GetFishorDieTryin

I really only use wacky rigs in shallow water when little else works. Its really effective, but its not my favorite way to fish. A neko to me is kind of like a wacky rig and shakey head combined, it does a little better on the bottom, it all depends on weight and how you fish it. I prefer a shakey head, but a neko has some advantages. A neko will stay a little cleaner in slimy bottomed lakes. In rocks it more resistant to snags and the knot doesnt take as much of beating compared to a SH. A ned is almost too versatile to pin down. There may be more efficient ways of using them, but IMHO I don't think there is a wrong way. Personally, most of the time when I fish a ned, Im fishing it on or near the bottom most of the time. If I'm not likely to be dragging the bottom, I generally use a small swimbait over a ned.

XL used to be pretty good, but it is mono. Im not saying you did, but if you spool that wrong, it becomes unmanageable. The size of the spool isnt helping much either.

black

For FW I dont snell a knot often. I do snell straight shanks when Im throwing T and free rigs. I feel like it can protect the knot from impact since its below the eye. If the knot is tied well, and the tag is trimmed back, the snell doesn't catch a whole lot of slime or grass.

I dont fish SBs as much as I should and Im sure there are tons of great ones out there, but Im partial to a couple. I really like Picassos Invizwire and SS SBs. They vibrate really well and theyre pretty strong. Al the components are good quality. Most recently Ive become really fond of the willow bladed Molix Muscle ant. It had a lot of lift for a finesse spinnerbait, I suppose because of the wire and head design. It feels like a colorado blade, but it doesnt have too much flash and the skirt is very thin. I think its going to work really well in the spring on those tougher days. For a full size SB in muddy water or rainy day I like a Zorro long arm aggravator. They're simple, the components are pretty good and they produce some good fish for me.

Most stock trebles aren't very high quality. IMO Duo makes the best stock hook of any bait I've ever used, but Spro and Ima are great too. Honestly once a fish wraps you up, the odds of actually getting him are slim IME, especially if its a bigger fish. Better she bent the hooks out than have broken the popper off and had it stuck in her face.

I use scent in FW when every fish counts, like in the winter or tough days, particularly in cold and or muddy water. I think it does make a difference, especially working a bait slow. Those maxscent hit worms dont look great on a shakey head, but they out fish most other baits. When it comes to SW, Ive had too many experiences, literally dozens of times in just the past few fluke seasons, where Gulp has smashed other soft plastics 5 to 1. Ive also had a half dozen times where Ive been skunked on bites for half a tide, and caught a fish on first cast after adding pro cure to my bucktail. 1 or 2 times is coincidence, but that many times in just a couple years is revealing. At the very least adding scent is confidence booster for me. At least I know I'm doing everything I can to get a bite. As far as negative smells go, I really to my absolute best to avoid exposing my baits to unnatural chemicals, like suntan lotion or bug spray. I think bug spray can hurt your chances with live bait, much less plastics.

I would probably get a stradic FM 2500 or 3k if I were you. You can get one from digitaka for well under 200$. I think Daiwa offers better budget reel,120$ or under, but IMO Shimano has the edge on the mid range reels from 120-350, unless you want a jigging reel. Once you get to the higher end Daiwas with the AL main gear, like Luvias and up, then it gets pretty even again,

I would probably put the Met on the Zodias and take that. Both rods are great, but the Zodias M is a probably more versatile IMO.

If the prices were closer to what they were a few years ago, I would probably get a feather, but the increase puts them closer to 150$ instead of what they were, 120$. Usually, upgrading to Sic guides cost more than the extra 35$ it would be to upgrade to m1 from feather, but that's for fuji guides. I dont have any experience with essex components. The only other guides other than fuji I have on my rods are Alps and Daiwa AGS. I fish out of a jon boat and kayak often, and the guides can take a beating. I have confidence in Sc guides as far as durability goes.

I know a couple guys who build rods professionally for in shore and some big time offshore tuna guys. Ive never owned a Phenix because no one carries them around here. Those guys can have literally whatever blank they want and they use quite a few Phenix blanks for their personal rods and they mentioned the k2 blank specifically. One is certified century dealer/builder, the other uses a lot of zenaq blanks, so they know what quality is. If I get a Phenix, IM going to start with an m1, k2 is steep for a first experience with a new company.

I would take the Zillion/InvizX. I like InvizX, its a solid line. If it was A tatula with Tatsu or Zillion with Red Label or Vanish, then it would be a harder decision for me.

Man, that eye is really recessed.

There are lots of high quality scissors around. If you want small ones, looks for tying material scissors. They aren't cheap, but so long as you don't lose them, they stay sharp and will last a long time.

Ryugi Infini offset wide gap should work really well. The point is a few degrees offline of the throat, which helps with hookup ratio. The wire isnt super thick, but its very strong and the points are stupid sharp. The throat itself is rather short too, shouldnt be too long for a 3.5 coffee tube. Not sure if 2 or 3/0 would be best.

I use one of these with a 1 or 1/0 depending on the thickness of the tube. Owner Ultra FInesse Ballhead.

Bubblegum, Disco Violet, Arkansas Shiner, Tennesee Shad, Crystal Shad, Opening Night.

So many good finesse swimbaits the market and they will only increase due to FFS. Tough to beat Keitetch. They offer just about anything you could want and in great colors. For a subtle bait Easy shiner is great and if you want roll the 2.8 fat is the way to go. The swing impact is kind of any in between. Ive always been partial to Bluegill Flash and Electric shad. They both are pretty much interchangeable, but I feel like the darker back, along with more silver fleck in BF gives it a slight advantage, especially if the bait is rolling. Pro blue or Gizzard shad are hard to beat for white based natural colors. For bold colors, I like sungill and electric blue chart. Tablerock is a newer color that I haven't tried I suspect it would be great as well. Beast Coast makes a good bait called the slowflow. Its kind of like an Easy shiner, in that its got limited roll and subtle action. It will swim with just a little bit of tension which makes it good for winter or just fishing slow. They have a similar shape to the easy shiner, and while theyre shorter at 2.8 the body is much bigger. I also really like Reins Rockvibe. They have a very unique shape, good action and they hold up much better than keitech or other super soft baits. I love you get 15 in a pack. They body isnt tall, but its wide. They have a subtle swim when worked slow, but will roll when worked faster. They're fairly heavy for a 3" bait and cast very well. The lack of salt and plastic Reins uses for them makes them very durable in comparison to other swimbaits. Unfortunately, I think TW isnt going to stock them anymore which really sucks. Now I have to use the ones I have left sparingly.

The older MLs 1/8-1/2oz have a different action compared to the newer ones. The tips are softer and overall, they are lighter in power. IMO you have to go to the Legend Elite to get that same action in the blank as the older Avids. The inshore blanks are actually a good alternative. They stayed with the older power rating. The introduction of the sc3+ material changes the action slightly, but its still very close to older ML actions which I absolutely love. Ive been a SC fan since I was 10YO and swore by them for years. In the past few years Im not liking some of the directions they're going in as far as changes to the rods, warranties and overall customer service. I used to buy 2 or 3 a year, but I think in the past 5 years I've only bought 2, being pleased with one and hating the other. Their MLs were my favorite blanks and since they changed them and many others SC is not my first or second choice anymore.

That suck man, but things can be much worse...I was talking to a buddy who owns a tackle shop. I was telling him about how I had tripped on a submerged root that morning while duck hunting and went for a January swim. He told me about his father-in-law who had just had a custom sea duck boat built and new Chevy to pull it. The first hunt went well, until they got back to the ramp in Fortescue. He got the boat on the trailer and was pulling up the ramp and I guess the ramp had frozen at the high tide line. He felt it slip, but the truck being new he couldn't get in 4x4 low fast enough and the truck and boat trailer slid right into the bay.

As long as the bones arent broken it should heal eventually. Things happen, just try to minimize damage to the fish as much as possible. WHat dri ves me nuts is catching a 2lb fish and seeing where some googan cut a 3" slit in the bottom of his mouth to weigh him with some crappy wal mart scale.

Ponds can be really tough if they get pressured. Most all the water around here has a nasty bottom that makes fishing most anything bottom contact an absolute chore. If you get grass and slime on your bait, its going to limit the number of bites. Try using smaller baits, like real small 3" or less swimbaits on a very light head 1/16. If there are fish there, you will catch some. Also be as quiet and discrete as you possibly can. Those fish can feel your footfalls well before they can see you.

I love my Metanium for JBs, but as long as its a smaller, light reel that casts really well, it doesn't matter all that much IMO.

I would think that the 6th sense bait comes with KVD short shanks stock. If they're hanging up, then you have to go with a smaller hook and or split ring and see how it goes from there.

I try not to swap out the lead hook to singles on pencils and poppers unles its designated for bluefish. Try going to a 2x short EWG style treble and see how that works out. If that doesnt work you can try going to a duo hook or clipping off the lead hook on the treble. DO you know what the name of the bait is off the top of your head?