Shadow1

Not exactly knot talk but, what length of leader are some of you using with braid? Does is vary with the lure you are using? I've been at about 7 feet. A fishing friend of mine swears by 12 feet or more of leader. What say you guys . . .

I like the talk about the Pitzen knot. I've used that knot for years now. Super easy to tie, and very strong. I have tried the FG knot. I think it is very strong but hard to tie with small braid and leader. I could tie it with larger diameter braid and leader, but when I went smaller it was very difficult especially on a boat. I didn't have confidence in it.

I went back almost 15 pages and haven't seen any talk about knots. Things change so much in the world of fishing, I was wondering if anyone has any different things they've tried. I primarily use the improved Alberto knot. It has never broken on me, and I was fishing off the coast of North Carolina five years ago on a charter and the guide used this knot. He told me there might be stronger out there, but he has used the knot for over ten years with no known failures. Fire away . . .

I put a 2500 on my new Victory 6'10" ML/EF. Absolutely love it. Great balance and feel.

Just bought a 6'10" St Croix Victory Med/Lt Ex/Fast. Paired it up with a 2500 Shimano Miravel reel. All I have to say is "wow". Very light and sensitive. Absolutely love it.

I use the 3.5". They have a great color selection. Funny thing about color. I was in western Maryland fishing smallies in a river. We did terrible one day. Got back to our cabin, and started talking to some other people around camp. A guy walked over, and tosses us 2 packs of Zoom grubs in "cotton candy" smiles, and said "hold on tomorrow." Well, the next day we crushed the smallies on those grubs on 1/8oz ball head jigs. Go figure. 😞

Dogface, I really like the Dark Special. I've seen live hellgrammites look black, dark brown, and some a dark olive color. The River Rock baits are very soft, and you'll go through a bunch but they are fantastic. So much so, that every spring I order 4 25ct bags of them. I get them all in Dark Special. The creek/river smallies eat them up around here, and the big boys in Canada do as well. Don't let the secret bait out!! Oh, I almost forgot, in fairly clear water . . . Oxblood w/black or Light Special.

A-Jay how do you tie the leader material you are using? I ordered some of the Knot 2 Kinky material yesterday. I might get some of the material you talked about above to see which one I like best, and see which one, if either, has much of an effect on the baits. Oh, I use 110's but my favorite is the Flap Slap. Not sure why, but one lake in particular in Canada, the smallies are just all over them, as well as the Pike! Thanks again for all the info. One month closer . . . to being on my way to that 7lber hiding in the lake!!

Ok . . . going to give this bait away. No one has mentioned it on here. Go to "River Rock Custom Baits" they have a bait called a "helgripede" that is a cross between a hellgrammite and centipede. This little bait is smallmouth candy. I've used this bait for well over 10 years. I have never seen them in a store. I found them by accident. A local tackle shop had some of their tubes in the store. They were out of the color I wanted, so I got online looking for the tubes and found the "helgripede". Bought them instead of the tubes and have caught way too many smallies to count. Caught one just over 5lbs last year in Canada along with many other small 3lbers on a day when the temp fell from 73 degrees to about 40. I rigged them up with 1/0 gama, and a bullet wt pegged 16-18" above. These are my go to baits. I rig them up ned style, and also with the pegged bullet.

Thank you so much for the replies and information. At least I now know I wasn't thinking too crazy, and I have some options. The leader material is called "Knot 2 Kinky" from Aquateko. I can get 30' of 6lb test titanium single strand line for $17.00. I believe it is the diameter of 8lb fluoro. I am going to look at all my options. For the $$$ I am going to get some of the material and see what it does to my 110's as far as action. Again guys, thanks so much for all the help and info.

I fish two lakes in Canada. They both have provided me with many fish over 5lbs. The fish on one lake in particular just love jerkbaits. Caught two last year just over 6lbs both on jerkbaits. THE problem, PIKE . . . I lost 3 jerkbaits last year, and not the cheap kind! So here is my idea, please don't laugh too much, I have found some 6lb single strand titanium leader wire that can be tied. Would it be feasible to tie a 12 -16" leader with this wire? I've seen people tie this to braid and the lure on YouTube. Tired of losing $20 jerkbaits, but i love catching 5lb smallies. Fire away!!!!

One thing I do is peg a bullet sinker instead of crimping a split shot. Learned this 7-8 years ago when a friend had his line break at the split shot, and he lost what was for sure a 5lb bass. As for how I use it, if the fish are aggressive I'll pop it then drag it. They are off or pressured, I'll slow sweep it. I use it all the time. My lure of choice is a 3.5" or 5" black hellgrammite. It's an "old school" technique. My uncle taught it to me 30 years ago.

I use Owner ST 36 for replacements on my Vision 110 Jrs. They are sticky sharp and I haven't straightened any out. Size 8 I believe. Got very lucky last year and landed a 40" Northern Pike with them.

I was at a small tackle shop yesterday, and they had probably 20 or more of them. Guess I should buy a few since they are no longer made.

Guys how many of you are familiar with AC Shiners? A friend of mine who lives in northern New York told me last year he took some perch colored AC Shiners, put Gama trebles on them, and then added some suspend tape so they would almost suspend. He said he crushed smallies on them last year. Said he was in a boat with a guy using Vision 110's, and he out fished him 3-1. Said it was so bad the guy put down his Visions and used one of his modified lures. Just got me curious.

Hey guys, thanks for the replies and comments. Putting two kids through college the past 9 years has limited me to Walmart budget setups. This is my first really nice setup. I thought maybe I was over thinking the rod to get. Took a trip Saturday to a small tackle shop, they let me put a reel on it, and boom. It felt really balanced and good in my hand. Really liked the grip.

I've been looking for a rod to match up with my new Shimano Miravel reel. Bought a 6'10" St Croix Victory MLXF. Reel and rod balance up great. 10 lb 832 braid with a 6lb McCoys Mean Green leader. Canadian smallies here I come!!

Anyone use the centipede or hellgrammite from Tackle Max off of Amazon? A fishing friend of mine got some the other day. He bought them because a friend of his said they were very good. I looked at his and they looked great. Soft, great colors, and detail. As always, thanks guys for the input and info!!

I really like the perspective that is being put out on this thread. I have used cheap Wal Mart and DSG set-ups for years. Finally got the kids through college, so I'm looking for a nice spinning combo for $300 or less. There are so many rods out there with different ratings for all kinds of applications. You can get real confused fast. Thankful for the info on here.

I saw the new Avid on-line, but Cabelas didn't have any in stock. I can spend the extra $$$. Not been able to say that for almost nine years!

I went to Cabelas last week and looked at some rods. Their selection was a little limited with the holidays etc. Anyway, I held a St Croix Premier split grip liked it. They had 6'6" MF and 6'8" ML very fast. I also held one of the new Mojo Trigon rods. Handle looks kinda funny but felt good. I have 2 much older St Croix. Bought them used 8 years or so ago. I have been told the Fenwicks are good solid rods for the $$$. I'm sure Cabelas will get some more rods in stock. Again guys, thanks very much!

Thanks much guys for the info. Do any of you have any recommendations for brand of rod? I would like one that has multiple applications if possible. Thanks again!!

Been looking for info on here concerning a spinning set-up for under $300.00. So another question . . . anyone on here use Halo rods. I saw some good reviews on their KS 2 Eite model. Thanks in advance!! How would a Halo compare to a St. Criox Premiere for example?

Guys I have two threads open about a spinning combination set-up. A little backround . . . after two kids going through college (daughter went to private college) the wife and I have some extra income for us. Anyway, after years of Wal Mart and DSG budget set-ups I have decided to buy me a decent spinning set-up. I fish mainly creeks and small rivers for smallmouth and spotted bass. I do have access to a stone quarry that has 2 ponds with some big bass. Caught a couple of 5lbers last summer. I also take trips to Canada for smallies. I have already bought a Shimano Miravel 2500 reel. Fished a friends and loved it. Now I need to match it with a rod. I was thinking about a Dobyns Fury, but in my previous thread there were some on there not too fond of that rod. I also indicated that a friend said to not buy a spinning rod without being able to hold it because of finger placement. I went to Bass Pro and looked at the new Mojo Trigon rod and the Premier rods. Both felt good. For general uses how big of a difference is fast vs very fast action. Any and all recommendations will welcomed. Would like to stay under $200.00. Thanks much!!

Yes, meant St Croix