txchaser

Front seat, pointing backwards. And I agree on the rod sock advice, at least for your longest few rods.

That #1 fish... big goggle eyes, long and fat, that's an impressive fish

Keitech Fat Impact on an Owner Flashy Swimmer, so much so that I'm spending a lot of time figuring out what else they will bite - Swimjig, nope, swim senko yes, chatterbait in any of 100 blades/colors/whatever nope, crank rarely, buzzbait rarely, wacky senko does ok too, but man it's not my speed at all. All dirt shallow, less than 5FOW.

Consider the HMH helium, it fits a spot that's hard to fill otherwise... basically the opposite of the LMH.

100% this, being really focused on what the water and the fish and the wildlife are telling you. Birds are feeding shallow on the other side of the lake? Maybe you should go over there. Watch for people talking about stuff like this, or structure, or seasonal patterns. Not so much what their favorite line/lure/boat/whatever is. Did this twice this year on livescope. The only problem with it is I wish I had been doing it for a while, because it dramatically increased my knowledge in a short time. Try to stay focused on one or a choice few things to learn though. I straight out told him I don't really care if I catch some fish, I want to learn what I'm looking at, why it is happening, what to do about it, etc. Fishing with a buddy that's better than you, or better in certain situations can do the same thing. I have one buddy that's a "trolling motor on high" guy. As soon as he's on something resembling a pattern he's immediately covering as much water as possible, and that's nearly the opposite of me. So I learn... Finally, to ask the question you asked - here's kind of how I go about it. Find videos/posts/whatever that either get into some of the 'why' or ones from people with credibility for one reason or another. There's a bunch of both types here; youtube is hit or miss. Read/watch a few about the same topic, see what' consistencies you find, and where they differ. Then go on the water with that as a bunch of theories and see what you find. Doesn't take too long to figure how who more often than not are giving you good info, and info relevant to your situation. Also figure out what people have to gain by the 'advice' they are giving. Just because there's a profit motive doesn't make it a bad thing, but perhaps their specific choice of jig trailer is sponsored, so be a little more skeptical there. Examples: 1) Tom/WRB here mentioned something about looking at the intersection of the thermocline and the bottom, and Catt said something similar. Both those guys have a shocking amount of time on the water, and good results too. Maybe I should go look there? Yep, sure enough, there's some serious fish there and they are big. 2) Milliken - I'm not usually a fan of the youtuber crowd, but I was interested in the hover stroll rig and he had a video on it. Broke it down in a lot of detail, so I had an open mid to what else he was saying. Then I watched his Livescope video and it was very much in sync with the training I got from the guide mentioned above. Oh and he's in the same area, so his seasons are in sync with my waters. 3) Glenn - well, he has an entire forum dedicated to the topic, and a bunch of videos too. I tried some of what he was saying and it worked. So all three of those get the benefit of the doubt as a starting place for the next topic. Make a roster of trusted people by testing on the water. Finally, there are some classics out there that are mentioned in the books threads on bass resource, like actual books. Amazing starting place.

What do you like in a good thumping trailer?

It's very noticable to me, it's 1/2 power down from a MH. Perfect for 3.8 keitech on a 3/0 flashy swimmer, or a senko. Light t-rig, perfect. Probably a better rod for a 1.5 squarebill than a MH. Don't try to fish a big jig with a big trailer on it though. Think medium and light hooks, no heavy hooks. If you made me pick it's going to be better at stuff you'd usually thrown on a MH but it's a little light for good rod loading. But a small jerkbait I'd rather throw on a medium.

From looking at AJ's post and some of the other comments, it's mostly trending towards subtle/tight wag, but a couple of people with Keitechs as the right trailer, IE big wag, and a few with body roll as a priority. At a minimum it's got me in experiment mode on seeing if I can figure out what I'm looking for to know which one to use. Grass is coming real soon in texas so I'll have just the situation to play. Thanks everyone! I'll probably work down the keitech, jackall, biospawn, rage bug as I have them all in GP or GP/watermelon laminate, and a couple of places with reasonably clear water.

Seeing as this has turned into a pretty interesting thread, I wonder if there are strong opinons on trailer X vs trailer Y? I recall a bunch of people talking about x-zone swammers being better on swimjigs than other trailers, but then they kind of disappeared. And the TB guys with the River to Sea preference. And at least one pro using the biospawn for a similar reason. Anways, I have lots (and lots) of keitech fat impacts, but perhaps the wag is too much? Does it really need more roll? Have you found one trailer catching way more than others? Is there a 'best', is it situational, or just put whatever decent quality paddletail you have around on there and be done with it?

Fair, but if I recall correctly when they cut the antennae off it got less bites. Maybe I should put some skirt material on the end of a poop arrow/cover scat/etc. Or maybe this is why the Ika works so well.

PBBrandon's comment is spot on. I can't tell any difference in performance between the two. The black one (2020) is smaller, more understated. I think they kept the 2017 one around because some people prefer it. It might be a little more refined than the 2020, but it's also a little bigger. TBH unless you have really small or big hands, it's not going to matter, just get whichever one you can get cheaper.

do tell...

If you are going to send mail, this is a -great- idea. Makes it super easy for them to respond. You might point out that you are a catch-and-release fisherman, and a little bit about why you like being outdoors. Lots of people really enjoy the idea of someone enjoying their property that doesn't get used. Showing up at someones house for a property that's somewhere else, ehh, feels a little stalker-ish to me. While I've never done this, I was close at one point - all over texas there are hunting leases. You might have some luck getting an inexpensive fishing lease for offseason at one of those places. At least around here the duck leases often have decent sized ponds/lakes on them.

With a TatSV (regularly on sale for $150ish) you will have a single adjustment to make. No opening the reel, fiddling with tension, any of that. Less of an issue when you have rod locker full of rods specifically tuned for presentations, but if you are fishing on just a few, it's one less thing to learn or mess with. And it is really forgiving in the wind. I expect you'll have a similar experience with the DC, but I don't hear of many people buying a bunch of DC reels, where lots have a locker full of SV-spooled reels (Tat/Zillion/Steez). On the upside, the DC noise is pretty cool, and if other people hear it they will want to check it out. I used one for a day with a guide, it did what it was supposed to do, but I didn't find myself wanting to go get one. I was helping a guy fish one day, he had a shimano reel and was learning baitcasters. Having some overrun problems as he wasn't very experienced. I told my buddy (it was his rod/reel the guy was using) I couldn't figure out how to solve the problem. Imagine the look on my face when he started taking reel apart. I'm not going to say just get a JDM Zillion, because I've typed it too many times.

100% your best bet is in the flea market here. Barring that, something like a striker 4 which will be a little over $100 new. I haven't used any in that price range, so hard to make a specific recommendation; I started with a deeper pro. But either go as inexpensive as you can from one of the major brands, or get something like a 7" with SI. I'd start with the former though. One thing to note about the digital/variable TM - they use a different approach to managing speed, so my 12v battery usually ends the day at 75%, instead of the 25% with a 5-speed. Anyway you'll know real quick after a few days on the water whether the 30 is workable for a while.

If you have the amazon card it gets pretty close on the 5% rebate.

Oh that's really cool. Shipping is $20 bucks now from amzn japan. Maybe better when I login? Anyway it's less expensive just buying from the US amazon site now either way. Very cool! ps: Daiwa when you read this, just be cool about it, it's not hurting your USDM market, and drawing lots of people upmarket with the zillion 'secret'...

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Z-Man_Trout_Eye_Jig_Head_3pk/descpage-ZMTREYE.html I started using these on a-rigs (I wanted a big gold eye) and they work great with 3.3 and 3.8. Hook is stout enough to deal with all the a-rig drama and smashing.

Grande Bass Gila Monster. Made out of senko-like material, 8.75" long. It's a giant senko-lizard. Haven't fished it much, but it sure is a big meal.

I created a new account. Also note you can put the site in english and show prices in USD. Look for the japanese flag on the top nav bar. The english and the exchange rate aren't perfect, but they are close enough.

@Cbump water in east tx was 57 degrees (down from 63-64) last Saturday. Cloudy, windy, nasty. Fish were supposed have pulled off some. Nope. Big fish was on a buzzbait in 3fow, neko Slink-o 6fow, next chatterbait in 5fow (shallow creek channel), neko rigged bellows gill in 3fow, all the rest were on a flashy swimmer in 1/2-2 FOW. I might have done better just fishing the buzzbait and the flashy swimmer and covering more water, but there were a couple of high percentage spots that I wanted to slow down on. Threw a bunch of other stuff like big soft swimbaits and swim jigs and got no bites at all. It was almost the opposite of what I expected. No beds visible, no worn tails. Not a bunch of big fish though. It just felt like a prespawn bite, full on feed bag. Other than the two neko bites, everything else was a reaction/fast moving. Buzzbait only got bit when I was burning it back. Normal speed buzzbait was getting nothing at all. Anyway I shared all this because it was not at all what I expected, although there's been another cold snap since then.

I watched this video where the livescope screen was on the video the whole time as an overlay. It was absolutely riveting. It might increase pro viewership, because you can see what's really going on. Might not happen because all the competitors could see it too... but at least there's something happening besides watching some guy cast. If you haven't seen this one, it's definitely worth a watch whether you do or don't have livescope. He's not very hyperbolic, feels more instructional here.

Thanks everyone. Consensus seems pretty clear, most of the details that matter are in construction and approach (like head shape and skirt quality). I think I can cut it down to two brands then, one for a medium wire and one for heavy wire hooks, as they are pretty good on the details. Medium wire - evergreen, they are built like jackhammers, same colors etc, great bait keeper etc. Heavy wire I think they are mostly dirty jigs. And I bet I rarely get these out anyway. Everything else is headed to the donate pile, except the picassos, which I need to put some time in on them - they have a spread wire titanium guard that seems like it'll be much better in brush, so I'll give them a shot and see; otherwise well built. I just have more of the evergreens already and looking to standardize on something.

If you can swing it, upgrading to a variable thrust 55lb trolling motor will make you happy. The variable thrust will let you nearly hover/spotlock in place; the 5-speed will leave you always a little too fast or too slow. 30lb may leave you drifting in the wind. Even with 55 I've had times where I had to push pole off a bank, trolling motor couldn't cleanly cut through all the weeds and the wind was in my face. But I'll fish in pretty high winds in a jon boat because I think it's good fishing weather. Nope. Big sponge, a coke can, whatever. If it's leaking fast enough to need a pump you're in trouble. No switch. Get a battery box for the battery though. Most have a breaker built it. I use the Minn Kota one. It's fine, but when I replace it I'll try the northport (northlands? something like that) one because MK should have put lok-tite on the nuts inside, and they didn't. You'll have to retighten them every now and then and it is kind of a pain in the butt. yes I carry a 17lb anchor with three spines on it, kind of a cross like a mushroom anchor with teeth. And a 10lb kettlebell to add on when the wind is high. I got a 50' and cut it in half. Usually only need the 25 ft, and I just tie on the other 25 when I think I'll need it. Otherwise there's a bunch of rope everywhere and it makes me nuts. 100% yes Also, trolling motor wrench, flathead screwdriver that fits the shaft, and an extra pin. Sometimes they get sheared off. I think there's a whole kit you can get that's like $10 for the wrench and pins. The TM wrench will be much easier than messing with a crescent wrench while you are out on the lake, leaning over the side, trying to replace the pin. Put the wrench on a bit of twine or 550 cord so when you drop it in the water you won't be stuck. A pushpole has been nice in really shallow water, you can get some places that others might not be able to go, and may save you downwind. I use frabill's extendable lure retriever as double duty. Even a really inexpensive fish finder will let you know how deep you are, and find offshore structure. A mapping one will be even better, but anything is better than no having one at all.

I can't wait to see who's first to remember the berkely research about the most bites coming on craws with no claws. And then snip the claws off these.