T-Billy

Good video. Thanks Glenn. I agree 100% about the jig heads. I make my own, and have found a ball head works best for stupid rigging. I cast them using the Do-it screw lock flat eye shake it mold, cast without the screw lock. The VMC 7328 hook works great. 3/0 for 3.5" tubes and 4/0 for 4" tubes. The stupid tube is my favorite bait for fishing structure. It comes through chunk rock great, and when it does hang up it can usually be popped loose. It'll catch them all year, but really shines in spring and fall.

^THIS^ + If you want to keep a few to eat, DO NOT take a cooler or a stringer with you!!! I can't stress this enough!!!

I own and like rods in both brands/series you mention. Go with the one YOU like better. Can't go wrong either way.

Stupid tubes come through rock really well, and you can fish wood with them, but they don't come through brush or grass well. For thick cover, I switch to a T-rigged beaver style bait. They'll come through near anything clean, and they have an erratic fall like a tube does. You can T-rig a tube, but a beaver will give you a better hooking percentage. Also make sure the jigheads you select for stupid rigging have an EWG hook.

Double dipped are just that, dipped twice.. This gives them thicker walls, and makes them fatter and more durable. I'm not a fan of them personally as I usually rig tubes stupid style, and single dipped or injected give me a better hookup percentage.

Lots of things over the years. Catfish, bowfin,carp,mudpuppies,gar,mussels.... Last week I got my butt kicked by a big Flathead. It hammered my T-rigged beaver and ran back into the tangle of blowdowns I was fishing. I had the drag locked down on my Lews super duty, loaded with 40# 832, and it didn't even slow it down. I clamped down on the spool with my thumb but had to let off as it was about to snap my flippin stick. SLX 7' 10" heavy. Bent the reel handle, braid burned my thumb, nearly snapped a stout rod, and that beast ran back into the tangle and wrapped me up in probably 5 seconds flat. After about 20min of messing with it I gave up and broke it off. That big cat KO'd me and my gear early in the first round. LOL. Fun experience though.

Sound advice above. Spool braid on tightly and focus on making smooth fluid casts.

Let's not forget those stealthy overhanging limbs.

Megastrike is the same way. I just keep it in the cooler on hot days.

I've settled on a #2 hook too. Tried everything from #4 to a 1/0. #2 seems to be the Goldilocks size. Just right.

Yep. Release to the grease.

Presto pots work fine for large batches. I prefer ceramic coated cast iron pots on a hotplate. You can buy them used on ebay for a reasonable price in any size you want. They work great. Nice even heating and easy cleanup.

I'll second that. Cosmetic stuff has never killed any of my reels. Bail springs, thumbar parts, and pinion gears are another story. I don't mind that either. It takes a lot of days on the water to wear out a reel, and when ones done, I get to buy another. All good.

Glad you found a setup you like OP. I think you'll find that to be a versatile rig. My 7' 6" MH Veritas Winch rods have been seeing LOTS of use this year. 8.3-1 reels spooled with 40# 832. Hands down the best chatterbait setup I've tried. Most fish have it choked, and with the braid, I get a good hookset at any distance. I've also found I really like it for pitching jigs and T rigs. Rod loads up clear into the butt section and keeps 'em pinned, and the mod action also helps prevent tearing their mouths on the hookset.

Two lost PB's in a month. That's rough. I feel for ya brother. I've completely gone away from EWG's. I'm using either straight shanks, or 30 degree wide gaps with a screw lock these days. Both give me better hookups and fewer lost fish than EWG's. OMMV. Try 'em all and see what works best for you.

I've had some great days fishing outside grass edges with a ned. Exposed hook, 6# XT. It comes through better than you might expect and most fish head for deep water when you stick 'em instead of burying up in the grass.

I prefer my bottom dragging rods balanced. I use those slip on rubber furniture feet. Only a couple bucks for a four pack. I pour the needed amount of lead into them a little at a time and secure them to the rod butt with electrical tape. Cheap, easy, works great, and 100% reversable.