Travis Gasper

Too much tackle? There's no such thing! If I find I don't use a certain bait much, I'll put it in my surplus cabinet. Or if it looks really cool I'll hang it on the wall with my rods. I've never gotten rid of any baits and I don't think I ever will!

What size shaky heads do you guys like to throw craws with? I've got some 1/8 ounce Owner ones coming in the mail to try with YUM Genie worms. I've never tried the shaky head technique yet. I already have chigger craws, rage menace, and punch craws in my creature box.

A 110 version you say? Oh dang, looks like I'll have to buy some more baits for the collection That'll fit in nice with the four 90s and the one 130 that I have.

I've always had great luck with YUM worms for wacky rigging. Way more durable than a lot of more expensive brands too.

Dick's Sporting Good and Bass Pro Shops (on fishing stuff) are both running free shipping right now on no minimum purchase! (The bait monkey made me do it.) Figured I'd check out the YUM Genie worm with some Owner shaky head jigs.

We were both using 10lb Sufix 832 braid and Gamakatsu wide gap finesse hooks, fishing shoreline and out to maybe 5ft of water. I've always found the green pumpkin Yamamotos to produce the best generally, so this really shocked me. I'll chalk it up to color preference this time. Definitely going to do more experimenting comparing the two types though.

I'm big into wacky rigging, and only recently tried an "ocho" type worm. It came in the LTB last month, the Biwaa Prism worm 4.8" okechobee craw color. I was catching 3 bass for every 1 my dad was catching with his green pumpkin Yamamoto senko. I'm not sure if it was a color thing or the shape, but I couldn't believe the difference. Needless to say I bought 5 packs of Strike King ocho worms lol. I wanted more of the Biwaa ones but could not find them online. Thoughts on whether the ocho is that much different than the other "senko" types?

One of the few things I hate about living in Wisconsin.

KVD colors his braid with black sharpie, and I've been doing that for years before I even knew it was a thing. I've caught hundreds of bass that way in clear water. I'm not sure if it affects them in a positive way, but I've never seen it have negative effects.

Wait a minute... who said anything about admitting they need help?

I had to do it.....

I ordered one on eBay this week and it arrived today. My first though: this thing is huge! This will be fun experimenting with though. I went with the AYU color.

I had ordered a NASCI 3000 from BPS in August and it is still on backorder, so yesterday I called and told them to send me the 2500 instead. I bought my dad a 2500 a couple weeks ago and he really likes it. The 1000 and 2500 share the same frame, then starting with the 3000 it is the bigger frame. Not like it used to be with the 2500 and 3000 sharing the same.

I prefer Shimano for spinning and Lew's for casting, but that's just me. I have other brands too and they catch the same fish.

They definitely attract large fish, and not only bass Caught this toothy critter on a 90 plopper this afternoon (I Know It color).

That was the first baitcaster combo I ever bought. I'd say it's an ok combo but I don't love it. Spend just a little more and get a Lew's Mach 1 or the new Mach 2 that should be in stores soon.

Believe me, the hype is real. I'm one of those people who has a rod dedicated to the 90 size Plopper (usually the I Know It color). I always have one tied onto my Lew's Mach 1 mh/f baitcaster. Occasionally I will throw the 130 on my froggin rod with 50lb braid. The 90 is where it's at for me though.

Keep your rod tip up, and I don't see why anyone would have a problem working it. The 90 is my favorite bait I've used this year and have my Lew's Mach 1 mh/f baitcaster dedicated to it. I lost one of my three 90's to a tree today and I'm not at all happy about it. I think I'll order 2 more to replace the lost one.

Today I decided to buy a Hula Popper. Not really sure why, just an impulse buy I suppose. I know these have been around forever and are reliable. Anyways, I was just wondering if the hooks are good or do people prefer to swap them out with something else? With the water cooling down, I'm excited to toss it around this weekend.

I Know It color is a killer, white and chartreuse is always good. But yes I think the surface commotion is the biggest factor here.

How do you figure? Are we not talking about the same thing?

So you're saying this BPS Crankin Stick/BB1 combo put together by Bass Pros specifically is not good for crankbaits? I can see maybe wanting a slightly slower reel, but the rod was made for crankbaits. I don't think they would have called it a Crankin Stick if they didn't intend it for that use.

That's the problem living 5 hours away from the nearest BPS store, I can't see these rods in person. I may not be as picky about specs as some people either, as I just fish for fun and never do tournaments. I think this should serve me well for a mix of cranks, spinners, and jerks.

What don't you like about that setup? The reel may be just a bit faster than some like for cranking, and the rod action for the BPS Crankin Stick only comes in Fast or Extra Fast.

I decided on the 7' 6" MH/F rod and 6.4:1 BB1 reel, and ordered some 12lb Seaguar InvizX fluorocarbon. I've never used fluoro before. Do people normally put all fluoro on the spool or back it with mono first? Thanks for the help.