roadwarrior

Welcome aboard! My best producers are soft plastics in general and these baits in particular: #1 Gary Yamamoto Bait Company: Senko, T-tigged, weightless and weedless. #2 GYCB Fat Ika, T-rigged, weightless and weedless. #3 Micro Munch Tackle El Gordo tube, T-rigged weedless with a 1/8 oz bullet weight and a bead, unpegged.

BigBassRFun, Welcome aboard! I wouldn't even consider intentionally killing a big bass unless it is something of a record. I don't however have any problem with someone else mounting their PB. A replica would be better, but harvesting ONE big fish is okay by me as long as it's not one of MY pet smallmouth!

1. 6" Senko 2. Fat Ika 3. El Gordo Tube 4. Kut-tail 5. Kreature 6. Laminated Lizard 7. GYCB 8 1/2" worm 8. Roboworm 9. Mizmo 3 1/2" tube (Kent's Classic) 10. Sluggo For more than 90% of my soft plastic fishing, I fish GYCB products.

EXCELLENT! Russ, You do a great job for a wonderful cause. Salute!

Well, let me tell you a little something about Bud: He is an expert fisherman! His equipment is state of the art, too. You may be able to fish 6 lb test line if you have the right baitcaster and right rod, but why? I like baitcasting equipment a lot, but I think spinning tackle is much more appropriate (for most people) when you are fishing lighter lines and making smaller presentations. BTW, all but a few of my biggest bass, both smallmouth and largemouth, have been caught on spinning tackle.

The original Hybrid has a higher percentage of fluorocarbon in the formula. Original has a better light refraction index, meaning, it is less visible. It is very close to a pure fluoro in the smaller diameters. However, the higher proportion of fluorocarbon also makes the line stiffer which relates to memory. Line memory is a big issue with me, so that's the main reason I fish Ultra Soft.

I'm not a stick-in-the-mud, I'm willing to try other lines and I tried several brands last year. This year I will fish some others. If I find something I like better than Yo-Zuri, I will be switching. I have no sponsorship or any relationship for that matter with ANY fishing products company. Having said that, yes...I am currently fishing Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultra Soft exclusively. I fish #6 on all spinning tackle and #12 on all baitcasting equipment. So regardless of the bait or presentation, I am always using the same basic line. Lighter for spinning gear, heavier for baitcasting equipment.

bassnut1276, I think it might be the combination of salt (taste) and texture (feel), but I completly agree with you about the softness of GYCB plastics. Bass will hold them longer, they like the way this particular plastic feels in their mouth.

Brad_Coovert, I know there are many ways to skin a cat, perferred equipment and technique will vary from fisherman to fisherman. For me, when I'm fishing soft plastics I want a fast tip and a FIRM tip. However, this old dog is willing to try almost anything. I'll start fishing the Fat Ika with my PR844S for awhile and post results, but I have been using a St. Croix Legend Elite (ES70MF) which is fast and firm and it works just fine. I really think the problem some people have with soft plastics in general and the Fat Ika in particular has everything to do with the hook-set, not the lures, the hooks or the line. If it ever warms up around here I'll give it a try and let you know how I do with a soft tip.

Congratulations!

You got that right!

The strongest agrument favoring G.Loomis is quality control. They are fanatical!

Not downhill, just catching a second wind!

cart7, Just playing...I knew exactly what you meant. "Off the record" some of my aquaintances at BPS tell me the house brands breakdown and are returned a lot, but BPS is VERY GOOD at fixing or replacing the reels. At the various pricing points the profit margin is high, but doesn't justify making improvements in the equipment. Replacement is more cost effective for the company.

My spinnerbait rod is also what I consider my "all-around" baitcasting rod. It's a St. Croix Avid AC66MF.

Being a "professional" implies compensation for one'e efforts. It appears to me that the vast majority in this field "pay to play."

Hmm... In three months I will have been fishing Senkos for ten years. In May of 2017 I will have been fishing the original Senko by Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits for twenty years...Man, time flies!

What are you guys talkin' 'bout'? The Shimano Posse and the G.Loomis Posse are one in the same! You ride with us. You're welcome to have a side arm, a back up weapon with any other brand...As long as you own a Shimano, just one, you are part of the Posse. If you don't own a G.Loomis, well then...Go get one!

Welcome aboard! The Fat Free Shad does not come in that color as far as I know.

Lard_ Bass, The picture you posted is NOT how the Ika falls without weight. During the fall the Fat Ika floats down horizontally, 100% of the time if is unweighted. This profile is a very big part of "The Magic."

Specialist almost exclusively. Soft plastics, deep structure and a light line, finesse presentation. The rest is just gravy! I'm slow and meticulous...well, MUCH slower than that... I like BIG baits, SLOW or NO movement and almost NO ACTION. If you look up BORING in the dictionary, you'll see a picture of me. Go BIG or go home...and I'm not kidding.

My "reserves" are unopened in their original packages, in a cardboard box, in my little climate controlled fishing room off the garage. My "working' plastics are sorted by type in a small (12 X 8) plastic carry box. Some of the plastics are more than a year old, maybe two. The box is pertty much airtight, but my point is the baits are 100% "fresh." The baits are 90% GYCB, the others are Micro Munch Tackle El Gordo tubes and Roboworms. So, original packaging seems to work indefinitely, but a plastic box is another practical alternative for everyday use.

Shadcranker Favorite lakes: Guntersville, Barkley, Kentucky Lake, Percy Priest The Fat Ika will work just fine in these lakes, but you will have to fish them slow.

Hire the best guide on the lake. A top-notch guide can put you on fish, suggest the best baits and techniques that are currnntly "hot' no matter the time of year. Professional guides have experience and knowledge of their waters that you simply cannot match in five days, probbaly not in five months!

I edited my post, the original came acrross too harsh. The "myth" I was referring to is that all the pros catch tons of fish. A lot of guys don't catch any most of the time. Like NASCAR, professional fishing is "top heavy."