BrianMDTX

I’ve been much more of a hunter than an angler most of my adult life. One day in the not-so-distant future I will likely (other than firearms) divest myself of my hunting gear when no longer able to hunt like I’m used to doing. When that happens, melancholia will definitely set in. I feel your pain, as it’s coming one day soon.

I use a 1/4 oz tungsten bullet weight Texas rig on a Zoom Mag 2, which is a ribbon tail.

I haven’t had any success with it. But I’m fishing ponds that are max 7’ deep, so I don’t know how well a dropshot rig works in that environment.

Absolutely. Like I said, the grips are quality, it’s very sensitive and shows craftsmanship. My only “complaint” is the hook keeper is on the left of the blank vs underneath. But it’s a small complaint lol. Plus, it looks good. Which means nothing as far as performance, but I’m a believer that you fish and hunt better with equipment that looks good in your eyes.

I was really impressed with the sensitivity of the Daiwa Procyon MXF spinning rod I purchased in August. And the cork grips are quality.

I have two Aird-X’s. A MHF and a MF. Both are darned good rods for the money.

I’ve caught more on a WR by far. But I truly like fishing a TR with a 1/4 oz. tungsten bullet weight and either a Zoom Trick worm, Zoom Mag 2 or a 9” Mann’s Jelly worm with a Gammy 3/0 EWG hook and slowly working it across the bottom. When I feel that “tap-tap-tap” and drive that hook home, I feel like I’ve truly caught that bass vs the lure doing most of the work on its own.

I have two pairs of dark green Cabela’s polypropylene long Johns that I bought in, oh, 1991. I’ll be using them again this year. My daughter bought me a new pair for Christmas two years ago. Ain’t. Even. Close.

I can honestly say I’ve caught more bass on a 5” Senko wacky rig with a 1/0 circle octopus hook than all other lures combined.

As Austin Powers would say, “Thumbing spools is a drag, baby, yeah!” ?

I don’t have any!

It’s hip to be square!

They rent canoes and yaks on Antietam Creek in Maryland, so yes, you can paddle in a creek. Maybe not all, but many.

Most are a PITA. It’s often easier (although I’m sure frowned upon) to simply use a leg on the first guide as a hook holder.

Yeah, they’re muckrakers for sure. I do have a Rat-L-Trap lipless to try. Not sure of the color.

I don’t get the need for the tool. It takes me 3 seconds to put a 1/4” O ring on a 5” Senko. It’s simple.

Mostly #10’s (1/4” I.D.). I have used #11’s (5/16” I.D.) but the #10’s are a tighter fit. What I described is not a bass (or other fish) pulling the Senko thru the O ring. I’m talking about I have caught bass and the hook is set in the lip, and the Senko/O ring is 3”-5” up the line. Unhook the bass, let it go and slide the O ring back down under the hook. Which is way better IMO than having the bait ripped when it’s rigged with the hook through it.

I fished before the sun came up until after 11:30, so over four hours. Had that one bass swipe the WP twice and that one strike on the Zoom Max 2. No Senkos were harmed in the making of this disaster lol. Had a cold front come come through the day prior. I’ll blame that!

Fact is...sometimes they just don’t bite!

I must disagree. The whole purpose of the O ring is to prevent (or at least reduce) the ripping and tearing of the stickbait with the hook through it (especially a Senko). Why use an O ring if you put the hook through the bait?

I never “set the hook” on a WR. When the line starts moving I reel in until the line is tight and 95% of the time the circle octopus hook sets itself. And you’re right. If the hook isn’t in the fish’s mouth it tends to simply pull the WR away from the fish without losing the Senko or other stickbait. In cases like that, I often reel the WR in and find the hookpoint slightly embedded in the underside of the Senko. It’s a good sign a fish was on it, but didn’t inhale it.

To each his own. I grew up a stone’s throw from the Chesapeake Bay and 3-1/2 hrs from the Atlantic. When I was younger rockfish (stripers) and bluefish were kings in the Bay (along with crabs lol) and flounder, sea trout, cobia, drum, dolphin, tuna, etc. were near or offshore. I still preferred fresh water and bass in particular. Why is a good question. I guess part of it is that I prefer the atmosphere that fresh water provides more than brackish or saltwater does. I love being on still waters surrounded by trees, using lighter tackle and the sights and smells that fresh water fishing provides more than salt. The quiet, the solitude, the peace...broken by the jump of a big large or smallmouth bass. To each his own. To me, that’s fishing.

I’ve lost Senkos, but normally after a hookset that likely wasn’t great and the bait came off during the brief fight. I can’t recall ever losing one on just a strike with zero hookset.

I think when the point of the hook sticks in the jaw, the bait is pushed up the hook onto the line. All I know is using an O-ring saves a lot of Senkos!

To me (former Mid-Atlantic guy), tiny waters that are basically non-navigable are brooks and runs. A creek may be small (or very small), but some named creeks I know are easily navigable by canoes, yaks and even boats.