JustJames

Phenix offer a replacement program at pretty fair value, around 50% of MSRP of new rod.

I'm not sure about Northern Snakehead VS bullseye, but this what type of snakehead we eat in Thailand. They are pretty good with no fishy taste. On the other hand ppl don't like Giant Snakehead as much. If I have Snakehead in my area that might be my main target since lb to lb they fight harder and also easier to find than bass.

Also some of the company required shipping and fee for replacement like Phenix. Most of the rod these day carry only 1 year warranty except high price one. Lucky I still have total of 4 Shimano Crucial which carry limited lifetime warranty(not over counter anymore). and also Shimano headquarter is in SoCal. Most of the rod I have, headquarters are in SoCal and within 1-2 hours drive (Shimano, Daiwa, Phenix and Majorcraft) when I buy new rod I will consider these company first even I don't have history of rod abuse. I had used Shimano and Daiwa replacement program and they even ship the new rod back to me at no charge, kudos to them.

Yup by its fin ?

Another morning failed with Fluke. Maybe I should target carp instead of bass. Anyone want some carp nuggets?

Thanks everyone, I know fishing them is not super hard but finding them is totally opposite. I caught only a few crappies, and 2 of those came from drifting. My buddy even caught a few bycatch with his jerkbait but never ever happen with me. The last time I went crappies hunting instead I caught a 6-7 lbs catfish and a few bass on Marabou Jig. I might try drifting again in winter when the lake emptied from those water skiers.

Zoom Salty Super Fluke and Yamamoto D-Shad get the most used from me. White, and Shad color is all I want.

I would love to try yours especially those pixy/Alphas. Pls send to my address below ?

how hard is to find crappies from shore? I wanna start target for crappies more seriously but not sure where to start. I do have some type lures for crappies like Marabou Jig, Trout Magnet Kit, beetle spin, inline spinner and 2" jerk bait. For the life of me I only caught less than a handful so I'd say I know nothing. Anyone wanna give me some idea of how and where should I start? Should I fish in the same general area where I fish for bass? Techniques for shore fishing and such?

I don't care much about quality VS quantity as long as I catch something on lures or plastics those I intended to use. There are times that I only target DINKS with my small tackles and times that I would expected skunked for hours and hours or for months with my big swimbait.

I have 500 dollars in gift card with BPS from buying a boat there, so far I only spent less than 100 bucks there even I have VIP discount 10-20%off. I can't never find anything to buy at BPS for the value of 50 to get free shipping. Compare to 10 years ago which I bought a lot from them.

Would you guy stop blaming the reel, doesn't matter WHICH REEL if the guy don't know how to set the reel correctly (brake/spool tension) and don't know how to thumb or delay the spin of spool (stop the puffing), the disaster wait to happen.

I agree with use what you comfortable with, if you like spinning why not? There are many pros out there that use only spinning outfit. Spinning these day can do pretty much baitcaster can do even with big heavy swimbait. Now benefits of baitcaster TO ME anyway are rapid cast, more accuracy, less line twist problem and much more choice of line to use with.

I use line that fit application, I like simplicity to use one type line that fit all, but sometime you need to find some excuse to buy more reels/rods and gears ?. i use braid (power pro 30lbs, J-braid 30) only for jig/Frog and top water. Mono for mostly topwater and moving bait (Big game 12lbs). Copolymer for most everything elses(#6-#12 Hybrid or Izorline). Fluocarbon for plastic when I want it to sink fast mostly weightless plastic Fluke, Trick worm, Roboworm (12lb no brand specific).

@ItsHardwickit a little bit tougher to fish Fluke at specific depth, other paddle tail or underspin would be better choice. it a lot easier if you want to dance your Fluke just below surface or on top of weed/along bottom. Me I use count system 1 per foot and start twisting with rod tip point down. How long the pause depend on which Fluke you use (some sink faster than other). The best Fluke for this application is Zoom, Yum and BBB If I fish shallow let say 8-10' I would let the Fluke sink down to bottom and jerks with rod tip up from 9:00 to 12:00 (~3 feet) then let the Fluke flutter down to bottom. D-shad get a lot of use on this technique. About Fluke get mangled, as someone already mentioned, dip you mangled ones is boiled water just a few second and let it dry straight on paper towels.

@Burkeyes I like 50 and 70 too, got 4 of 70s and 2 of 50s. I plan to use pixy with Fluke Jr. 4" which weight a tad less than 3/16 oz and Reg Fluke about 1/8, not Super Fluke ~3/8 oz

Most important to choose one brand over other on Soft Jerkbait is fall rate. The side to side action is a lot depend on how you twist and how you rig the hook. I have use different type of brand like D-Shad, Zoom, Yum, Big bite bait, and Some Elaztech Fluke. D-Shad is heaviest of the brunch follow by Caffeine Shad, BBB got biggest profile and fall pretty slow good action when fish on top of weed or just below surface, Zoom and Yum are in between when you can do pretty much all of above and shine on shallow water. Am I too crazy about Fluke? For the past two years the first fish I caught was on Fluke and also the last fish I caught last year was also on Fluke.

@ItsHardwickbait monkey is calling you ?. @Burrowsno it's just scorpion 70 and I'm in process of selling it along with my bantam MGL. I don't want to have more than 10 reels and I kind of need fund for other reels. I'm not really into BFS I just wanna be able to get some distance when casting Zoom Fluke Jr.

@Burke @BurrowsIt would cost about 140 ordered from Asia. I decided not to since the reel seem to rebadged Fuego CT plus Twing. I had Tatula CT type R before but sold it. Most of Daiwa reel I ordered base on look and color scheme but sold it afterward. I don't collect reel, all the reel I've had need to have some purposes for fishing, otherwise it got sold after awhile. Another view of old fav purple color.

Another view of my home sweet home.

Congrat that is really beautiful bass

@TOXIC I want smaller size D-Shad let say 4", would this be possible? Like now I pay all my attention to Fluke Jr. But sink rate is killing me. I like D-Shad a lot especially when fish deep water due to sink rate and material just like Senko. My first fish this morning with this pixy on Zoom Super Fluke Jr. Money well spent I guess ?

2005 Check this one 2018 Ardito Ltd, I was gonna buy it before this pixy.

I went with angler offshore brand wakebait (same bps house brand but target mostly saltwater). It is bigger 2" 5/8 but not as heavy. I caught fish just reeling in on top surface and ripping it.

I must be out of my mind. I told myself not to buy anymore Daiwa and sold most of Daiwas I have. I end up with this darn beautiful thing. When Shimano is gonna realize that we need some colorful reels too, not just classic silver, gun metal and black reel. I promise no more Daiwa, hummm maybe one of that purple alphas and one of those yellow pixy.