cdlittle

I love me some purple! Just got a bunch of JDM jerkbaits in, all with a touch of purple on one way or another.

This is why I really hesitate to spend more than $100 on a rod. There's definitely diamonds in the sub-$100 range that have more than adequate sensitivity. Why would I pay more than that when it can just blow up.

Man, I don't even know. I fish just outside of Chicago. Getting more than 2-3 fish a session (3-4 hours on average, for me) is a good day. Last week, I caught 19 bass on two evening trips (5ish hours total). My wife got a massive hookup on a Whopper Plopper 60 on Easter. So I have no clue what the bass are even up to at this point.

I have a Baby Bull Shad and Baby Bull Gill. Haven't used them much yet, but first impressions are quite positive.

I never upgrade something that is working for me. I might consider upgrading rods after several years just in case there's a jump in technology that might lead to more sensitivity. But that's the only case where I could justify it.

Unfortunate situation, but one that is quite common since I'm just outside of a big city. Especially with the influx of new anglers since COVID, there's more and more idiots out there. I make sure to pack some headphones so I can put them in and just listen to a podcast/my own music instead. Doesn't help when you're trying to fish with a buddy though.

I fish just outside Chicago where the fishing pressure is unreal. Things with lots of vibration/noise/shine can be more harm than help. A swim jig was what I caught over half my bass on last year and wasn't able to get a single bite on chatterbaits/spinnerbaits.

I love me some JDM jerkbaits, but I still use the standard Rapalas and whatnot. In the warmer months when fish are more aggressive, any jerkbait will do well. What really sets the high end jerkbaits apart is their ability to suspend perfectly. This is sooo vital during the winter months when you need that jerkbait to sit in front of them without rising or sinking for 3-20 seconds. You can spend a bunch of time getting the perfect hooks/split rings to make cheaper jerkbaits suspend like that, or buy the high end baits that do it out of the box. I've done both and enjoy both ways.

Heat shrink about 1/4" wide in the center of the stick bait and then stick your hook in. Stronger than an o-ring. I shove my hook through the actual heat shrink so the hook is perpendicular to the bait and the bait never comes off.

$99 dollarydoos. I have a smattering of Daiwas and one Shimano. I love them all. The Shimano is definitely better at throwing lighter baits than the Daiwas, so it sits on my jerkbait rod.

Currently they're all in one box that makes me cuss every time I need to get one out. Following this thread so I can put an end to that

If I can't get bass, then I'll switch to my BFS gear and go after panfish, often catching a few bass on those smaller presentations.

I use anywhere from a #4 Owner mosquito for "micro-shotting" panfish to a 4/0 EWG rigged weedless to powershot in heavy grass. Go to is a #1 or 1/0 Owner Mosquito though.

The one bait that I always have is a 3/8 swim jig with a 3.5" Swammer. I even have a rod/reel that is dedicated to this setup and never has anything else tied on.

I've had a lot of luck using a swim jig like this when the fish don't want a straight retrieve. The key, I think, is to use a soft paddletail that gives as much action as possible while falling. Second, I make much bigger hops thanI would with a craw type jig/T-rig. It's honestly more like yo-yoing a lipless than hopping a jig.

When it comes to baitcasters, I've never had an issue with my six Daiwas or my one Shimano. As far as spinning reels, I've only had a problem with one super cheap Daiwa that had a terrible drag, but it was a $30 reel that I bought for my wife to see if she even liked fishing. I've had reels that didn't feel smooth, but that's not a "problem" per se. I used to be a big proponent of Pflueger spinning reels for those looking for a reel under $75. But now, as crazy as it sounds, I think Okuma owns that space. I have six Okuma spinning reels (mix of Alaris', Avenger's, and Epixor's) and all of them are smoother than any Shimano/Daiwa spinning reel under $75. That I've tried at least. Anywho, sorry for rambling, but only issue I had was with a cheapo $30 Daiwa.

[img]https://i.imgur.com/UmHrQ3t.jpg[/img] Here's a photo of mine. Agreed about the braking being a bit finicky. I've had the most luck turning the centrifugal brakes completely off and running just magnetic. Sorry all, looks like this forum doesn't use BBCode, here's the photo

I'm not OP, but I put mine on a 7' medium Aird-X for squarebills

Hey, I know it's been a while, but nobody responded. I picked one of these up off a guy locally for $20. I put some Spool Speed bearings in it, cleaned it all up, replaced the handle, and use it for my squarebills. I love it! I'll have to snap a picture tomorrow.