Jig Man

I am on information overload. I want a hi vis far casting braid. I’ve been a Power Pro hi vis or white user for 20+ years.

I need to put some braid on a Gloomis Bronzeback 6’9” ml rod with a Shimano 70 on it. I am having shoulder trouble and need to fish Neds with a bait caster for a while. I normally use this setup for small to medium swimbaits with fluorocarbon line. I think I need braid for the feel of Ned bites and better casting. This setup doesn’t work well with baits under 1/8 oz. I fish a lot of timber and rocks so 15# is my go to.

It’s hard to listen to a guy in shorts talking about winter.

Gamakatsu hooks are what I use on my swim bait heads. I haven’t had any trouble sharpening them. Most of my other hooks are Mustad and Victory, no issues with them.

I don’t have water proof but I have a system that works for me. I but those beaded jersey gloves because the regular ones are slippery while I can have good grip with the beaded. I take 2 or 3 pairs with me. When one gets damp I use another one. My coat has inside chest pockets so it goes in there and my body heat can dry it. I could probably get the same thing with putting them in with hot pockets to dry them. At any rate I haven’t needed more than 3 pairs for a day. I get them at Wally World for a couple of bucks each. You can get them in lots of places. https://www.ebay.com/itm/162589016028?chn=ps&var=461592482505&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-166974-028196-7&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=461592482505_162589016028&targetid=2275367127251&device=t&mktype=pla&googleloc=1020569&poi=&campaignid=21065563879&mkgroupid=160223808192&rlsatarget=pla-2275367127251&abcId=9387185&merchantid=118864248&geoid=1020569&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD_QDh9DWAoZjwWc1DglxD7ed4t4I&gclid=CjwKCAiAg8S7BhATEiwAO2-R6gvkcCdAl-oCzJvC0-wII-63ASvvgaT01Ewq4ZTMTmVuTlvg41jrwxoCA_wQAvD_BwE

Go to a C Store and get one of those red coffee stirring straws. Put it on the line next to the bait until you don’t need it.

Many states have guys at rest areas. If you are towing a boat they will stop you and spray your unit with hot water.

You should have several options for a 55# tmotor. A good lithium battery will cut down the weight a bunch. I have a 100 ah for all my electronics and it only weighs 27#.

Ethernet is how units share info. Updated software is usually a good thing.

The only house brand that I buy is Redhead products from BPS. They are good. Most other stuff is sketchy.

Twin tail grubs (4”) that I pour to match or contrast to the jig.

Not any more. I fish a couple of times a week and it all get mixed up so I keep an Excel file where I record pertinent information.

The what depends on you. I have owned Lowrance and Humminbird units. I have fished with 2d sonar, down scan, side scan and Garmin and Humminbird live. They all have units that with added transducers can do the job. One unit should suffice for a Kayak. I think Lowrance has the best 2d sonar, Humminbird has the best side and down scan while Garmin has the best live. What’s most important to you?

Went back to Table Rock this morning and took my neighbor. It was 31° and the wind was beginning. We fished the same general area as I did on Tuesday. Fishing was somewhat better. We caught 23 spotted bass 5 of which were nice keepers. All were caught on various TRDs rigged Ned. The only bad thing was the 20+ mph wind which chilled me to the bone. Right now I am sitting in front of my wood stove enjoying a beer. Cheers.

Compared to the last trip this was a struggle. Last trip we found spots congregated near the bottom in 25-30’ of water. We only fished 2 places and boated 91. Alas they have moved on and we could never find any concentration. We covered over 10 miles checking various places.

Not much of a report but I did take a friend to Table Rock today. It was 32°, foggy and we had to stay close until about 10:00. We struggled to find fish. We caught 20 and missed or lost several more. The Ned rig and Pee Wee jig were the only baits that produced.

That was the best game I’ve seen all season.

NED

If those Duracells are flooded I would charge them every month. Agm batteries don’t need it that often.

I live about 10 miles from the main BPS store. I used to buy most of my stuff from there. However, the inventory has changed and I can rarely find what I want and they sre often overpriced so I have just about quit going there.

Around here in the rocky highland reservoirs the football jig gets hung up less than other styles. I rarely use any other kind of jig year round.

I use 15# with various leaders.

Nope

I always run blades on my top wires.

I agree with Glenn. We’ve been using 3/16 mostly this fall down to 30’.