RandySBreth

Slow swimming big grubs, swimbaits, and suspending jerkbaits. When fish are tight to the bottom, hair jigs. That's pretty much Winter Bassin' to me.

Slow swimming big grubs, swimbaits, and suspending jerkbaits. When fish are tight to the bottom, hair jigs. That's pretty much Winter Bassin' to me.

Slow swimming big grubs, swimbaits, and suspending jerkbaits. When fish are tight to the bottom, hair jigs. That's pretty much Winter Bassin' to me.

It's more about the diameter of the line than the pound-test. Most casting reels like about 10-pound test diameter line (or bigger). I use 10/40 Stren superbraid (got a great deal on a huge bulk spool) on several casting reels with no problemo whatsoever.

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Other's will disagree, but if I'm not sure I always go with the higher capacity reel. It will weigh more, but you usually have less line issues, longer casts, etc.

Another good place is Lurepartsonline.com. If you're into tackle building, they're a great place to check out. http://lurepartsonline.com/cart.php?m=product_list&c=1786

Yep - rod socks are fine for short distances, but the Bazuka is the way to go if traveling any distance at all. Another option is actual multi-piece travel rods that have their own individual tube - but most folks are stuck on one piece rods.

;D ;D ;D

I think the biggest one is fatter, but the 5 and the 6 seem the same to me, too.

Yeah you guys have different needs for jigs, mine are tied for shallow rocky streams here the Ozarks, or for swimming around timber and dock structures at Table Rock or Beaver - that's why the weed-guard. I still need to do a shot for scale, I look at those pictures and yes, it does look like they're for Pike! There - fixed with an XRap 08, Husky Jerk 10, and XCalibur XS4 for scale.

I should have put something in the shot for scale - those are 3/16th ounce jigs with 20 strand weed-guards, they are about as long as my middle finger.

I see the Green Pumpkin one was out of focus, better image in the shot by itself - these are the only rabbit strip ones I'm tying now, in a bunch of different combination's. Actually rabbit strip and palmered hackle collar, with silicone skirt and flashabou accents.

Wow, almost 4-bucks a pop? Mine are tied on a custom weedless head and look better than that. Maybe I should start selling mine?

I think you'll find that much like spinnerbaits, if you want to throw big deep diving cranks and lighter shallow ones, you'll need a couple of different set-ups. The tackle monkey wins again. ;D

#1: A custom compact spinnerbait. #2: Medium diving crankbaits, mostly DT4, DT6, Bomber 4A, and the Rapala XRap Shad. #3:Suspending Jerkbaits. I mostly fished smaller lakes and Smallmouth rivers as I was working two jobs until just recently, so if I was fishing Table Rock like I normally would there would maybe be a Shaky Head or jig in there.

I hear you, but I just do better "calling up" fish from 50+ feet deep to hit that perfectly suspending bait only running 12-foot or so. I think we may be hijacking this thread, and adding to the original poster's confusion regarding the subtleties of jerkbaits!

I already get pretty deep (thin braid w/fluoro leader) but just have not done as well if the lure doesn't suspend perfectly. I've tried it quite a bit, too. But it may work for him.

I would try to concentrate on learning the quirks of 3, maybe 4 different lures to start. I use all different sizes and brands, but I still have the relatively inexpensive Rogues and Husky Jerks for the coldest weather, and when I think I might stick one in a tree where I won't be able to retrieve it. The tip on the bright day/bright color thing is a good starting point, too. I like more natural shades in cloudy conditions in clear water, and bright colors when the sun is out. I haven't ever done as well in very cold water with lures that rise up OR sink, I very carefully weight mine to suspend perfectly (yes, even Pointers need "tuning" despite what some people think). I often let a lure suspend for a minute or more beside a real good piece of cover.

You won't lose much sensitivity using a standard leader (about rod length). The combination of a high-visibility braid (or fused) main line and near invisible fluoro leader is really hard to beat. I don't use a leader when using fast retrieve lures (like spinnerbaits) but in clear water I'm convinced a leader helps.

I have several of the BPS F 'n' F rods. the action is just about perfect for this type of fishing, although I use mine for other duties (Crappie) also. You can sometimes catch them on sale, and then they are a real bargain.

When the weather warms up a bit I can tell you about some great places to catch Smallmouth nearby - so you won't be stuck fishing Fellows or Lake Springfield. Welcome!

The tip on the Kroil is a good one. I've used it on stuck bolts, screws (mostly firearms) - but it's like magic. Just needs a little time to get in there. That's a shame the Stradic's don't like the salt. I'll remember that.

Wow, people really get side tracked, don't they? To answer your question, I'd say most people use spinning reels for LM Bass that holds about 160- to 180-yards of 8-pound mono. I see a few that use ones that only hold about 100-yards or so, and no wonder they have line twist issues - those sized reels are better used with 4-pound mono (or thin superline). The exception would be if they are the newer wide spool reels. I mostly use larger reels than that, but I fish where longer casts can be a key to getting bit at all.

Yes, I fish very clear water most of the time (Table Rock and Ozark Smallmouth streams) so I like the stealth of a fluoro leader.