Happybeerbuzz

For bass fishing, 30 size is about as small as I like to go even on my ML rod. More than anything, the larger spool allows for easier line management. If an extra ounce or so is the cost of the bigger diameter spool, so be it.

I could just buy a couple of hooks for about $5. Did I do that? No way! Instead, about $50 later into a took kit, vise, deer hair, hackle, flashabou, and thread, voila! This was my second attempt which I am happy with.

Where can I get one of these rods and how are they distinguished? Are they labeled “2018”?

After searching for my personal go to mono of choice for spinning reels, I settled on Super Natural. In addition to being supple, strong, and reasonably priced, it is also thinner than most other monos. For casting reels and leaders where suppleness is less important, I settled in with the masses and use Big Game.

Twisting back and forth as you pull works better than just pulling.

Yeah, Academy got in my pocket for 5 crankbaits, 2 Gunfish knock offs, a SK spinnerbait, and a Pop-R. I had to get to free shipping and for $27, how was I suppose to resist?

It will work fine. Use backing or it will take a lot of 15# braid to fill that spool. Also be conscious of your drag if you use a light leader. That size real probably has quite a bit of drag.

Yozuri Floating Minnow. While I use them too, suspending jerkbaits are all the rage with the cool kids, but I still like floaters for fishing them just below the surface.

I have the Arid-X in the 7’ heavy, and I am pleased especially considering the value. I am impressed enough that I consider it the top of its price category.

I will do as you suggested and contact 6th Sense directly if I don't hear back from TW. Thanks for the suggestion.

I ordered two of these the other day, one in Custom Blue Gill (CBG) and one in Chrome Truese (CT), and they were waiting for me when I got home today. The CBG is a beautiful lure, but it has short shank hooks on it which is fine, but different than advertised. The CT was a hot mess. The bill wasn't fused properly, and the paint job was less than stellar. I have contacted TW to see if it was one that slipped passed quality control or if all of the CT were like this.

Just yesterday I was on TW looking for stuff to fill out my cart for free shipping when I came across these. Next thing you know I was watching an underwater video of there super wide wobble. Long story short, I have two of them on their way to me.

I use so much braid that only the shortest lengths of line can’t be used leaders.

I have looked up vids on DIY treble dressing. They all seem like they require an investment in fly tying equipment. Is that what you do?

3” Keitech Easy Shiner on an 1/8 darter jighead.

Just don’t throw natural colors in dirty water which means no green or earth tones. If the water is chocolate milk dirty, look for some cleaner water or go home. Otherwise throw bold or dark colors, which ever you feel most confident in that day.

If you don't know exactly what you are looking for and you don't want to trust the Internet, BPS is a viable option for some things. If you need to touch something before you buy it, BPS is an option. However, BPS is primarily a brick and mortar operation, and it is unreasonable to expect it be more than that. If price, selection, and convenience of ordering from your phone is what your looking for, BPS is not your best option as long as you don't need it right that minute. It would be more useful to compare basspro.com versus say, tacklewarehouse.com, where the hand's down winner is pretty obvious unless there happens to be a "no minimum" promo going on which the online outlets never seem to have. While at the same time it would be more fair to compare your local BPS location with say, your local Walmart.

So topwater is starting to heat up so I thought I would look over the hooks on my lures. Sure enough, some of the dressed trebles are looking a bit haggard and feeling dull. My temptation is to just switch out the dressed trebles with a plain trebles and move on especially on my $6 Pop-R since dressed trebles are about $2.50 each. Does it make a difference in attracting fish? Also, it occurs to me that the dressed hook probably adds drag which could affect the action. Please give me your experiences and opinions on the matter.

There are several complicated reasons. First, I have to be in the right mood to soak bait. Second, I am about 100+ miles inland, and time is already an issue for me. Third, my father was a bass fisherman. Fourth, as someone pointed out, there are so many different techniques to fish for bass that are all applicable at different times which keeps it interesting. Fifth, as a consequence to all the different viable techniques which center on bass fishing, it allows for a rich and interesting sub-community of which this forum is a part. Six, the feeling of knowing that I caught at least one more fish than the guys I fish with. I'm sure I'm missing some stuff, but this is what comes to mind.

Thank you all for the insight. The temps are climbing up here in California which means more dragging plastic on the bottom. I'm going to give this style of hook a go this summer along with Glenn's "pegging" suggestion if I can remember to pick up some cheap 40# mono.

I noticed that multiple manufactures make this style EWG hook that improve the easy of Tex-posing hook points. Do they work and are there drawbacks to them compared to standard EWGs?

My initial feeling is that 1/4 ounce is too light for casting gear even though many casting rods have 1/4 ounce as their lower limit. Typically, 3/8 of an ounce is where I feel comfortable with casting gear, but maybe I just need to practice more.

What do you throw quarter ounce poppers on? Spinning or baitcasting? Line type and weight?

Red Eye Shads. I have been throwing lipless cranks lately with success. Also, topwater in CA is starting to heat up. You might want to get a new Frog or a River2Sea Bubble Popper which has been hot for me already this year.

30 lbs. 832 or Power Pro Spectra in High Vis Yellow.