Big Rick

This^^^ And the last couple I bought came with Cajun Line already on the reel. Which is how I started using Cajun Line to start with.....and I love it.

My favorite and most productive spinnerbait for years....

Maybe you got a reel with some issues. That's definitely possible. And I'm no fanboy. I own and have owned nearly all brands. I didn't see your post as bashing. It was to the point and factual. I'm just surprised at your experience with so many others having great success..

Agree totally. However, it seems to be way out of balance already.... In Mississippi we can take a water sample to our local Department of Agriculture and get it tested. At the very least it needs nutrients to feed and grow plankton....YMMV

That's odd. I've never thrown one, but there are a ton of people on this site that have and generally love the DC. Are you sure the settings were all at the optimal position? Not questioning your abilities but by your own admission you've never owned a DC before and from my understanding there is a bit of a learning curve to maximize the DC benefits...

The Cover Shot is a finesse style hook designed for drop shots, light Carolina rigs, split shot rigs and such fished on lighter line for finesse worm fishing. The Jungle hook is for flipping into heaven cover with braid to yank the big ones out of heaver cover with bending out.

The first thing I would do is fish on WEDNESDAY!! What kind of standing timber? Cypress?

I'm from the south, but I believe water is water. So, the first thing I would do is fertilize the water to give it some phytoplankton and cloud it up a bit. 24 feet of visibility is super clear in my world!! This will not only feed the bait fish but also provide some color to your water and make your fish less spooky. American Sportfish Hatchery had this to say in an article concerning fertilizers: There is a new type of concentrated, totally dissolvable powder or crystalline fertilizer that requires no mixing, no platforms and only recommends five pounds per acre to apply. Pond fertilization could not be easier. Formulations vary from 10-52-4 to 12-48-8 and one of them, Biologic’s Perfect Pond Plus (12-48-8) contains a micronutrient package that is beneficial to many crops. This fertilizer, which has the consistency of powdered sugar, can be broadcast from the bank or a pier or may be poured from the side of a boat. A five-acre pond requires only 25 pounds as compared to 200 pounds of granular or 65 pounds of liquid, plus 20 gallons of water (160 pounds).

Congrats! Just remember, Happy wife, happy LIFE.... Seems you've already bought into that idea since you sold your favorite reels. Man, that had to sting a bit...

Yep. Brett Erhler, or however you spell it, for one. But we are talking reels. And there may be reels endorsed as well, but I can't recollect it right off.....

Probably NEVER have and NEVER will because they both build a superior product that stands on it's own merits and doesn't need a big name fisherman to hawk them to the public......

Then why do you continue to buy them? VMC hooks aren't so unique that you couldn't replicate the same style in a brand that will be more consistently sharper for you. The main VMC hooks I use are the feathered trebles. They seem to do well for my small poppers...

There are several questions unanswered here... 1. Is this combo specifically for one application or will it see multiple types of presentations? 2. If only one application what will that be? Topwater? Frogging? Jigs? 3. If multiple baits and styles then what will they be?

Here I was ready to extol the virtues of certain VMC hooks and well they work for me in certain situations and opened this thread to find tongue firmly inserted in cheek. Well done, Jedi....

Lucky Craft LV 100. It's only 2.5" long yet weighs in at 1/2 oz so you can still bomb it!! It's wider head keeps the head down and hooks away from the grass. Lucky Craft built this baits specifically for grass applications. But, it still does great on ponds and schoolies.

Fishing in the float roads and other lanes of travel. I see it all the time. The whole lake to fish and some fish right in the lanes of boats on plane.... That and getting skunked!! That's pretty dangerous! It'll make you go buy more tackle and better electronics!!

I had the money and STLL chose an 18 footer because of my fishing style and the waters I choose to fish. I got the biggest motor I could, upgraded electronics and trolling motor and haven't regretted it one bit. Again, I don't fish tournaments so time isn't of the essence MOST of the time. However, I have had to outrun a few thunder bursts and was wishing for a faster boat during those times, but they are few and far between as I have learned my lesson and keep a much closer eye on my radar on my phone!!

Totally agree. His long, celebrated career has focused solely on FIVE big fish; not FIFTY average fish...

I never put two hands on the ROD. I always have my left hand on the rod and right hand on the reel cranking for all I'm worth once I cross his eyes with my right hand/arm. My rod is almost always locked under my forearm for leverage on hook sets. And again my right hand is handling serious business on the reel crank making headway by diminishing the distance between me and my fish.

Fish are VERY close to related cover when the water is chocolate milk. So, you have to get right in there with them. The easiest way to do that is with big jigs with trailers that have a ton of movement, like Rage Tails... Color is secondary, but darker color are seen better.

You can purchase inflatable vest in automatic, manual, or both. I believe that's what the OP is referring to. Not comparing inflatable with the standard foam filled life vests... Or I'm confused...

I completely understand. I don't necessary enjoy the odor of bass, but I sure like getting the smell on me!! You can't get bass smell on you and NOT be having a great time! They go hand in hand. I love the smell because of what I relate it to: and that is good fishing and great times...

One of my favorite baits to fish. Definitely interested....

This is so true. In just a few short years there have been several "sub-species" of bladed jig come out the really shine in one area that the others generally fail in. Like speed, for instance. Some types will blow out when you really crank on them. Yet the Jackhammer will run true no matter how fast you crank it, at least in my experience. And speaking of Jackhammer, due to a slight difference in the blade and how it relates to the head this bladed jig has a very unique vibration that has caught me more fish than all the other in my box combined. And this is just scratching the surface of the differences in even the bladed jig community. Now that it appears that Z-Mans patent has expired we will see a TON of new innovations on the bladed jig in the coming years because this bait is definitely a winner and therefore will continue to be improved to drive sales of "new" variations, colors, sizes and blade types. And I'm not even going to try to delve into the Booyah Melee with it's totally different approach on the blade position..

Chatter baits get hung up WAY more than spinnerbaits..... On a side note, it appears the patent for the blade mounted directly to the jig head has expired. I am seeing copies all over now with the blade directly mounted to the jig tie.