00bullitt

3/0 thin wire hooks on both the SpotSticker and Googan...they look to be Mustads.I think a 3/0 is perfect for the 5" and a 2/0 would be ideal for the 4". I mostly throw it in 3/8oz, but will go down to 1/4 on occasion. I've tried the GYBC heads, but they just werent for me.

Those twin grub tails do a great job of displacing water. I sometimes think the Rage flanges displace too much water. I would certainly give it a shotvif they did.

Gary Yamamoto makes phenomenal plastic baits. One of them being his Double Tail Hula Grub. Adding that to a finesse jig head is a lethal combo that flat out catches fish everywhere I go. I have used various jig heads over time, but find the Spotsticker Crawler Heads to be a perfect fit for the 5" version. I have removed skirts from several other jigs over the years to use the head. I have never used the 4" D/T Hula, but see that it has its place for an even more finesse application. I'd urge you to give it a try. Its also not as hard to detect the bite with. The colors shown below are the only colors I have ever used; both are green pumpkin....one with red flake and the other with purple and copper. Most often the choice is made as to what is available.

Sebile Magic Swimmer 095SK in Natural Shiner. Best kept secret out there. You can burn it as fast as possible and it wont wash out and it darts and jerks on the pause.

If you are going to throw straight fluoro or straight braid, try the St. Croix Avid X in 7'4" Heavy. The small eyes coupled of that rod REALLY help you feel a moving bait. I throw A-Rigs on one and can feel everything moving at 30'. Rods with the larger eyes, not so much. FYI.....braid to fluoro does not work so well on this rod. Rod sensitivity makes a big difference.

Its a surface reaction bait, so I don't need to pay for a ton of sensitivity. I like the Favorite Rods 7'2" Sick Stick (Medium/Heavy). Has a ton of backbone and a great tip section for casting Spro Popping frogs. If I was fishing pads or slop, I'd go longer and a little stiffer, but here in North East Georgia, we fish bank overhangs and isolated cover; more of a weedless popper and skips wayyyyyy back under stuff where the giants hide. Very little grass. The Sick Stick is very light and easy to cast accurately. Also works great as a fluke rod. Not the biggest fan of Favorite, but I dig the Sick Stick.

Zoom Lizards are still my go to. Texas Rig, Carolina Rig, Power Shot, Drop Shot, Neko Rig, .....its the OG creature bait. And BTW......Neko rigged lizards get crushed where I am.

1980 called.....they want their glass rods back. I'm one of those that just can't comprehend why you would choose a glass or composite rod, when you can have a graphite rod that is lighter, more sensitive and duplicates the same power & action. Yes, I use the same rod for both as they do not differ in application.

I have the NRX 822 DSR and the GLX 822SYR. I agree, the 821 is a noodle. The Light Action Zodias 7' spinning is a touch lighter than the 822. And the Med/Light Zodias 7'er is a smidge faster.

I just got done playing with all of the new Victory line and walked away with the 7'2" Medium/Heavy Moderate casting for crankbaits. The Medium/Light xFast spinning was flimsy (to me), but for 1/8oz...might be your cup of tea. Was even lighter than the Zodias Light Action by a touch. Pretty spot on to the G. Loomis E6X 821DSR.

I suppose "perfect" is subjective and relative. I don't dropshot with less than 1/4oz.

I've been a staunch supporter of scent for the past 25 years of my fishing life, but I'm often too lazy to apply the stuff. I have Jack's Juice in gallon jugs; literally, as I knew the owner. I keep saying I'm going to start a YouTube channel to document stuff like was happening yesterday. I was fishing Lake Hartwell (GA/SC line). The lake is up 2.5' and the water is stained badly, almost chocolate but not quite. Fish are up shallow and tight to cover/structure. I was getting bit like crazy yesterday but they were swatting at stuff and nipping badly. All of my plastics would come back bitten in half, tails ripped off, etc. Everything! Even the trailers on my spinner bait and chatterbait. The bass are getting territorial due to pre-spawn transition. I would get 10 bites and catch 1 fish. The ratio was bad. And the bites were aggressive, they just were not eating it all or holding it. Given that the plastics were often bit in half told me they were more nipping and moving stuff away from them. So....I grabbed the little jar of Smelly Jelly I keep in the boat and wiped down my plastic (crawfish scent for those that will ask). Next cast was a sho nuf bite son! Landed a 4# fat female! Full of eggs. This time rod bent and line took off back under the tree I pitched to. She decided to eat it rather than nip at it. My bite to catch ratio pretty much went from 10/1 to 1/1. The rest of the day was that way. I went back to all the spots I got solid bites on and landed good fish as they were still on those pieces of isolated cover. Will I apply scent all the time now? No. Never really did, but situations like that of yesterday will dictate. For those of you on the fence about scent, its another tool to have in the tool box. I always have a jar of Smelly Jelly or a tube of Megastrike handy. I love Jack's Juice....but man that stuff is messy. Smelly Jelly and MegaStrike are so convenient. So.....needless to say, scent has its place and does appear to work. All brands are not created equal though, so I cannot speak to ALL of the various brands. Smelly Jelly, MegaStrike and Jack's Juice have all worked for me over the years.

Lure ratings and power are pretty close, but actions are off some. The Medium is a fast action and the Med/Hvy is more XFast. The 6'10's are much closer than their 7'2" counterparts. I throw 1/2-3/4oz. spinnerbaits/chatterbaits on the medium and throw 1/8-1/2 on the Med/Heavy. I initially bought the Med/Heavy for spinnerbaits and chatterbaits but wanted a tad more tip for casting control and the lighter action seemed to let the fish get his mouth closed on the lure. That is how I ended up with the Medium. Truth be told, the Medium is a great all purpose rod. I would almost prefer to have two Mediums in the 6'10". The 6'10" Zodias are so much thinner and lighter than their 7'2" counterparts too. The reduced weight just lets me feel soooo much better too. And balance in the hand is perfect. The other rod I would highly consider is the Levante Jerkbait Special. Certainly aint a Jerkbait rod and it falls nicely between the Med & Med/Hvy 6'10" Zodias. Its more like a Med/Heavy Zodias with a Fast action which Megabass calls a Medium Power, Fast Action. Hope that helps.

Yes, its absolutely perfect.

I do recommend super gluing them on your head. I use the Dirty Jigs 3/8oz. Guppy Head with 1/0 hook. A dab of super gel keeps that thing in place. I do notice that a 3/0 hook impedes the action substantially. I used to be against using such a small 1/0 hook, but it hasn't affected the end result of putting fish in the boat; actually improved it.

Freaking LOVE IT!!! Best rod in the Zodias line IMO. Medium/Heavy for Texas Rigged Senkos/Worms, Shakey Heads light weight/small finesse jigs with 14# Sunline Sniper. I use the Medium for Spinnerbaits and Chatterbaits.

I have always been a Keitech 2.8/3.3 guy. I have recently switched to the Zman Minnowz (3"). I would go through a pack of Keitechs in about 6-8 fish. I've already caught a dozen fish on 1 Minnowz and still going. They are super soft and have a great action too. $3.99 for 6 compared to $5.99 for 6 Keitechs that are good for 6 maybe 8 fish. https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Z-Man_Minnowz_Swimbait_6pk/descpage-ZMANMNS.html

That feeder stream (what I typically call a drain) after storms and flooding are typically a great spot. I'm not sure of your access or positioning, but a spinnerbait, squarebill or small Keitech 2.8 Swimbait should yield. I typically like to locate the deepest center and fish back off on it and fan cast it. That might be more difficult bank fishing, so drawing a square bill across it might be best.

Best kept secret in jigs and all for $3.49 each (or $3.99 on TW). The Green Pumpkin Chartreuse is my go to. Once I trim the skirt, the chartreuse all but disappears and its a nice compact profile that skips like a dream! Like that Tiger Porpora too. For me....everything about that jig is perfect. I even strip the skirts and use the head on a Yamamoto Hula Grub for a more finesse approach. Absolutely love the Molix GT Football Jig too!!!

Man....I apologize. I was referring to the Compact Pitching Jig; not the Compact Flipping Jig. I have zero experience using the Compact Flipping Jig. I went to the Dirty Jigs website to see what weights were offered and realized I got them mixed up.

My experience is with the 1/2 ounce version. No issues at all, but I have since switched to the Molix Kento Jig. Dirty Jigs stuff is first rate. You mentioned 5/16 oz. I don't think that is an option for the Compact Flipping Jig. Why 5/16oz for a flipping jig and not a finesse jig?

I have a few of each (all are current models): Zodias 7'2" Heavy Zodias 7'2" Medium Zodias 6'10" Medium Heavy Zodias 6'10" Medium Zodias 7' Med/Light Spinning Zodias 7' Medium Spinning Levante Whipsnake 6'11" Spinning Levante Tour Versatile 7' Levante Flatside Special 7' Levante Diablo Spec-R 7'2" Both rods are awesome! Aside from cosmetics, they are nearly identical in their level of sensitivity. They weigh about the same all things being equal. Components are all Fuji and aesthetics on both are stunning. Both hit way harder in performance than their $200 price tag. I would heavily advise being able to feel the rods before you buy them and understand the true power and action. MegaBass identifies their rods by "F" number which gives a decent indication of power, but they are still very under rated. Meaning a broomstick has more flex than some of their rods. Shimano is very similar and their rating system is worse and more ambiguous. Anything over an F5 in the Levante starts to feel like a pool cue in my opinion and in the Zodias they are about 1.5 power more than stated. The Levante Flatside Special which they list as an F4.5 Medium "Regular" Action is my chatterbait rod. It has a good tip and nice firm action with bend in the right part of the blank. I would NEVER throw a flatside crank on it. The Whipsnake spinning rod is a great action for a general purpose spinning rod. They list it as an F3 Light "Extra Fast". Its more of a Medium/Light. It is in between my Zodias Medium/Light & Medium. I ended up with the Medium Zodias because I took the power & action at face value and ordered it online. Was not at all what I wanted, but has turned out to be a fantastic spinning rod for jerkbaits and flukes. Yes, I have started using spinning rods for those techniques on ultra clear lakes to get the extra 20-25' of casting distance without any negative affect casting into the wind. The Levante Shakyhead rod is listed as a an F3.5 Med/Light "Fast" and is heavier than my Zodias Medium. One other thing to consider is the handle length. I like that the net gain in rod length is realized in the Levante when going longer whereas the Zodias will give you a 2.5" longer handle and 1.5" more in the tip going from the 6'10" to the 7'2". The blanks also get sizable larger in diameter near the handle on the Zodias and they are heavier feeling in the hand. I LOVE the 6'10" Zodias rod. I have one for spinnerbaits and the other is my finesse jig/texas rig rod. Its light in the hand and the blank is thin and very sensitive. I like thin blanks! The Levantes have about a 14-14.5" handle on most all of their rods whereas the Zodias have a 14" on their 6'10's and a 16" on their 7'2's. I prefer the shorter 14-14.5" handle lengths for most of my rods. A few of the rods I listed I don't use much as the actions just were not what I wanted being ordered online and I typically don't go through the hassle to return them as I will eventually find a use for them. The 7' Tour Versatile was the first Levante I bought. I got it and it was wayyyyy too stiff. I was so disappointed! The Flatside Special was the Power/Action I wanted by feel and why I now have that one (The Tour Versatile is rated an F6 and the Flatside Special is an F4.5) . Same with my Zodias 7'2" Heavy. Feels like a broomstick but turned out to be a good frog rod although it does not have the best tip to cast with. Ended up with the 7'2" Medium as it is the Power/Action that I was truly looking for for. I have a well stocked store rather local to me (Hammond's Fishing) that now has them all in stock and I started buying them there rather than buying online. In short, I like them both....ALOT! Price is great and the performance level is above what you pay for them. I do not recommend buying based on the stated Power/Action. Identify the technique and what you want and go find one to feel first. I also have Shimano Poison Adrena's and Loomis GLX & NRX for comparison of maximum sensitivity and overall weight. I use my Zodias and Levante the most.

Assuming Texas Rig and not Wacky or Neko; Gamakatsu "Mike McClelland" G Finesse Hybrid hook in 3/0-5/0 depending on the fishery. A cross between an O'Shaugnessy and EWG. https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Gamakatsu_G-Finesse_Hybrid_Worm_Hook_4pk/descpage-GFHW.html If Wacky or Neko, the Owner #1 Sniper Finesse Weedless

Blueback Herring are anything but blue. The ones here on Hartwell have more of a green irredescence to them when you get one out of the water and very little black. Lots of flash too! They look like such an easy target for bass and stripers. They school in a very oblong pattern whereas threadfin are in balls and go in circles. They gotta be some dizzy little fish! I've hooked a many Blueback on my trebles when ripping through schools, but have never once thought to snap a pic.

Spending the week camping at Anchor Down RV Resort in Dandridge, TN next week for daughter's spring break. I'm pulling the 5th wheel and the wife is pulling the boat. Been 14 years since I fished Douglas last, but Dad and I crushed it and took 2nd in a tourney of almost 100 boats. We locked up two solid kicker LM; 6 & 7# which really gave us an edge. Any patterns or areas of that lake that are producing better than others currently? Anchor Down is at the lower end of the lake Hope to remember where we caught our fish back then. It was May, so hitting post spawn. Are bass spawning there yet? Appreciate any guidance. I have 3 solid days on the water, so hope to unlock a solid pattern.