RDB

Using 1/4th is fine and won’t impact anything but there are 1/16th options. You can type in “jig 1/16” on TW and all the results will have a 1/16th size offering. If weight is a big concern, you can also just add a screw lock to the upper arms and attach the swimbaits to those. When I want to go lighter, I will use 1/16th on all the arms except the bottom 2 where I use 1/8th. The extra weight on the bottom helps ensure it tracks true. Edit: I said 1/4th but meant 1/8th…brain fart Also, on the umbrella rigs like your picture, you can open them up by bending the wires out BUT I would bend the arms slightly below the head…not at the head. If you bend from the head, they have a tendency to loosen up from the head after multiple bends.

Let us know how this turns out. I have a number of their rods and know quite a few others who use them as well and this is the first time I have heard a complaint. Was Jake the person you were dealing with?

Having fish ID turned on tells you all you need to know.

You just like to argue for no reason. THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE SAME THING. A break in a breakline can be an example of a signpost but so can an isolated rock pile and many other things, a stump on an empty flat like you used in your earlier example, and on and on. I don’t know how to explain my point any better. You want to argue terminology and not consider what I am referring to. Instead, you continue to double down. I gave plenty of examples of signposts that were not associated with a breakline. If you think I am pulling this out of my azz no angling history, you’re nuts. Just because everyone doesn’t share their supposed history and claimed accomplishments doesn’t mean that there aren’t other accomplished anglers on this forum. Some just choose humility and are comfortable enough that they don’t need measuring contests.

Agree completely…but that doesn’t mean that they move to that food in a random manner. As we get into the fall and shad migrate into the creeks, many bass will follow. However, the vast majority of the bass are not going to just aimlessly wander back to the creeks. They will follow some sort of path that makes them feel secure and affords ambush opportunities. That doesn’t mean the entire migration needs to afford those elements. Just that it’s not random, often repeated year after year, and will typically include signposts for navigation and pit stops.

I agree…signposts are just guides, just like breaklines can be guides. A bass doesn’t have to be right on it for it to serve it’s purpose. If I’m lost in the woods, I can use the sun as a signpost to travel. There is a great story in the Bible about some wisemen who used a signpost to travel. For example, a bass may be suspended 20 feet above a channel or 30 feet off a tree but they typically are still relating to something. You typically don’t see bass suspended on a do nothing flat in deep water in the middle of the lake with no cover/structure for hundreds of yards. Just because we don’t decipher the reason for movements or positioning doesn’t mean there isn’t a method to their madness. Signposts are more useful in identifying movement to different locations. A bass may roam a flat in what seems like a random fashion but chances are most (especially with big ones), are accessing that flat in a similar manner using some type of signpost. I keep using deer as an example because it is easy to visualize because they are on land. Rubs are signposts and a rub line (a breakline) can be very useful in determining deer movement and possible ambush locations for hunters. In this case, they likely travel the breakline and stop at the signpost. Same with a fence corner, hardwood to scrub brush, and many more examples. The fence is a breakline and the fence corner could be a signpost.

A point is a breakline…a quick change in depth is not a requirement.

Let’s not get into it again. I am very familiar with what breaklines are and I was not referring to breaklines, You are the one who equated the two and got off on a different topic…seems to be a trend. Breaklines can be signposts but not all breaklines are signposts…there is a difference. This is not my first rodeo but you can have this one…thanks for the education. And that break is a great example of a type signpost. Signposts are an overall term for these types of things. Instead of arguing, take some time to read the post…then we can have an honest discussion. Yes…and it can be a shadow line, mud line, thermocline, hard bottom to soft bottom, a change in vegetation type, the edge where no current meets current, etc. It’s simple…the term is VERY descriptive of what it is.

No I don’t mean breaklines, I mean signposts. Signposts are basically guides. It could be a stump, a rock pile, a ridge, a point, a channel, a weed line, a contour, etc., etc. Scrapes and rubs are examples of signposts for deer. If I told you to turn left at the 7-Eleven, that would be a signpost. A thermocline is not really a sign post, just like a bird sitting on a power line is not a signpost. As an example, as bass move from winter spots to prepare for the spawn, they will typically make that journey (whatever distance) via signposts, often staging in certain areas along the way like secondary points or channel swings close to spawning flats. This is especially true with big bass. That is one of the reasons why we look for spots on spots. Big bass on a ridge or off a point will often choose spots that offer additional concealment and ease of movement. That’s why we look for things like channel swings off a point or a rock pile on the steep side. Typical bass movement is not random. This doesn’t mean they always use the same routes. Just that bass typically move in a connect the dot fashion. Bass are patternable, just like humans and most other creatures. That doesn’t mean every bass behaves the same, just like humans, but that doesn’t change the fact that patterns exist. The question is can we decipher the pattern. Since everyone seems to want to use random studies to explain away non controversial bass behavior, let’s talk about telemetry studies that are more applicable. There have been numerous tracking studies on tournament released bass. In many cases, the bass is released far from where they were caught. In some cases, the bass eventually returns to the location they were caught, but some never return. It makes total sense. If I blindfolded you and dropped you off at your work, you wouldn’t have a difficult time finding your way home. And chances are you would use your typical route via signposts. If I dropped you off on a farm in the next state, it’s going to be a challenge. Behavior is typically not random. Edit: Some breaklines can be signposts but not all. A mud line or shadow is not a signpost.

I’m missing the point of this comment as well. My comment about not sharing how long I have hunted (or fished) was a tongue in cheek reference to you always pointing out your 70 years of unimpeachable fishing wisdom when challenged.

I said deer and many other game animals and you chose to cherry pick to attempt to make a point. But thanks for cleaning up that deer aren’t predators. I won’t share how long I have hunted.

Believe what you want to believe. Just because a fish under certain circumstances displays behavior different than the norm doesn’t make your statements proven. I would think someone with your worldly expertise would know that. It is an absolute fact that bass typically use signposts to travel...just like humans and almost every creature in existence. To suggest that bass (or any animal movement) is random is nonsensical. You always share your 70 years of knowledge when challenged but you are absolutely wrong. I don’t expect you to admit it…I don’t think I have ever seen you admit to being incorrect on anything since I joined. Doubling down doesn’t make your supposed myth busting statement any more accurate. P.S. And just because they suspend in deep water doesn’t mean they are not relating to something whether it be a creek channel, hump, etc. etc., etc. It is highly likely that the VAST majority of the bass got there through a relatively consistent route and they will likely return via a consistent route. You often share the saying about the percentage of water that holds fish, yet this position seems to be pretty contradictory.

That may be true in deep waters (not sure) but most of the information and studies I have read indicate that bass typically use sign posts in their travels. The sign posts can vary in nature but their movements are typically not random and usually fairly consistent. Deer and many other game animals travel in a similar manner.

Every fish I lose and never see…they were all DD’s.

I pray that it never all comes together for me…that’s what keeps me coming back.

You may already know this but the $130 charge is for their Xpeditor program which is their no questions asked program. They still have a limited lifetime warranty for defects, etc. I had a Conquest that exploded on a hook set and they replaced it at no cost to me. You do have to go through G Loomis though, not your dealer. You are right that they are not a big mass produced rod. They started out making rods for pro’s, no retail. Brandon Palaniux does a lot of work with them. They opened up to retail but only sell direct (no retail or box stores) to better control price and quality. I have never had a moving bait rod that was easier to keep a fish pinned…it’s so forgiving. It’s my favorite but there are a lot of quality rods out there.

It was my suggestion…the rod is excellent and I don’t think you will find any negative reviews on any forum. They offer a money back guarantee. Look under the blog tab on their website. Buy with Confidence: If you buy a fishing rod from Alpha Angler and it doesn’t meet or exceed your expectations,send it back for a full refund, return shipping included. We tend to brag with confidence about our products, but it’s for good reason… every one is a labor of love. The truth is we’re willing to put our money where our mouth is!!! If you buy one and don’t like it, send it back. We got you covered.

Unless you just have money burning a hole in your pocket, I wouldn’t spend $500+ on a moving bait rod. IMO, there are much better choices than NRX for moving baits at a much better price. I own a lot of NRX rods, have owned Conquests in the past, but have never owed a Poison Adrena.

Sure it can be…but it beats a flasher. The high resolution of today’s electronics and being able to see over a football field in a single pass has greatly enhanced the average fisherman’s ability to locate spots. It wasn’t that many years ago that you could drop a brush pile and have it to yourself for a good while. Today you can drop a brush pile and have 20 boats sitting on it by the weekend.

Think of it as 360 degree side imaging. Side imaging gives you one slice to the side where 360 has a rotating beam that refreshes on each rotation and gives you a visual of everything around your boat. It doesn’t shoot out as far (125’ v. 200’) but it makes target fishing much easier.

I wouldn’t worry about line memory. After you make your first cast with a medium diver, it will be gone...line memory and knot strength are so over obsessed about here. Maybe people should make sure they are tying correctly, loosen up their drags, and stop cutting their tag ends even with their knots. I can’t remember when I last had a knot fail, rarely have line memory issues and when I do, it’s when the reel has been on the shelf and disappears after a few casts, and rarely break off with any line type and I use lighter than most for everything. This is one of those personal preference issues and the feedback is biased to that persons preference. At the end of the day, presenting the crankbait in the desired zone is most important and your choice of line can have an impact on that..

It’s personal preference but I don’t want maximum sensitivity and prefer glass rods for spinnerbaits and chatterbaits…I feel like I am a little slower to react and get deeper hookups. Even though they are single hooks, I also like some parabolic bend for those runs close to the boat. If it’s a matter of limits on what you can carry, it could work but IMO, it’s not ideal..

I guess it depends on what you consider successful fishing. If you mean the actual catching of fish, there is a fast track but it comes with a price tag. With todays electronics, fishermen have a massive advantage. From side imaging to 360 to now live imaging, advances in mapping, spot lock, etc. etc., there are numerous potential shortcuts that weren’t available not that long ago. We have mapping that will not only collect contours, but also bottom hardness, vegetation, and 3D images. I wonder what the fishing world would look like today if everyone relied on flashers. It’s not the advances in reel or rod design that has changed the industry. As far as information, I think having too much information can be a negative. IMO, people would be better served focusing on the why, where, and when of bass behavior and determine the what and how themselves. Much of the information available today ends up be limiting.

I absolutely don’t. If I had to choose a G. Loomis rod for chatterbaits, it would probably be a GLX but I don’t have a lot of experiences with the lower tier Loomis rods. My number 1 choice and the rod I use for chatterbaits is the Alpha Angler ChatterBound. It’s around $250 and awesome for most anything moving.