fishballer06

I went into 2016 wanting to improve on jigs and dropshotting, and to get into throwing large swimbaits. I ended up getting into fish head spins and learning all the different ways to use them, and I caught fish on them during the spawn, throughout the summer, and onto the fall. So for 2017, I still need to improve on my finesse presentations like dropshotting and shakeyheads. I'd also like to catch some big swimbait fish since I made the investment into it. I'm also looking to improve my frog fishing as well.

Welcome! I'm just across the state line and I'm looking to maybe hit up a few of the lakes you mentioned.

I prefer the full grips and reel seat on the Avid, so I would take the regular Avid. Both of these rods are the same blank, if you are thinking one is better than the other in that aspect.

Tie a 1/4oz dropshot weight to the nose of a Gantarel and swim it in and drop it in on the bed...

13 Metanium

Some guys swear by Tatsu, but I just can't justify $37 for a 200 yd. spool of 12-15lb, whenever I can get 660 yards of Sniper for around $48-55 any time of the year.

If you look on the Damiki or LC, you'll see different holes at the top on where to tie your line onto. Moving from one hole to another will change the vibration and fall. This is a nice feature to have if you're switching from vertical jigging, to casting and retrieving, to casting out and hopping the bottom. I also like the various available colors in the "fancier" brands like the Damiki or LC.

Once they get around the 4 pound range, I support the belly with the lip, to prevent jaw injury.

Throughout the entire thing, however, most of the good stuff sells out in no time.

I'm surprised Francho isn't in this

Exactly what smalljaw said. You need at least a MH for chatterbaits. I'm personally debating stepping up to a H for my chatterbait needs because I throw a lot of 1/2 - 3/4oz chatterbaits with a 3.8" Keitech Fat Impact on them, which is probably pushing 1oz. or more. Chatterbaits excel around weeds and wood, so you need something that can drive the hook home on a long cast and that you can control the fish from going wherever he wants. If you honestly think you'll get better hookups with a medium power, then go for it. But I'm willing to bet you'll regret using a medium power after you lose a few fish in the weeds/wood/etc.

My favorite blade baits are the Damiki vault and the Lucky Craft one's. They're a little higher quality than the original silver buddy's, and they're not terribly expensive either.

There were a few website selling the Curado I's for Black Friday in the $120-140 range. Even still, you can regularly find the I series 200PG for sub $150 if you know how to shop around the internet.

Keitech swing impact fat Jackall rythym wave Eco pro Rage tail swimmer Doyle Custom Baits zipper

Those Erie dearies are walleye killers!

The Dobyns Sierra came out over the summer and I know some of you probably have one. So what do you think of it? I'm looking for a frog rod that can also double as a heavy punch/flipping stick, and the 735C seems to fit that duty.

I love my St. Croix Avid's and LTB's, but I'd definitely give it to the Ike series if comparing it to the Mojo Bass. My Ike series is much lighter and more sensitive than any Mojo bass rod that I've ever held.

I haven't used the Please Release Me stuff yet, but I have had to use the Mountain Dew trick twice in a tournament and it did stop the bleeding and both fish survived through the weigh in process. I'm not saying this would be the case every time, and I can't imagine it's good for a fish who needs fresh, clean water to live, but it worked in a pinch. I've heard great things about Please Release Me, and I should probably be adding that to my shopping list for next season.

Looking at their Amazon store, I'm seeing a 6oz. baitcasting reel with 16.5 lbs. of drag, 11+1 bearings, and dual braking (magnetic and centrifugal) for only $60 shipped. Talk about value packed!

Ask anyone who is well versed in high end reels and most of them will tell you that the Metanium is the best overall reel in fishing right now. That's not to say that the Chronarch ci4 isn't a good reel, but the Metanium is just that outstanding.

I'm in the wiggle wart camp.

Underspins work year round, trust me. I won a tournament at the end of July this year fishing them around dam walls and weed edges and pockets. I throw mine on casting gear normally. Here's what I used most of the summer: Shimano Stile 5.8:1 St Croix Avid 7' M fast action (I'll go up to a MH for 1/2oz and bigger) 14lb Sunline Sniper Keitech Fat Impacts (I used everything from 2.8" up to 4.3" depending on size of the bait. That little 2.8" is a killer for finicky fish.) Doyle Custom Baits 3" and 4" Zippers As for the underspin itself, I either use the Sworming Hornet FishHead spin or the new Eco Pro Tungsten one's. Both are about the same price, but the Eco Pro are much higher quality, including a Trokar hook.

Let me know when you need a guest for Stonewall!

There's been at least a half dozen of this exact same thread in the past month or so. Use the search tool and you should get a ton of results.

Those cribs are great for catching crappie and perch around in the Raystown. I've only ever caught one bass off one and it was during a tournament whenever the fish were pre-spawn.