Aaron_H

Finally got my second BPS gift card from the FWC TrophyCatch program so placed a small order. Was running low on Zakos, and needed to get a couple more backup chatterbaits after losing the one. Excited to try the RES 2-tap, love the original and I've been having excellent luck with the Booyah one knocker so will be interesting to compare. Then threw in a Strike King tour grade compact spinnerbait. I'm not big on spinnerbaits but it's a technique I need to get better at. I like the compact frame and think it will do very well.

I fear not the man who has thrown ten thousand baits once, but I fear the man who has thrown one bait ten thousand times.

Absolutely phenomenal, A-Jay.

Good lord that fish is amazing. Apopka is on the up and up but it still has a way to go IMO. It's a healthy fishery again with lots of big fish, but I don't think it will be a potential record producer for many years. FWC did have that tagging program recently where they tagged and released a 13 pounder in Apopka so...it's getting there, but 13lb is a far cry from 17+.

I use clear heat shrink tubing. 50 feet of it usually runs $10-15 and is good for over 2,000 senkos (I use about 1/4" for each one). The 3/8" diameter is the right size. Just stretch the worm out a little when shrinking to ensure it gets tight to the plastic. This is the one I bought 5 years ago and even after giving some away to people I still have gobs of it left: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0030WCPVM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

Hopping/jigging bottom like A-Jay said can be very productive, especially in colder conditions. Down here my most productive retrieve is a simple slow straight retrieve, with the occasional 1-2 fast reel pumps interspersed which will usually trigger a follower to strike. The bladed jig won't just surge forward, but will roll/cut out to the side. I'm using a 6.3:1 reel with 25 IPT, and I go as slow as I can while keeping the blade vibrating.

Budget is the number one question. But if you want to stick to the $100 mark, the Shimano SLX comes in a 7'2" MH/XF.

Made the same 4 mile hike today as Thurs, brought a magnet to try and get that chatterbait back but no dice, gave up after about 30 minutes or so. The new chatterbait officially gets my stamp of approval, though. Numbers weren't as good today, only managed 7, but did better in size. Biggest two were 6lb 2oz and 4lb 12oz. 6lb 2oz: 4lb 12oz had a pretty decent sore on its tail:

Getting confident with a jig will give you a powerful tool for targeting big bass. Congrats on the catch!

That is a craving that never goes away.

I'd throw a jerkbait and a chatterbait, but I don't fish water that cold too often so I'm sure the northern guys will have better suggestions.

They don't come down into our neck of the woods, sadly, but I've heard/read a lot of great things from the midwest guys.

"This is not the biggest bass in the world, no. This is just a tribute." Almost kicked this cold, made a 4 mile hike this evening at a spot close to the house I don't hit often. Did decent, ended up with 14 with chatterbait doing the heavy lifting and whopper plopper scoring a handful. That little pipsqueak nipped at the Whopper Plopper 110 right at the bank and caught the front treble. Not the caliber of fish I was after here, there are a few real big mommas swimming in here but I wasn't able to find them this time. Aside from a couple of dinks, catches were all pretty cookie-cutter 2-ish pounders. Fun little fights and some good topwater blowups and hard eats on the chatterbait. Sadly that was the last photo I took with that chatterbait before I lost it. Line wrapped the tip on the backswing of a roll cast without me noticing, and POP! Saw it land only ~18" from the bank but it gets deep quick and it's chock full of muck and vegetation. I dug down shoulder deep for about twenty minutes before I called it and tied on a backup. Only a few bucks, no great financial loss, but I had that one perfectly tuned. Instant start up and it thumped hard. Been throwing that one since 2018, so I can't say I didn't get my money's worth out of it. I have the startup speed tuned about 99% on the new one already, but it doesn't feel like it thumps quite as hard, hopefully it will break in a little. Still caught a couple more on it after the switch. Might have to hit the spot with a magnet in the next few days and see if I can get it back before it rusts. Side-note: I decided to try throwing the Whopper Plopper 110 on the 7'2" medium SLX rod to see if it could handle the 1oz bait. I was talking with another member a few weeks ago about the medium SLXs being stouter than their rating as I'd seen some guys throwing 1/2 oz chatterbaits on them with ease and was curious. Rod took it like a champ, even harder overhead casts it never felt the least bit overloaded. Bent deep on those fish and kept them pinned well, I think this is my new favorite WP rod.

Hard to believe the 5" Senko wouldn't be up there.

Ahh, I forgot that BPS doesn't carry any of Shimano's freshwater rods (weirdly). Your original choice for the 7'4" H/F Bass X would be the move in this case IMO.

Whole tournament is just a 4D chess move by the walleye anglers.

Good on you for your honesty, but also look into the law in your state for unsolicited goods. If a company sends you a product you did not order, you are under no legal obligation to return it nor pay for it, it is considered a gift. Again, I commend you for your honesty.

Is that the JDM SLX DC 70? Matching colors isn't at the top of my list, but if I can get a combo that performs how I want and it's matchy-matchy then I'm all about it. Nice looking combo. I've handled the 7'4" glass SLX and felt it was a bit...much, haven't been able to check out that 7'2" yet.

I'll just throw out the SLX 7'2" (or 7'5") heavy/fast. I use it for frogs and big jigs, but it does well with A rigs also.

>begins nervously browsing SPRO's product page Looks like a great weekend despite the wind. Wouldn't turn my nose up to a mess of crappie like that.

No need for seasons/time of day, my answer is lipless crankbait for all of them. Situationally I will throw a chatterbait instead.

My only gripe with the rods is that the Power Hump grip is stupidly uncomfortable in my hands. If it wasn't for that, I'd own a few of the Signature series rods.

Curado 150 MGL would get my vote.

I use a standard SLX in 6.3:1 for chatterbaits paired with a 13 Fishing Defy Black 7'1" MH/F, 30lb PowerPro to a 15lb Big Game leader. Handles the technique very well, the rod leans closer to moderate-fast IMO.

Today is the first time I've been able to fish in about a week and a half, got hit with a pretty bad head cold last Monday, still under the weather but was able to get out into some fresh air for a few hours. Bite wasn't crazy, managed a handful on chatterbait, lipless, and one on the jerkbait. Most of them about that size, did manage one was was 3lb even, choked the lipless and was bleeding pretty bad so no pic. Thankfully missed the gills but stuck it pretty deep in the roof of the mouth. And of course removed a few more tilapia from the gene pool, only managed to get them on lipless today.