Bass Rutten

I use the dream shot but never with circle hooks (live bait only), with how small and thin it is I would guess the size 1 would be better than 1/0 and size 2 might be better yet. I think the angled eye on the gammy would not stand the hook out and would droop as that design is made for snelling. Owner makes the mutu light wire circle hook with the eye in line with the shank (see pic) which would stand the hook more horizontally and probably make for a better drop shot presentation. I've always been curious how circle hooks would work with wacky and dropshot, I have both styles of circle hooks in a full range fo sizes buried somewhere, I'll see if I can dig them up and experiment a little and report back.

For round bends on smaller to standard size baits I like the st-36. The gamakatsu magic eyes are really good too and seem a touch beefier than the owner st's and are my choice for larger lures or if using heavier rods.

I like the jika rig better than the Tokyo or the Texas rig for coming through vegetation due to how compact it is and how the weight swings back independently of the bait, it rarely picks up weeds and if I do feel it pick up something a light pop usually clears it. My general rule regarding water clarity is the clearer the water is the more streamlined the lure and faster the fall rate I want regardless of rigging method.

How you fishing these big boys, deep I assume?

PSA ten colors of the sleeper gill in stock at ttt

Was browsing Amazon earlier and spied a few deals I thought I’d share: daiws fuego 2500 $83 daiwa exceler 2500 $64 daiwa fuego 100hsl $80

Picked up a major craft benkei 6'9" mh/mf recently with walkers like the the dog x diamante and pop max in mind. Very impressed with the quality at the price point ($130) with all fuji hardware and reel seat, it is listed as a mod-fast taper but is definitely on the faster side of mod-fast and easily powerful enough for jigs and plastics and handles the super spook (7/8oz) with ease, it's rated 1/4-1oz. After a few weeks of getting to know it I have found not only my best walking bait rod but the best skipping rod I've owned to date, it's also a great soft jerk rod, the strike king caffeine shad in particular.

Just a thought, the tatula 200 is another reel you might consider if on a budget, it's similar in size to the 1520. I use it on a small swimbait rod and it'll bomb lures into the next county and has just as much line capacity, you could buy two for the money of one ziliion.

There seems to be some confusion here. Are you referring to the new 22 zillion hd 1000 or the 18 zillion hd 1520? I think either would be up to the task, the 1000 is just a variant of the new g series zillion, same size body with bigger handle (among a few other differences). I own the 1520 and it's a bit chunkier than the standard zillion but still palmable but I have slightly larger than average hands, it also weighs over 8 ounces and holds a crap ton of line. I own the jdm zillion too (standard not hd) and it lives on my st croix legend elite for the sole purpose of casting and pitching creatures and jigs, I use 16lb fluoro and have no issues with line capacity. Brass tacks... I'd just go for the standard zillion either U.S. or jdm and see no real need for the 1520 hd for your purposes unless fishing real deep or bombing casts.

Mind sharing your method? Great observation. I need to revisit the free rig technique and experiment a little, for some reason it just didn’t click with me, it created more questions than answers lol. General question for anyone… do you find it effective working it back through open water or is it more for targeting a piece of cover?

Expride 7’3” xh

Owner twistlock.

Speak for yourself ?

I personally would buy them each a moderately priced spinning setup and see if they stick to it a while before investing in a casting setup which can be a frustrating deterrent and a headache for beginners to learn, plus being teens they'll be discovering girls any minute now and may lose interest real quick if ya know what I mean lol. You can cover a lot of techniques with just a medium/fast spinning outfit.

The two setups you mention are the perfect place to start and will perform 90% of all bass fishing duties with artificial baits (worms, jigs etc), however live bait is a different story with different gear requirements. Can't help you on the catfish front but for panfish check out st croix's panfish series, they have a 7' light power which works great for panfish bobber fishing, they run around $130. For a reel the daiwa 2500 exceler at around $80 will serve you well, you don't need the fuegos magseal bearings for freshwater fishing.

Water clarity is a major factor imo in any discussion about fall rate. I lean heavier if it’s on the clearer side, and vice versa obviously.

I second the strike king structure jig. Does great in grass or rock, swims and skips well, plus an owner hook.

Any chance you know what the part number on that spring is or where to get it? Thx

The Jika rig with light skinny weights and narrow baits comes cleanly through everything I’ve ever encountered except for that nasty green slime.

If I had to choose one it would be both, a gp/wm laminate, aka california 420

How is that humanly possible?

As an aside all the avid casting rods were discontinued last year except for the trek travel casting rod.

Interested

Sounds and smells a little phishy