Luke Barnes

Skirt and paddle tail. Never tried it any other way.

Ive had luck with a 3" Gulp Minnow on a drop shot or under a bobber, Bobby Garland Baby shad on a small jig head swam or under a bobber, and cant forget my all time dink getter, the ned rig.

Very cool and great pics. I'm jealous of the saltwater fishing! Ive always wanted to try it. Now are you kidding reels to get this performance or are there stock reels like this?

It sounds interesting and fun. I live in oklahoma so it would be bass only and no saltwater. But I can see a long light rod and one of these shallow spool finesse baitcasters being fun.

Chatterbait and have a dedicated setup for it. I frog with a 7'2 H and cant imagine going heavier! Now that's something ive considered, but why not just switch to spinning? Have a jon boat that is in need of work before its water ready. I know there ya go spend your money there! Which is smart, but its not a new rod and reel I could have tomorrow!

I was sent a 6'10 M/XF casting rod by mistake and really liked the action on it and considered one for a while. Seems really versatile.

I dont bring everything with me when I go. It depends where I'm going and what I think will work at that location that I take. I dont always take the heavy if I'm not frogging and usually pick two of the spinning for my finesse approach. Usually two casting and two spinning.

Curious what you use the M/XF for.

The bait monkey is fighting me hard on getting a new rod and reel. So I got thinking what do i not have a specialty setup for? This is what I have and what I use it for. I am purposely leaving out brands and models because I'm looking more at technique specifics and not upgrading what I already have. If it turns out I have all I need then I'll work on upgrading to better setups. Casting: 7 ft MH/F for chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, and lighter jigs, buzz baits 7 ft MH/F for T rig, swing heads, swimbaits, 6'6 M/M for cranks and lighter weight stuff I want to use on a baitcaster, top water treble hook lures 7'2 H/F with a high speed reel for frogs, A Rig, and big jigs Spinning: 7' M I think fast action??? Wacky and Neko 6'6 M for drop shot, shakey head 6' 6 ML for ned rigs and any really light wire hooks Not sure what else I really need technique wise. I dont throw big swimbaits or do super serious cranking or deep cranking because I'm mainly bank bound.

While its the medical supply field, I can attest to raw material shortages. Whether it's plastisol or plastic for tubing we use, its hard getting the raw materials to make the lures and various other things. But it will pass and hopefully return to normal.

To me it looks like you are doing a cross between a Tokyo rig and a wacky jig. Try a small Tokyo rig and hook the stick bait wacky maybe? Same here...... But its interesting to say the least.

This is exactly why I use the drop shot and why I'm asking about weights. It's when and where i use it so want to be as much free as I can on the weight. Ive grown to grab the drop shot over the bed rig when I fish muck bottoms. To answer another topic, I do try to use light weights, as light as I can, but I base them more on the wind. Nothing I fish is over 10 ft so depth isn't a concern. But if its windy I want more weight to keep it down on the bottom.

But dang if it isnt a good finesse presentation. I'll take muck on my weight over not throwing it.

For the catfish guys that think soaking chicken breast in wd-40 its like one of those exercise got balls for a bobber!!

Now what are thoughts on tungsten? Since you are seperated from the weight more than say a T Rig, besides size does tungsten have any advantages?

Also WD-40 made a statement saying there product does NOT contain any fish oil and that it should not be used for fishing. Ive heard alot of catfish guys doing this but never the bass crowd.

You all arent doing anything to help the hype either. I looked online to see if anyone local had them and if anyone online has them in stock. I keep a drop shot tied on always so I really want to try these!!!

So the hook has a clip like the weight? Run the line through and pull it up into the pinched area? I always tie a single over hand knot in the line in case it slips some. After the clip that is.

I use the pencil style lead drop shot weights and when I'm fishing a mucky bottom they seem to slide down into it and hold on to a bunch of it. Ive never tried any other shape and weight isn't so much of an issue because I want it holding bottom so I err on the heavier side. Whats everyones experience with different shapes and styles of weights? For hooks I only use VMC Spin shot hooks to reduce line twist and I like the size and shape of them.

If I could find some I would buy them. I love the drop shot and been using all Zman stuff and have to scent it myself. Would rather use maxscent and just fish.

Man BPS makes some good colors in their plastics. Ive never used BPS plastics but between the river bug colors and my step dad used a roboworm style open pour worm that looked amazing and caught fish. He was using a 4" finesse style straight tail worm texas rigged and it caught as many as me using a wacky stick bait and jackhammer.

I used the Gambler Ace stick baits this past weekend and you arent lying about the garlic. I had my step dad smell and pulled back and went Whoa that smells someone used too much garlic!! They are potent but they work!

I was going to say a red shad culprit worm then scent it yourself.

I was a big skeptic for years about the wacky rig until this year I decided to dedicate a combo to wacky/Neko and I'll be darned if it doesnt catch fish. Pressured pond it produced, lake it produced even better. I used a green pumpkin (which ive also boycotted until now) Gambler Ace stick bait using o rings and it worked. It worked when the t rig was too heavy and sank too fast. I pitched the wacky by the grass and they would pick it up and start swimming and i would set the hook and bring them in. Trust me I was a skeptic big time, but not anymore.

Had my first good wacky rig day Saturday where I caught a bunch on it. Used the same worm the whole time, Gambler Ace, and used the same one for every fish until the last one finally tore it in half right at the boat ramp. Used the two I rings crossed method and i believe it saved me from changing baits big time. Caught probably five bass before it tore in half.