Fat Ika

Not much more to add and you probably already understand all this jargon........ In regards to weedless tubes, as previously mentioned stupid tubes are a great weedless rig that maintains that classic tube jig fall. If it didn't call for cutting, re-rigging, retying, I'd probably still use them exclusively for weedless situations unless flipping. For flipping or working a weedless tube in whatever structure you want, the Lazer Trokar Tournament Tube Hook.........to my knowledge, I have not found another wide gap flipping tube like it. After discovering both the stupid tube and this flipping hook, they both totally changed the tube grass game for me. And yes, they're very productive for dragging on the bottom for largies. I personally use bite me goby heads in the regular and jr size depending on the tube size when dragging for largies. Excellent maintenance of bottom contact, I can feel the structure fine, and minimal hangups for me personally.

Anyone have experience with casting dropshotting marabou DS hooks for smallmouth in cold water? If so, have you weighted the hook shank with plastic plus plastic keeper/bobber stop without messing up the presentation/decreasing your results?

@Bluebasser86 Jeez. I had no idea. They make those donkeys in KS? What model victory you using there?

@Junk Fisherman I grew up in Tinley Park. 1/2 a dozen! That's a smash fest. I'm an embarrassment with the bladebait. What kind of structure were you fishing the blade around?

@DitchPanda Of course. Especially from the bank. I blanked the last time I went out last week committing to a jerkbait with slow pulls/light twitches & 3-12 second pauses.....which usually works for me for at least 1 fish at this TOY and ice-out. Wed night looks like you get a nice night temp bump..... it will be a low of mid 40s in NW Iowa on Wed night. In Chicago, I'm planning on skipping work from 2 pm - dusk on Thursday and Friday. I too will be shore fishing......... fishing a jerkbait for sure and probably a casting/mostly dead-sticking a buoyant dropshot as my waters have mostly soft bottom and grass. How were the smallie rivers for you in November?

@NavyToad Amen brother. And, a sincere thank you for your service.

@Smallies - IMO @MN Fisher 's recommendation of yozuri hybrid is great. It's an excellent value, decent handling for a copolymer, and it's very abrasion resistant/good knot strength. 12# yozuri hybrid is also my most common size for cranks & lipless cranks. Depending on the bait, depth, structure.......you could go down to 10# for deep cranks, but for lipless, 12# or greater would be necessary imo. If I was forced to fish with only one model of line, it would be yozuri hybrid. Not like my opinion or experience are worth squat........I'm just here for talk therapy

The new Zillions SV TW's brake dial is a different placement and construction. I too have never had a problem with the 30 plus Daiwa casting reels I've had since the late 90s.

Oy vey haha. I feel ya. I'm sure you'll get it before the the ice breaks. It's an awesome reel and the minor inconvenience never deters me from using it. I'm sure it's something to do with my personal hand ergonomics. When you do get it, I'm sure you'll giggle every time you use it.

@Holetail - Heck yeah! I starting dabbling with a few Champ XPs in 2018, 2019 a few Champ Extremes, last year 1 Xtasy. I've had Exprides, 1 Adrena, Tatula Elites, Croix Legend Tournaments/Legend Elites. I only have experience with one Loomis rod (GLX 893C JWR) and no experience with Megabass. I'm sure I'd love Loomis and some Megabass, but the price of GLX was a turn-off. Amazing rod. It is more sensitive than my comparable length/action Champion Extremes, the comfort/balance for me is almost as good as the Champ Extremes......but the GLX's are $125 more than the Champ Extremes. I'm not someone that has sensitivity as a primary value. Build quality, service, balance, comfort, variety of lengths/actions, build quality, durability are my personal primary preferences. I'm overly impressed with all those factors with Dobyns and I'm sure I would love Loomis, but price/value for me personally is currently with Dobyns. I'm sure I'll try the Loomis rabbit hole one day, but I am just as excited to pick up all my Champ XPs/Extremes as I am my 1 Xtasy. I hope I don't start a rod war. I respect all brands, I respect all peoples preferences and opinions, and I don't think anyone's entitled to a super firm opinion unless they have the disposable income and determination to try everything all brands/line/models and overtime experience all facets of all the rod brands. I'm not firm on my opinion, but I'm very comfortable with Dobyns, and a few other brands/models. I just started participating on BR. This is killing my work productivity.

For 150-170 retail - Ark Tharp/Invoker and Dobyns Sierra/Kaden. IMO, I think the biggest factor depends on initial experiences with a particular model that creates your love for a line and brand. I've had good experiences with some Tatulas and Croix Victorys, but I've also had some models with terrible balance.

@PhishLI Stellar reel. IMO, it's near perfection aside from the location and build of the mag brake dial. I have to look at it every cast to make sure my silly hand didn't fudge the setting. It's so good, I don't care. I still enjoy it just as much as the Steez SV TW. Daiwa's not stupid. Did they place that imperfection there purposely or is their R&D just a step behind Shimano?

@Holetail Very nice. The SA 703 sf was my introduction to Dobyns and 80% of the time, I end up purchasing Dobyns. For me personally, it's hard to deny the price value of the Sierras and the Fuegos.

@fishwizzard @Oklahoma Mike - Thanks guys for the feedback. fishwizzard - I never can tell with these darn hooks until I try them out. I'm sure I'll run into the same problem as you lol. Sounds like my same issue with just a traditional wacky rig. I'll have to start a thread about traditional wacky rig......... hooks, best found ways to weight them, plastics......all regarding hook up effectiveness. OK Mike - Were you talking about these guys from Hayabusa? Any experience with the Hayabusa WRM202? I can't find anything from Owner aside from your traditional weed guard hooks.

@MN Fisher It's sacrilegious in your neck of the woods to not throw Rapala, right? You'll probably go back to Rapala after the red eyes spook the daylights out of your bass. I obviously don't know what I'm talking about, but while I live in Illinois, my heart is in the Northwoods......... and Rapala has it all.

@A-JayI scored that same exact jacket a few weeks back too! I read the reviews on how oversized they possibly were, so I went into the local fly fishing shop. I still have layering room in a Medium. I'm Large or Extra Large in any other jacket. So glad I had a shop nearby to try on. I can't believe how light and comfortable it is. I have 2 destroyed shoulders, and I couldn't tolerate getting any other cold weather fishing jacket on and off, nor could I tolerate just wearing any other fishing jacket for an extended period of time.

@QED I have not tried the CT version, but the Steez SV TW is my favorite reel. Sounds like gear issues were the reason they revamped the 2019 CT so quickly? What were the issues and your experiences with the 2019 Steez CT TW?

@Oklahoma Mike - That sounds sweet. I am definitely interested in the WindBuster for finesse swimbaits, small cranks, poppers, & most jerkbaits. @T-Billy I have had several Ark rods and agree they're a great price value. @TcRoc The 744 Champion Extreme HP is my most used casting rod. What are you planning on using the your 744 XP for?

YoZuri Vibes - So popular we've got a one knocker version now Aruku Shads - So popular we've got a new silent version Quake 80 Suspending - Hopefully over time the technology gets to the point where they can make smaller, thinner baits, with smaller hooks. From my experience they get hammered in 50-60 degree water, low-light, stained water, windy conditions. I'd love to see them scaled down, as I have not had any luck soaking/suspending them in cooler/clear water. Again, from my experience it's been money with aggressive fish in easy reaction bait situations with straight cranking > small pause or twitching, cranking again barely pausing. It's a big, narly action. Hopefully one day we'll see this bait category with smaller profile, smaller hooks and tighter action.

Hi Fellow Fishermen, Just thought we could have some fun sharing our excitement for Black Friday reel & rod deals. What rod or reel did you get, what are you using it for, and why that specific brand/line/model? Share more than one if applicable! I'm trying out my first ALX rod. ALX Enox Casting Rod 7'2" Med Hvy+ BMJ. Planning on mainly using for frogs and swim jigs, but also want to test out the balance/comfort/sensitivity versus some of my other casting rods.....so I'll be dragging some bottom contact baits vs other rods I have in similar length action with the same exact bait to test out sensitivity for me personally.

Thanks for the jerkbait tidbits. Never heard of the Shimano bait. I'll check it out. I was bummed I missed out on the first batch of X-Nanahans too!

Hi Fellow Fishermen, Just thought we could have some fun sharing our excitement for Black Friday gear. 1. What new bait, technique, and/or terminal tackle are you excited about using? 2. If it's not a new techniques, but a new bait within a technique you're experienced with, what's your past experience with this techniques? 3. Feel free to be as specific as you'd like why you're excited about it. Time of year, conditions, etc.....any and all variables you can think of. I'm excited about a lot of stuff, but a new terminal piece for me is a weedless neko hook. Going to test out these 2. Gamakatsu G-Finesse Cover Neko Hook - https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Gamakatsu_G-Finesse_Cover_Neko_Hook_3pk/descpage-GGFCN.html Decoy Worm 128 Neko Rig Hook - https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/search-tackle.html?start=0&count=30&searchtext=neko+decoy I enjoy nekos for tough or calm blue bird conditions from post ice-out/early pre-spawn to almost late fall. I use them almost entirely versus a traditional perpendicular wacky rig. I also enjoy them for different look if needed during finicky sight fishing. Excited to see how these work in grass.

@Cody28 - 2 cents, since no one has mentioned https://www.thornebros.com/ - They might be useful to chat with.

Thanks Tom. I appreciate the advice!

@ABrugs - Thank You. Sounds like 2 super comfortable setups. I am also considering Tatsu for my spinning option for optimal line management. How's your experience been with the 8# Tatsu?