Big Rick

This is exactly how you breathe life into a small tackle shop. Shop there and spread the word.

The OP stated he wanted to "dial in" some lures.... Your goal is improving deeper water fishing. Until you learn HOW to fish deeper your catch ratio WHEN and WHERE you are fishing will be greatly diminished. And, yes, you can learn to walk the dog in a pool. I test nearly every new lure in my pool. Extensively. I also honed my skipping and pitching in my pool. Then, when I went to where the fish actually are I didn't spend the day spooking them with awkward casts and frustrating myself to the point of quitting. You don't go hunting to set your rifle sights....

There's a reel for every hand. There's a seat for every butt. And, apparently there's an idiot for every painting.......

While this is a very important part of fishing education, an incorrect presentation of the lure will destroy all the "when, where, and why" with one cast. It's much better to BE accurate FIRST. THEN you can began to understand WHY you need to be accurate as you learn the "when, where and why". Take one step at a time. Jam your mind with too much info and you'll never catch a fish, get disgusted and walk away permanently.

The only thing that makes a Rico and a PopMax similar is they both are considered poppers. Other than that they are as different as two baits can be and still be in the same "category". And, that's not a bad thing. I have quite a few of both baits. And they both catch fish. But one does NOT cancel the other out. I will say the PopMax is way more versatile in the ways you can fish it. And the open "gills" create very unique sounds and bubbles that drive fish crazy. But on the other hand, there is NO sound like the Rico. It's in a class of it's own.

Save $30 and get the Daiwa Tatula CT Typer-R at Tackle Warehouse. It's on sale at $75 discount. $104.99 will get it.

And just like that we are off on another side road!! Where's my hot chocolate?!?!

I've used lunar phase apps for hunting and fishing. However, in most cases I only have certain days I can fish so I go whether the phase is right or not.

The only time I have an issue with the bait rolling is when something is out of sorts on the bait. Grass will get tested up in the bait at times and hinders the freedom of the plopper to do it's thing. Clean it out and you should be good to go.

I'm not sure of the upgrade, but the CT type r is discounted $75.00 at TW.... the standard type r isn't even available on their site, that I could see.

Since he started his statement with PROBABLY, I'm gonna say no, he didn't read your post.

Yeah, OnthePotomac, your first post was so generic with no definite info. And, there are literally hundreds of conversations on this forum concerning these type of lines. Maybe if the article brought out some new info you could've shared a bit to pique the interest and generate a thread that's not about hot cocoa....?

I'm with A-Jay. However, to quickly test it, just flip the reel over, turn the hand and see if the worm gear on the level wind rotates. If it does, and I feel it will, then the pawl is your culprit and is an easy fix. One more point, these pawls aren't very interchangeable from reel to reel, much less brand to brand, so make sure you get the right one.

That has to be the most beautiful spinnerbait I have ever seen. If I owned one I wouldn't know whether to frame it or fish it!! The blades alone are a work of art! And that head is amazing.

I would spend my time on a technique, not a particular bait. You can have the right bait, present it wrong, and not catch a single fish. On the other hand, you can skip the wrong bait under a dock and still get hammered because the bait was put in the right spot at the correct presentation. Bass are opportunists and often bite because of the convenience and availability rather than seeking out that perfect color, style or size. That said, work on skipping jigs and swimbaits. Also, perfect your pitching accuracy. Where and how you put a lure in the water is often more important than the lure itself.

Aw, man, you're crazy! There's no way I would believe that!

Glad to see this thread back on track. WRB almost ruined it......?

Ha! You da man.. Anyone can deliver a punch. It takes a man to take a punch and come right back. well done

1. Fish more often 2. Break the 8# barrier

Maybe I should have dumbed down my statement to a lower level of education to make sure you understood my point. So, here goes. Try to read it carefully so you'll fully understand. You'll be surprised how long it takes to actually accumulate 20 engine hours on an outboard. You don't run the engine nearly as long as it seems. Hope that clarifies, slonezp. ?

This^^ Also, invest in a bigger crank handle to lessen the strain on your hand. Hawg Tech handles are popular.

I use the snell knot for all my T-rig applications. I strongly suggest keeping a close eye on the line right at the hook eye because it seems to fray a little faster then all the other knots I've used. That said, I have had tremendous success with hook sets using the snell knot. And, it's a breeze to tie, even on a bouncing boat deck.

You'll be surprised how long it takes to actually get 20 motor hours on a boat.

I've used the Everstart MAXX batteries for years with outstanding service. No complaints. And they don't cost an arm or leg.

@Glenn ought to create a smartphone app for the forum. tapatalk is a popular engine for several car forums I've been on. With an app I would NEVER get any work done.