Largies4Life

I currently do most of my fishing from shore, or go out in friends' and family's boats so I'm doing a lot of travelling and never keeping my tackle in a boat at all times, whether it be going from boat to boat or walking from pond to pond. As of now, I've been storing all of my gear in a couple big tackle boxes (for hard baits etc.), and cardboard boxes (for all my soft plastics). I was hoping to get something that would be more travel-friendly than having to lug around these big tackle boxes. Would a tackle bag work better than these tackle boxes? That way, I can put whatever I want in a handful of trays and be on my way, and it would be easier to carry around on my shoulder than a tackle box. Or what about a tackle backpack? Anyone have any good fishing backpacks out there? Or would a handful of utility boxes work just fine? Preferences on brands for utility boxes? Thank you all in advance!

More like what can't be used with that gear ratio! Probably the most universal gear ratio out there for most applications. For me, I like the 7:1 gear ratio for jigs, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, etc. I would use it for most moving baits until you get to cranking and jerkbaits, then I would change to a lower gear ratio.

Thank you for the great advice A-Jay! For me, it would have to be the adrenaline rush I get when my topwater hits the surface and before I can take a crank, I see a big wake streamlining towards my lure....the feeling just can't be beat!

Now available on TW!!

If I had to choose today, Daiwa Tatula SV. I picked up the Chronarch MGL, Lew's Team Mag Pro off the Christmas TW Sale, and a Daiwa Ballistic LT over the course of the winter. My mind might change after I get my hands on those new reels this season...

Also, for me personally, I was a bit hesitant ordering from one the Japan sellers. I was lucky enough to get one from a sports store down in Georgia who had 100% positive feedback from buyers. Just have to do your research on the buyer beforehand!

Your best bet is eBay for the Exprides. I was on the waiting list for 2-3 months on TW, and looked one morning on eBay and there was a new posting for the same rod I wanted and bought it. There were 3 available at the time and the other two were sold within 30 minutes of me getting mine. They are hard to come by, but well worth the wait!!

If you don't fish heavier cover, and if you already have a heavy rod for frogs and such, I would say there is no need for the 7'6" Heavy Expride in that case. You'd be much better off with the 7'6" MH for your jig fishing needs, especially if you aren't fishing any heavy cover. I prefer somewhat of a shorter rod, I have the 7'2" MH Expride and absolutely love it as my main jig fishing rod. I have it paired up with the Chronarch MGL, no complaints on my end!

Only have good things to say regarding the new Tatula series that came out. I haven't personally messed around with one yet, but they do appear to be very nice reels for the price point. My biggest recommendation if you're going to buy used or used to new gear is check out eBay constantly. Incredible deals show up every once in a while and you can land yourself some very good gear with a discount at that as well.

Last summer I was experiencing the same thing. I was using a swim jig with a fat keitech and would cast towards drop offs/structure (mostly drop offs with weeds and maybe some light timber on the bottom) and as soon as I could reel in my slack, I had a fish on. At some points it felt like every cast this was happening! It was very strange, and if I switched up my trailer from a paddletail, I wouldn't get bit. My theory was that it was the paddletail's vibration given off as it sank to the bottom on my cast that made triggered the bass to bite.

I got this same exact setup over the course of this winter and I will be using it primarily for jigs. Can't wait to test it out once/if the Midwest decides to thaw out!

One way to save money if you can would be to order one off eBay. There's always deals going around the site and most of the time, you can find the rod you're looking for cheaper than what most sites are selling it for. There's a combo out there right now for the SLX combo (reel and rod) for only $140!!

My vote would be for the Shimano Expride. I just don't see a rod performing any better than an Expride at that price point! That is of course, if you're willing to wait for one, or look on eBay periodically to see if there's one out there, that's how I got mine.

I like a 7:1 gear ratio. Specifically, the Daiwa Tatula SV. Nearly impossible to backlash once you get it dialed in properly. Makes skipping lures a lot easier for people who have struggled skipping lures with BC's.

I'll make sure to check out some videos prior to the season opener. I'm getting to the point where I feel like the bass are sick and tired of seeing my go-to baits year in and year out. I have high hopes for the lipless cranks and flukes though. They both go along with the way I fish the lake, so I'm sure these will get bit no problem!

Can't say I've ever used flukes before, but when I was using a paddle tail swimbait (fat keitechs) on the back of my swim jigs, I was catching a bass on nearly every cast it felt like last year, but when I used a craw or creature plastic....not a single bite. Do flukes suspend pretty easily? Weightless? I'll throw the flukes and hooks on my list as well.

I have lipless cranks on my list for my before-season purchase. I can't say I've ever thrown a lipless crank or jerkbait and really knew what I was doing. I can't say I even have any lipless cranks left. I hear a lot of people speaking of the Rat-L-Trap and the Red Eye Shad, what do you prefer? Any suggestions on jerkbaits? I see a lot of members speaking about the Vision 110's. Might have to grab a few for early spring!

I'd love to get into crankbait and jerkbait fishing, but have absolutely no confidence in them. What crankbaits and jerkbaits do you like to use in this scenario?

One of my favorite lakes to fish on growing up was at my grandparents on a small, private lake which is spring fed. The water is always very clear and you can see anywhere from 20-30 feet down. It's shaped like a circle, so there's no bays or points of any sort. We have had plenty of success using plastic worms and this past year, I was very successful with a swim jig. There are no crayfish, no rocks, (sandy bottoms throughout the whole lake) but a good amount of weeds on drop offs and in the shallows. As spring is approaching, I am getting ready to head back up there, but was curious if anyone has any go-to baits for crystal clear water like I've mentioned? I'm pretty picky on what I throw there since my confident lies in the wacky rig worm and a swim jig. Topwater works on occasion too, but moreso in the middle of the summer. I'm looking to expand my arsenal and have the chance at that trophy lurking down in the depths..

I can't say I've ever seen the GY topwaters before. They look great from the picture! If they act anything like spooks, then I'll end up having plenty in my boat!

That's what I was assuming as well until I asked one of the vendors and he said you still have to send a form in to Daiwa and they will send the shirt out. After hearing that, I was under the assumption that I could find the form online, but have been unable to do so. I may have been fed false info as well as he didn't seem too sure himself. I'll be at another show this weekend so I'll have time to check it out again I hope!

I was at a Fishing Expo this past weekend and saw signs for a 1/4 Zip Pullover that you could receive from Daiwa if you purchased a Daiwa Ballistic reel. I know they are also doing the Tatula Promotion with the Huk Performance Shirt. I was actually just about to buy a Daiwa Ballistic reel and was wondering if this promotion is still going on and if so, where I could find the promotion form? Thanks everyone!

Even in warmer water conditions where the bass are very active, you could throw those bigger lipless cranks in shallow and rip them to create those reaction strikes. Worked very well for me last year ripping baits through the shallow waters in the summer time.

X2. No need to go up to a MH for senko fishing, even if you are weighting them.

I have all my confidence in wacky rigging a worm. I haven't given it a true test T-rigging it, however. I always resort to the wacky rig when it comes to worms, but I really want to expand my horizon using the T-rig. Do you all prefer weightless T-rigging with worms or do you prefer a pegged weight? I mainly throw Gary Yamamoto worms for wacky rig, any preference on worms for t-rigging vs. wacky rig?