Jaw1

Here's one of the jigs I make

I'm a Sahara fan myself really think it's the best $80 reel out there. I fish them just as much as myStradic and more than the patriarch I had (got rid of it due to lack of use). I think there are more quality/value options these days myself than there used to be.

I don't pay that much attention to what size guides are on a rod when I pick it up. It's more about how the rod feels. If it happens to have micro guides that's great if not it's not a deal breaker. As for the duckett / Abu comparison it's no contest for me. Duckett wins. They just feel better to me. I had a few veritas/vengeance/veracity and the only one left is the veracity. Vengeance break every other cast and I grew to hate the veritas reel seat. Talk about uncomfortable. The veracity is as good as gone also I'm sure.

I like to use a 6`6" spinning rod with braid when fishing a fluke and usually in the medium range. Broke a few shimano and even more Abu rods over the past 3 years trying out the shock rod this year and its worked well and hasn't broken so that's a plus

Go to tackle underground and look through the hardbait forum. It's got all the info you'll need and then some. That being said here's a little start up info. Like bigc said use the %40 coupon at hobby lobby. I use an iwata eclipse gravity fed airbrush ( tried the neo through it in the trash didn't work for me) along with a few others but this brush is great for lure painting. You can pick up balsa and basswood there as well until you decide if its a hobby you want to continue. There are better deals to be found on wood. I use createx paints which you can also get at hobby lobby along with others you would have to order. Bob Smith 30 min epoxy or devcon 2ton work well and if you use balsa you can seal it with superglue. These are just startup items to get you going but I recommend visiting the other site for more detail

Sorry I missed this post maybe could have helped you out. Hope you did well

That's a good looking bait. I do pour a double hook/double weedgaurd jig sometimes and add a blade to the front that I fish a little deeper. It's 1/2 and is something a little different. I'll see if I have a pic later to show y'all

I like to pitch a chatterbait into some pretty gnarly stuff sometimes and pop it through the limbs and brush. This technique helps with the lost bait syndrome this scenario creates. I will take the skirt off and just use a fluke sometimes

Yes your trailer (I use swimming flukes) will not be threaded down the hookshank it will be rigged in line with the hook. Front of trailer threaded on the spring keeper back of trailer texas rigged on the hook. I've fished them this way for a few years now,works good for me.

When fishing a chatterbait type lure add a spring type keeper to the head so you can texas rig the trailer of your choice for a more snaggless presentation

Haven't been really buying much new lately but I did pick up 1. Zodias 2. 2 dt flats 3. 4 h2o flat crankbaits to try out 4. 3 packs of rage menace Today while waiting on my wife to finish shopping

I second the love for the regular tat and reel seat. That feel with a tat reel is what made me buy both the first time but I haven't tried it with a smaller reel.

Starting out with limited gear I also suggest you try different manufacturers of rods and reels. My opinion is once you really feel what is right for you in both you will gravitate towards a certain manufacturer of both. I have owned gloomis, st croix, duckett, shimano, diawa phluegar, lews you name it but it takes trying out different ones to know which certain one is best for you. That being said it's still hard to narrow it down to just one. I haven't done it yet so good luck

Got a local shop that has a back surplus, bought all the blue/chrome oneknockers they had. Then decided to start buying a few of every color each week until they are gone. Seems to me when a product line is either bought out (bandit/pradco,among others) or supposedly name changed something else always changes or is lost.

Gy shad shaped worm catch just about everything

I guess I'm in the minority when it comes to both z-man and sk perfect plastics. I can't stand them. Just gave away everything I had with that type of material in it to the local kids. It's just a pain to work with to me. I did keep some Ned rig z-man stuff because I haven't gotten to try the technique out yet

Scrollsaw is a plus and sanders also. Both speed up production but are not required when using balsa. I actually do not like using a scrollsaw,or bandsaw when working with it. If I am using a harder wood or the PVC I use them, but balsa I usually work by hand. If you are trying to do production runs then of course anything that will speed up the process helps. I just build as a hobby when I have the time which I haven't had lately. It helps pass the winter but some people enjoy the build more than the actual fishing

Try to not get it it the eyes when brushing it on and rotate the bait periodically to keep the epoxy from sagging. I use a lure turner built from a brbq rotisserie . If you do get some it the eyes take a small drill bit a drill it out by hand

I fish flukes regularly all year either weightless, weighted or on a chatterbait head without the skirt. It's one of most productive baits. So I'm guessing by your home lake numbers that either A. Your lake is either heavily pressured Or B. There's just not many bass there

It's the same in arkansas if you motor it you pay

I own multiple curados the I included and 3 tatulas one of which is an R also have 2 lews tourney mg and they all work great. I'm a shimano fan myself so I would have to rank them all as follows curado, lews, tatula but their so close to me it doesn't matter. Go to a shop with your rod and try all three reels out on it to see which feels the best to you.

I don't hunt so fishing can be year round for me and the lakes are less crowded so that's a plus. Haven't fished much the last 2 winters but hope to have time and decent weather for it this year

I like to throw big or big to me walking Topwater baits but the next day my wrists tell me it's time to quit.

I use it for everything also

Cut my fingers a lot just tying a cinch knot especially when my hands are dried out. I'm surprised that people say they have never done this. Everyone I fish with / around has done this.