Fat Ika

Yeah. I resisted since these came out, but finally succumbed to getting a couple. Hopefully the pre-rig lasts for more fish than non pre-rigged setups. I like the bite gap and hook placement relative to the swimbait body. Looks like finicky nippers should get stuck. I'm trying the new tactical underspin as well. Last year those new gammy underspins significantly increased my hook-land ratio vs the coolbaits underspin for smallies especially. The hook and gap on those gammy underspins seems far superior to any other underspin I've experienced.

I feel ya. I recently included a firetiger 68 in a hudd order for some dumb muddy river pike and possibly a few bass mudholes, but after starring at it for a few weeks, I decided to give it to my brother. All his options are dirty waters, so he'll definitely get more use out of it.

Is an intervention needed? Can never lose too many flashy swimmers! While being stuck in a tree, I've placed $50 TW orders just to re-up. When the box arrives, I quickly open and hide the new stuff. I keep one bait in the box. "What's in the box?" said Wifey. "Just another bait that was on backorder from Black Friday."

Bassman's are pretty top notch stock spinnerbait. Wish they had more options for my personal liking, but components are great to me. I like Picasso hog snatchers for subtle willow/non-burning situations and these Battle Baits caught my eye this year.

Yes. I've been going to Mark (Dave's Reel Service) for 7-8 years. He's highly experienced with og Shimanos. I've seen him working over the years in his workshop on stacks of mostly Shimano and Daiwa. Give him a call and he'll definitely be honest with what he can do. One year a sent a few reels to Tackle Trap in AL. I thought maybe they might have more experience with upgrades for a few high end Daiwa's. That was a regret. As long as he's around, I'll use him for all my reel maintenance and upgrade needs.

I like the deep slot. Hopefully the 3.5 will cast as far as an Ika or a 3.5 scat and have easier hook penetration than an Ika.

Agreed! Look for a cheap, shorter inshore rod.

When bank fishing in minus 50 degree water. Excited to try savage gear moderate sink bluegills with jig hooks and wedge tails. Specifically experience if the water column swimbait bite can turn in cooler water with the slower sink rate and less aggressive tail. Mop style jig with a large/long profile creature bait like a man bear pig. Dropshotting ned jigs with skirts

Yep. 3/0 guppy head is perfect for the 3.3.

Dropshotting these wacky rigged are killer. I prefer the yamamoto fat senko action when wacky-ing a 3" stickbait.

Nice. I'm diggin the new new baby bass color. Haven't tried it yet, but seems like a versatile color for many conditions. Silver flash minnow is definitely a confidence color for me when it's sunny/windy.

I use the 6" pulse tail trout rtf along with 6" hudd, 68 hudd, and 68 weedless. Mostly bank fish these. I prefer the savage gear as long as there's minimal grass and no known wood, no patience for placing a rear stinger on a jighook hudd/or butch browning, and just don't want to tear the back of a hudd with a rear stinger. Always creeping these on bottom and prefer the rof 5 regardless of depth to prevent less resistance on the bottom or potential rock crevice snags. They need to come out with more colors, not sure it matters, but I'll buy the snot out of bass and perch patterns. Also, 4" and 5" profiles of these would definitely sell. Still use single jighook hudds, but the Hudd rof 5, 6" and 68s are heavier than the savage gear 6" rof 5s.

Under $300 and interested in something that is more mistake forgiving, yet don't need to max your $300 budget if unnecessary. I would start with an SLX DC or a Tatula SV TW. Non-DC Shimanos with MGL spools are not going to be the easiest on you for making mistakes while learning. Yes, Zillion SV TW will perform slightly better with more durability, but imo, the Tatula SV TW is a greater price/value. I'd try the Tatula or the SLX DC first. To have experience with both technologies, when you're ready for your 2nd baitcasting purchase, try the other. IMO.

Hard for me to ever switch from J Braid 8 on spinning and Sunline xplasma for casting needs. I thought Sufix 131 was the ultimate for distance casting/line management for baitcasting needs. Then tried xplasma. Never once had a braid lash with xplasma on baitcaster. It'll probably happen this year now. Since I'm not the best at line management, just can't put a price on braid for me personally. Maybe I'll try cheap Seaguar braid for backing on flouro casters. If it results in better flouro line laying vs other cheap braids, then I'll have a use for it.

@JediAmoebaAgree with all 4 SG shine glide, g ratt sneaky pete, swaver 200, and antidote as a direct answer to @IntroC desire for something in the ball park of an 8" glide. @kevinmyfsu Right on. That Rago Cha Cha is amazing for any level of experience. Whenever glide fishing unfamiliar waters or targeting pike with a glide, I start with a Cha Cha. Not sure if there's a better price value if you're looking for something that's hard to blow out.

Think it's worth a try, especially in north country early spring. I prefer to use lighter/smaller swim jigs with 3" spark shads and 3.5" easy shiners in the colder water. Hardest part is threading on that silly easy shiner, right lol. Just a confidence thing for me.

Howie's Tackle - Sturgeon Bay staple. Durable with tons of colors Big Bites Tour Tube - Soft and slimy Netbait STH Finesse Tube - Their 2.5" has unique proportions

Exactly what I did when started using the scat. The 3.5 "casts a little further than the reverse Ika for me. I don't think there's a plastic on the market that casts farther than the 4". Yeah, pumping/ripping off the bottom and letting it fall back down horizontally, is what I do in most situations with the scat.

I've had a few hits on the weedless 68 perch last November. I love the 6" hudds, but due to some spine injuries, I can't commit to it for to long, which sucks. I'm looking forward to trying the savage gear bluegills pretty soon. How's the fall rate on those things? Hoping I can creep them on some bottom without getting grimed up.

If you want something slower, yet still value the vibration feeling, maybe try a slower graphite rod such as the Dobyns Kaden 735 mod fast. I personally use Champ 735 and 736 composites, but I have used the brother's Kaden 735 with bladed jigs. You might not feel as much as the Sierra, but it's slower.

All 3 sizes work great. If you're a bank angler and need to distance cast something weightless and weedless, not sure there's anything more effective than the 3.5 or 4" scat. It's almost replaced any weightless t-rig for me. Prefer Ryugi Infini hooks with the cover scat.

What Tom said and call it a day. Personally use other hooks, lead wire or storm strips. Hooks if I find what's needed to get the desired paused movement, or ad lead wire/strips.........whichever I find first. @WRB I'll have to try out the solder sometime! Thanks Tom.

I'm definitely partial to the lil magnum and workingman's jigs. Wish they had the natural gill color in the workingman's. Usually just go with the natural gill or dope gill in the gorilla swim jig depending on the clarity. Hopefully they'll add the natural gill color at some point. Was gonna buy the beast coast natural gill skirts, add them to the pro pumpkin or boss flip jig........I had a fiscally responsible moment inside the brain and talked myself out of buying and replacing the skirts.

What others have mentioned. In addition, in moderate to heavy grass, a heavy-mag heavy casting rod will be more effective, almost necessary. A med hvy spinning rod will be far less of an efficient flipping tool in grass. I guess you could use an extra heavy spinning rod in your preferred flipping length. Without knowledge or experience, not familiar with heavy action spinning rods with the length/taper for horsing out of grass. Drags on most casting reels will be more tolerant of forces vs most 4000 spinning reels. If looking to shorten the casting learning curve, an SV or DC reel would be a better choice imo. Practice flipping and pitching with casting gear. Amount of practice needed will vary depending on previous spinning flip/pitch experience, motor learning and motor potential.

Smallest jerkbaits - 7'2" Spinning medium glass rod with 4000 size reel braid-leader Most 90-100 mm jerkbaits - 7'2" Spinning graphite with Vanford 5000 - straight flouro or straight copolymer 110 or larger- 7'4" medium fast casting - Flouro or copolymer