Big Rick

I'm a bit confused. Rods are used in the water. Often time submerged when fighting a fish or unsticking a lure. Surely rain won't hurt it. On the flip side, any equipment left to the elements will have issues mostly from the sun and UV rays.

Who needs them when you got Toledo Tackle and the Honey Hole!! I lived in the area for years and didn't realize how good I had it until I moved 4 hours away.

I always thoroughly enjoy your posts with the high quality pics and explanations of your equipment. I'm sure you could open a museum with the treasure trove you have.

Fishing has a double role in my life. First, it's a stress reliever. I love getting on the lake just before first light and watching the world wake up. Everything is copacetic with my world for that first couple of hours. And I could do that daily, weather permitting, and never tire of it. My late father taught me how to bass fish and we fished together. Cancer shut his body down for 5 years before he passed, so he lived vicariously through my fishing trip pics and recounts. He died way too young at 64. Second, I have raised my family on fish. It has been a staple in my kitchen for many years. I have a reason to fish. We love bass filets. I know some poo poo on the idea, but we love filets from bass less than 2 lbs. Tasty. And they're free! There's something to be said about eating what you harvest. It adds a whole other level to the experience. So, fishing is very important to my life for a couple of reasons and I don't think I would ever tire of going as long as the body holds up. Like @A-Jay I am trying to keep the physical part in line so I don't have to miss out due to physical inhibitions. I am nowhere as devoted as he is, but what I do does help, nonetheless. And with the career I'm in I have plenty of time to fish. I am so thankful for that.

Because in some instances adding a paddle tail or some other trailer creates bulk and changes the cadence and depth of the retrieve. Also, spinner baits like the Screaming Eagle has a multi-layered skirt that acts like a trailer and negates the need for a trailer altogether. Another aspect of short strikes I forgot to mention is color. Often times a short strike means the color is off just a bit. Get that right and the fish will engulf the bait rather that peel offf after a short strike.

In my experience, clearer water requires faster retrieves. I highly recommend the War Eagle Screaming Eagle. It's on a smaller frame yet weighs in a 1/2 oz. The blades are also smaller which allows a faster retrieve with maintaining desire depth. As far as color goes, any natural shad color should work. In muddier waters a larger profile bait with rounded blades, Colorado or Indiana, work much better. These blades force a slower retrieve and provide a nice thump that bass can easily locate. I never use trailer hooks. I stayed hung up every time I did. I have learned that if I am getting short strikes that the fish is targeting the blades instead of the body. To rectify that I put on a trailer of some sort, mostly a paddle tail swim bait to provide a desirable profile once the fish is close enough to strike. In most cases this solves the problem of short strikes. YMMV

Great idea! I'll have to experiment on this. My best Jackhammer spots have wood. I can see how this would really help. Thanks for sharing.

You'd be much better served by starting your own thread. This old thread title does your need no justice. Welcome to BR. A wealth of knowledge to be found.

LOL! The Expride 7'3" HVY is an awesome frog rod and works really well with jigs too. I frog fish more than I jig fish and really like the ability to skip lighter frogs with the Tatula Elite F&P. Even though I made the terrible error of crossing brands they do pair really well together.

I have one that doubles as my frog reel. It is absolutely amazing. I can skip a frog or jig with ease and yet turn around and bomb a light frog with no backlash issues. I use 30# Power Pro on it year round. If I am jigging clearer water I will use 25# Shock Leader with an FG knot to the Power Pro. The reel has good power and the handles are addicting. It did develop a bit of a snarky attitude when I mounted it on an Expride rod, but after a few fish it calmed down and they get along really well.

At least you got the right brand! If it goes south for you selling them here will be a breeze!

On their website choose the 25 Days of Savings and go to DAY 2. The bags are the fourth item from the left. There are 2 sizes. These are designed for the plastics to stand up in a file folder style.

This! And right now TW has them on sale if you choose the logo version.

I am. I've had great success using it for jigs, Jackhammers, and most soft plastic applications.

What size and type of line are you using? Often times a larger diameter line will overpower the weight of the bait and cause it to rise. These are a more finesse bait with a much smaller blade and hook, so downsizing your line is optimal.

If you REALLY want a boat, find a second job. While $2,800 a month is nothing to sneeze at, I don't imagine it's a 60 hour a week job. Jobs are a dime a dozen right now. Way more jobs than people willing to work them. When McDonald's is offering sign on bonuses you know the market is prime. Don't settle for mediocre income! The money is out there if you're willing to do what's necessary to make it. If you want a boat bad enough, put other elective things like eating out on the back burner, focus on working like a mad man, save your money until you can buy what you want, then go buy it! At 22 you have the world at your fingertips. And a motivated young person can accomplish great things. I know, as I've got 5 boys and 3 girls. The oldest is 26 and makes $200,000 per year with no formal education. He actually sells portable buildings in a county of 10,000 people. If you want it bad enough you can make it happen. My grandpa had a saying he lived by. He often told us, "These things don't just happen, you gotta make them happen." Instead of focusing on what you don't have focus on what it takes to get what you want and go for it. It's all a mentality. I refuse to be a victim of my circumstances in a country that affords me the opportunity to change those circumstances. Best of luck to you.

I use braid to leader often. I don't fish a rocky river, so no input there. However, if you DO decide to try braid to leader on any Daiwa TW reel take the T-wing line guide width into consideration. I have a dozen T-wing reels of varying models and like them all. Just understand the T-wing groove is very narrow so your braid to leader knot has to be slim. I use 30# Power Pro to 25# Shock Leader with an FG knot with no issues. I do seal the knot with Knot Sense UV glue by Loom. It makes the knot smooth as butter since this glue doesn't harden to the stiffness of super glue. Hope this helps. YMMV.

Deal! You definitely live in God's Country! A ton of beautiful lakes teeming with fish in some of the most beautiful country in the USA. While I still prefer the cypress filled lakes of NE Louisiana where I grew up, I would enjoy sampling your waters! And, I didn't drive the Dragon like an idiot. I like my car too much. My average speed was about 30-35. No desire to wrap myself around a tree. Nothing to prove here!

I was there on 12/15 and met a couple of trucks with boats. It's definitely a drive that requires all your faculties to get through without a wrinkle in your rig.

That's the north end of the Dragon's Tail. A bucket list item for me. Finally got it done. Over 300 curves in 11 miles. Fun!

Me neither!!

The blade is considerably smaller with a faster/tighter vibration. Any larger trailer will overpower the blade. I recommend 3.5 inches or less. I love the Big Bite Baits Swimon in the 3.75 length. It has great movement feeding off the blade vibrations and doesn't fight against the natural movement of the Chatterbait.

The Loon Glue is an UV glue that is always a bit flexible. It doesn't harden stiff like super glue. I do suggest getting a small UV light for when you are rigging up indoors or lowlight conditions. This glue lasts a long time and a little goes a long way.

I've got 5 boys and the easiest reel I've ever started them on is any of the Daiwa SV type. You can spend as much as you want in that line, but even the cheapest model with an SV spool is a solid choice. Backlashes are kept to a minimum without sacrificing distance. YMMV