Dave A

Yes, as Scaleface and others have said, start reeling in just before it hits the water and it will stay on top. The best producing color here in clear Michigan lakes is black with silver/aluminum blade.

If you don't mind waiting for shipment from China, check out Wang at Lifefly-outdoor on ebay

Personally, I would wait. With the new Shimano reels out now, you may be able to get it at a better price. Check ebay too.

Is it true that you do not have to have a license to fish in Hawaii?

I was Fishing little swimbaits on Long in KZO county yesterday. Bass were finally biting again after the lake was sprayed for invasive weeds earlier in the month.

Here is another ribbed swimbait. 3.5" with a stepped tail.

I fish senkos with Braid and Fluoro leader. My favorite rod is a 7" medium berklely lightening rod, very inexpensive. I can still feel everything happening at the bait. I try to minimize the amount of slack in the line and stay connected with the bait. I find that I don't watch the line as much as I feel for the bite. Seems that the bass always tap twice, I am guessing the first to grab the bait, then to engulf it. When I feel the second tap, I set the hook. More times than not, it's fish on. Hope this helps.

I use the ones from Fishingskirts, not sure if they use them on the Boss skirts. I end up also using wire once I see the bands starting to crack or I use some old braid to prevent losing the strands.

Black Jitterbug or Black buzzbait are my 2 favorite topwater baits followed by Heddon's Spook.

I would return it and get a replacement. The reel should be smooth out of the pkg.

It's a little odd- I also have a series of Shimano reels, and I find that the Symetre and Saharas tend to bind while my Siennas don't. I have since moved to Daiwa and bought the Procyon and it has served me very well- Casts great and smooth as silk. Check out eBay to save a few $. Hope this helps, Dave

I like my Hagen's. I also like the other one from Hagens that allow you to make safety pin-style loops in wire, like on the beetle spin wire. You can also get wire in bulk from them to save a little$. Hope this helps, Dave

Had a chance to go out today- I used double #2 colorado blades since they seem to like the beetle spins. First strike was a large Dogfish, then two small bass. I added pictures of two more that I made after the rain rolled in.

Nice jigs! Are you Going to tie them with Wire? I find that after a season, the bands break.

That is beautiful- great work!!

I caught some nice ones on the West lake channel using cinnamon colored senkos. Long was just sprayed again so it will probably be slow for the next few weeks.

Thanks for the tip about the heavy grease. I will try it. Dave

I agree with Cadman- once you get started, it will become an ongoing addiction, but it is one of the most relaxing and satisfying hobbies that I have been involved in!

I have always had good luck with Buzzbaits and Jitterbugs. Love that topwater strike!

Agreed- at least 20 lb braid, with or without a 12-15 lb fluoro leader.

Nice Work!!

Yes, the diameters are different, but for the purpose of pouring those spinnerbaits, it should not matter that much. I find that the real limitation is how the mold faces are set up to accomodate the hooks. For some hooks, you might need to modify the mold (flat surfaces in the mold other than the actual bait cavity) to accept a hook other than that specified by Do-it. Jim Barlow from Barlows provides excellent info on acceptable hooks for do it molds. Hope this helps, Dave

I did some research on thread and found this in a fly tying site, flytyingworld.com. I was going to ask what size thread to use, but found this info, so I am going to order some dernier 400 due to it's strength, based on the amount of force that I have used using the fluoro. Any opinions are most welcome! : The Use of Thread By: Ed Gallop Thread Comparison Chart Proper Tension Attachment to the Hook Silk threads were used for fly tying long before nylon and polyester came on the market. Silk is still used by tiers of classic flies and by those that simply prefer it. However, the most commonly used tying thread is polyester, followed by nylon, and then silk. Personally, I have all three on my desk and each has it's own specific use. Polyester is easier to handle so is used for most of my tying needs. Nylon monofilament has brighter colors and is stronger. However it has an undesirable smoothness, stiffness, and it stretches. It's strength and smoothness is an asset when spinning hair (flaring for hair bugs) but the stiffness and smoothness make it harder to handle and causes it to slip on the hook. I also believe the stretch characteristic of nylon monofilament may cause it to relax over time and thus slightly loose it's grip. It will not lay as flat as most polyester but the colors make nice bright heads. Thread Chart: Below is a thread chart with breaking strength and denier estimates for several threads to help you select the best thread for your needs. Most tying thread use diameter measurements (example; 3/0, 6/0, 8/0, etc) but Denier measures weight. Denier is the number of grams in 9,000 meters and it is used in the textile as a means of measurement. Uni Product Denier/Size Breaking Strength Comment Uni-Thread 17/0 40 4 oz 1 color (Midge) Uni-Thread 8/0 72 16 oz 21 colors Uni-Thread 6/0 135 1 lb 13 oz 24 colors Uni-Thread 3/0 215 2.01 lbs 17 colors Uni-Nylon 70 70 3 colors Uni-Nylon 210 210 3 colors Kevlar 200 8 lbs 6 oz 1 color Big Fly Thread 400 6 lbs 4 oz 11 colors Uni-Cord 12/0 GSP 50 4 lbs Gel Spun - 6 colors Uni-Cord 7/0 GSP 100 8 lbs Gel Spun - 6 colors Uni Big Fly 100 OZ Uni A Nylon 44 OZ Uni A+ 60 OZ Uni Neon 1X 240 36 OZ Uni Poly II 34 OZ Mono-Thread, Fine .004" 1 lb 6 oz Clear Mono-Thread, Med .007" 3.11 lbs Clear Mono-Thread, Large 010" Clear Uni-Floss 600 2.12 lbs 30 colors Uni-Stretch 280 3.5 lbs 20 colors Micro-Tinsel 3/0 1.06 lbs Wire, Extra Small .10mm 1.72 lbs Wire, Small .15mm 3.81 lbs Wire, Medium .20mm 6.91 lbs Other Product Denier/Size Breaking Strength Comment Benecchi 8/0 28 OZ Benecchi 10/0 24 OZ Benecchi 12/0 16 OZ

I have a soft spot for mepps and rooster tails-

Thanks- since I have to limit my pouring, I can focus on other things