Aaron_H

I'm still not convinced that you didn't simply have a very convincing dream about this color. 😂 Is it at all possible that it was a similar style of lipless crank and not specifically a Rat-L-Trap?

In my limited experience, it is a combination of it being a primarily moving bait vs bottom contact, as well as the blade/snap introducing extra pivot points for the bass to get leverage against. These work in tandem to make the lure easier for a bass to throw, and a rod that loads deeper into the blank can help to maintain tension on the fish that would minimize this. I have fished bladed jigs and caught plus sized LMB on rods from MHXF, MHF, softer MHF (all graphite) to a glass MHMF, combinations of those rods with braid and mono, and have found the MHMF glass rod with 15lb Big Game seems to be working the best so far for my applications.

I have a Shimano Curado 150 MGL paired on my Fury 705CB. The SLX 70A is also a fantastic suggestion.

You're killing me with this AI stuff every post, gonna have to change your name to FloridAIFishinFool soon 😂 @HawkeyeSmallie that's an interesting question, I'm not sure if I could answer it. Do bass attack certain lures so recklessly because they feel more natural to them? In that case, I would say something like a jerkbait, lipless, or bladed jig. I've certainly held baitfish in my hands that thrashed in a way that felt similar to the thump of a trap or bladed jig, but does that translate to how they feel/sound in the water? If not, perhaps something like a swimjig or simple paddletail may move water in a more natural way to them. I'm not sure, I don't have a lateral line to say either way.

Welcome, Wes! Perhaps you would be able to shed some light on this conundrum: @Bazoo has the rest of us scratching our heads on what it could be.

Please post your impressions afterward, I'd be happy to hear your thoughts. A Fury 705CB rod is my dedicated lipless rod, but I felt it didn't have the backbone for a bladed jig, the 6 power Dobyns CB would fare better (in my mind).

#4 Mustad KVD 1x strong 2x short EWG trebles. https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Mustad_KVD_1x_Strong_2x_Short_Triple_Grip_Treble_Hook/descpage-MKVDEST.html I use them in #2, 4, and 6 depending on the lure. You can upsize to a #2 on a lot of 1/2 oz and 3/4 oz lipless baits without overpowering the lure with them being short shank. Most of my lipless I just stick with #4 front and back, though.

Have you tried contacting Bill Lewis to see if they can identify it? If anyone would have more access to past colors that we may not have public record of, it would be them.

You're going to get varied but good advice on this from a handful of people. What worked for me was a few things. At first I switched to a slower reel (6:1), then I ditched the braid in favor of mono, then I was still losing too many big fish, and I ditched the MHF graphite in favor of a MHMF glass rod. So far, all of those things have combined into a system that is working really well for me at keeping bass pinned on a bladed jig.

"Only" 😂 That's a big bass anywhere, but a huge bass for Iowa. That's roughly 70% the size of the Iowa state record, equivalent to catching a 12lber here in FL.

Bend the blades back to almost true on those and you'll have ones that start almost as quickly as the Jackhammers Stopped into Academy today after a haircut (you're welcome @gim) to put together a couple of tackle trays for my brother, picked up an S-Waver 168 and a pack of yellow stick baits for myself. @king fisher and @Team9nine got that banana idea stuck in my head and this is the closest I could find, we'll see if the yellow has any positive effect.

I have no dog in this fight, but I will say I also do not like how the wider front end of the T-wing reels feels in my hand. Love Daiwa and have several spinning reels from them, but the baitcasters just don't cater to me. Plenty of other reels on the market, I don't see any reason to get worked up over one brand maybe not fitting my hands/needs.

I primarily use Tackle Warehouse if I'm shopping online, but I've ordered from Academy (lot of stuff I can't get in my local stores), BPS, Tackle Direct (better saltwater/inshore selection than TW), and bought several rods/reels from ALF especially when they were running the crazy deals on the SLX combos.

Well I guess you'll never know. Good luck.

The trailer interacts with the blade and can affect the entire action of the presentation. Yes, the trailer makes a difference. Cut along the red line and nose hook the remainder like you would a drop shot.

Aside from this year, due to work reasons, I fish an average of 100+ days per year with my best year being 126 days. I throw a bladed jig almost every trip. Unless I'm unlucky (or around an abundance of tilapia as they bite the tails off my Zakos), a single trailer lasts me multiple outings and quite a few fish. They're also super inexpensive and quick to rerig if I lose one, and I will gladly pay it for a trailer that is going to give me the best chance at a trophy bass over a potentially less effective trailer that might be a little more durable.

I really feel like you overthink stuff like this. Go fish it, if it works it works. If not, trim it or use a different trailer. FWIW I don't think the obsession with soft plastic durability is going to gain you much. A properly rigged trailer should last for quite a number of fish before needing replacement except for an unlucky strike here and there. The keeper shouldn't be tearing up the plastic if it's rigged properly. I have Zakos that have been rigged up on Jackhammers for months and are still fine from the keeper.

The title of the thread is "Favorite lure to throw" 🤔

Pushing 100 lipless cranks in the boxes currently. Can't get enough of them. I genuinely expected to see you post about spinnerbaits. 😲 @A-Jay, I feel like I recall you mentioning this elsewhere so apologies if this is treading old ground for you, but why do you suppose the shrimp does so well versus the more typical perch pattern?

I set the spool tension just until it eliminates any side to side play, then back it off just a hair so that there is juuuuuust a tiny amount of play in the spool. For the Curado 150 I have 2 brakes on, 4 off, with the external dial on 4.

What an excellent weekend!

Haircut is coming soon, I actually meant to get one yesterday but other things got in the way. Haven't had a haircut since Feb 2018 so it will be a change, but I'm tired of the brushing and how much shampoo/conditioner it takes. I have a pretty righteous pic of my hair down, but gim might have a stroke if he saw it.

Y'all got me over here about to wacky rig a banana.

Iguanas have scales, bass have scales. Iguana = bass. It's science!