JustJames

Maybe it is a little too late since OP might have made a decision but I wish I were in FL fishing for those exotic fish and giant bass. I'm in SoCal private lake with a lot of big bass BTW.

Time to stock up some blade jig.

It has been a very long time. I don't even remember when the last time I posted here. Anyway, I've been throwing nothing but swimbait for awhile and finally the hard work paid off. The first hudd fish of this season not very big tho just about 4 lbs.

If you fish that much of course any reels would need some maintenance, a little oil on bearings and lube on worm gear. I would do oil/lube every month and grease the gear may be every 3 months. If shimano cannot stand those type of abuse I don't think any other reel would neither. With that said my fav reel for everything would be shimano 50e skip pitch and cast like a dream. can you skip with "open faced reel"?

Hope you catch some hawg man. Keep us posted.

Are you looking for something like this? http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Strike_King_3X_Elaztech_Finesse_Worm/descpage-SXFW.html It's made of Elaztech stuff so it float. I don't see purple color anymore but PB & J might work for you.

I feel like bass in my lake are less aggressive compare to summer heat for top water. The water temp here is still in mid 60, by the way. I'm still throw top water but less stubborn to keep continuing. The next thing I wanna try instead is sub surface lure. Time to bring out my Rapala joint minnow floating.

I'm also interested in hair jig and would like to know, if hair jig can be good alternative for jig and claw, especially vertical fishing?

I also enjoying Video editing of my fishing trip. This is mainly for my pleasure and friend and family. I watch my video over and over and try to find a clue of how I catch that fish or how can I improve it. I don't really talk about my equipment(actually not talking at all) but I want to see in my video and others of how they are working their lure and how to detect a bite with different techniques or different lures.

Do you have rod and reel for swimbait? Some of those swimbait are 2oz or even heavier, you might need to buy a whole new setup for something that you would throw a few months/year. I, just like you also considered anything that on budget side, I traded my beloved reel (Calcutta 50) for a handful of swimbait. I did caught a few fish on hudd 68 but they were only 2-3 lb. which you can catch that size bass with any other lures.

Good stuffs here and follow closely. I'm in the same boat as OP. I recently moved to a bigger/deeper lake and struggling with bass in deep water.

When I take my kayak out, I alway have my other box(day box) under my seat. This box would be all type of lures and plastics(pre-rig) that I plan to fish that day. I have all my lures box, plastic binder and tackle box separately. When I'm done with one lure I would throw into this box so on and so forth. At the end of the day, I would leave this box lid open to air dry in garage and store in its box after dry.

I have weighted a few fish rank from 3.5 lbs all the way to 7.7 lbs with 6" grip/jr. grip and never see those fish float up when went back there a day or few day later. These plastic grips have smooth and big enough surface to not harm the fish (my believe). I also have reg size grip 9" one where I use mainly on kayak or when fishing with hardbait where I know for sure my hand is out of range of those treble hooks. I also have spring load type (boga grip type) which I use in my boat for any other fish like catfish, striped bass or carp. This spring load type made of quite thin medal and "to me" seem more harmful than plastic if head shake happen. This thing can hold a hefty weight, at one point I hold 23 lbs carp with that thing.

Just like a lot mention, they both should be just fine, are you a bait caster user or spinning user. I myself prefer everything baitcaster and with 1/8oz head plus plastic, you can get away with any M or ML casting without buying new setup. Last time I used my spinning for type of swimbait where you just reel in slowly, I feel a little awkward and get tired pretty quick. I only use spinning for lure that work with rod like dropshot/wacky rig instead constantly reeling.

I sometime use two of my inshore rod (one baitcaster one spinning) for something like medium size swimbait heavy too water lure, that not require much of lifting/moving the rod due to weight and stiffness just like @WRBmentioned. My shimano crucial inshore MH/F rod even tho is not heavy at all but act much like H power rod.

I literally said that to her about shoes and purses when she mentioned about my fishing gear. Almost got to sleep in my dogs bed, not again mention about shoes/purses to my wife.

If I were in Florida bass might be my second, third or even forth primary target. I would love to fish for clown knife again. I'm not sure if you can catch them with lure but I used to use live shrimp and minnow(4-5"). Look for log or stump in the water and wait to see if they come up to breath. They are a good fighter and jumper too.

Nice striped bass man, I have not gone to any striped bass this year. I see you fish on Monday, wanna come explore canyon lake on Monday?

I intended to try rage menace and pitboss for a while and fortunately I have those in green pumpkin and blue color. I did try with Zman craw but never got hit on that. i like my trailer to be around 4" all my trailers now are Zman diezel and paddlerZ 4" but Zman don't have a good color on those.

I also have one rod with micro guide and never have that kind of problem with any reels I put on it. What kind of reel is this?

Im not sure if it's gonna make any different in your area but I have good result with white, green pumpkins and black/blue. For the trailers I like paddle tail so I can slow roll along the bottom and still get enough action. Zoom swimming Fluke is good or you can even use super Fluke, cheap and available anywhere with good color selection.

Do you need assistance?

We'd been thru that last week where it got over 100 degree, this week cool down to low 70. I would fish it slow with any finesse worm.

Welcome here from SoCal.

Thanks for this, I'm still you in the past. I've spent most of my time fishing at mouth of coves and short steep Point. I hope one day I can find a good productive Point.