Masaccio

Thanks for the responses. Good stuff!

For a long time, I thought “swimbait” referred to soft paddletails and other softbaits I may not know about that also mimicked a swimming fish on retrieve. Now I know that the term (usually?) refers to a hard bait which mimics actual fish species. So when Insee the term “Swimbait” apart from context, what is the assumption. And when people commonly refer to “small swimbaits” are they usually referring to the hard types? And if they are speaking of soft paddletails or similar, will they usually call them paddletails, or “soft swim baits”? Thanks!

Inspirational post and responses. Taking care of our elderly has a way of threatening to take our own power away because often we can only do our best without realizing that we're making a difference. Your brother and you are lucky to have each other and your mom lucky to have both of you. Good luck on the fishing trip and with your mom.

I'm definitely going to take you up on that!

Again, you keep insisting on telling me things that I already know. I understand that this stuff is not written in stone. When I have a complex puzzle to unravel, what I do is gather as much information as I can. And from the perspective I receive from various sources, together with my own ideas and ability to sort through stuff (which is considerable), I go my way and learn. So do please stop telling me how I should work through my stuff. Okay? Do you get it? Thank you for your concern. The closest that I have come to being upset is responding to these posts of yours. LETS MOVE ON. STOP.

Thanks. I get all of that as true (and rather obvious). But it's not really helpful, you know? I'm here for information, to benefit from others' experience, and to enjoy discussions. If people want to get into negative personal philosophical/political beliefs and project them on a reasonably respectable and time tested approach to making sensible choices in this great activity, then that's really NOMB. So I'll keep asking for incisive judgements because I know there are those out there who can make good ones, and be generous with them. So, Thank You, Bass Resource Forum Members.

Thanks. I have to say that the experience that prompted this subject for me was an observable stiffness in the tip. I got the rod, unpacked it, tested it. Obviously not soft. Obviously connected with the body of the rod more than I expected.

Correction -- When I said "there is a difference between fast and medium fast tips" I should have written "between fast and extra fast tips." Thanks. I want to get into spinnerbaits. Might be awhile. Got a couple but never used. Good to know. Thanks. Has anyone ranked major bass bait-types according to difficulty? If you are a beginner trying to cast spinnerbaits, for example, that would be tragic. You have all these experts saying all these things about the efficacy of various baits, but the relative difficulty of casting them effectively is never discussed. It's a helluva lot easier to cast a jerkbait, for example than a spinnerbait, or a crankbait. Senkos are often recommended but what if you want to be a beginner power fisher? There really is a ridiculous amount of info to sort out in the beginning. And "the beginning" can be, like, five years.

I gotta say... I appreciate your opinion and that you answered this question. I also appreciate your level of experience compared to mine. That said: There is an industry-wide distinction between fast and extra fast tips. I personally believe that this means something. Aside from the question of whether a given manufacturer is correctly labeling their rods, there is a difference between fast and medium fast tips. My goal is to appreciate this difference. And I found the the opinion that I posted the clearest explanation of that difference. Not word salad at all. I could be wrong. But I don't think so. Thanks.

Tomorrow or Wednesday (maybe both). I'm gonna take a couple of lipless, a 10Xd, maybe a couple of DTs and a couple of square bills. And so I don't get stuck with crankbaits, I'll take some soft t-rigged swimbaits, (I wish I had a buzzbait, but don't.) Maybe a jerkbait or two for general lake. I get to take three rods. Obviously the medium-heavy moderate, a medium extra-fast and a medium fast - sense the consensus in another thread seems to be not to get hung up in details. For the crankbaits: Say you're fishing a really really deep lake with no electronics. It makes sense to spend some time finding dropoff slopes to see if I can reach a bottom to bump off off. That sounds like fun. Suspended bass in deep lakes may not be there, though. Right? Spoons are also a possibility. Short casts letting them flutter-fall. I have some Sebile Vibratos I've never used. I could do those on a spinning rod. Maybe my trouble is that I don't fish often enough so when I do go, it's a "big" fishing trip. Trying too hard, trying to make it happen. But getting the concepts, putting it together with what you've got, rigging the rods and getting it all together to go out is A LOT. The Sebiles are 3/4 oz.

I found this comment on fast vs. extra fast that seemed helpful and informative to me. I just posted it on an 11 year old discussion on this forum, but here it is again. This comment from Tackletour.net by "Montanaro" explains the basic theory in just a few words, and why you might want to choose an extra fast over a fast (or visa versa) depending on the conditions you will be fishing in. I paraphrased the original statements. Extra Fast vs. Fast Tip: In regards to sensitivity and how much you will lose with everything being equal? Nearly imperceptible. The slower action tip will provide more accurate and consistent casts. An extra fast tip gets to the backbone of a rod faster. Extra fast action is better for setting hook through plastic or weedguard and for controlling a fish in heavy cover.

This comment from Tackletour.net by "Montanaro" explains the basic theory in just a few words, and why you might want to choose an extra fast over a fast (or visa versa) depending on the conditions you will be fishing in. I paraphrased the original statements. Extra Fast vs. Fast Tip: In regards to sensitivity and how much you will lose with everything being equal? Nearly imperceptible. The slower action tip will provide more accurate and consistent casts. An extra fast tip gets to the backbone of a rod faster. Extra fast action is better for setting hook through plastic or weedguard and for controlling a fish in heavy cover.

I want to try crankbaits. I've read a ton about them. I have lots of Luck-e-strike squarebills, but only a couple Strike King XDs, and a variety of Rapala DTs 4-8. I gather that cranks are good all year, theoretically. But NJ lakes in my area are weedy. I might should have titled this post, "How do weeds behave?" Do they die down enough in fall to favor cranks? If you don't have electronics and you're trying XD cranks in an extra-deep lake, does it make sense to try to find the drop-offs? Are lipless cranks any good at all in early spring or late fall? Well, heck. Big question:: when is the best time for an inexperienced crank bait guy to start experimentng? I'm guessing spring, with lots of time to correct errors. Fall could just be frustrating. Fishing this week. Want to make the most of my time. Thanks.

Oh, and "a 1712", overgrown borders and overhanging trees. See above comment to you, Brian. The first time I fished this, I would have killed myself from frustration if I hadn't been having such a good time.

Thanks, Tom. This answer targets an area that I've had some success with (jerkbaits), and topwaters, which I want to learn a lot more about. Also wanted to try some T-rigged soft swimbaits this week. The reel sounds awesome. I'm guessing you are suggesting the 6.3:1 ratio. Good suggestion. I don't do exchanges except under the most dire circumstances. I guess it's more fun to find out what I can do even with apparent misfires. It's all fishing! I was envisioning a light rod for whatever might be available in a narrow, shallow river with pockets. Lighter lures, but with some casting power. Accuracy. Thanks for asking. Great question.

Awesome. Thanks! I was remembering a few months ago, either Loomis or St. Croix had a ML Extra fast that was very popular. I was looking for a ML at the time. One guy, kayaker (not a regular here I don't think, but I could be wrong) posted here, and on a YouTube video that he was having trouble loosing a lot of fish with that ML, Extra Fast. When I realized my mistake in understanding what an extra fast tip was, his comment began to make more sense. Thanks though, Deleted account. It's good to understand what it is, and what some of the pitfalls might be, but also good to know that it's probably not a "fatal error."

You should become a buying agent for people who hate it. Even for a modest fee you would make money and enjoy doing it.

Casting.

Okay, I admit it. Dumb-dumb. I thought that "extra-fast" meant greater flex in the tip. So now I have this wonderful St. Croix Medium, Extra-fast rod. Thinking the reel should be 7-something, and that I should use a fluorocarbon or mono lead if I want to use braid. But what does an extra-fast tip really excel at, please? The specs state lure capacity: 3/16 - 5/8 lure (a little under 1/4 and a litle over 1/2), 10-14 lb (mono) line. 6'10". What is this rod meant to throw? Thanks !!

This actually helped a lot. Next reel purchase will be the Lews BB1 Pro. 6.2:1 For Zodias glass crank bait rod.

I was thinking I'd crank with at least one of the Tatulas. But it is really topheavy on the rod. Pretty sure I'm not going to enjoy that. I'll probably save them for when I get around to the heavier applications mentioned above, if ever. Thanks for the referral to the Tatula 103, Thanks for mentioning this, about the speed. Hearing real experience like that, very helpful. I do overthink. But if I can get it wrong, I usually do. Getting sick of making bad equipment decisions. I'm in a small kayak, can't take a lot with me, so homework is kind've important.

Wow! Yowsuh! I don't usually do Carolina Rig, but I'm all over frogs.

I'm thinking the Lews should go on one of the crankbait rods. And maybe a Bantam on the other crankbait. If that sounds good, then my four heavy and crank rods would be done. That leaves the Fenwick Medium Heavy, Fast, and the St. Croix Medium, Extra fast. And probably a Shimano Expride A Medium, Fast, which would be my next choice in rods.

Sorry for the typos. Martinis and the 5th ALS playoff game between the Yankees and the Guardians. What can I say. Life is good.

These are my casting rods: St. Croix Legend Elite Medium, Extra Fast (6'10") Fenwick HMG, Medium Heavy, Fast (7") Dobyns Champion XP 765, Medium Heavy, Moderate Fast (7'6") Shimano Zodias Glass 7' 6", Medium Heavy, Moderate Fast (7'6" Okuma TCS, Heavy, Fast, 7'3" Falcon Expert Amistad, EC-7-16, Heavy, Fast (7'3") Reels: (Line rating is just a spec, not what I actually have loaded on them) Lews Custom Pro: 6.8 : 1, Max Drag 20 lb. Weight 5.8 oz., 40 lb. braid, 105 yards Shimano Chronarch: 7.1 : 1, Max Drag 11 lb., Weight 6.5 oz, 40 lb. braid, 105 yards Daiwa Tatula 200 HS (two of these): 7.3 : 1, Max Drag 13.2, , Weight, 8.1 oz.,, 40 lb. Braid 145 yards. I figure the Tatulas can do double duty on my punching rods and my cranking rods. But they are heavy and I'm not sure I'll enjoy them that much. I'm reel-poor, so suggestions are appreciated. I'm looking at: Shimano Zillion SV TW Shimano Bantam MGL Shimano Curado 150 MGL Shimano Curado 200 HG Any other suggests would gratefully be appreciated. I kind've want to be prepared for anything. Also have a nice range of spinning rods and reels, but that's another story. Thanks! And, you know, I billed it at a game, but I'm actually pretty confused muself at the moment. I dont' think I'm making really stupid decisions, but guidance would be appreciated. I actually really like the Bantam. I've always liked it, and read that it is an extremely versatile reel. "Versatile" worked for me. And I've noticed that everyone is raving about hte Zillion. I think I mentioned the best model in my post, but not sure. Thanks again.