r83srock

My favorite is to throw a frog, but a close second and most productive is a 1/4oz jig, followed by a senko. Those three are pretty much always tied on.

A lot of time I want to go after a reaction bite, so I’ll start with 1oz a lot. It can be a fast and efficient way to fish. 3/4 I like a bit better if there is wood present. 1.5 oz in the real thick stuff.

A lot of good information here. I learned to fish deep weed lines on my home lake by a guy who learned in the south. He won a lot out here, about 15-20 years back now, I was just a kid. He handed me his Waterloo Scrape rod with braid and a 1oz oldhams jig, and that’s where it started for me. The right gear made a big difference, as I was having a hard time detecting the bite, and controlling the fish once hooked up. I remember reading a book by Terry Oldham called “Bass in the grass”, it pretty much explains everything everyone has been saying in further detail. I’ve done well fishing this way, it’s what I do when I need a kicker, but if course I’ve had days where it ain’t happening, like anything else.

Me too! And a wacky

Agree with this!

For me it’s any MH-fast St. Croix, stiffer than most and rated to 1 oz. I have tons of them.

It’s a confidence thing for me too. Also if I soak the plastic it seems to soften the bait, giving it more action. It also allows baits to slide through cover easier. I don’t think attractants can ever hurt.

I wish I could say the same. I just haven’t done well with a straight shank flipping hook, so I’m not too confident in it. I have stuck to a heavy wire 4/0 ewg and a sizmic punch weight, up to 1.5 oz. I don’t mess with skirts either, I just go to a big jig. The oldhams jig pictured is a great one.

I’ve been both that jerk boater that got my eyes beat shut by the non boater, and didn’t handle it well, as well as the guy in the back tearing it up. I like being in the back, I feel like the underdog, and when I’m out fishing the boater it’s a pretty good feeling, haha. Honestly though, most people I’ve ever had in my boat have been great about not casting over the top of me, and likewise I don’t want to front end em’. It’s one of the reasons I don’t dock fish when I have someone with me. I don’t think you were in the wrong at all. I get that he isn’t necessarily thinking about your ability to succeed, but if he was worth a darn he should be. The boater has a lot invested, and being accommodating by providing the rig. It doesn’t give him the right to own the water. He can have whatever intentions he wants by coming back to a shoreline or spot, the fact is he should hit that spot first if it meant so much. What is he going to do if ya pulled into a stump field? “Only fish the small stumps, I get all the ones with the heavy root systems”....sounds kinda dumb.

30lb power pro, for me.

I have the new LT 6’8” mh worm/jig rod and it’s pretty dang perfect for that. I’m not too picky but it’s a good one. Looks sweet too.

Balance beam

Lol, agree. I throw a chatter bait on the same rod I throw a swim jig on, which is whatever might be lying in the rod box without a lure on it. Op, that’s a good combo though, for about anything. A st. Croix moderate fast has enough nuts behind it for bottom contact even. Just send it.

I’ve owned quite a few curado and citica b and d series, a couple E series. I don’t buy reels often, maybe 1 every two or three years. I had reels from other brands I’ve tried over the years, sold the non Shimanos and bought a casitas 150 HG 7:2.1. I love this reel, it casts better than any reel I’ve owned, and that’s good enough for me. Super smooth, I use mine for Jigs.

Ignore what the rod manufacturer tells you to use the rod for, it’s a suggestion. That 6’8”m is about the most versatile rod you will use and is perfect for plastics. I prefer shorter rods.

Lots of great advice. I learned to fish a plastic worm years ago, its my dads all time favorite bait. My uncle who has become a very successful tournament fisherman taught us both how to fish a jig. I learned early on that fishing a jig different than fishing a worm, but not that much different. You can use your worm tackle, but when the bite happens, often times it can be a slightly different feel. You typically catch larger bass with it, and those fish will often times bite without you knowing it, so paying attention to subtle changes in the bait is huge. I totally agree with picking a couple weights and colors. The Arkie style jigs you purchased are what I learned with, and they are really all you need. I would stay with those baits and learn them well. Fish it where you would a worm and you will get good results in time. Swim it, hop it, drag it, let it sit, fish it like a frog on top of slop, there’s no limit.

I’ve had several of these over the years, they are great. 6’6” MH fast st. Croix rods in any flavor is my go to. I always revert back to that length.

I like mh rods, but St. Croix, which is different. That rod you speak of is sweet, my buddy has one and uses it for the same purpose.

No experience with either but I have the last gen Mojo and hmg in 6’6”mh. Both rods fish similar and I like them both. Great for worms/jigs, darn good for about everything. I too am considering the bass x in 6’6” mh. Just handling it in the store I like the handle length and balance. I like a shorter rod for most things, from shore most definitely.

I like the Premiers, super durable and plenty sensitive. The newer versions, like last 8 years or so, are way more accurate on power than the 15 year old models I have. They last as long as you wish to keep them. My old ones you can’t even read the labels anymore they are so faded. I still fish em.

My fishing buddy uses those. I’ve seen em at Walmart for $20 on sale, I want to not like them, but they feel pretty good to me. I don’t really think you can go wrong with them, but at the price you are considering, I’d want to handle one first.

Lots of great rods. I like my St. Croixs. Mojo 7’1”mh gets my vote at the lower end of the price range and Avid is great too if you feel like spending more. I have plenty of both and they all fish similar to me. Honestly the 7’4”MH bass x looks intriguing, haven’t held one but I’m guessing it’s like a mag mh. That’s getting longer than I care for however.

Haha, I’ll be breaking out the punching rig on our frozen lakes soon, I’m in the wrong state, I rarely ice fish. Anyway, In river systems in my neck of the woods, I throw topwater as low as 50 degrees. I agree with letting it sit, I’ve had great days doing that.

The factory outlet is great! B stock rods look identical to a normal store rod but half price. It’s my understanding that the blanks for the Mexico made rods are still made in park falls, or some are, that’s what I got out of the guy working in the store when I was there last weekend.

Thanks for the responses, this helps a lot! I think we are going to start near “the wall” and try to break down some of the cuts and arms around that area.