Bass Rutten

No worries or offense taken, I don’t mind constructive criticism, I may even try your suggestion. I had some breakoffs when I switched from the uni-uni to the Alberto which didn’t help.

@Lmsmbassaddict Knots, religion and politics, lol! I can sum it up in three words, er letters actually... ocd. Really though, I just like the extra security, and being able to cut the tag flush, I put a tiny dab of superglue right b4 I cinch the rizutto, not super necessary but gives me extra confidence.

Lots of big bass are landed on light line and spinning gear as long as it’s appropriate to the cover you’re fishing. The bigger problem with spinning gear is that yelling out “SON!” like Roland Martin just ain’t the same.

How are you attaching them?

I went through 4, 10, and 12 lb last year and will never buy again. It performs well enough, one of the smoothest casting lines I’ve used actually, but begins to fray in short order, has wind knot issues (line conditioner is a must), and you’re knot game must be spot on. I couldn’t trust any knot without a little dab of superglue. I use an Alberto with a rizutto finish for my leaders. It was the most high maintenance braided line I’ve ever used.

A jika rigged worm gives you nearly the same presentation and comes through junk cleaner. It’s easy to make your own and let’s you use your hook of choice. It’s pretty much replaced shaky and texas rigs for me.

My do-it-all jig is Northlands jungle jig, stays upright, swims well, sheds weeds pretty good, cheaper than most ($3.50).

Just poke the weight in until it’s buried, then add a dab of super glue, or melt the end of the worm with a lighter, works great for me.

No issues that I’m aware of, I was commenting on high modulus blanks in general, not this specific model.

I used to throw 1.5 & 2.5’s on my 705cb with mono (yozuri 12# hybrid) and found I was losing a lot of fish to what I believe was too much stretch, after switching to 30lb braid/leader my hook up and landing ratio became very high. It’s feels now as if its got a perfect blend of give and hooking power. The 705 with mono it feels like fishing with a old rubber band to me. The 705 is not ideal for the 4.0, lures approaching an ounce will likely need to be lob casted.

Hold up, you were fishing a senko in the 70’s? A man ahead of his time ?

In case you don’t know, it does exist (4.5”) https://zoombait.com/magnum-uv-speed-craw/

Wow, did not know this magnum size existed.

The lure must begin it’s acceleration smoothly to prevent backlash. Pitching is imo more about technique than it is about reel settings. I would try looser on the spool and higher on the brakes though as a heavy rod is going to accelerate the lure abruptly, spool tension is for the end of the cast, brakes for the beginning. A heavy fast rod is just not ideal for pitching unless it has a softer tip (than your average heavy rod).

The reason is because it’s got a very very fast tip and in my opinion its weight range *feels* like it should be more like 3/16-1/2, it goes into the backbone really close to the tip, like 80/20 or maybe even a bit closer. The reason the light weight range I’m sure is because it’s such a high modulus blank and and therefor more brittle and prone to breaking.

Nice review. Just curious what your previous line of choice for topwater was or is?

I’d go regular/medium wire. For jigs with heavier wire hooks just bump the line up to 15-20lb test and your good to go, cast’em and blast’em! Edit: for finesse jigs I prefer medium power rods, with a mh rod and light wire hooks I’d stay away from heavier cover.

I use a 6.3:1 for squarebills and spinnerbaits, I prefer reeling a little faster with lower torque, I feel more in connected and in control of lures.

What rod, action, power and fishing line are you using? They will dictate which jig to tie on.

A medium heavy mod-fast action rod will do most things you mentioned really well with braided line. The dobyns fury 705cb is an amazing value, it has enough bend to protect trebles, and the braid provides enough power for single hook lures when needed. I use this setup for whopper ploppers, poppers, spooks, squarebills, medium divers, jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, finesse paddletails , swimjigs (light wire). A very versatile, light and balanced setup that spends lots of time in my hands.

5-10 seconds to deploy, 15 maybe 20 to retrieve/ clean off? If you’re fishing tournaments then that’s a different story. A few years ago I started anchoring up in spots instead of run n gun style mostly out of necessity and starting having better success (I fish out of a canoe), of course you have to be reasonably sure there’s fish there or it might be a waste of time. I’ll hit an area 360° with at least 2 presentations (often more) dictated by time of day and hit cover from more than one angle before moving on (if you don’t have a pattern already established obviously). I do drift fish still though sometimes on unknown waters. Agitating bass into striking is an effective and overlooked approach imo