RDB

One more thing that I’m not sure has been mentioned. You can get much better deals through Amazon or eBay v. the TW bonnets and they are all pretty equal. They come in multiple sizes but if you are using on squarebills, the pic below may help with scale. For me, the blue one’s fit the best.

There may be some truth to that in isolation. Put on a top level event at Fork or Rayburn and allow some of the better local sticks compete and they will probably hold their own. Put them on Guntersville or St. Clair the following week and they are probably going to get embarrassed.

I took the style reference as a pro’s focus on perfecting their preferred approach like KVD and power or Taku and finesse or Hackney and a jig. In that regard, a casual angler could probably improve through simplification. As far as skill, again I think it was in reference to average v. pro. There probably isn’t a huge difference between pro’s. I look at it in 2 buckets - finding fish and catching fish. Both are big differentiators between average and pro. The average angler can improve one in the driveway, the other is going to require some time on the water.

He is turning into one of my favorites. Seems like he is having the time of his life. I’m not suggesting pro’s don’t have styles or preferences. I’m suggesting that an average angler would be much better off focusing on improving their casting than focusing on expanding their techniques. I can learn every play in the playbook but if I can’t throw the football, I’m never going to be a good quarterback.

In my opinion, it’s not the style that differentiates good from great. Christie didn’t win this week because he can reel in a spinnerbait better than me. I could have been in the boat with him, reeled just like him, and I still would have gotten smoked. Those guys are at a different level when it comes to consistently presenting a lure in places that most anglers wouldn’t attempt and even if they did, would have a low success rate. Very few wasted casts, consistently keeping lures in the most productive areas every time. Most of these pro’s aren’t successful because they have 100 techniques in their bag. Most rely on 5 or 6 different offerings the majority of the time. Instead of learning a new technique, I would benefit much more by improving my accuracy from every possible angle to ensure my bait stays in the most productive areas. I have always considered myself pretty fair stick but when I have had the opportunity to share a boat someone I consider great, I quickly realize I’m just a poser.

My psychic told me she senses reel problems in certain posters futures ?.

Lot’s of good advice. The only thing I would add is if your using fluoro and looking to save money, use some backing line. You don’t need the reel fully spooled with expensive fluoro. If you choose to add backing, you don’t need to waste the line on the reel. Just wrap some paper towels around a drill bit until it fits snug through the center of the line spool, tighten the spool tension on the reel so it doesn’t backlash, and use the drill to slowly put line back on the original spool. Since you’re new to baitcasters, same thing applies if you blow up a reel.

I agree...you can find great deals through online re-sell markets (often unused). I mostly donate to local high school clubs now but have sold online to thin the heard in the past. I sold for cheap as I figured there was a reason many were looking for used.

Though you said you didn’t think it was other anglers, my guess is that it probably was. Some folks just don’t take care of their released fish.

I had the same problem but for me, the crank box was the most efficient way to store cranks. This is going to sound crazy but I put a bead of silicone caulk on the gap so the hook couldn’t slide under the lip and it works great. You can also keep hooks from getting tangled by tucking the back hook up under the bait instead of having it extended. Then it won’t hang on the bait behind it. Edit: If I had to do it again, I would probably put a bead of Super Glue Gel.

As a general rule, I would agree. Often I don’t “feel” the bite...it’s just resistance or the fall stops prematurely. My motto is when in doubt, hook sets are free.

Maybe it’s an instinctual thing. I frequently sit staring out the window in anticipation of a FedEx delivery and will run away when the wife interrupts with a honey-do.

I have done the same thing. My preference is for the hook to be perpendicular to the worm and I can’t do that with a single o-ring (I don’t think). I thought this was a pretty simple way and I hadn’t seen it before. Some may like it...some may hate it.

Someone recently shared this video with me and I thought others might be interested.

That’s how I get all my big bass photos ?.

Nope...I just checked their site and the price I paid for my last Metanium is the same as currently listed - 30,900 JPY (283.93 USD). That was my total cost. Shipped FedEx and I received in about 4 days.

I haven’t weighed my lighter rods in some time but I can ballpark. Baitcasters - Conquest 842 - mid 3’s - Z-Bone 3 & 5 power - mid to upper 3’s - NRX 893 - low 4’s Spinning - NRX DSR & 852 - mid 3’s - Avid X ML/XF - mid 3’s - Z-Bone 2 Power - mid 3’s I don’t have anything as low as your Victory.

Lol...nah I’m talking baitcasters.

Trust me, the felt weight on a 3 1/2 oz rod is pretty low ?.

I’d save another $50 and get a JDM ‘20 Metanium.

I would guess it’s a combination of cost and weight reduction. I don’t currently have any Winn or carbon grips but I have several Steez rods with Eva and many with cork and am happy with all. Grip material, wrap color, blank color are not high on my list of importance...for me it’s just cosmetics. Half the time I cast with one hand anyway.

I’m one of those who has issues to iron out ?...I have become a weight junkie. And if I had to choose 1, give me a light rod over a light reel.

As long as you stay within the rods ratings, you should be fine but you do want some tip. I have 2 primary pitchin’ setups...one is MH/XF (893) and the other MH-H/F (Steez). Very different rods but both handle 3/8 just fine (not suggesting those...just pointing out differences). For your chatterbaits, those specs aren’t ideal but you can pitch with any rod. If I’m fishing a chatterbait and need to make a pitch, I’m just going to pitch with the same rod.

Don’t throw in the towel yet. I had to reorganize to add a third box last night and my poorly fitting jigs lack the skirt fullness to hold tight in the groove behind the head. I’m going to look for some sleeves to fit over the arms to see if I can get a tighter fit. Outside of a few of 1/2oz jigs, it was primarily some finesse and 3/8oz jigs. I’ll let you know if it works. I’m thinking something like this that shrinks to form when heated.

I agree with this. Lot’s of good advise to try to reduce jumps but they are going to happen. The problem when they do is not only can they throw slack in the line but the head shakes can cause the bait to flop around. That’s one reason why it’s harder to keep bass pinned on heavier lures like flutter spoons. My best success is to keep the line tight and when they surface, pull the rod tip away from the fish as you continue reeling. By pulling away, you can keep additional tension to reduce lure flop, lessen the slack, and pull the head toward you to get the fish back in the water.