we do is try different techniques, which is fun and educational. I believe a 1/2 ounce football or even an Arkie style head is plenty adequate. The Ned is a great bait and I’m sure @Bluebasser86 can chime in.. seems if I remember right he would slay them with that this time of year.. Of course where we fish is instrumental in success also. It will happen for you, I totally believe this.

Imo you’re using more of a late winter into early spring tactic. Try using a jig and craw, a football jig to be more precise. Of course if you’re hellbent on a jerkbait bite (which I understand) then good luck. Fish with confidence. I know a guy who just last week caught 20# a couple came on a stunna. (Kentucky lake-south) they’re gonna get down in the mud and that’s for sure..especially with this system that’s about to move in.. hope you can stick a couple 5 pounders wherever you’re at.

Here’s a few.. look at the eyes to determine which is what. Yep and I wonder how many realize his impact on crankbait design? Remember the Risto Rap? Of course he was the principal engineer on the DT series.. now Berkley. Oh and a long time before that Poe super cedar.

My favorite for awhile was a Dead stick Rouge. On bedding Bass, they actually worked as designed.. I use Spro McStick’s now. (1/2) These are floaters that will dive down but do not suspend. One of my new favorites is the Lucky Craft SR100. It’s a shallow runner that is also predominantly a floater but has a unique lip and that pointer 100 action that emulates “walking the dog” action underwater. It can hit 6”-10” and cast just like the pointer 100SP. (5/8) Only 2 colors available though, chrome and white. It’s an awesome bait to long bomb into slews-bays in the fall when shad are moving into warmer water searching for food. This typically coincides with draw-downs as it relates to TVA waterways.. which can sometimes make access a little tough. A bait that throws far, can defeat wind and stays shallow is ideal for certain scenarios. These are just tools to assist in situations where maybe our favorites won’t cut the mustard.

@bulldog1935 Absolutely & what is also true is the quality of carbon lines, nylon lines and FC coated lines such as PLine CXX, CX or Yozuri Hybrid line. There are many other examples of non-braided lines manufactured in Japan which are also of the highest quality. (Daiwa, Sunline, etc) Japan places a premium on quality and honor in manufacturing..(as you are very well aware)

Maybe so, but we have absolutely no problem getting any reel that’s made anywhere in the world. We are not limited to a Chinese made/Chinese marketplace reel. We have parts availability along with a plethora of technicians who can fix and/or modify reels. We’re not without our difficulties, but we are the greatest Nation in the world.. 😉

I had the 300 and I didn’t like it. I’m using the new Daiwa Coastal 200 and it’s an awesome reel. Holds plenty of 20# mono or 25# FC. It’s a wonderful casting reel that easily handles down to 1/2 ounce on a proper rod. I’d recommend taking a look at it..

That’s the first sign you should break ground on a new garage..

A lot of guys have paid money for orders they’ve not received. Someone is culpable. If it’s bankruptcy then they should announce this.

I have several packs of Bandito bugs, they’re gtg.. if I get 1-2 on any soft plastic then it’s done its job.

Use a count down model Rapala or a Husky Jerk or a completely different tactic altogether.

Yup. I’ve seen the reels still stamped made in Sweden in the past year..