Friggs

My Wacky/T-Rig rod is a St Croix Mojo Bass MXF 6' 8". It was designed for weightless stick baits. And I even use it for weighted T-Rigs as long as I don't use a lot of weight. Which I never do. And it works perfectly for them. Very sensitive. I love it. It is tied for first place as my favorite rod.

I have heard about this before. And saw a different video showing the same thing. Something to think about.

I tried it and it is my go to anymore. I use to use Invisex but had trouble affording it. I use 15 pound and 12 pound on two of my baitcasters. And I did a big NONO. I used it on one of my spinning reels. I had no issues with using it on my spinning reel. But I also use line conditioner. About once to twice a week I give the line 2 squirts. But I do it the night before. So it has a chance to soak in. No issues. But I did go back to braid to leader but for only one reason. The reel I put it on is what I use for Ned rigs and small plastics. I could not see my line. So I could not always see the bites I would have with the chartreuse color braid I use. I will get some for another spinning rod setup which I use for more cast and retrieve use. I'm sure I will have no issues.

I did a search and did not find this topic. Sorry if I missed it. Do you stick to the weight ratings on your rods? Or do you go over? If you do how much? On my St Croix ML Triumph spinning rod rated at 1/2 oz. I would feel too comfortable going too far over. On my Dobyns Fury and St Croix Mojo Bass rods rated at 1 oz, I have gone as far as 1 1/3 oz and the rods feel the same as casting 3/4 to 1 oz. Some rods you can feel it is stressing the rod. With these 2 it feels like it is within the rating. I'd be interested to hear what you do or your thoughts on it. Bill

I have more baitcasters than I do spinning. But just a few. I really like both. And I will use one for even some "heavier" stuff that I could use a baitcaster for. And sometimes do. But his concept that spinning gear is only for lighter stuff is a joke. Just look at the deep-sea fisherman. Some use spinning gear and catch huge fish on them. A lot of catfish fishermen use spinning gear and catch huge bass on them. Why people say you can't use a spinning setup for heavier stuff is just ignorance speaking. Some say baitcasters are more accurate. That is wrong. What you might be more accurate with, yes. But either one is as accurate as the other. It is just what you are more used to or comfortable with. I am much more accurate with spinning gear. But I have been fishing with one for almost 50 years. Were a baitcaster I have used for just 3 years. Yes in the past 3 years, I have used my baitcasters more. But not much more. Sorry for the venting. But I get tired of hearing that you have to use a spinning setup for lighter stuff and can't use it for heavier stuff. That is not true. It would be really sad to see spinning gear go away. But I know it won't happen. If you look at the sale numbers. Spinning out sells baitcasters. At least last I checked. But the difference is shrinking.

I was looking for a new tackle n=box. My old was is huge. I came across this Plano 3952-10 Double Sided Satchel and with it being double sided it held everything that was in my huge box with room left over. The only issue for me is I can't fit in my plastics. So I got a small soft-sided bag just for them and it all works great. If you weren't a tackle nut like me and had an obsession with soft plastics you might be able to fit them in without an issue. The latches seem cheap. But I have had it for two years with no issues. But with it being double sided, make sure the lids are clipped shut before you flip it over. Did that once and I learned that lesson.

I had to go to Walmart to get some stuff so I can make what I wanted for dinner. And of course, a few fishing items found their way into my handbasket. Nothing really exciting. My Walmart doesn't carry anything exciting. At least my local doesn't. I was messing around with my chatterbaits the other night and realized I only have one with any green pumpkin. So I picked up a green pumpkin/ purple. and a green pumpkin. And I picked up a pack of Strike King Rage Swimmer 3.75 for trailers for them. Now I think I am ready for the season to get going. Come on warm weather.

I posted about one of my birthday presents I got from my daughter in the electronics section. A Deeper Start fish finder. Pretty cool. A friend of mine gave me an Amazon gift card. So I got some lures I have loved since I was a little guy. Mepps spinners. There are a number of reasons I love them. But I guess it started because it was the first "real" lure I was able to fish with when I graduated from bobber and worm fishing. I look forward to trying these out this year.

I can't say given up. I would say never wanted to try it. That's the drop shot. Just never had the desire to try it out. There are enough ways to catch a fish I like. Plus it keeps me from needing to buy more crap. Now if someone was fishing next to me and was smashing them and I wasn't. Yes. I would start using it.

I have tried a number of different hooks as I fish the wacky rig a fair amount. The best I have found is the Gamakatsu Wide Gap Finesse Hook. For a 5 inch senko type bait I use the 2/0. Never had a problem hooking the bass and never lost one once hooked. If I get bit, I land it. Highly recommend. Bill

Thanks so much for the info. I wondered about their cheap spinnerbaits. I did buy one of their Ozark Trail whopper plopper lure. It worked okay until some idiot that can't cast to save his life landed it high up in a tree. I won't say who it was since I don't want to embarrass myself publicly more than I already do. I was able to get a number of River2Sea ploppers so I don't need to but theirs. But I did look at some of their other baits. They don't look any worse then the Bass Pro Shops baits look. Thanks again. God bless and tight lines. Bill

Last year I watched a YouTube video that said someone did a study on this subject. I don't think it was a official study. Like a huge university. But they found that bass will eat craws with both pinchers. But they noticed when they pulled one pincher off, they would be more apt to eat it. They thought the bass felt it was wounded. That is would be less likely to get pinched by the craw. Then they tried pulling both pinchers off and the bass hardly bit them at all. Not sure how true this is. I wish I could find that video. But I haven't been able to. I have been tempted to try and pull one pincher off and see if it helps. But I haven't yet. If I find that video I will post it. Bill

My prediction is a Zoom Ol' Monster in Junebug.

I got a $25 gift card for Christmas for Bass Pro. I have wanted a ultralight. I used to have one but it got broken by someone else. I have a bunch of ultralight lures I haven't used. I don't spend a lot on ultralight rods. I think it is one rod you don't need the best. I got a Bass Pro $39.99 rod. Then one night I was messing with it flexing it and I went to far and it snapped into 4 pieces. Bass Pro is great with no question returns on their rods. So since a little time had past I could spend a little more. So I got a $59.99 BPS Airstream. I told a friend of mine. He said Just keep breaking them until you can upgrade to a St Croix. I wouldn't do that. But it would be nice. Last year I lost a couple of lures I wanted to replace before spring. So I got my favorite one I lost. Catch Co. Baby Bull Gill. Decided to get it in a different color. Also while I was going through the isles dreaming of having money I spotted a square bill in Pumpkinseed. I swear it was winking at me. I couldn't not get it. So I think I did good for a poor guy living on disability. Only lure I need to replace yet is a Chatterbait in firecraw color. Should be able get it before the warm weather comes back.

My daughter and her friends chipped in and got me one of the things on my Amazon fishing list. Well at first for Christmas she bought me the Deeper phone holder to put you phone on your rod while you are using one of their castable fish finders. I kindly told her that it is useless without a finder. Then a few weeks later I told her I can bring it to her house when we come for dinner so you can return it. She said well we are getting you one of them for your birthday. I was worried with it being so cheap being their entry level Start. I didn't want them to waste their money. But it is from Amazon. We can return it. Of course come my birthday and winter decided to come to southern PA. I finally got to take it out. I went to 3 ponds I fish. The first one I thought it was not working at because it only showed an average of 2 1/2 feet. I knew it was shallow but really? So I went to others I knew were deeper. And yup it works. Showed depth, bottom, type of bottom, and if there are fish. I did actually see fish. Only thing I thought it did but doesn't is water temp. Next warm day I will take it to the lake I fish the most to see what I have been fishing for years. Overall it worked perfectly. No problems connecting to it with my phone and their app. I'm keeping it on basic screen until I can learn how to read the raw detail. But I am very happy with it. Does all I need. I am a bank fisherman and fish from a wheelchair. Unless I am up to standing for a while. I am still paranoid about casting it out since I can't retrieve it myself. I am using a large catfish rod with a large Penn reel with 50 pound braid. Should have no issues. But I know my luck. It is just 2.3 ounces so it is not hard to cast.

I don't keep an official record. But I normally go between April and November 3-5 times a week. Some weeks might be twice. Some week might be 5 times. The only reason it is limited to 5 is I avoid the weekends when the places have to many people around. I didn't do the math but it is a fair amount of days. Now some days out I might only fish for an hour or two. Others I might fish 4 hours if I am up to it. I am disabled and not always up to going. Or if I go I can't stay to llong before I have to go home to recover.

I use the Bass Pro Shop 7 inchers. Cheaper the Yamamoto. And according to either Jimmy Houston or Rolland Martin, can't remember which one I heard say this on a video, Yamamoto make Bass Pro Shops Plastic. But they are a different constancy. Seem to last a little longer. I found the Z-Man Giant TRD. Once I save up some money I will try a bag of them. They might be my new Go To.

I would suggest a 6' 6" St Croix Triumph Light $99. A Daiwa Regal 2000 $59-69. (Prices just went up on Daiwa reels. You might still find some at $59.) The Regal is the best spinning reel in the price range and beyond. I love mine and think it is better than the Daiwa Legalis which is more $$. I have a 7' Triumph ML. Love it. But it is a little heavy for 1/16 oz baits.

I have always been a pretty strong brand loyal person in everything. And in reels I have had a thing for Daiwa reels since I was a little guy drawling over the reel adds in the fishing mags in the 70's+. I have 4 Daiwa spinning reels. Two Regals (2000 & 3000) A Legalis (2500) and a QZ750 ultralight. I have just one Daiwa baitcaster. A Tatula CT. I love them all. When I wanted a new baitcaster I was planning on just getting anther Tatula CT. But even though I like to be brand loyal, I will check out other stuff. I did and got a Dobyns Maverick baitcaster. It's an OK reel. But with Hine sight, I wish I had gotten another Tatula CT. For the $29 more, it is a much better reel in my opinion.

St Croix Mojo Bass 7' 1" MH Fast. Super sensitive. Strong backbone. Great tip. Great price for the quality you get.

I was thinking about this post for a couple of days trying to think what was my best lure and setup. And to confirm my thoughts since my memory is shot, I went to my log book app. I did not count them and figure it exactly. But really there were 3 lure types that where my best. And it was so close I will say it is a 3 way tie. 90mm & 75mm Whopper Plopper in loon. (I have caught fish on this even in time and conditions people say you won't catch them on top water. So almost every time out I first throw this.) Setup- Dobyns Fury 705 CB. Daiwa Tatula CT. P-Line Topwater Co-Polymer 15lb. Of course Senkos Setup- St Croix Mojo Bass MJS68MXF 6ft 8in M XF. Daiwa Legalis 2500 Daiwa J Braid 15lb Seaguar Invizx 12lb Z-Man Ned Rig Setup- St Croix Triumph TRS79MLF 7ft ML F. Daiwa Regal 2000 Suffux 832 10lb braid Seaguar Invizx 8lb My largest of the year and my new PB LMB was on the 90mm Whopper Plopper in Loon.

Even though you got your answers, I thought I would share my two spinning setups. I have a St Croix Mojo Bass 6' 8" medium XF spinning rod. I originally bought it for fishing Ned rigs. But it doesn't do to well with them. St Croix call it their Wacky Stick. And that is what I use it for. Basically it is my Senko rod. For Wacky Rigs. Weightless Texas Rigs. And weighted Texas Rigs. I don't use a lot of weight with my weighted rigs due to the waters I fish I don't need them to be heavy. So it works great. I have my spinning reel, Daiwa Legalis 2500 setup with Suffix 832 15 braid and run Seaguar fluorocarbon leaders. Anywhere from 8-12 pounds depending on where I am fishing. Since it didn't do the job for my Ned Rigs and lighter stuff I got a St Croix Triumph 7' ML Fast. It does great for my Ned Rigs, Mepp's spinners, and Rapala original floaters that are pretty light. I have a Daiwa Regal 2000 setup with Daiwa J Braid in 10 pound. I normally run 8 pound Seaguar flouro leader. But sometimes go down to 6 pound. It works great for what I use it for. I love both of these setups. Work very well for the tasks I use them for. I wish you much success in you future fishing., Tight lines. Bill

Savage Gear 3D Rat Berkley Bucktooth Beaver

The Rapala original floating, Countdown, & jointed. Mepp's Aglia. Any size or color. But my favorite for bass is a number 3 with a gold blade and brown or plain tail or a black fury with orange dots. But they stopped the orange for some reason so I would go with red now. But they all work.

I grew up with spinning gear. Got baitcasters. I love baitcasters. But I also love spinning gear. I think they both have a place. As for accuracy. That is learned. And whatever you use the most, you will be more accurate with. Even though I use my baitcasters more right now, I'm still much more accurate with my spinning setups. I have switched from using my baitcasters for my plastics to using my spinning setups for them. Not just weightless. But even with weight. I just prefer fishing them with my spinning gear. But I fish from the bank and don't punch with heavy weights. I normally only use a weight of 1/16-1/8. My St Croix Mojo Bass medium extra fast rod handles it just fine. I think it's closer to a medium heavy.