Aaron_H

That thumb! You know you're getting size when you get bass thumb all the way down on your palm. My best numbers day was 43 and my thumb was nowhere near that shredded, that's a KILLER day. Meanwhile, I picked up a few H2OX lipless cranks today at Academy, they look like a cross between a RES and a Booyah, 2.5" long but 5/8oz. They looked pretty good so I picked up a couple in gold/black, chrome/blue, and chrome shad to see how they fare, only $4 a pop so worth a try. Says it comes with two #4 VMC 8650 hooks, but the back hook is definitely a #6. Swapped out the hooks for #4 Mustad short shank EWGs and upgraded the split rings, then threw it out back to see how it runs. Four casts, three fish. Nothing big but it definitely passed my initial test, looking forward to throwing it on some of my better spots. It looks great in the water.

I've fished them on a few different rods, mostly MH/F and MH/XF, 30lb braid to 15lb mono leader. The overwhelming majority of fish I lost on chatterbaits on these setups would throw the lure on the jump. I think the braid was just too unforgiving in that aspect and the rod would come unloaded on those wide headshakes during a jump, get slack and throw the bait. I have since switched to straight 15lb mono on the same MH/F combo and my landing ratio has dramatically increased. Still lose 'em here and there but far less often and the jumps aren't nearly as worrisome.

Congrats on those monsters! I'm living vicariously through you right now

Me no read so good sometimes ? I thought you were saying the 705 was too spongy to rip grass.

I get it, but I have no issue so far ripping grass with the current setup. The lack of stretch on the braid really helps offset the softer rod in that instance, while still loading really deep on the fish. It's not conventional for how a lipless is traditionally fished, but it works....

Without reading anyone else's responses (trying not to influence my own thoughts), I think I could get away with, but not enjoy, fishing with only two rods. A 6'8" medium/fast spinning rod for lighter techniques and jerkbaits. A 7' medium heavy/fast for heavier techniques. I wouldn't love it but it would cover enough of the bases of what I fish to at least be "good enough."

Personally, I fish lipless on a MH/MF (Dobyns 705CB) paired with braid-to-leader. This is a little out of the norm for how many people like to fish them, but the rod loads super deep to keep jumping fish pinned, but the braid-to-leader still lets me rip grass pretty effectively and get solid hooksets. Losing fish is still part of the game, but I lose way fewer fish than I did when I was throwing them on a stiffer rod, even when I had it paired with mono. I would not personally fish the other techniques (aside from maybe light spinnerbaits) on that rod, though. I would think a 703 or 733 would do well for you all around.

Just as a quick aside, want to let you know I'm still working on that spinnerbait grind and I appreciate all the advice you've given me about it. My confidence is way higher than before, and I've had some really nice numbers days on it. Nothing big yet, but that's basically the story of my year so far regardless of presentation.

Ignore this man, we all know the true spinnerbait master of this forum is @TnRiver46

Yeah I'm pretty familiar with them on bottom fishing rods (grew up snapper and grouper fishing the Atlantic and Gulf, bass fishing is a newer passion for me), but the mechanics (for me, at least) between my bottom fishing rods and my bass rods are very different, so I'd be curious to get one of the new Mojo's in hand to really get a feel for it. Triangular grips/handles have been around for a long time in plenty of other hand-based products, the ergonomics do make sense and I doubt the shape would feel bad here.

I'd be curious to feel one in-hand to see how that triangular grip feels. Taste is subjective, but I think visually it's a clean looking rod. Perhaps a bit boring but that's not a big deal. If they feel good and fish good, sounds like a win for St Croix. I've played with a handful of Bass X rods and I've fished with a Mojo Inshore for a little bit and other than being a bit tip-heavy they were nice rods for the money. QC issues suck but they can happen to any company.

I use a M/XF for my wacky rigs regardless of season. 15lb braid to a 12lb mono leader. This has been a successful setup for me for that presentation. I've also gone heavier and used MH/XF, 20lb braid to a 20lb fluoro leader. Also worked great, though I prefer the bend in the M for those smaller hooks. The MH still landed me my biggest wacky rig fish at 8lb 7oz. I wouldn't overthink it too much, personally.

Picked up another SLX MGL today. Not 100% sure which rod I'm going to put it on yet. If I could go back, I'd have these on all of my combos honestly. Far and away the best of the SLX line.

The SLX A is just the standard SLX but with the addition of Silent Tune. Different frame than the Curado 150 MGL, and lacking things like MGL spool, cross carbon brakes, SVS Infinity, Micro Module gears, etc. Still a great reel at $99 IMO.

My answer. On a light wire hook and weightless or a light weighted Texas rig, they are absolutely deadly when you need to downsize. Watermelon/chartreuse and Junebug/chartreuse are my two top. They'd make a great dropshot bait, too. The Luck-E-Strike 4" ringworm is a great one, as well.

Surprised it's taken you this long to notice, I haven't had a haircut since Feb 2018 ?

Headed out behind the house for an hour this evening once the lightning let up. Water was flowing well and bass were feeding heavily. No big mommas cruising but lots of little 10-15" bass bunched in together. Got 7 on a watermelon/red senko, then came back in with a 1/10 oz watermelon/red Ned Bug for another 6, which got me the smallest (and biggest) of the hour. Weather Thursday looks promising, if it holds out I'll hopefully be able to hit one of my favorite spots. Fingers crossed the activity is close to this, there are some biiig girls in that spot.

Little known fact, the J in A-Jay's name stands for JACKED.

Happy birthday, Tom! I hope it is/was a great day. Appreciate the depth of knowledge you are always willing to share.

Attach a small barrel swivel to the line tie split ring and tie to the swivel. Your line twist issues will disappear and the small swivels (I use Spro power swivels) won't be heavy enough to interfere with the lure.

And that bluetooth Abu rod that paired with it with one simple click.... That one got clearanced out pretty quickly.

SLX MGL would be my choice in that budget.

Yup! I can't speak for SMB but the 110 in loon can still trigger some big LMB bites for me down here.

The finesse/compact Booyah Covert spinnerbaits look good, too. I have been enjoying the compact frames so far on my spinnerbait grind this year trying to figure them out. Wish they had a double Indiana blade version. The updated Intenza rods look great too, but the hook keeper is in a dumb spot (keeper should be on the opposite side of the blank from the reel it's not that hard IMO) but a Fuji EZ keeper solves that.