Big Rick

There you go trying to be all grown up and responsible. Really?? You come to a forum full of tackle addicts and ask for help breaking your addiction? That's like a drunk going in a bar looking for the AA meeting....

I think so. I'd trim the weed guard (kinda pointless on this bait anyway) and add a smooth body trailer like the Largo Shad. I have some of these baits and if the opportunity presents itself this week I will be giving it a go.

This bait is a tad larger than the Pulsator, but with the short arm it does seem smaller. It also is very good. Just another possible option for you: Zorro Baits Short Arm Aggravator

I will be trying this this week. I don't have the same brand, but I do have some smooth paddle tails to use. The Storm Largo Shad comes to mind as a good candidate.

Sounds like she's got a boyfriend.

I'm of the opinion it can't be done with any consistency due to the arm catching water. I sure wish I could, it would be deadly.

Yep, width from temple to temple is key. I also have to opt for "full frame" glasses. It really shrinks the options, but forcing a smaller pair until your head is aching isn't a viable option either.

This will help negate the actions of getting there late. I also love to watch the world wake up from the deck of my boat. IMO the early morning fishing is the best experience.

I caught this fish with no upper lip on a popper. It was healthy otherwise. Lip didn't appear to be torn off, it was more like it was deformed. Never seen this before.

Leave your 20HP motor at @Way2slow house for a few days. Next time you run it you'll get 60MPH out of it.

Oh, I wouldn't say that... Oh wait, I just did by debating your statement.....

They work really well for me. I take the split rings off of my baits and use this instead. I've never had one to break on me. I snagged a bait up and slightly deformed one but even then it was still useable. I really like these on my poppers and shower blows.

I use the Mustard Fastach which comes with or without a swivel: Incidentally, this is also the setup on the Chatterbait Freedom Series that attaches the hook to the head and allows the "freedom":

Irene will be by shortly....

I use this Mustad Fastach Clip. I caught my 8.5 PB while using it on a jerk bait. There's also a swivel version.

I believe this is the most important statement in your post. It could be that your spinnerbait isn't offering enough vibration or thump along with a big enough presence to elicit a strike. Also, you could try the big bladed chatter bait as it is designed to give off extra vibes as well. As to your actual question: I always use a trailer on a chatter bait but also always a straight tail and never a boot tail. In my experience a boot tail fights against the blade and action suffers. On a spinnerbait I seldom use a trailer as most of my skirts are dual lengths giving off the impression of a trailer anyway.

Sounds like you need a few hours at a fishing hole. Anytime life gets too busy I disappear for 4-5 hours and spend some deck time on my boat. Whether I catch a fish or not I come back home a little refreshed with a little better perspective.

Well, I've been fishing a couple of time for about 4 hours each trip. All I can say is WOW. I had no idea the difference was so stark. I now understand the sentiment offered by so many others that have swapped to LiFePo stating they'll never go back to lead acid. The power delivery is so linear and smooth. And the increase of power is very obvious. But, more importantly to me is the consistent stream of voltage to my Ultrex. It's never operated so smoothly after 4 hours of heavy use. I'm sure there's a little placebo effect because I am so enamored with my new setup, but the difference between LiFePo and lead acid batteries is real obvious and pronounced. Time will be the real story teller here. But, my initial experience leaves me impressed and glad I bit the bullet.

Depends on depth for me. I'd sure spend a lot of time dragging bottom with hooks for sure.

And you'll never know what you're missing. Ignorance is bliss??

He's referring to the bar that runs across the reel right behind the T-wing. And your line goes ABOVE that bar.

From the outside looking in it seems to me that sponsorships is the money maker here. There are so many well known pros that seldom win the tourney but their truck, boat, and jersey are loaded up with logo's from sponsorships. And often these pro's fall out of contention early in a tourney and spend the rest of the weekend at their sponsor booths earning their check. Look at Gerald Swindle for example. According to BASS he has fished 299 tourneys and finished first ONE TIME. Yet he's got 21 major sponsorships. Yes, he's won $2,284,746.14 in his life but he's fished BASS nearly 37 years. That averages out to $61,749.90 per year. Dude ain't fished for 37 years and lived on that money. Which leads me to believe that SPONSORS is the key.

Have you tried these yet? They are looming large on my radar as I love to fish topwater in the junk. The lowest price I've found comes out to $2.50 per bait. That's a bit inhibitive unless they will last for several fish. I've watched a couple of videos on them and they were inconclusive.

Reading that hurt my heart. An Alphas is on my bucket list to own one day.

I use bright yellow Power Pro with a 4-6 ft leader on my Senko and wacky presentations. I can't count how many strikes I saw rather than felt by watching that bright yellow mainline. Switching to that upped my catch percentage substantially as my eyes get older....