Attila

Definitely an addictive format, I get the chance to watch it and the "All Angles" half our show up here on WFN and caught the last Summit Cup on CBS a couple of weeks back. Would love to see more episodes....and maybe a western location or even a Canadian episode as we've got some great bodies of water up here.

I'd like to thank everyone for sharing their thoughts on the matter. I'll be keeping a few more this year so that I can enjoy the fish fries with him as he can't really get out much to fish anymore...old age happens to us all at some point and he's not a young pup anymore. Again, thanks to everyone for voicing their opinions.

Done!

Thanks for the feedback!

Love this topic...heck, who wouldn't love topwater fishing? So when I fish for smallmouth, I would run straight 6lbs Stren. Caught some big fish but not so many numbers. Then one year I decided to try a different line and went with AbrazX, straight 6lbs test. I caught more and bigger fish. Then 2 years ago I thought I'd try something different and went with braid and an InvisX leader...I had the best topwater season ever and never once lost any fish. I also noticed that while my topwaters sat a little lower in the water, they were definitely still sitting on top of the water and I saw each and every strike as it happened. My lures of choice were both poppers (Skitter Pop mostly) and walking baits (Spit N Image). I'll be experimenting this summer with more lures this summer and am again going to change my setup to run just a straight braid for both poppers and walking baits. If it doesn't work over the first couple of weeks, I'll revert back to my braid/fluro combination which has worked well for me. Hope this helps!

I love my dad, without him I wouldn't have developed the bug to fish as much as I do and try to learn as much as I can about this great sport we all love. He loves to eat fish, everything from bass to walleye to crappie to perch. I've tried changing his mind on the bass and have even gone out of my way to bring home more crappie and perch and even big bluegill from time to time but he just loves his bass. Anyone been able to convert someone from being a bass consumer to a releaser??

I used to use Fenwick HMG rods and they performed well for throwing both jerkbaits and crankbaits. This year I'm making the switch to Daiwa and getting a dedicated glass rod for cranks (S Series) and a medium action rod for jerkbaits (Tatula)....hoping I'll be able to feel more.

Pink spinnerbait was really hot up here a few years...

I was watching one of the Bassmaster videos and had a chance to talk with Elite pro Seth Feider during a seminar this winter. He swears by small (1/16oz) marabou jigs used with a straight retrieve (no hopping or bottom contact) on a light braid w/ fluro leader. His were hand tied but said that the VMC Dominator Marabou Jig works well too. Something I'm looking forward to trying up here in the Kawartha's this summer... Beyond that, I like throwing tubes in a crawfish or goby pattern and black grubs on 1/8 or 1/4oz heads...best leech impression around.

That's going to leave a mark...I'd just say no but that's me.

Thank you for your feedback Darren!

Just wondering if anyone matches the diameter of their fluro leader to their main line? Is there an impact to your casting if your leader is thicker in diameter than your main?

They're all amazing....and I'm lucky enough to have the chance to watch all of them from time to time and to learn from them through their tv shows, youtube videos, and magazines! So as to this discussion of this pro fading, or that pro fading...once someone attains the level of pro then who really cares? They're good enough to be considered a pro and I'll always have something to learn from someone who is a pro or really anyone who knows more about bass fishing in general than I do... Sorry for my mini rant...there's still ice up here so I can't go fishing...lol

And he pulls it out for the win! If you watched the Live portion this morning, man was that a treat to watch.

Holy moly, did anybody think Clunn would have a day like today?? UNREAL!!!

Yikes...anything higher than 12lbs test and I use braid with a fluro leader (I don't flip heavy, clear water cover). I agree with all who say that if you're spooling up a spinning reel then really 25lbs is wayyyyy to heavy to be using. For the chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits you mentioned, I would go with nothing more than 12 or maybe 15lbs test depending on the size of bait that you're throwing. Are you using a glass rod for those presentations too? If so, what rod strength and power? Every answer you provide helps paint a better picture of what you'll be using it for, so don't be afraid to share.

Thanks blckshirt98, I appreciate the insight. I use a rubber net when I'm fishing off of piers or docks and as I normally fish alone the only pictures I take are selfies with the fish like my profile picture. Most of the time I'm wading and carry pliers with me to unhook fish that are never our of the water for more than a few seconds unless I'm keeping a couple for the pan..

Well ya learn something new every day here! It never even crossed my mind that braid would dig into itself based on the weight of the lures.

Cool! Ya, given the rocks and clear water that are usually found in that region I'd go with braid to a fluro lead. Cheers, and good luck!

Will definitely give it a try after reading some of the threads found in this forum, seems like it'll do a better job with a smaller profile which will help it go through the guides! I'd like to thank everyone for the feedback on this thread, I'm glad to have so much information to come back to and review once I start with this presentation. I did wonder about the stress on the fish, and thought that it wouldn't be too big a deal as I've caught and released both musky and rainbow trout on an UL and all have swam away no worse for wear. Apart from fizzing deep smallies, is there anything else we could do to ensure that we can still mix fun (I mean, who wouldn't think UL fishing isn't fun?? ) along with ensuring that the fish survives the experience?

Those are some doozie sized baits! Assuming you won't be using them in the Kawartha's...:) I've never thrown baits that big but if I did I think I'd use braid with fluro leader so that you could give them as natural a presentation as possible. I'd still also check my line for knicks along the way...

Thanks again to everyone for the welcome! Hope that I can impart as much as I absorb!

No, I'm in Canada so don't have to worry about a lead ban. I believe that I'll be able to draw more fish in with tungsten as there's a large forage base of crayfish on the lake and the tungsten provides more noise with the rocks I fish around. Will keep in mind what you said though, as things can get pricey pretty quickly! I appreciate your insight! I've got another UL, a 5' Fenwick Eagle which I've used 1/4oz baits on but it's usually reserved for slip bobber fishing for various panfish where I'm running jigs from 1/8oz down to 1/32. I picked up the Presso because I wanted a rod I could throw smaller crank and jerkbaits on and after my experiences last fall with bass, walleye, and that musky I mentioned, I'm pretty happy with its strength and believe that it'll be up to the bass wrangling I hope to do with it...here's hoping anyways. That's interesting to know re skin hooking the bass! Never would have thought about that but going into things I'll have to make sure that I control the drag well enough to help the fish reach me! They sure can get mad, can't they? Again, I'd like to thank everyone for their feedback and helpful advice on this thread. As time goes on I may change the type of rod and reel setup I use for dropshotting and when that time comes I'll be sure to come back to this thread and review the gear that everyone has mentioned before just running out and buying something. Thanks again! Oh, and Puggz; thanks for your reply! When I went to quote your response your text didn't appear so I'm thanking you here! Will let you know how I make out!

I need to learn how to slow down. I've always fished aggressively regardless of the baits I've used and while it works at times i think that I'd be better served by slowing things down some such as when I use a walking bait or a popper. I'm going to be practicing on pike soon with jerk baits and a slower cadence which I hope will point me in the right direction for the bass season.

I've used X-Raps exclusively over the last couple of years and done pretty well with them, especially in the olive green pattern since the main forage up here where I fish are emerald shiners. I'm expanding the collection this year to include some Shadow Raps, Lucky Craft Pointers, and some Strike King KVD Slash Baits....hoping to see if there is any one that stands out more than the rest.