MIbassyaker

As it happens, I recently asked them about their warranty policy. what they said was that If they determine its a manufacturer's defect, they replace it free. If they determine it was not a defect, then they offer a 45% discount on a comparable replacement rod. I would not call that SOL.

I'll at least try a topwater almost every time I'm out, with the following rules of thumb: --cloudy, overcast, dawn, dusk, low light I will always try a topwater for awhile before giving up. Here I like walking baits, buzzbaits, propbaits. --When the sun is out, I'll keep a topwater handy in case I find shade -- i'll zip a popper or propbait into the shade of a dock or under an overhanging tree. --I'll try a hollow bodied frog in pads/slop any time. --I might also try a few random topwater casts here and there any time there isn't otherwise an obvious pattern. --If I'm catching them I stick with it; if I'm throwing one for awhile without getting a blowup, I'll put it away.

I hear this too all the time. But it's just not my experience that MF action is too slow for single-hooked moving baits. and If I'm not mistaken the rod was actually designed for spinnerbaits (it's a fenwick elite tech smallmouth). And I'm even using mono. Maybe it matters more if you are such a skilled angler you've honed every reaction to such a fine point that the only factor left to make any difference is rod action. But whoever that person is, it's not me.

I think I probably use weightless texas rig and wacky rig about equally. Texas If I'm going to be moving it more horizontally than vertically (e.g., twitching or jerking higher in the water column, or slid across the top of vegetation and dropping into holes, or throwing into current), or if there's a high chance of getting hanging up. Wacky if I'm working it mostly vertically, dropping it down next to particular targets.

I use a 6'10" MH-MF for spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, buzzbaits, lipless crankbaits, 2.5-size squarebills with a 7.1:1 gear ratio.

So, does the next record have to beat the Perry bass by 2oz or the Kurita bass by 2oz?

I'm using 15lb trilene big game with no complaints.

As somebody who fishes a lot of clear water and has a long-ingrained preference for lighter tackle, drop shotting ought to be right in my wheelhouse. It's not. I kind of hate it, honestly. I find it awkward, inefficient, ridiculously tangle-prone, and mostly unrewarding compared to most other presentations I could be doing. And I don't believe I've ever caught anything over 11 inches or so with it. Gimme a worm on a weighted hook of some kind instead (shaky head, slider, jigworm, ned) any day.

In the last couple years, I have gotten away from spinnerbaits in favor of bladed jigs and swimjigs. At the same time, I have really turned on to buzzbaits in the morning at first light up to when the sun is above the trees/houses, which is when I fish most often. So I'm afraid I'm going to have to go against the grain: Buzzbait.

Seems to me that with such limited time, fishing for numbers is fishing for size. I'm bringing my own confidence baits for numbers, full stop. Senko. Maybe a buzzbait or shakyhead worm like a plasmatail or trickworm. Ned rig if cover is light.

3/8oz Megastrike cavitron buzzbait, black blade, black skirt. Runner up is a weightless texas-rigged Rage Tail Cut-r Worm, green pumpkin.

Order placed -- thanks, as always!

FYI, Tatula 100 reels are on sale for $90 right now for Labor Day at American Legacy Fishing

Keep em both! Put a topwater on one and a senko on the other. Or a crankbait on one and a texas rig on the other. Or, whatever combination you'd find most efficient to avoid spending time re-tying to switch baits. You're going to get another combo sooner or later anyway...make that one your third instead of your second...

I was an all-spinning person until this year, when I added some new baitcasting setups, I've been using them extensively for the last 4 months. I find them much better than spinning for several things, including handling most heavier baits (say, about 1/2oz and over), jigs, and most horizontal cast-and-crank applications. I also accept they are better in principle for some things that I personally have not yet noticed much of an advantage in practice, such frogging (casters have a drag and power advantage, in principle) and pitching (casters have push-button efficiency advantage, in principle). But I still find myself preferring spinning for virtually all plastics, including texas rigs with weights up to 1/4oz, as well as most hardbaits 3/8oz and under. And, maybe I'll change my mind eventually with more experience, but I remain entirely unconvinced that baitcasters have any kind of inherent advantage for casting accuracy.

I tried spybaits for the first time this year-- and what do you know, they work! I've been successful with the usual recommendations -- duo spinbait 80, 7' ML spinning, 6lb copolymer line, clear water, long casts, sink to desired depth, straight retrieve S-L-O-W.

Lol, the bleeding continues. There goes another $150. And now Siebert's got 15% off too...

Is there such a thing as a bad shaky head worm? Or, really, a bad worm of any kind?

Yes -- the plasmatail is legit. The bouyancy is pretty close to neutral so the tail doesn't really float up, but it doesn't just lie down either.

TW is ON!

Why have I never thought of that? Thanks.

Rigs that work with senkos: --weightless wacky rig --weighted wacky head --eco-pro wacky weights on a unweighted hook --weightless texas rig --bullet weight texas rig --punch rig --weighted hook --threaded onto a jighead of any kind (includes ned rig) --drop shot --power shot --hot shot --carolina rig --split-shot/mojo rig --Neko rig --jika rig --trailer jig/spinnerbait/buzzbait --other rigs I didn't think of --other rigs yet-to-be invented

All I have to share are half-baked preferences, not expertise! It's great! My tastes on most baits run toward the smaller side, that's all. I'm sure in some places and some times it matters a lot. I personally have never noticed a difference where I fish between silent and rattling/knocking versions of, really, any lure. Even the classic silent spook isn't strictly silent -- it splashes around, the hooks jangle, etc Cool. never tried it. I should.

Gah! That's cheaper than my Supreme XT was! FYI, anyone who has just grabbed an Aetos spinning rod on the recent sale, the patriarch has a matching color scheme.

I like the super spook jr. best. I find the puppy hard to walk; If I'm using a bait that small, it will be a popper or propbait, not a walker.