FryDog62

I too am a victim of the bait monkey and have too many things that I won't use. Part of my problem is the emergence of the online retailers. I'll order plastics that look great on the web and then receive them from the UPS guy (who I've become best friends with now) and the color is not what I thought. I end up ordering another color I like better and think I'll eventually use the first order but never do...

I think you're in business. Yes, you can use line conditioner once the line is already on. Sometimes, I'll apply again after the first cast and the line is out to coat the line towards the inner spool.

Had it repaired at a local shop for about $10, seemed fine after that

I think a lot of times, he'll see a submerged rock pile at a relatively close distance and skip over there more often than he casts to it.... Says he sees the fish look up as the lure skips across the surface, and many times follow it and strike...

I live fairly close to Mille Lacs and talked to a guide last Fall. He says he tries to skip Plastics whenever possible, even when no cover is present. Long casts with the lure plopping can spook the smallies there, even though a relatively lower-pressured lake. He said skipping across the surface the fish really seem to hone in on, and then strike at a much higher percentage. Probably true other places too, but definitely in some of our better/clearer lakes up here...

Just called Cabelas and they said no pre-ordering yet. Will be available on-line before stocked in stores..

Been there and finally did this after being unable to find the crack. It works, sometimes they are hard to find with the naked eye...

Curious what reel works best for you and settings to get maximum casting range w/o backlash..

What Roadwarrior said... or another alternative: http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Owner_Twistlock_Light_Hook/descpage-OTLL.html

I use two different spinning rods - one 6'-8" and one 6'-9". One is Fast action and one Extra Fast. Depending on bait size/weight the rod action makes a difference. Have to experiment.. I do tie a fairly long fluorocarbon or Yo-Zuri Hybrid leader to the main braid line. I have found the braid gets nicked up and snapped around docks too easily. Anywhere from 8 to 12 pound test leader depending on lure. A weightless Senko gets the lighter leader to attain optimal sink rate. I too have a hard time skipping with a baitcaster but am going to give it one more try this year with the new Daiwa Tatula "SV" reel coming out. It is touted as a game-changer for skipping lures without backlash... we'll see, but I have fallen to the bait monkey on this one...

Interesting, I like to get varying rates of fall when skipping under docks but have usually thrown lighter than you do. For flukes/tubes and a slow fall use 1/8 oz, beaver style plastics or Menace Grubs 1/4. Heavier than that, I just bought some Strike King skipping jigs 3/8-1/2 but haven't tried yet...

If they're as good as the bladed jigs you make I'm sure they work well. Curious what size/weight you usually use, and which plastics you get best results with? I like the idea of a screw lock, so if you have any pictures to post or PM feel free to send. Thx

Not at all, I just know there's the attempt to do an experiment and the gut feel on the results - and do they match? I'm also one of those however, that would be entirely open to someone else doing this on a more sophisticated level ... and I'd want to be in the front row to watch/learn. -Fry

I'll admit I'm not a classically-trained scientist and this test could be done with a more sophisticated approach and equipment I'm sure. But the reason I decided to conduct this test in the first place was because I bought all kinds of advertised "low-stretch" fluorocarbon, but when I used those lines, my instincts were - that these lines stretched as much or more than monofilament. And having fished all of these lines in the test (I was actually hoping to find a true low-stretch fluorocarbon) I have to say that the test results were extremely close to my on-the-water experience with each of these lines.

$199

Yes, I will use 10 or 12 depending on how much cover, rocks, branches I'm banging through on the retrieve since that is how I fish squarebills. Like others have said Yo-Zuri is a tad thicker and higher breaking strength than most other lines so you can dial back the pound rating some and still get many of the advantages. I'd put 12 pound YH up against any FC 15 pound line for casting and retrieving squarebills. Just my opinion but suspect there are others here that would feel the same way. Give it some line conditioner too and I don't think you'll have the manageability problems you get with FC either. Maybe some, but not nearly as much. Don't overfill the spool, leave 1/8 of an inch from the top.

Try Yo-Zuri Hybrid. I use either 10 lb or 12 lb on the baitcaster I use for squarebills and smaller cranks. As close to best of both worlds when comparing the advantages of mono or fluorocarbon and fewer of the disadvantages. A lot of guys on this site use that particular line with good success.

I know they are taking pre-orders and other outlets but I didn't think so at Cabelas yet... true?

Are you sure it was the skip jig style, or one of the other Fin-tech jigs?

I think it does fine with spinning gear. The thicker line diameter is the one knock on YH, and for fast moving baits not a big deal to me. To Tom's point above, if you need something more finesse style, you can drop down in size. I think the 12 pound rated breaking strength is like 19 pounds (and about the same diameter as 20 lb line). So for many spinning applications, I use 6 or 8 pound YH line. I Prefer it MUCH over several other 100% fluorocarbon lines I have tried. Stronger, less stretch, better knots, and not a tangly pia to work with like 100% fluorocarbon can be.

I don't know if you're also looking for a recommendation on a wacky hook for Senkos... but this past year I tore a ligament in my wrist and had a hard time getting good hook sets and keeping fish buttoned up. Switched over to this hook and really made a difference, rarely lost a fish from that point forward. The 1/0 size seemed best for 4 and 5 inch Senkos. http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Hayabusa_Spin_Muscle_Weedless_Wacky_Hooks/descpage-HSMWW.html

Anyone know when the new Daiwa Tatula SV TW will be available at Cabelas's? I have a gift certificate burning a hole through my pocket

Anyone ever used one of these? Wonder if they really do skip easily ... and if the bait holder does collapse for a good hook up percentage? Any other input, or other similar products to consider? http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Fin-tech_Title_Shot_Skip_Jig_2pk/descpage-FTTSSK.html

I'm sure there are many options to consider - but a year later and after trying numerous lines ... I still end up going back to Yo-Zuri Hybrid when not using braid. Strong, great abrasion resistance, never had a knot fail yet ... and of course low stretch - and doesn't soak up water like mono (which equates to additional stretch over a day of fishing).

So if I want to try the shrink tubing route ... how thin a slice of the tubing do you use? And could I sit down with a bunch of bags of worms some night and put the shrink tubes on ahead of time so they're ready to go?