RandySBreth

I built a fly rod on one of their IM10 blanks. Very light and fast action for the money.

I've used a very light (3/16-ounce) swim jig with a matching Kalin 5" grub for many years on the White River Chain (Beaver, Table Rock, Bull Shoals) for years. Mostly a Winter/early Spring lure, swam slooooooowly. Shad colors. Brand? The Booyah Baby Boo in White, mostly. I throw that on a 7' medium spinning combo, with either 6/14 Fireline or 4/15 Stren Superbraid, both in hi-vis colors, and with a 10- to 14-lb. Fluoro leader. I just bought a mold (and I'm waiting for it to get here) for swim jigs, so shortly I'll be pouring my own jigs in 1/8, 3/16, and 1/4. ;D

He's a really cool guy, and the fact that he has two well watched shows (Angler On Tour, and Ultimate Match Fishing) doesn't seem to make him think he's something special. Then again, he usually finishes somewhere in the middle of the pack, so he better not get a big head! ;D

I was just saying those "great deals" are cheap for a reason. For really good flies you'll have to pay more, or learn to tie your own. Darhlberg Divers are another good one, I forgot about that.

I was just saying those "great deals" are cheap for a reason. For really good flies you'll have to pay more, or learn to tie your own. Darhlberg Divers are another good one, I forgot about that.

I was just saying those "great deals" are cheap for a reason. For really good flies you'll have to pay more, or learn to tie your own. Darhlberg Divers are another good one, I forgot about that.

I like a simple ball head jig with a long shank hook. I don't like the "keeper" type because I hear about this problem with them a lot. I mostly use Luck "E" Strike ones (1/8th ounce) I get at Wally World. Gamakatsu hooks in them, so they aren't cheap, just inexpensive. Yeah, I know a worm won't stand straight up most of time on a ball head, but most of time I'm working a shaky head, not letting it sit there. If the fish want something sitting right on the bottom with very little action I switch to a Texas-rigged finesse worm or finesse jig and do better than on the shaky. Most of the time.

I tie a bucktail jig that has a rabbit-fur strip as the trailer instead of pork or plastic. For cold water Bass, it's deadly. I haven't seen one only made of rabbit fur, but it wouldn't be much different than the rabbit fur strip leeches lots of fly guys really love. Google "Bunny Leech".

To me a 2- or 3-dollar fly is a cheap one. ;D

To me a 2- or 3-dollar fly is a cheap one. ;D

To me a 2- or 3-dollar fly is a cheap one. ;D

I really like the sickle baitholder weedless hook for wacky rigging, and a locally made jig head with a sickle hook for throwing 5" grubs for Smallmouths - the shorter shank of the jigs keeps the tail of the grub from catching on the hook point during the cast.

Unless someone is overstocked, most cheap flies are, well, cheap. Usually tied by 13-year old girls in Indonesia or somewhere. If you can find a local tier you'll probably pay more, but get a fly that will last for more than one fish. I tie my own, and sell a few to some local folks who would rather buy mine than ones from the big chain stores, or even the local fly shop - most of those are tied overseas somewhere, too. http://www.flyfishingjacksonhole.com/umpqua/watson_interview.htm

Unless someone is overstocked, most cheap flies are, well, cheap. Usually tied by 13-year old girls in Indonesia or somewhere. If you can find a local tier you'll probably pay more, but get a fly that will last for more than one fish. I tie my own, and sell a few to some local folks who would rather buy mine than ones from the big chain stores, or even the local fly shop - most of those are tied overseas somewhere, too. http://www.flyfishingjacksonhole.com/umpqua/watson_interview.htm

Unless someone is overstocked, most cheap flies are, well, cheap. Usually tied by 13-year old girls in Indonesia or somewhere. If you can find a local tier you'll probably pay more, but get a fly that will last for more than one fish. I tie my own, and sell a few to some local folks who would rather buy mine than ones from the big chain stores, or even the local fly shop - most of those are tied overseas somewhere, too. http://www.flyfishingjacksonhole.com/umpqua/watson_interview.htm

Yeah, Bass (especially Largemouth's) aren't gonna fight as hard as that beast.

I like the Terminator blades, too - but they can be hard to locate. I've used the XPS blades a lot recently, very good quality for the price. Here's a #4 willow that I use to replace the tiny original Indiana on a Li'l Mr. Money Spinnerbait:

I love using fly gear for Bass. You just have to know the right time and place. For Smallmouth in rivers, and anytime the are hitting topwater I'll usually be using one of my fly rods. When people ask about what kind of frog to throw for big bass, my answer is usually this:

Snaps for hardbaits (cranks, jerkbaits). Not just for quick lure changes, but because tying direct with a split ring is a weak connection. The gap on a split ring is often recommended as the right place to make your knot, but it can slide over to where the sharp ends can cut your line. Doesn't happen with a snap.

I haven't used them, but I was looking at them at the main Bass Pro store the other day. Pretty nice for a 100.00$ rod. You might also look at the Abu Garcia Veritas, again they look really nice for 100 bucks. http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_10219168_175003000_175000000_175003000_175-3-0

That was the point I was trying to make to this guy - one knot ( the superline to leader knot) wasn't as much of a "weak point" as the three knots he used all the time on his Carolina rig. He's warming up to it, but slowly. Old dog/new tricks sort of thing... (Wasn't Carolina rigging a "new trick" also back whenever?!) ;D

Think of the hard jerkbaits like soft jerkbaits: Use them aggressively in warm water and when fish are active, and slow down and be more subtle when they aren't. Tuning and fishing suspending jerkbaits for cold water fishing is an art of itself. You're in Texas so suspending jerkbaits should be nailing big Bass for you all Winter...

Some Musky guys tell me they catch their biggest Smallies of the year on big inline spinners.

...And the person fishing it. Biggest variable there is.

I bought one of these for my son, it's really solid and worth the money. Best closed face I've seen.