govallis

My hooks are all bought from Wlamrt, cheap Eagle Claw, I leave them in the salty baits for months and they do not rust. I also modify them, so the worm hooks hold the screw pin well and the snail hooks become straight for the snap for better hookset. I even add weedless to the snailed hooks. I never use a clip, there is no clip in that photo or anywhere. I always use FG Chain knot only, it never lose up like other knots. Never needed retie. See my other post for details.

You meant the snap? I always use a smallest snap. Then I can switch conveniently to senko, trickworm and this ultra hog... without having to remove the bait off the hook or retie. I always pre-rig my soft baits with the best hook size, 4/0 for senko and trickworm, 2/0 for the ultra hog. Without mounting and removing the hook each and every time, these baits last much longer. I also always use a screw pin to make them even more durable. For example, the ultra hog you see in above photo, is still like new after catching all the fish. My soft baits last forever until snagged. You won't believe how many fish have been caught and will be caught with the baits in the following photo and how convenient it is to switch between them. Yesterday, for example, the LM stopped biting the ultra hog after the first 5 landed. I switched to the wacky senko and caught another 2. Then the Texas senko caught 3. Finally I switched back to the ultra hog and got the last 3. Yes, this small Plano 3500 holds all my tackle, it is my only tackle box.

Caught a dozen yesterday within an hour, temperature was 38F. I bank fishing only. Modified split shot that allows the split shot to slide for better bite detection. I use a split shot because it is easy to add and it is quite weedless. I never like the original split shot though, they hurt line and not secure. So I always make them sliding, a very easy mod, extremely convenient to add and remove.

Rat-L-Trap topping grass is the most effective and Biwaa Ultra Hog. Kastmaster, Senko and Bitsy Jig also worked last winter.

Nobody talks about this French secret weapon. Give it a try, when you cannot catch anything. This thing catches everything from fresh to salt water. I use Texas rig mostly, 1/0 - 2/0 hook, 0-18" above I add a 1/8 - 1/4 oz sinker. It has a scent, similar to PowerBait's. It is quite durable, one can last for months catching numerous fish. It is certainly more universal than Senko etc. If I want, I can leave all my other baits home, take this only with me. I'm sorry, if this is indeed your kept secret.

Nitrous 30 reel for $15 from Dick's. Telecast reel for $18 from Sportsmanswherehouse.

For $20 and lower, you can find some Quantum rods and reels that cannot be beaten, or put it this way: not junk.

If you were happy with the Sienna, you'll be blown away by the $30 RG-AB! Sienna is no compare.

I use only spinning rod and only one rod for everything, fresh or salt water. As baitcast cannot cast a small lure, so I have no choice. I always tie a smallest swivel, so never line twist. I use medium action rod only, works fine for all lures, big and small, single and treble hooks. I do have 3 rods, not using them for different purposes though but mainly for back up. I use a cheap Quantum Nitrous 30 for saltwater, because I cannot find anything cheaper with good quality and durability. My main reel is Daiwa RG 2500, bought for $30, also the cheapest for a reel that may last for decades. All reels you can find today are super smooth including those with only one BB. The difference is about durability and line twist. Some cheap reels with 8 BB cannot last for a year. The Shimano Sienna always twist my line otherwise perfect.

Long handle, extra fast, cannot be more stupid. It is like computers and tablets. Nobody wanted 16:9 screen but no manufacturer gave you 4:3 except iPad. After 10 years of failure, now finally Samsung and etc. changed back to 4:3 after Apple had made all the money. How stupid was that? I searched hard, the only two rods that are not fast without an elephant handle are the Shakespeare Excursion and Quantum Telecast, still good enough sensitivity. Sorry, they are low end, but why spend more to get something awkward?.

I tried ugly stik pro lite, labelled as "the most durable and sensitive". No sensitivity at all, useless. The Excursion is the only Shakespeare I'd buy.

I searched, but no post about this great knot, so I feel the need to get its attention here. I've been searching, trying and testing for the perfect knot ever since I started fishing. This is the one, the only one. If you find that your AG chain knot cannot beat your favorite knot, then you have not done this knot right. Don't add to this knot any other enhancements you find on the net, such as double threads into the eye, they all actually weaken this knot. Just do it purely the simplest way - under and over half hitches, alternatively for 8-12 times. Don't pull too hard except the last run and always pull at 120 degree (the angle between the main line and tag). If you use this knot only (no any other type of knots in the line), you'll find that your line can go thinner because this knot virtually keeps the line strength to 100%. I use 12 lb Pline C21 copolymer for everything from crappie, bass to sea bass and lingcod, with a 12 lb Seaguar red label or STS leader after a swivel. Another thing I have been searching for is a slip bobber stop. They all suck - too tight to move and become loose over time. Now I use this knot to tie a stop for sinker and bobber, perfect. This is the very only knot that I use now, because it is the only knot that's constantly dependable. I can make this knot always tag down to be weedless. I can also make it a loop knot when needed. No problem with fluorocarbon and I never moisture. This knot is actually extremely easy to learn and remember. It is nothing but the very, very basic knot repeated 8-12 times. It is so simple and straight forward, probably why it is so perfect.

Sometimes you need brickseek to find the lowest price and availability among local stores around you. Some items are not available online but in some local stores only.

Walmart online is great, mostly 2-day free shipping to stores for pickup and most prices are the lowest. However, it is virtually impossible to find things on that website, a total mess. If you know what you're looking for, then search it in google to find it in walmart.com. If Walmart.com can sort out its database, it'll give Amazon a serious run.

Yeah my local stores all suck too, I go there only to return an online purchase. After a return, they give 15% off coupon, that's how I discovered the Field & Stream Inferno 7' rod. The rod is so ideal, I bought the 7'6 for saltwater. It beats the Excursion on all aspects except the handle length that's 1" longer (again, still shorter than all other stupid rods).

Disck's has been clearancing Daiwa RG-AB reels for $32 for a while now. For this price, they beat the Shimano Sienna into water. Very light, very smooth (10 BB, Sienna has only 2), precise drag, and never twist my line into bed nets like the Sienna. Cast further than Sienna too. Note that these reels are larger than other reels. 3000 is actually 4000 and 2500 is 3000. 3000 was out of stock, but came back for few days and now ran out again. To be honest, 2500 is the best, no need to carry a larger and bulkier 3000. I bought and love both though. https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p/daiwa-rg-ab-spinning-reels-16daiurgl2000spncree/16daiurgl2000spncree?Clearance=true I also bought the Quantum Nitrous for $16 and cannot be happier. I can safely say, there is no other under $20 reel that's worth of buying. I use it for saltwater and no worry about cleanup after every trip. https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p/quantum-nitrous-spinning-reel-17qutuntrs20szspnree/17qutuntrs20szspnree?Clearance=true I also bough the Field & Steam spinning rods for $16, 7' medium action and 7'6 medium heavy action. The handles are not as perfect as the Shakespeare Excursion, but not crazily long like all other such rods. Good enough sensitivity, very light (4.7 and 6.1 oz), very thin (thinner than Excursion), ceramic guides. Have caught an 8 lb lingcod on the 7'. https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p/field-stream-inferno-spinning-rod-15fnsufsnfrn56lsprod/15fnsufsnfrn56lsprod?Clearance=true If you enjoy fishing instead of expensive gear, I found Dick's clearance area is the best place to frequent. They often offer free shipping and deduct another 20% off clearance prices.

I did try an Agility. If my memory serves, its handle is too long. I'm a long handle hater. Tested the Excursion rods this morning. I felt the bite, set the hook and landed the fish, total 3 LMs. So they do offer sensitivity. The 6'6 and 7' cast 5" Yum Dinger the same far, so there is no point for the 7' unless one prefers bulky and heavy rods.

Wish he was in the states where such rods do not exist. The only telescopic that can be found in a store and is barely acceptable is the Quantum Telecast 6'6. It does not have an insanely long handle, it is IM6 offering good enough sensitivity and very light at just 3.85 oz, it has a medium action which is also hard to find for graphite rods but is essential for bass fishing and it is less than 20" when collapsed while many are still way too long to give a point over 2-pc rods. However, it is easy to break, I have two broken within 6 months, one broke virtually on the first cast.

Tried a Ugly Stik Lite Pro, it had no sensitivity. So I'm going to try the Excursion spinning rod. Anybody has experience with it, especially about how sensitive? I like the Excursion, especially the thinner 6'6. Both 6'6 and 7' have the same handle length that's not insanely long. So the 7' is also nice, because all the extra 6" are added to the front, not to the handle. They are medium action, seldom to find in graphite rods. However, Shakespeare's website says they are graphite composite; so I worry about their sensitivity. As a reference, the Quantum Telecast 6'6 telescopic spinning rod is sensitive, I don't need higher sensitivity than that.

My right shoulder and arm have been abused by computer mouse, so I use right hand to retrieve and my left hand to hold the weight and twitch. And, this way, the handle screw is harder to lose.

Telescopic does not necessarily mean fragile. Even a cheap one like Quantum Telecast, Shakespeare Travel Mate or Eagle Claw Pack-it are as firm as a 1-pc rod. They might break like other 1-pc or 2-pc rods, but they never break at the joints. The joints are actually much stronger than the blank, because that's where the guides are bonded to. But you must be careful each and every time when collapse, to not break the guides. Once you know how to do that, it becomes second nature like driving a manual car.

I don't have the problems you listed. The guides always stay straight. A graphite telescopic like the Quantum Telecast is still quite sensitive compared to $20-40 non-telescopic rods. Yeah, they are not balanced, because their handles are usually not insanely long like all non-telescopic rods (except Shakespeare Durango), which is one of the two reasons why I use exclusively telescopic rods. I really, really hate long handles; I can live with an unbalanced rod, but not with a long handle.

I used to dislike multi-piece rods, such as the Shakespeare Travel Mate pack. Now I like them, because I can make it 2-pc, 3-pc or 6-pc. Most of time, I unplug it to 2-pc for fast un/plug. When I carry them in a Yoga bag, I unplug it to 3-pc. When I really have to put this rod into a small bag, I unplug them to 6-pc. BTW, the Travel Mate Pack 6'6" is a good one. Quite light at 4.75 oz, action is perfect, ceramic guides. The telescopic version is crap - soft like noodle, guides are like with the ceramic inserts removed, and actual length is only 6'3". The 7' multi-piece is supposed to be medium light, but it is more like ultra light. It is 5 pieces - cannot make even 2-pc or 3-pc. When I break it into 2, it is too long to get into the car. But its building quality is much higher, with a good reel seat, a nice hook keeper and a bottom rubber. Even slimmer. I really love the 7', but it is too soft for casting lures and packed length is too long (18.5").

Red Label 12# at Walmart 200 yd for $10.87 free S&H for store pickup.

Now I have been using the 12# red label as an 18" leader for couple months and caught numerous bass and other fish. Still using the very first 18", never broke, never needed to retie. When I'm gonna to use up the 200 yds? Wish Seaguar sell a 20 yd pack for $2. Never needed to use the STS either. What a "waste of money"!