Bass-Addict

I would agree, outside of the short windows of aggressive feeding seen in spring and fall. I’m just explaining why I think build of a bull Shad requires a a steady retrieve to produce the desired action, not when or where this will produce a big bite.

Did you try bait wraps?

What do you think of the Omens? This is a creek setup, those Crappie rods start at 7’.

That’s what I’ve got now, Plano Edge Flex with the dividers removed.

I can attest to the Bull Shad’s action being 100% dependent on a steady and even fast retrieve, I have tried slow rolling it and it just flounders, it loses form and flops on its side. Doesn’t even suspend like a glide. The difficulty comes in finding a balance because with the slow sink it blows out if you burn it too fast. I think adding lead weights is the move, but you really need a steady retrieve to get that seductive slither.

What ratio you use?

I thought half turns was only on high speed reels?

With a 6 do you still do half turns or does the slower speed allow you to just straight retrieve, and if so does this make it easier to fish glides just chucking and winding versus pacing/timing half cranks?

I suppose less important than the retrieval time would be the action imparted by the IPT.

Prob even better as it makes it harder to blow out

Can I still burn a bull shad?

It would seem that slower would be better in the case of glide baits, however I am also throwing bull shads and A Rigs with this setup. Glide baits are the priority here, though. Is there ever a case where I’d need 7?

That’s a solid idea. I just have a few custom that came without traditional packaging. They love that bull shad

Would that protect the brush tail though? They get bent unusually easily and require boiling water to be straightened.

Can you link me? Got about 5-6 baits.

The only one I’ve seen is the coat hanger or letting them hang from a wire running through the eyelet but this is very space consuming for the few I take with me on the river. Is there any sort of protective sleeve I could put over it or a molded case that they don’t move or collide in?

Also, is there a transitional period between post spawn and summer pattern where they are aggressively hitting moving baits again briefly?

How difficult is it to get them to eat them? I know the general consensus is that it’s tough to get a big bite on moving baits post spawn, but are glide baits sort of an exception to this being that they can be worked fairly slowly, almost like a jerk bait?

That’s awesome, yeah here in the Midwest it has become about 40% less effective than it used to be unfortunately.

Does the Choppo produce better than the WP? Yeah even just a year or two ago it was still quite a bit more effective than it is now. Man what I wouldn’t give to go back to when it was first introduced to experience that.

Yeah, not to mention ease of casting

Hard to get the 60 plopping sometimes?

Do you feel like one of them generates a louder sound or that the smaller or larger profile is more effective? The smallmouth I am targeting in these streams are typically 12-16” with a fair number of 18+“ in the water. I obviously would prefer the 18s but am happy with quantities of 16.

Yeah truthfully never understood why people hype spring as the best time to catch big fish. Sure they may be more active in prespawn feeding than summer but it’s so inconsistent and each particular stage so short lived that it stresses me out more than anything. I floated yesterday and it was one of the most stressful and disappointing days I’ve ever had on the water. I think in order to successfully fish beds you need to have two feet planted firmly on the ground, them picking it up and moving it off the bed is so soft and happens so quickly you only get a brief moment to set the hook. While it may not be easy I still find catching them when I am fooling them into actually stalking and eating something far more satisfying than sight fishing and essentially trapping them on the nest.

Tried my hand at it today, was humbling to say the least. They are on their A game!