Brett's_daddy

Where did you get those little hanger bars?

Which of the bluegill color schemes have you been using, the really colorful Custom Bluegill or the less colorful Baby Bluegill?

Try to stick near the diameter of the braid you plan on using, for example if you're using 50lb. braid try 12lb. mono backing. https://www.thehulltruth.com/sportfishing-charters-forum/267001-chart-diameters-braid-vs-mono-vs-lb-test.html

That all depends on my financial situation. If I was independently wealthy and had money coming out of my ears and no worries in the world because everything else was taken care of then I wouldn't have any trouble blowing ridiculous amounts of money on fishing related items. Since that is not the case I have a hard time bringing myself to spend over $100 on a rod or reel. My most expensive rod is $110 and my most expensive reel is $130 and the most expensive bait that I've ever purchased is $30 and even at these prices there was definitely a pause asking myself if I really needed something that expensive. Buy the best that YOU can afford...don't worry about keeping up with the Joneses as the Joneses may be in another (higher) income bracket then you are and while it might not put a strain on their wallet it could bankrupt yours. The fish don't care if your rod cost $100 or $1000 or if you're fishing with a $5 jerkbait or a $25 jerkbait...fish with what you can afford and have fun. Unless you have a legit goal to become a professional angler in which case you DO need to keep yourself on a level playing field with your competition but if you choose that route you have to have some capital to start with or you'll never make it with all the competition!

Glenn do you use this for top water treble baits AND crankbaits? If so, why not fluoro for cranks, it sinks which is what you want the crank to do?

Anyone have experience with this reel/company? They have a Father's day sale going on where you can get this supposedly $79 reel for $31 and while it looks really nice i have never heard of this company before.

What neck gaiters do you use for your boys? I have a 7 year old son and would like to get him one too but can't find anyone who makes kid sizes.

You definitely should use braid for the frog rod! In fact 50lb. is as low as I'd go for frogs...a lot of people use 65lb. or even 80lb if you're fishing in really nasty slop. Don't forget, the pound test in braid isn't directly equivalent to the same pound test in mono/fluoro...for example, 50lb. Power Pro Braid has the same diameter as 12lb. Big Game mono (or close) so don't let the big numbers of braid scare you. I know many people who use braid for just about everything from top water to swim baits to jigs etc. and just use fluoro/mono leaders as necessary. As far as backlashing, braid is actually easier to pick out than fluoro or mono IMO. That being said start with a cheap mono, get some 12lb. Big Game and practice, practice, practice! Once you get comfortable start getting better/different line and go from there. Start off with nice reels...no Wal-Mart $30 specials or you'll end up hating baitcasting, that's the advice which was given to me and it worked so i'll pass it along :). Good luck!!!

I do apologize NHBull, this got a little out of hand...certainly more than I ever intended. That's why I said let's turn this back to your original topic and wished you luck in finding your hooks!

No jerk bait IMO is worth $25 (top water maybe since they are harder to lose)...especially if it comes with garbage hooks...come on, Megabass (and any other mfg. for that matter) should be able to package a premium lure WITH premium hooks for $25 or under and not put the burden on the customer who is already paying a premium price for the bait to turn around and put MORE money into the bait a few weeks later to replace the sub-par stock hooks. I understand replacing dull hooks that are worn from battle with many bass but to be inferior to start with should be unacceptable on any premium lure. Take 6th Sense for example, their baits have premium paint jobs, fish great AND come stock with really good hooks...if they can do it why can't Megabass and others? Look, I know this is one of those debate type topics that could circle around a million times without either side giving up so I'll just turn this back to the OP and wish him luck in finding his hooks!!!

So, are sun gloves really a necessity? I'm not trying to be ignorant...just asking as I'm assuming the sunglasses, shirt and neck gaiter take precedence and next would be the hat. Just wondering if the gloves would be more for if you're out on a boat for 8 hours a day and 5 days a week? Also, do they make children's neck gaiters/buffs somewhere?

So I found a good deal for her. I didn't end up going with a DSG combo for $100 - $120, instead i went with another online vendor out of Kentucky who has a promotion going on right now that if you buy an Abu Garcia Revo S, SX or STX reel you get a Veritas 3.0 rod of your choice for free. So I got her a 4th Gen Revo S (which is white which she likes) 7.3:1 LH reel and a 7'3" Heavy/Fast (lure weight: 3/8oz. to 1-1/2oz.) Veritas 3.0 rod for $129.99 (no tax and free shipping). I personally think this is a much better deal than any of the DSG combos for that price range and on the off chance she ends up hating baitcasting I won't shed a tear if i have to add that setup to my current lineup !

Does anybody have experience with these? What makes them different from other cranks out there? They look really sweet but are they good at catching fish or just fishermen?

Why not lower the prices even more by eliminating hooks altogether than...truly let the buyer pick their own hooks if that's what most people do anyway. make a $25 bait a $20 instead. I think this whole expensive bait thing that comes with crappy hooks is a complete sham but that's just my opinion, not trying to force it on someone. It's like if I paid $200,000 for a Ferrari I'd want premium everything on that ride, I wouldn't want to buy it and instead of Pirelli's all around it comes with General Altimax's on it and have them be like "oh, we know you would probably like better tires on this car but we didn't know which ones you wanted so we just threw on a garbage set to get you a few miles until you decide". Again, just my opinion and I wish the OP good luck in finding whatever hooks he desires so he can get back to catchin' some hawgs!!!

Not to thread-jack but how about swimbaits with dressed hooks...any reason for them? I have a new Jackall Gantarel Jr. and the bottom trebles are dressed...have thought seriously of removing the dressing as i don't like how they look on the bait but if they have a legit purpose maybe not.

I guess I assumed...shame on me . Sorry NHBull...wasn't knocking you at all, more the fact that an expensive bait would need hooks replaced before they were even fished but like I said above, that was me assuming and we all know what we get when we do that .

Still doesn't sit well with me! If I'm paying the ridiculous amount of $25 per jerkbait etc. there is no way in hell i want to have to then turn around and immediately spend another $10 to upgrade the brand new hooks that are on it. For $25 that bait should come with premium hooks already installed!!!

Okay, I may be a little off par here and if i am i apologize OP by why on God's green Earth do you need to replace hooks on a $25 lure? IMO any lure that costs $25 should come equipped with great hooks already. That being said everybody seems to like the new zo-wire hooks from Owner.

Suppose they didn't have a 2nd one you could pick up for me did they...lol.

I got a Depps Buzzjet too. The thing looks sweet but haven't had a chance to try it out yet.

Do Lew's rods or Origin rod's run close to spec as far as lure weight? Lighter? Stronger? Like I know Abu rods usually run heavier than list like a MH fishes more like a H and can handle lures above it's listed rating.

Okay, so the wife thinks she wants to try her hand at baitcasting. She's pretty good at a spinning reel setup so i am confident that she'll get the hang of it but until I see her real interest level i don't want to spend a lot on a rod /reel so I've got a 25% coupon for DSG and I'm looking at the Lew's Mach 1 Speed Spool and the Origin SE rod & reel combos...which of those do you think would be better and why? Any others around that price range that you'd add to the equation?

How did you install those hanger bars?

That was the first one i've seen since like February. Since last Fall or so they had they like once a month but then after the February one they went down to 15% or 10% and yesterday was the first time I'd seen the 20% again. Hopefully they'll go back to having 20% off once every month. Yeah, well...life happens...especially when you have to get the kid to bed and have to put off other stuff that needs doing until he's asleep...lol.

Ending at 7pm was ridiculous...should have gone on until 11:59pm...sheez, missed out on this. Plus, this was supposedly for Father's Day but that is over a week away...a little early don't ya' think!