JustJames

@BaitFinesse you sum it up pretty good. The only Daiwa reel, got "oh wow" from me when casting is Steez EX100. I still use my Daiwa SV105SH but mostly for light weight lure 1/4oz or below becuz I don't trust curado 70 any mishap can happen anytime with this reel even with well educated thumb. Now I only have two Daiwa left, luna 253 and SV105 and these two work perfectly for the job they assigned for.

I got my order in, do you want compare picture of rebarb hook? I got #1, 1/0 medium and 2/0. I use #1 for dropshot 1/0 for weightless worm, Hula grub and 2/0 for everything else.

Just came back from dropshoting weed pocket. Man I'm so brave went out in middle afternoon in 104 degree. Anyway caught about a dozen within hour and a half fan casting into any hole I can find. I didn't fish very slow at all, just drop in the hole a couple shake hop until hit the grass reel in and cast out again. If I found one I would caught maybe 2 or 3 more in same hole. The all not very big just barely legal size. The biggest one I think 2-3lbs. All caught with Zoom trick worm green pumpkin magic.

I used them all TRD, Big TRD and Zinkerz. I even have finesse worm and straight tail worm that made from same Elaztech stuff just for dropshot.

Don't do that if you don't wanna get bore to death. I can't imagine myself using dropshot for entire day. I tried it a few days back and first thing I caught was carp.

Dropshot used to me my #1 technique to catch bass, heck DS was very first technique I learned how to catch bass (adapt from saltwater rig). For weight, I used everything from splitshot weight to egg sinker. If you don't have DS weight in hand but got some bullet weight or small egg sinker, you can also use swivel or beads tie double overhand knot to stop the weight. If you use spinshot hook, I recommend smaller diameter line at tag end incase you snag something. This year I think I pulled DS rig only twice. DS is not only good in clear water but murky water also work as long as you know where the bass at. I used dropshot in small pond where I know bass roaming around shoreline looking for bait. I think DS as bait and wait type, you cast it out shake shake shake and wait wait wait, move a little bit and repeat, some time it take up to 15-20 mins per cast. If you dropshot in 15-20 FOW, try super Fluke as your bait, you will be surprised.

I think mine is 2/0 not 3/0, I don't remember since I bought from local store to try it out One either #1 or #2 for my dropshot with worm less than 4", another one should be 2/0 which would work for all lures that you mentioned, but curly tail grub. That hook is a tad too big for my Hula Grub 5" (the hook point almost at the tail end) Ill find out for you this Friday if you can wait since I need to stock up some too. If you gonna order online I would get #1 light wire 1/0 lightwire and 2/0. These are in my cart at TW.

I'm not gonna tell you what to buy but I'll give you some of my experience. Not long before, I used shimano chronarch 50e (set it and forget it) and Daiwa SV105SH exclusively. Sometime when I grabbed my curado 70, I couldn't cast a thing almost every other cast I would get backlash. I was gonna sell my curado 70 so many times. The thing that curado still hold on to me is casting distance which is better than both if I don't get backlash. I then decided I would only use curado 70 to get use to with super free spool and new braking system. I bought 3 more curado 70 and use those day in day out until I can cast any weight lure 1/4 oz and up with no backlash. Today I took my SV105SH out for my finesse fishing. I can cast weightless worm on #2 EWG hook, 50ft easily (Roboworm straight tail 7") before that I could only made it 25ft or less and not as accurate as today. Even magnetic is easier to control but if you don't plan to use with super light weight lure centrifugal brake is not as bad as you might think and you would gain more distance and educate your thumb as well.

Thanks Glenn, gotta try your technique next time if I dare enough to fish under hot CA sun.?

Look similar to Japanese dropshot knot that I always use. Sorry for hi-jack your thread. BTW Im very interested in that rubber bead that hold plastic in place. I've been searching high and low for that, I saw a guy on YouTube do some hack (don't remember what) with this thing but can't find it anymore. If anyone know where I can find that (Zman use this on Zman hook call it bait keeper) please let me know.

^^^^ This exactly how I would fish it. I want to add try brass and glass rig (thank @wrb to recommended this rig) I caught a lot of fish lately with this set up in weedy area. Also if you can find/see any pocket, drop shot might be good becuz you can stay in strike zone longer.

I was looking at that cronos hard and I've had in my cart for awhile(Amazon). I know exactly what I'm gonna use it for Fluke and jerkbait. The cronos and tatula blank should be very close to each other regarding to action and such so whatever cheaper and more comfortable to you. The only complaint I have over tatula is that aluminum reel seat lock nut hurt my finger when I hold my rod between my index and my middle fingers.

Nope not last at all, I had done the same to one of my rod last only a few fish and insert came of again. I think you only need top guide that bigger but close enough to your blank. You can fill the blank with loop of braid around it to get tight fit. Maybe sent just the tip top guide to @Delaware Valley Tackle and see if he can match it.

Do you plan to replace the whole top guide or just insert? I think there are 2 kits for Fuji guide available, one regular and one mini/micro guide.

A few times that I can remember off. First my buddy's savage gear 8" trout, I don't remember it broke off at the knot or line snap at tip top guide. Second time, it was my first time casting WP130. I think I underestimated its weight and swing pretty hard.

I planned to torture myself with Dropshot rig on a pockets of weed today. Got there a little late 6:45AM and saw a whole bunch of water boiling. I took a closer look and carp everywhere roaming around shallow and deep. I walked to my usual spot, 2nd cast felt a bite, set hook and line started screaming out of my reel. I said to myself "oh **** carp hit me again" and this area is weed everywhere. I let him pull the line but try to get him to stay on surface as mush as possible, finally got him in with another carp swimming around him very close to my feet. I moved after that since I don't plan to fight with crap in those weedy area and I know for sure carp will hit my lure again. This was on Zman zinkerz anyway. At 2nd spot I got nothing and still saw some carp boiling up, I think those greenie water bugs laying egg or something?

I almost got flip on my 14' Jonboat with one of those wave rider once. I don't usually go on main Lake since there are too many water skier run back and forth. Ever since I moved to Canyon Lake, I only fish this main Lake only a handful of time and stay close to NO WAKE ZONE. I'd fish on smaller lake(north ski lake) instead, but still can't avoid those water skier especially in this lake (no control and no "no wake zone") there are those with "wave enchantment device". When I saw that guy again at launch lamp, all he said was sorry I almost flip your boat, nothing else no slow down and run super close to shoreline up and down a few time. This is what I'm trying to say and seem like only us small boat always be the one who ask for courtesies, bigger boat not so much but both have "RIGHT" to use water. I'd say avoid them is the best way, Main Lake got a whole lot of big bass and a lot of structure but I still choose smaller lake, tougher to fish and not as many big bass, all this for my safety.

I see a trend here, everyone thinks they have the "RIGHT". Kayakers think I'm in small boat but I have a right to use the lake same as big boat, thus all boaters have to give them right, stay away or lower speed in another word "take of your hat and bow to me" Big boat especially water ski boat also think they have right to use the lake (if lake allow), so they think why the hell I have to lower my speed and drop my water-skier just for that idiot kayakers. Have anyone ever think about to be considerate instead of owning their right? Just a thought. I like @NHBullidea to not go out when there are a lot of traffic. I do it too, I don't fish on holidays or Sunday afternoon when I know all those water ski would come out. If I'm gonna fish I would stay in cove or channel with 5MPH zone.

I might as well get rid of my scale since I don't dream to catch DD bass pretty soon.? I agree, To put dying fish in the bag instead of throw it back in water or leave it on the sand. And also you can put a rock or twos in there when weighing fish and nobody would know. I thought he has done that.

I'm not sure this time what type of plastic you use? From you first picture that happen all the time when you set hook to rock or weed not just fish mouth. Zman/Elastic is pretty soft and you will have tough time to make it stay on the hook eye, also almost impossible to skin hook them unless you poke in deep but that would make difficult to set the hook point to fish mouth as well. @Brad in Texasrecommended hook that work pretty well with Elaztech and also other type of plastic as well. I have been catching a lot of fish Texas rig on Roboworm rebarb hook 3/0(yes this hook made by Gamakatsu and super sharp light wire hook). This type hook, you have to poke through plastic first before you bury the point back into plastic to get a good success hook set. @Glenn show how to properly set hook on Texas rig, you don't reel all the line tight and set hook, you should have some slack. Now to set hard or not it depends on line and cover type and hook type(super line or light wire). Just this morning caught a 5.3lbs on this rebarb hook with 5/32 oz weighted Texas rig with Havoc Pit boss shaking between weed line.

I suppose ?

Yes night shift here too so I can fish almost every morning but only hour or twos. Sunday normally I spent time with my wife all day but every now and then I'll get up very early and sneak out.

Congrat, at least that half beautiful bass.

How about call it old school? Lol. I think I hold my rod like that when fishing with conventional reel Newell/Modified 6500c3 a few decades ago.

Myself I like Fast better for all type of applications, but I do have a few of XF rod mostly longer rod. I think XF on long rod help more on setting hook when fishing bottom contact in deep water or when you cast out far.