Finessegenics

Is the berkley choppo an acceptable answer? Just a cheaper whopper plopper but it works amazingly for me

Thanks! I prepare a huge TW order before each season and it usually keeps me stocked up until next year. Gonna order the Lews sometime soon too, but probably won’t use it until May. If I don’t forget, I’ll message you around then to ask you how it’s going.

I recommend inserting a small nail weight into the heads of the flukes, right behind the eye of the hook. This may not be clear without a photo but screw in the nail weight from where the hook pocket it is, into the head. I do this to have flukes run a little deeper, so i don’t see why it wouldn’t work on a double fluke rig. I usually use 1/32 or 1/16 (1/16 are a little harder to fit) VMC Neko Weights.

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Lews_Speed_Cast_Line_Treatment_and_Conditioner/descpage-SCLTC.html I noticed this on TW today and I was just wondering it if anyone had used it and what they thought about it. Doubt it’s been used much since it says it’s new. How does it compare to Reelsnot and the KVD line conditioner ? Wanted to know because it’s considerably cheaper, it’s a 6oz bottle at 7.99 and I believe reelsnot is 2oz at 9.99. Also, If you haven’t tried this new lews conditioner how do reelsnot and kvd one compare? Thanks!

Not really sure what the reasoning behind it is, but a gentleman I met said they were good in areas with more current. I can’t remember what his explanation was or if he even gave one. Was a while back

Been looking for the same too...I couldn’t find much reviews anywhere, only some on walleye forums.

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Dr_Slick_Hook_Sharpener_File_4/descpage-DRHF.html I like this one. Not the cheapest, or most expensive either but it is convenient because it comes on a keychain and it has a groove for the hooks to be easily sharpened. There’s also a Danielson one that’s currently out of stock which just a handle and file. It’s $5 which is significantly cheaper, but on back order. I think you should also watch this video too.

I might be 100 days early but congratulations!

Criminally underrated. If you wanna learn a bunch about the ned rig, I highly suggest going through this playlist. He got me hooked on it.

I never followed pro tournament fishing much, but after killing an hour doing some basic research, here's what I came up with. edit: Put my tiebreaker at a total of 88lbs and 10 oz.

The classical skunk buster, a ned rig in a shad pattern (zman makes mud minnow and the deal). If we’re just talking Zman plastics try the Finesse TRD, and the Finesse Shadz. I also feel like a dropshot could work well with whatever bait you feel confident in.

I was interested in Xzone Slammers. Think I might give those a shot too, they have some great color choices too. I think I’ll go with 309, green pumpkin top, with a iridescent blue belly.

I have the same issue as you, a lot of the water I fish is pretty muddy, and black and blue basically doesn’t produce. The chartreuses and whites do well though. This season I’m going to continue with black jigs, but use junebug trailers.

Yea, you are right they are quite bulky. But not to the point where it bothers me from being too heavy...my curado dc is the most high end piece of gear I have, and my lightest baitcaster is a regular SLX at 7 oz. Curado DC weighs in at 7.8 oz. Maybe it is because I am not fine tuned to super high end/light gear so I’ve just gotten use to it. DC reels aren’t 100% bird nest proof but it has made it much much easier for me to cast, especially on windy days. Most of the jerkbaits I throw are 3/8 oz and 7/16 oz, usually the Shadow Raps size 09 and 11 (which really isn’t that light so maybe I’m wrong about all this). On windier days, I set my dc system to 4 (most braking power for the Curado dc) and yes the bird nests are limited this way. There’s occasionally some overrun but that’s to be expected. On a calm, more normal day however, if you set up your spool tension right as well as the proper brake setting you can literally chuck a bait out there and not worry about anything.

I know you said you prefer a 7ft rod but I’ve seen a lot of people on similar threads recommend the st Croix avid X 6’4 M/XF. The short overall length and the shorter handle (13 inches I believe but don’t quote me) allows for those downwards twitches without having the handle hit your side or stomach, or the tip of the rod go into the water. Perfect for poppers and spooks too. I don’t use that particular model of the Avid X so my opinion doesn’t really count but I have other casting models of the Avid X and the quality is there. 15 year warranty too. Just watch out for the micro guides if that’s not your thing. That being said, I’m extremely biased. I want to second what @kayaking_kevsaid about DC reels. Totally worth it for light lures on windy days. Allows you to be more versatile since you won’t need to use a spinning rod. I love my Curado DC and the fact it comes in different gear ratios is great too. You can do just about anything with them.

Since size 1 EWG ned heads are hard to find, this is what I do. I Texas rig the TRD with a size 1 EWG. On the other end of the bait, I insert a VMC Neko weight in 1/32 oz. Anything larger/heavier than that and it won’t fit in the TRD. It screws in fairly easily and after playing around you can get it to go in straight. It’s not 100% snagless, I still get hung up in tiny crevices between rocks but I think it’s your best option for a brush pile as well. The options mentioned here by other users are really good too, as those jig heads are going to get you a heavier weight.

I have some Northland soft plastic leeches. I think I’ll use those instead of buying another bait in black.

What’s your most productive drop shot bait?

What baits do you use? Just wanna try out some different things and see what works.

Even though I mainly fish for smallmouth I’m not the most proficient dropshotter. I’ve had some success with the technique (on split tail minnow baits) but this coming season I’m looking to drastically improve my dropshotting game. I’ve picked out some new baits and colors I think would work best. I have the berkley MaxScent flat worm in blue shiner and goby as well the Zman TrickShotz in The Deal and Goby (which is basically green pumpkin with gold and purple flake). I wanted to get a third bait (or color) that might offer something different. My main question is, is it worth throwing a straight black dropshot bait? Some of the spots I fish have a foot of visibility and others 2-3 foot. Not much clearer than that. I’m having some doubts about black cause it won’t imitate much. Maybe a leech? Not sure if there even are any in my rivers. So if I’d stick with the same baits what colors would you guys recommend or should I go with more of a swimbait-type bait (like the mega bass hazedong) or anything else? Thanks

Sounds like a great idea. Im super interested to see where this goes

I’m surprised to hear you say that. I own a president myself and it’s a great reel but it gets mentioned every single time on any “suggestion for spinning reel” thread. I find that pflueger is quite popular with the members on here

Smallmouth: Green pumpkin/orange Finesse TRD on a 1/16oz mushroom head Largemouth: Yamamoto 5inch senko in Green Pump Amber Laminate

I regularly catch pike when targeting bass. If I want to throw a spinnerbait (which I love doing for smallies in dirty water) I'm basically forced to tie a wire leader on it. The chances of a pike hitting it and cutting my line is way too high. I dont tend to catch that many walleye while bass fishing, but I fish for them from when the open water season opens until the second week of june, when bass opens here. I also once caught a really nice rainbow on a storm arashi crankbait. Was quite the surprise.