CrankFate

I’m planning on trying it. I’ll let you know how it goes. I’m thinking go in the evening, look friendly and look like your not looking to cause any trouble.

Once you get used to it, there’s no going back.

I have a bootleg rap all floating minnow from way back that’s still in the package. Yeah, I went with rebels, too.

where I fish, anything that isn’t weedless is gone if it runs along bottom.

If you got the $$$ and you’re going to use it, go for it.

Braid.

When I started out fishing I couldn’t afford Rapala, it was too expensive.

Me, too. That self snagging hanging hook would catch every reason I fish “weedless” and off the bottom for on the first two cranks.

I’m just going to give my opinion on the FG knot. It’s great for tuna fishing, big game fishing and deep sea fishing. With thick line. Where losing a single fish is losing thousands upon thousand of dollars of invested money. For fishing less than 65 lb braid and less than 50lb fluoro, there’s no need for that type of knot, IMO. It’s a great knot, if you like to use it, knock yourself out. But I never broke off at my leader knot. If I’m fishing 20lb braid or less, to 15lb fluoro or less, a uni/uni or overhand/uni knot works perfectly. IMO, for FW bass fishing the uni knot seems better to me, too.

I love fluoro. Just not as my main line.

When everything is setup right, no. When I press my luck with super light in the wind, yes. But the answer is rarely. The heavier I fish, the less of an issue it is. At 3oz, I can cast all day without ever thinking about it. But, if it’s like the other day, I’m looking at 2 tiny fish in 200 casts…

I’ve been thinking of trying the types of swim bait in the OP, too.

^This. I am positive that bass eat BG as a last resort. Where there actually is forage that isn’t BG, they will prefer whatever it is. Especially if it’s soft and spikeless.

Keitech 4” Swing Impact, weightless. Or TxRigged with a 2g bullet weight and mini bead, if needed to cast.

if I’m replacing them, I go with gami or VMC round trebles.

It happens. I talk to people from time to time. No problem getting and giving information about the area. It’s one thing if your talking to a guy that’s sensible. It’s another thing if he’s cutting the line at the rod tip in the tree, throwing plastic six pack rings on the ground and sitting on a bucket of fish that were supposed to be released.

I almost never fish at night. As far as my father goes, he did a great job teaching me how to fish at 12, but is too intoxicated to learn how to fish now….

Micro guides are overrated, IMO. Except when fishing thin diameter rods with thin diameter lines. I find that for most applications, you get better casting distance and more versatility with bigger guides. This is my biggest complaint about bass fishing rods overall.

Yes spinning gear is more versatile. And easier to use. But casting gear, IMO, is more sensitive and less fatiguing.

supposedly that type of sound mimics crawfish.

Yes, always. The worst is times like now, when I’m stuck with other obligations that prevent me from fishing.

I know the curado is the standard meat of the lineup reel, done right. Great all around. I’ve seen them, held them in the store and seen lots of other people fishing them in all different techniques. I just have a few reels that fit this spot already. If you ask me, the determining factor should be line capacity and then casting ease. I have quite a few reels, the curado BFS is the most user friendly, error proof baitcaster, fresh out of the box. By a lot. I had my son who never touched a baitcaster casting it with zero problems in less than 2 hours. I will be getting him one for a BC rig some time soon. If you need line capacity for deep water, the MGL will better suit you.

Blackfish (tautog). Pound for pound total bully. Also, by far, my favorite fish to eat.

90% of my T-Rig fishing is not slack line.

I tried eagle claw lazer sharp EWG’s. Great hooks. Better price. But something about the shape of the eye prevents them from sitting right in a T-Rig with a bead. Back to gami for me.