Fishin Dad

I agree. I use 1/2 most of the time. I can cast is farther/easier, use a larger variety of trailers (as some make it rise more than others), and keep it down in the water column with everything.

Seiberts jigs are awesome and they do have a sale section. I have also had good luck finding jigs at Tackle Supply Depot for cheap in their blowout deals section.

For a beginner, I would include a chatterbait (black and blue, green pumpkin, and white), a 1/4 and 3/8 oz. jigs in black blue and green pumpkin, 3/0 and 4/0 ewg hooks, a variety of tungsten bullet weights, a buzzbait or two, a couple variety of wacky rig hooks and some bags of Senkos, creature, and craws plastics in black and blue and green pumpkin.

I have about 15 different bladed knives and electric. I don’t notice a huge difference among any of them if I keep them sharp. The electric is amazing and I use it the most by far. Can completely fillet a walleye in 45 seconds on the stopwatch. Crappies are great as well. Sunfish are a little more challenge with an electric. If I had to choose a blade, I like my rubber handle Rapala as much as anything, especially for the cost.

Marcus Y. Is spot on!! I like the War Eagle buzz toad as well. I actually like a Kalins Sizmic toad lately. Smaller, lighter, and decent kicking. Haven’t tried them all yet, still experimenting. The War Eagle comes with the Yum toad now. They are good as well. Jacob Wheeler has said having that plastic on a buzzbait gives bass something realistic to hold onto.

I have the Rapala tournament scale. That one shows all 8 weight bins at one time without scrolling through. I prefer that to the other that requires you to scroll through your weight bins

I have that scale (Rapala) and so do three of my buddies. It is an awesome and accurate scale. Amazing for culling if in tournaments and great to just weigh and keep track of your catches for fun too. If mine breaks, I will buy another that same day.

I love my Cabelas gore Tex rain gear. It happens to be on sale right now. Cabelas guide wear. I had tried cheaper rain gear, and felt I wasted my money. I would suggest to spend up if you can. It is amazing to stay dry in pouring rain and vent out the heat and moisture. Have a great time in Canada no matter what rain suit you get!!!

Performance tuned. I believe they just upgrade some components and warranty to 3 years.

The quantum Accurist S3 (non “PT” model) scored awesome on Tackle Tour and won “Best Buy” award there too.

That’s a great scale! Love mine and will buy another if mine ever fails. Great for tournament culling. Easy enough to use and the directions are sewed into the included storage bag.

Wow, good call keagbassr!

It is in stock for “pre-order”. You won’t be getting it for a long time!

LionHeart, I have an OG 6’10 mh Tatula that I really like. I am looking at the 7’0 M but it has a regular action. I wanted to use it for light bottom contact baits. If you have used this one, is it too soft for this type of presentation? Thanks

My 735 CB glass is lighter (rated 1/4-1oz.) than the 736 and I still find to have more power than what I like. I still use it for heavier Chatters, but prefer the feel of a “mushier” glass rod. I don’t know what it is. Maybe I am crazy. I don’t lose fish on it and seem to still get hook sets on it. I would love to find a glass rod with a little more power, but still have more “mush”. Totally contradictory, I know.

Like them as well. I have some large and some small. I also have a few other similar bags from different brands that help me differentiate what’s in them. If I had handwriting like AJ and even half his organizational skills, I would be in the game. That dude is the master. His boat organization video is sick!

Stanley Top Toad! Has a lot of commotion on the surface, plus you can pause it and it floats on a spot. Bought a dozen bags for $2.50 each.

It attracts fish with a ton of vibration. It also has a hunting action. They are very versatile. It is my confidence bait as we have a lot of dirty water here. It is also a big fish catcher for me. The majority of my 6+ pound bass are on a Chatterbait. . Try different trailers on it, you can change the way it reacts and it’s profile a lot.

Adley, Nice work not being deterred and following through on your plan. I hope things work out and keep growing. I am a teacher, and we definitely need more kids like you with passion, a plan, and fortitude. Good Luck Bud!!

I purchased 6 new lipless cranks this year to use them more. I have had some success on them. Fish mostly somewhat stained water. But our waters are weedy. I have heard people RIP them through the weeds, but are they really usable in the weeds with success?

I use white, green pumpkin, and black/blue. I very the trailers, but match them most of the time. I use the green pumpkin more on clearer water, black/blue in stained water, and white everywhere. I use twin tail grubs, fluke style trialers( zman razor and Zako), and a few others to see what they are wanting. It does change the action and profile of the bait. I throw most of my chatters in water under 8 feet deep. Throw them on weed lines, over the tops of weeds, slow roll the on bottom, parallel to docks and laydowns (they do snag pretty bad in wood), and really anywhere I can get them through.

I have used the shrink tubing trick. I had bought a bunch of arky jigs on a ridiculous deal with no keeper. It works well and it really easy to do. I have also seen where you tie a piece of weed guard on with small diameter braid and some super glue. Supposed to be great as well. Aaron Martens has a video out there about it. I may give that a try as well. I have over 50 of those jigs to experiment on!!

I agree with the screw lock, but I also really like the Seiberts jigs Dredge dockrocker jigs. The wire keeper and shape of that style hook really work to hold plastics while skipping. Plus the wire tie skirt holds up very well also. Great jigs.

I throw most of my buzzbaits without a skirt and with a soft plastic, usually toads on them. It seems fish hold on to them as they feel something soft that they can latch onto and feels more natural. I have also used a fluke or paddle tail swimbaits. Looks more natural that way I would assume.

LionHeart, good point! I bet there a bunch of different levels of EVA. I may have to head to the store and check more out to see what I like. I agree shamanjp. The handle material is probably just part of why I like some of my EVA type rods, but the other part is shape. Shape seems to make a big difference with my rods. Darn, now another thing to check out more and see what I really like. Good stuff though fellas. More food for thought.