softwateronly

We’ve been in our chgo building for 20years and Sharon has been our carrier the entire time. She’s the best and deserves her Xmas tip. But when she’s on vacation our service is beyond spotty and it’s getting worse over time. I think the understaffed excuse is real. scott

I’m not a fan of that hook placement. Looks like it would impede the action. scott

If you haven't messed with the mogambo 6" grub yet, a deadly big bait. Color selection is low, but black and bluegill are good enough or me. I need to swim it more, thanks for the reminder. scott

The tatula 200 hasn't thrown small to medium frogs that well for me w/ 65lb braid. Distance was effected enough that I would over throw and lose accuracy. I switched reels with that rod, and my frog game got better. I'd trust @PhishLI scott

I did it for a couple months w/ a curado dc 150 and a fury 795SWBT and caught fish. It felt like it was too much for the reel. When I could, I went up to a curado 300 and everything about it is better now. I don't recommend. scott

That's valid and makes sense to me. I threw caution to the wind and spent most of the summer chucking a 6" burrito on it, which I think is close to 2.75oz. So far it's been resilient. scott

I don't get on water that's typically good pitching, but I do cast heavy grass/swim jigs with the EX7'6XH A. I'm a fan of the rod. It's balanced, sensitive, with a nice tip and crazy power. I don't go light with it often and if my memory is correct, the tip needs around a 1/2oz total to load up. scott

I can only throw 3 hooks as well and agree w/ @T-Billy, the top wires are for dummies, never been hit up there. I like 1/8oz for the 3 heads normally, but if I want to work the bottom in the 15-25' range, I bump up the furthest back / center head only to 3/8 or 1/2oz. Keeping the outer arms at 1/8oz helps prevent tangles on the cast. Don't ignore the bladeless a-rig. Eventhough it's an obnoxious chandelier, sometimes the flash is too much. scott

Do these fall into your spec categorization? https://www.majorcraft-america.com/collections/rods/products/benkei-casting-type scott

I've had good luck with the magdrafts. They have a good head wag and tighter tail kick. I think they are definitely worth throwing and are one of my favorites post spawn. Keitechs seem to be able to work at almost any speed whereas the magdraft has definite sweet spot, somewhere around medium to medium slow. Give it a go near the boat/shore so you can see the swim to get the cadence. Good luck! scott

My takeaway comparing the telemetry study, ffs revelations, and all your insightful comments over the years, is that bass are more homebodies than not and that your negative, neutral, and aggressive classification is as important as structure and quite possibly more important if you hit and run spots or sit on them. scott

Would a hags tornado fit that description? scott

A thread from a couple weeks ago....

@Catt I remember when you posted the original videos, and was fascinated by the interviews. Question, have the revelations about a rather large selection of bass not seemingly relating to structure in the conventional way impacted or influenced what you look for? scott

Great thread and one of the reasons I really enjoy this site. The devil is in the details, and the modern world is full of opportunities where critically teasing out the nuance is necessary but difficult. scott

Just a fair warning. I know they ain’t cheap. scott

They work! Almost too well when pike are nearby. Tieable steel leader is necessary for me. scott

For me, I usually use a paddle tail so I’m not doing the Alabama shake, the trailer does it for me, so 5/16-3/8oz is best for 1-5’ with a medium/medium fast chopped retrieve. 1/2oz does 5-8’ and 3/4oz 10-18’ I use standard to no jack hook on profiles 4” or bigger. I sometimes use a finesse/thin wire hook on 3-4” profiles. Dropping in and out of the weeds with a staccato retrieve can get hammered. Burning across the tops can also trigger that chase/competition bite. And heavy swim jigs plowed through the thickest jungle on the bottom can get smoked when they’re really tucked in out of the sun. scott

Lots and lots of great options already listed. I love swim jigs, super effective on my weedy, bluegill filled lake and one of my favorite bites. 3.75-5" Gambler ez's and R2S d walkers have turned into my favorites, they catch and they last forever. Don't overlook a heavy swim jig (1/2-3/4oz) either for the deeper side of the weed break lines. scott

@Bandersnatch not exactly related, but to me the 6'11M+ and the 7'2H have the magic in the adrena line. From what I know about the 873, I would expect the 7'2H to be a slightly lighter version. scott

Loved hearing straight from JJ about these "issues." But, I'm finding myself feeling different about Zaldain after watching this! His fishing persona always seemed "much." Probably just how the edits emphasize only one side of his personality. scott

I almost always use an fg knot and a 7-10' leader these days, and I can usually feel the knot. I don't think there's a more streamlined knot so it's just something you have to decide if you want to deal with. I can cast far enough for clear water fishing, so I don't think there's a significant distance loss. scott

I almost always anchor. Trying to pick apart weeds on breaklines with bottom contact presentations are only successful for me when I know where I am and where the transitions are. Anchoring is my only way. If you fish clear water submergent grass, it seems the only way to be thorough. scott

deleted: misread

I'm gonna have a bourbon. scott