Attila

Would say it depends on the application you're using it for.... I throw a lot of moving baits and I like the stretch that InvizX gives me, reminds of mono a little bit.

I'd go with the original slow sinking Shadow Rap and Shadow Rap Deep...good luck on your tourny.

I'm going to be throwing some Strike King spinnerbaits this year. As the season goes along, I'll be taking a look at my results and perhaps try a couple of different ones if I'm not having the success I had hoped with them. The StrikeBack by Megastrike looks pretty interesting.

Year round bass fishing! Jealous!! LOL Welcome to the forum, hope that it meets all of your needs! Regards, Attila

Hello and welcome to the forum! You'll find people here really nice and willing to help with any questions you may have. Cheers, Attila

Thanks for the heads up regarding the special deals that are happening these days, I appreciate it. I believe that I'm done buying for the year as I'll be putting my focus on chatterbait, spinnerbait, and squarebill fishing along with my usual topwater, jerkbait, and crankbait offerings. The only lures from here on in that will get my attention are those that may be released leading up to or at the Classic, so it's a bit of a wait and see. I am booking my vacation time in some provincial parks this year so am focusing my buying dollars on camping items. I've purchased a great tent and got a great Coleman stove for Christmas. Really looking forward to using the stove which has both a burner and a grill portion so it'll be easier to have a fish fry during the day wherever I find myself wetting a line. I've found a great self inflating sleeping pad and a small, packable sleeping bag that won't take up much room in what is going to be a packed Chevy Cruz this summer. The last thing I need to purchase is my fishing line and I'll be keeping an eye on that for when it goes on sale. Only two brands, being Power Pro Super Slick in timber brown and Seaguar InvizX. Hope that you're all enjoying the off season if you have one. Attila

Thanks! I'm human! LOL

I keep forgetting about that...must be my age getting to me.

Absolutely; this season I picked up a new Procyon 2500 and started using my 2000 Exceler on my UL and it worked like a charm. During the season I was throwing jerkbaits like an X-Rap in size 8 and topwaters like small 1/4oz poppers without any issue. Make sure you match it with a lighter rod like a ML and ensure that your line matches your setup as well. I went with 20lbs braid and 8lbs fluro leader but that was too heavy for the smaller lures, so I'd go with maybe 15lbs braid and 6lbs leader or perhaps just straight 8 or 6lbs mono if that's what you choose to run. Cheers, Attila

I run Daiwa series 2500 spinning reels loaded with 20lbs Power Pro Super 8 Slick w/ an 8lbs InvizX fluro leader and it's worked well for me throwing anything over a size 08 Rapala X-Rap. The braid allows me to really impart some wicked action to my jerkbaits and the fluro helps in the clear water situations which I find myself fishing in all the time, especially when a pause is involved with the retrieve. I also used this same line setup for a summer fishing poppers and it performed really well until I decided to make the change to straight braid for my topwater applications as really it's more of a reaction bait than anything else. Personal choice though. Good luck on sorting out what your preference will be, it may take some time

Daiwa Tatula 100HL at 6.3:1 and 26.3" per handle turn. I fish all crankbaits including squarebills and chatterbaits that weigh 3/8oz or less with this reel.

I've been using InvizX for a couple of years now with no issues at all, including fishing it in and around docks, rocks, and timber while landing some decent sized musky. I tried AbrazX but I just found it had too much memory for my liking. I grew up fishing straight mono and as a result I feel more comfortable with InvizX due to its mono like characteristics.

As a seasoned shore fisherman, casting into any type of wind with a braided line is just plain suicide unless you're throwing a lure that weighs at least 3/4oz which might be able to keep the line from getting picked up by the breeze. On days like this I break out the rods loaded with InvizX which has the handling characteristics of mono but will also help me keep the bait down which is important when there's a lot of wave action. As others have mentioned, keep your rod tip down on the cast and if you can get away with a sidearm delivery go for it.

Nowadays I have a Plano 3700 Tackle Bag but back in the day I would put my essentials into a Plano Waist Pack which held a 3500 which would contain my crankbaits and topwaters. Then I'd put some tubes and grubs into one of the side pockets with pliers and scissors occupying the other side pocket. At that time I would only be carrying one rod with me for targeting smallmouth and didn't worry about different leader types or a wider assortment of lures like I carry now.

Chocolate...and lots and lots of good food. I started a great job about a month ago so Christmas came early for me this year. Just waiting for family to come over so that we can open up more presents and enjoy a cold lunch together...it's about family and friends for me more than the gifts.

Follow up; here's the leader.

Tonnes of toothy critters up here where I live. I use a very light leader if I'm targeting pike (spring of the year) but remove it once bass season opens up. I've caught a lot of musky on jerkbaits up to around 40" with no leader as due to its erratic action I find they're normally hooked on the outside of the mouth, in the summer at least. I forget the name of the leader, will post it when I get home.

All Rapala's, but a very close 4th is the Strike King KVD Jerkbait... Shadow Rap Shadow Rap Shad X-Rap

Above all you have to comfortable with the choice you make and where you'd feel the most comfortable working. Other factors to include might be how is this going to impact my immediate family or a future family, or how about it will impact your regular day to day obligations? Is the work shift overnight, and if it is, can you get used to working such a shift? Just some thoughts to consider...

Not sure what you'd define as much better, but I fish Power Pro Super 8 Slick and haven't had any issues as far as castability, knot strength, and abrasion resistance. I think for the money it's the way to go. Also keep in mind that you'll be using different strength's for different applications, so choose accordingly. May I ask what applications you'll be using the setup for?

I always change baits first; sometimes a different lure profile will get a bite as it matches whatever the forage is in the area. As a shore fisherman, I'm usually certain that the areas I frequent hold fish and so I make sure I fish them thoroughly even if the presentation doesn't make sense. For example, I found a hole in a weedbed that was about 6' deep and after everything else had failed I took out a perch patterned #9 shad rap and that's what they started biting on...maybe two cranks of the handle and boom! Anyways, just my thoughts.

When I did fish mono I used Stren and it worked really well. I used a range of lines running from 6lbs through to 10lbs test on a wide variety of baits from topwaters to crankbaits and inline spinners. Many years ago when I started fishing I tried Trilene XL and XT and while I caught fish I also lost quite a few and that left me unhappy. I used Excalibur Silver Thread which came in the old black packaging with gold on it or something and I fell in love with it. For some reason I think it was discontinued over 25 years ago or changed somehow and it didn't feel the same afterwards, to me anyways. So that's when I went to Stren and it worked well.

When I can fish water that cold I use a jerkbait and a crankbait; they produce well.

@Scarborough817 @Drunkentigerrr Some pretty decent sales happening at Pro J this week before Christmas; can tell you that the Daiwa Tatula 100HL has been sold.

Great video buddy, nice to see and hear about you adapting to the waters where you fish!