roadwarrior

G. Loomis GLX BCR854/ Curado 200E7 8-)

I hate braid...However, after experimenting with Power Pro 50/12 on my main jig rig, I'm sold. The difference is night and day. BTW, I am fishing with direct tie, no leader. 8-)

Replace the skirts with Lumaflex Skirts: http://store.jobabylures.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=J&Category_Code=SKL 8-)

When you order the Shake2 Pro Model, pick up a couple of Bobby's new jigs. Top end components and a unique design. If you are not already fishing the Cavitron Buzzbait, you should be. Complete the order with a tube of MagaStrike and you're good to go! 8-)

Mizmo Small Jaw http://www.mizmo.com/smalljawscatalog.html 8-)

Husky Jerk (HJ10). The X-Rap is described by Rapala as a "slash bait" and is designed to be worked fast. It's not really a suspending jerkbait. 8-)

I don't have any issues with the Gamakatsu hooks holding soft plastics. The wire on the Owner is an unnecessary feature. I fish Owner 5/0 Superline Offset Worm Hooks. This is a great hook, but I don't find it to be far superior to the Gamakatsu. As a matter of fact, for many soft plastics the Gammie thin wire hook is a better choice. 8-)

The bait should be Texposed and skin-hooked. Due to the taste and texture, bass tend to hold this lure longer than most...in some cases indefinitely. Be patient and fish it slow, like you might imagine the movement of a crawdad. Rigging: 4/0 EWG Gamakatsu Offset Worm Hook. Tentacles forward (skirt up). Weightless & weedless. I fish the bait on MF spining tackle and Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultra Soft #6 (.010" diameter, 11.9 lb test). Presentation: Cast parallel to the bank, along weed lines or on structure in water <12'. Allow the bait to settle to the bottom and sit for at least 30 seconds. With a slow, horizontal sweep, move the bait 6"-12" and let it fall on slack line. Leave the Fat Ika on the bottom for at least 10 seconds between movements and continue this retrieve until you feel you are "out of the zone." Bass will sometimes strike on the fall or occasionally pick it up while it rests motionless on the bottom, but generally the strike occurs when you move the bait. When you feel a strike, dip the tip of your rod while QUICKLY reeling in slack. When you feel the fish snap your wrists, setting the hook with your rod tip and not moving the positin of your reel relative to your body. This is called a snap-set or quick-set. Maintain pressure, keep your rod tip high and reel when you can, but let the fish run when it wants to. I think your landing ratio will improve with a little patience. Good luck!

The Fat Ika The bait, should be Texposed and skin-hooked. Due to the taste and texture, bass tend to hold this lure longer than most...in some cases indefinitely. Be patient and fish it slow, like you might imagine the movement of a crawdad. Rigging: 4/0 EWG Gamakatsu Offset Worm Hook. Tentacles forward (skirt up). Weightless & weedless. I fish the bait on MF spining tackle and Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultra Soft #6 (.010" diameter, 11.9 lb test). Presentation: Cast parallel to the bank, along weed lines or on structure in water <12'. Allow the bait to settle to the bottom and sit for at least 30 seconds. With a slow, horizontal sweep, move the bait 6"-12" and let it fall on slack line. Leave the Fat Ika on the bottom for at least 10 seconds between movements and continue this retrieve until you feel you are "out of the zone." Bass will sometimes strike on the fall or occasionally pick it up while it rests motionless on the bottom, but generally the strike occurs when you move the bait. When you feel a strike, dip the tip of your rod while QUICKLY reeling in slack. When you feel the fish snap your wrists, setting the hook with your rod tip and not moving the positin of your reel relative to your body. This is called a snap-set or quick-set. Maintain pressure, keep your rod tip high and reel when you can, but let the fish run when it wants to. I think your landing ratio will improve with a little patience. Good luck!

Yep...But you will love the CH50MG7. 8-)

Hope everyone has a wonderful Holiday!

Well now...

Your equipment is fine. For everyone else, whatever you like to use for weightless soft plastics is all that's needed for Fat Ika. Usually, the issue with hook-ups is just quickness. Use a snap-set: When you detect a bite, lower your rod tip as you reel down quickly. Snap your wrist without moving your hand position relative to your body. This will move the rod tip from 9:00 to 12:00 and drive the hook home! 8-)

I like painted blades, a lot! On a local public pond a few years ago I went 9 for 10 and 11 for 14. WOW! Never happen before or again. 3/8 oz Booyah, chartreuse skirt, white willow blade, chartreuse Colorado blade, no trailer. ;D ;D ;D

Man, unless you are fishing a power plant, your water isn't that warm. Everyone in the region is killin' 'em on lipless crankbaits (Xr50) and jerkbaits (Pointers). Number three right now is shaky heads in the middle of the day. On local ponds, 3/4 oz Mop jigs and Rage Tail Lobster is what I'm fishing. 8-)

I resemble that remark! : Brag all you want; post some pictures of big bass and brag some more...Lighten up fellas, this is a fishing forum and this is the right section to talk rods & reels. I hope you find exactly what you are looking for! -Kent

Okay, let's keep this simple and cheap. 5" Senko Fat Ika 4" Slug-Go 3.5" Gitzit Rage Tail Space Monkey Original Floating Rapala Zara Puppy (black & silver) XCalibur Xr50 Jitterbug 3/8 oz Cavitron Buzzbait Gamakatsu 4/0 EWG Offset Worm Hooks 1/8 & 1/4 oz barrel weights 8-)

25%-30% as long as that's within the parameters of the rod. I suspect that once you actually measure the drag, you won't put more than three, or at most, four pounds on any rig. 8-)

Maybe, I'll let you know. UPS left me a note yesterday, "signature required". I should have it this afternoon. Thank you! -Kent

Lee.MD, When this gets resolved, please let us know. Until then, let's give it a rest. This thread is closed. -Kent a.k.a. roadwarrior Global moderator

Well...you got dat covered! I guess I should have known...Senkos, Fat Ika and flukes...Okay...Add an original Floating Rapala, Zara Puppy (black & silver) and a couple of XCalibur Xr50. That's a package for everyone starting out! Good luck! -Kent

Another nice addition to your product line. WTG!

Put 2 1/2 or 3 lbs of weight in a plastic grocery bag and tie your line to the handles. GENTLY raise your rod tip and adjust the drag to where it just begins to slip as the bag is lifted off the ground. With your hand, pull some line off the reel several times to get a "feel" for where you have the drag set. On future outings you can set the drag without actually using the weight. 8-)

Makes perfect sense to me. My jekbait/ topwater rod is an Avid AVC66MF. Most of my other rods are 7'. ;D ;D ;D

WOO-HOO! One month and counting... ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D