softwateronly

The weed growth up here can almost get to florida levels, and the Xcite Baits maximus 10.5" worm is my absolute favorite for the thickest of stuff. It's a big, subtle, and durable high float worm that can snake through the densest milfoil. During the summer and my big worm time, I like a one two punch of the maximus worm and a 8" hags tornado which is also good float, but more bulk to "hang up" more. Besides worms, frogs, flukes, punching, etc. I've done a couple things that are less popular that have been successful for me. Number one is a Dirty Jigs 3/4oz Cali swim jig w/ a r2s 120mm D walker on my frog rod and straight braid. I'll throw it at the thickest stuff and power it through. It's somewhat a chore to fish, but it catches if they're there. I like to think of it as horizontal punching, in my mind I'm blasting it into their home and they immediately attack it. Definitely not subtle, but somewhat novel. The other one is really new to me, and I only have last year as guidance. I started the year after the spawn because of work obligations and wanted to learn the jighead minnow/hover strolling thing. So as I was learning it, the weeds filled in like they always do and I kept working it and learning new things about it and basically came all the way back to a jigworm. So I basically upsized the jigworm to a 7" fluke/minnow bait and shook it while retrieving thru the weeds. It was way better getting though the junk than I imagined. A light head weight, smaller hook even though exposed, the bulky bait, and constant shaking was really effective at staying clean and I think calling bass to it. Slightly different profile, decent water displacement, and what I think looks like an oblivious and vulnerable meal just rooting away at the cover got bit. The retrieves took some time, so it's not best at covering water quickly. If you made it here, thanks for reading my coffee fueled bs. scott

@JN94 I ended up looking at mustad's site and got in on their bf sale which was 35% off. Ended up with 6 different weight/sizes and they are what I hoped they would be. In 1/0 I got bulk in 3, 5, 7, and 12g and in 6/0 7g and 12g. The 1/0 are great for both jighead minnow and jamming in little 2.5" tubes and have already caught fish with these with both techniques. In my mind I thought I needed a 2x hook to do this, but this is stout enough to know I was wrong in my assumption. The 6/0 is for 6.5" fish rollers, 7" armor shads and 7" sakamata shads and fits perfectly. I caught one decent Northern on it, and the hook was sharp enough and stout enough to easily penetrate their boney mouth and hang on till the boat. Buying in bulk and with BF deal put me somewhere in the range of $.58 a head, eases the pain a bit when the broken concrete monster of chicago's shoreline eats my bait. I recommend them for sure. scott

I was/am running a 20 met, 30lb braid to various leaders on the 6'11M+, 7'3MH, and the 7'2H. The PA's are so light but are also well balanced, the met feels perfect on them to me. scott

Happy Happy!! scott

Sorry to say, I snapped it in 2 about 15 months ago! Had my deck crowded and when I picked it up, it pivoted off my foot to under the cleat and crushed the sidewall. I think @PBBrandon said it best, it's shimano's version of the champ 734. I did find it more sensitive than the champ though. I liked it best for topwater trebles, smaller open hook swimbaits, and spoons. Open water swim jig and chatterbait was good too, and enjoyed smaller/lighter jig fishing in open to sparse weeds. I replaced it with a MC Days 6'9MH/RF 2 piece, for a third the price and it's close to being equal. The PA 6'11M+ is the rod in the series that I've tried, that I would instantly replace if I broke it. scott

I love the 7'2H power pitch, such a great heavy cover jig rod and overall bottom contact, that also has the tip for big spinnerbaits and spoons. Since @Junk Fisherman is used to a 3 power loomis, I would say the power pitch is more like a 4 power and think he's looking at the right two Steez options. My other Steez is the 7' M/MH Sensor and would fish too light with a 1/2oz jig in cover. Open water, I'm willing to go up to a 1/2oz, but in general 3/8oz is the sweet spot. Ben at the hookup tackle is a big fan of the Utility Player. scott

I also use a 7'3XH expride for frog fishing but don't love throwing a kaera frog on it. My accuracy is too low with the way the rod doesn't fully load. This year I threw it on the MC Days 360 6'6MH and loved it. It's also my new favorite 1/2oz jig rod. My problem was I spent more time with a jig on it, but plan to flip the ratio next year. scott

@Bucks Bass and Bourbon I'm going to disagree with Tom, there's loads of fish that a jighead minnow will catch on or very near the bottom in a natural lake in 12-25 fow. Even with moderate weed growth, the constant shaking, relatively small hook, and light head, means you can work them through or pop them free and trigger strikes. Cold water, warm water, shallow or deep, it's currently very effective. Throw it and get confidence in all sorts of conditions before the bass get used to it. scott

I'm finding a very narrow band of head weight to minnow weight and buoyancy for the most roll. I also find a clip or loop knot makes a huge difference. A rapala freeloader rolls easily and consistently with a 4.4g horizon head. But, I like a little less roll in the cold water anyway, so I go to a heavier head or a less drastic shake. Another way to maximize roll is to insert the hook about an 1/8" from the nose and on top of the head. If you look at Raid's fish roller, they even have preset notches. scott

I fish a 7'6XH Adrena, feels like a half to 3/4 power more than my DRX 755. I don't get into pitching/punching very often, but these are the two I use. I find myself throwing 3/4-1oz swim jigs w/ 5-6" paddle tails, 6-7" texas rigged swimbaits, and large flutter spoons with the Adrena most often. It's sensitive, versatile, and light weight/well balanced w/ a bantam. I've lobbed baits up to to 2.5oz with it, certainly handles 2oz. I think it's a good choice. scott

Not specific to a cashion, but I like throwing them on solid tip rods. You can get a quiver going that reverberates through the rod tip, imparting a consistent smooth cadence. Doesn't have to be a solid tip, but a lively last 6-10" on the rod will put you in the most control. scott

Truth!! scott

@Koz I'm right there with you. I don't have electronics, but throwing them where I would swim a jig or paddle tail or even drag a jig is exactly where I get bites when those other techniques might be ignored. I like to think of it as a slow motion finesse scrounger or a horizontal damiki rig. I can't see this ever leaving my arsenal just like a jig and a worm, it seems like it'll always have a place. Big fish will always eat small fish. scott

If the answer isn't 2-3 different pairs of gloves, I'm all ears. These cam from @T-Billy https://www.amazon.com/MCR-Safety-N9690FCL-Insulated-15-Gauge/dp/B004QXSS2E?pd_rd_w=Ybaq4&content-id=amzn1.sym.59910fa8-b73c-408a-aa5f-d0b4e0aa42cb&pf_rd_p=59910fa8-b73c-408a-aa5f-d0b4e0aa42cb&pf_rd_r=83JCVDN8C0ZSQQG9NFHM&pd_rd_wg=Euy26&pd_rd_r=e41e959f-5d93-4be9-8c17-fd81be9cc464&pd_rd_i=B004QXSS2E&psc=1&ref_=pd_bap_d_grid_rp_0_1_ec_pd_yo_rr_rp_d_sccl_1_1_t They do great for water and cut resistance and are relatively warm. I also use cheap neoprene fingerless gloves for my thumbing hand and keep a pair of bulky insulated warm gloves to catch up when needed. Paired with some hand warmers, rotating as needed, and I can make it through most cold weather. scott

It is a walk the dog action, but there are significant depth changes while you're working it. The glide is also falling and the pull is also rising. Maybe the 1/10thoz heads are less, but it seems like working it is a +/- of 4-6'. So I usually guess my countdown a little less than where I think the bait is at. The hits are mostly on the glide/fall for me and not subtle. A M/F rod has the best hook up ratio for me, I've missed a few on a M/MF rod because you can get caught in a less than optimal hook setting position. Figuring out the pace seems to be a daily thing. Z-man trick shotz look to be a shape that could work on the head for a similar action. scott

@AlabamaSpothunter thanks man and right back at ya! I'm on an endless search to catch schoolies at the end of summer, because my daytime structure fishing just falls apart. And the monkey is my friend! Is winding the flat side down, walk the dog, version? That's what got me as well. Super unique. I definitely have done best toward the lighter end of the spectrum, and have kinda settled on the 7g as my main option. Seems like a good compromise for casting distance and glide distance. Now that I finally had some sustained success and more confidence, I'm hoping I can unlock the retrieve speed for the summer fish. I have also noticed my casts tumble quite a bit, inducing line twist. Just something to monitor. Another note, there's 4" & 5" baits available now too. scott

I tried these this year, didn't ever really get it going in the summer, but come late fall it was super effective. When they are active and chasing, great great lure. I'm still playing with it in real cold water and think there's a 2-3 hop settle on the bottom type retrieve that I think/want to work. scott

The hard part on those truly great days is to remember the three days prior. That to me is how to recreate it. scott

Material sciences improving refinement for cheaper....maybe. We're probably more likely to see stagnation or worse in the medium long term. scott

Counter culture is top notch and priced reasonably, and I think under appreciated by the coffee snobs. They had an outpost in my chgo neighborhood 12 plus years ago, when our local roasters were growing nationally and less available to the mom and pop stores. They won me over. Now I'm on the rotation of a 5lb bag of apollo and a 5lb bag of my choice of single origin Metric coffee. Light roast, burr grinder, pour over, black, best taste, most caffeine combo. Fully addicted. scott

@Msl819 I had TFO spinning rod about 15 years ago, very early in their existence. I was happy with it, felt more powerful in comparison and equal in sensitivity to a M/F sc avid and was msrp slightly more expensive if my memory is correct. Unfortunately, I snagged it on the backswing of a cast and blew it up about 10 years ago. If you do choose any TFO rod, I think bassgeek on the youtubes offers a discount. scott

I spent the year with a jig head minnow tied on a rod at all times. Top contenders were 4" and 6.5" raid fish roller, but my top fish and big fish producer, was a 4.25" rapala freeloader. I never would've thought the hype was justified this time last year, but I'm sure glad I put the time into it. Even without electronics, it proved to be an all time fish catcher from post spawn till ice and from the top to the bottom of the water column. scott

I do great with a grass jig/beaver and a swim jig/paddle tail almost all year long. Bladed jigs are not my confidence bait, but I do best with them at night. scott

Any insight into YGK Xbraid Ultra max wx8? https://xbraidygk.jp/products/ultra2max/ I see some for around $23 for 300m and thinking of getting a couple in #1 and #1.5. I've been using a mid priced varivas 8 and have been happy but can't source it for close to the same cost. scott

Love this rod, excellent for jerkbaits and my favorite for the 110 jr+1 out of what I own. All in, including shipping and tax, $141 ish. Shipping isn't very fast, 7-10 days total if I remember correctly. https://shimreels.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=40107 15% off code: SRMERRY scott