FryDog62

I’m planning on a sizable tackle order this Spring - always like trying something new. Wondering which creature baits you like best for skipping (not as a jig trailer) and how you rig it? I’ve skipped a lot of Fat Ikas on wide gap hooks, tubes on an Owner Phantom hook, Rage Bugs on a Fin-tech Title Shot Skip Jig... curious what others are having success with?

I sold my St. Croix LTB for a Zolo Dragger... lighter and much less tip heavy. Ordering a Toadface next...

SC is very tip heavy IMO... Dobyns is great for balance... I have Orochi, Helium 3, Tatula Elite, ALX Zolo, NRX and they are all superb in my book from a balance standpoint. Best balance/lightness under $200 I’ve found are any of the Duckett’s, and Daiwa Tatula. After 6 hand/wrist surgeries, weight and balance are pretty important to me...

MN-BR Happy Hour - Lets go with April 3rd. Guys that can make it then, what’s your preference for location? East Side, West Side, North or South - or Open? Will pick the best we can...

X2 on the Tat Elite Ehrler for Senkos... tough to beat. You can always trade your Shimano in at American Legacy Fishing

Does TW typically have a site-wide “Tax Day” sale? And if so, how much off usually?

Yes it’s copper-based, definitely in Green Mirror. I have the Trivex lenses - best of both worlds - scratch resistant like glass, but lighter like plastic. The catch is - to get Trivex, has to be prescription lenses. Within a few years, Trivex will be more mainstream.

I skip a lot but it took me a couple years to figure out I was doing it wrong. The thing that threw me off was the comment “just skip it like a rock.” Actually that’s the wrong thing to do. I played a lot of baseball and could skip a flat rock a mile. But it didn’t translate all that well to fishing. Skipping a lure effectively is different. You don’t drop your shoulder and side arm it like a rock. The light went on for me when I watched a Swindle video and he said “do not” get into position like a baseball player and launch it side arm. !! What...?? If you watch him he stands straight up and roll casts effortlessly to his target. Went out the next day, and admittedly will never be as good as him, but tried to imitate his mechanics - and I’m about 99% better than I was. Best fish I’ve caught consistently in the past 3 years have been under docks.. Don’t skip it like a rock... And if you use a baitcaster, get an SV spool.. That condenses 5 years of learning down into into 7 sentences - good luck!

Probably 2 ways: •In the Fall on rock piles on Rainy Lake... 15-25 fow. I use a 1/2 to 3/4 oz football jig + craw trailer. •3/4-1 oz Dark Sleeper to grind along the rock or sand bottom/shoals/reefs. Bait does best when it skims/grinds the bottom and the DS has a tendency to float up... so the heavier weight keeps it down and yet it’s very compact despite the weight for those small jaws.

Amber (Costa green mirror) absolutely rocks..

Thought I’d get back around to that MN-BR happy hour planning again. I have a few hats to give away as well... If people interested in going can say which dates work below (list as many as as you can) we’ll go with the majority and then pick a location: •Fri 3/22 late afternoon near Mpls Convention Center/NW Sport Show •Thurs 3/28 •Mon 4/1 •Weds 4/3 •Tues 4/9 •Weds 4/10 •Thurs 4/11 •Weds 4/17

Tat SV if you skip lures, Curado 70 if you want a small, light, extremely palmable reel...

Only one thing I would add to make it perfect - a lockable door to cover up its contents so a wife/significant other can’t see all the rods you actually have bought

When does the TW “Classic” sale kick in..?

Looks like Charmin needs to make an SV spool...

I use 12 lb YZH leader for jigs, Spinnerbaits, Chatterbaits... 8 lb leaders for skipping wacky worms, Flukes, etc around dock posts. So much stronger, abrasion resistant than fluorocarbon.

If Kistler won’t repair/replace: I had Delaware Valley Tackle splice a tip back on one of my rods. This way you retain the original action of the rod. If you just put a new eye on the end the broken rod, will work but you’ll end up with an XXXF tip.

Thanks RW... wondering if they also make a tungsten swim jig? Thought I remembered that from the thread I can’t find... but yes, these look good - Hadn’t thought of the shellcracker as a trailer - is there much of a difference over the traditional Menace Tail grub?

Was looking for a thread on Sieberts swim jigs - but couldn’t find... looking for jig that is good around weeds, grass, etc. There are a few options, which specific one do people that use them like best?

I’ll use braid on my Lews Moderate/Fast jerkbait rod. Faster tip rods I use 10 lb YZH.

New, and yes leader knots go thru the guides well enough. Mojo (or any SC rod for that matter) in MH or H most tip heavy rod I (used to) own.

Of the group OP listed, Tatula is easily best IMO. As balanced as the Dobyns, but lighter and easily more sensitive. In terms of sensitivity, I would take the Tat over my Dobyns Champ Extreme HP.

Majorcraft Don Iovino 6-10 MXF casting rod, with Tatula SV so I can skip when necessary..

7.1-8.1 SV reels... faster reels for a couple reasons: •If I skip a light plastic (wacky, fluke) that has a good, slow action on the fall you have to allow slack. If the fish hits with extra line out you need to pick up fast. •If I skip a jig under a dock, need to get the fish out fast before he wraps a post.

Anyone ever offer a discount on ALX rods?