Hook2Jaw

Berkley X9 50# is the first braid I've tried with more than 4 strands, and the smoothness of it is wowing me. I'm sure there are comparable and perhaps better braids, but for 20 bones for 200 yards I think I just became a user.

What do you guys carry to make your day easier? I had a fish get hooked deep yesterday. I was able to turn the hook and get it out to watch her swim away, but I think I need to at least start carrying some longer pliers, a boga grip to keep trebles out my flesh, and some cutters to help remove hooks from myself and our quarry should it be necessary. Let me know what you think I need in a addition to my BPS Split Ring Pliers/Line Cutters.

I went again yesterday, fished for three hours and my largest fish ended up being on a drop shotted ZOOM Fluke on a size 1 Lunkerhunt Dropshot Hook(fantastic, by the way, a diamond in the rough). The fish weren't very active and I got one on the jig. The rest came off a weightless Fluke or the aforementioned drop shot.

YUM Craw Chunk. The bait moves with little input, I used it on the back of a jig to put 99" of bass in the boat not long ago. That's almost a 20", 4 and a half pound average. I've caught my PB on it on a jig. It's probably my best big fish plastic.

Another vote for 15# Berkley Big Game.

Crankbaits. Always, always crankbaits.

I'm a Daiwa user myself, but I used to own a few Shimano Bantam Curados. I believe the Daiwa reels that have Magforce braking are more user friendly and more difficult to backlash. I believe Shimano reels cast a tad bit farther. Ease of use versus a bit more performance, in my opinion. You cannot go wrong with either. Pick your poison. My poison is named Tatula 100.

I'm with J. I can't take part in this one.

The Daiwa Tatula 100 is your new reel.

@PhishLI, that's a lot more than a 3, old modest man! That girl done outgrew her upper jaw. You got any dem french fried posenkers?

10 pounds, 5 ounces. Booyah Bankroll Jig in Money with a YUM Craw Chunk in Craw. She's the fish in my avatar, I've been meaning to catch her again to see if she's grown since then.

How many strands does this end up being, Blueby?

I wish I could cast 100 yards. It seems whatever I tie on with whatever rod and reel travels the same distance. I definitely have a capped casting distance.

Man, I turned so many fish toward me with that heavy rod that most went on a high speed run right at my boat! I spent a lot of time catching up to them and lost quite a few on the jump. Adjusting from a slew of Medium Heavy and Medium sticks to a powerful heavy is going to be a big adjustment. My left wrist is still hurting from catching fish and shaking a jig.

Abu Garcia Black Max Combo in 2016.

Palomar for lines under 10 pound test. Improve clinch for lines over 10 pound test. Fine Grip for braid to leader.

Made it to the water yesterday looking to try out my new jig and worming rod, a Daiwa Tatula XT 7'6" Heavy Fast toting a Daiwa Tatula 100 7.3:1. She's spun up with 50# Berkley X9 and 17# Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon. With my BOSS Gary Klein Original Flipping Jig and YUM Craw Chunks, I was able to boat a lot of bass. My best 5 were 18.75", 19.50", 19.75", 20.25" and 21". Best big bass day I've ever had, and I wanted to share the pictures with you guys!

I would use this particular rod for ½-¾ ounce topwaters with the 40# braid. Alternatively, I believe it would work well with single hook moving baits with your choice of fluorocarbon or monofilament. Crankbaits in the ½-¾ ounce range become an option, as well, but I would opt for fluorocarbon for that. My reasoning behind my choices is first, a 50 bones rod just isn't the epitome of sensitivity, but the lower quality graphite brings more parabolism to the table. Topwater presentations require little sensitivity and the softer action will allow those trebles to remain pinned. The reel only needs to catch up slack, with a half to full turn completely getting your line in the position to once again made a spook walk or a popper pop. Second, if you go the mono or fluorocarbon route(this would be my choice), the rod becomes a versatile horse for all manner of moving baits. Spinnerbaits, paddletails, and medium sized crankbaits will all perform well with those lines. Alternatively, you could have it function three ways with something along the lines of 15# monofilament. Crankbaits won't dive as deep, but it'll still handle single hook moving baits and topwater well.

I tracking numbered my unplaced order and we got four boxes worth of Easter stuff for my 14 month old from Amazon! Just be patient. Time will your come.

I didn't order a Dobyn's rod from SO, still no rod, still no tracking number.

I think those two options are fine, but you might want to take a look at the Hummimbird Helix 5 if you need affordability and performance. My best friend has some saved screenshots of fish in 3' of water. Bird, in my opinion, has the best SI in the game if that's something that interests you. Added the screenshot in, @Boomstick.

Nice. It seems you have a lot of funds, it might be in your interest to tell your boys you have a bad shoulder for staking down and going with a Power Pole. They are absolute game changers. What fish finders are you considering?

My knowledge of the Tranx 200 is that it was designed as a reel for both saltwater and big bait fishing, and it says as much in the description. As far as paying for features you don't need, I completely agree. I've been cranking redfish, flounder, and seatrout in with Daiwa Fuegos for quite some time. I've even had a five foot tarpon burn the line off the spool of one, accidental hookup. My Lexa 300 has also stood up to the saltwater environment and tarpon. A Tatula 200 will handle inshore fishing. But hey, thanks for the correction.

I would go with a Daiwa DXSB 8' Heavy Fast or the aforementioned Dobyn's Fury. I have extensive experience with the Daiwa, and it is an awesome swimbait rod for one hundred and ten bones. It's fast enough for single hooks and soft enough for larger trebles. As far as reels go, a Daiwa Tatula 200 should perform well. The rod I'm touting and the Tatula can be had for a hit of 230 or so to the bank account. The Tatula 200 has been touted by some as every bit as good as a Shimano Tranx. I like that you're sticking to braid to leader, it casts so much better than straight mono or fluoro. I personally use 50# Berkley X9 and 17-25# Berkley Big game to throw S-Waver 168s and Huddleston 68s. Good luck!

I think you've done a great job outfitting yourself and sons with quality boats. The only recommendation I can add is a stake out pole for each setup. Being able to pin in place on a paddle kayak is a must for me.