RRocket

OSP Mylar Minnow, 2.5" and Fish Arrow Flash J goes down to 1"

I was going to suggest a Ned Rig with a TRD worm or similar

I do not know if my story will be of use to you but I had some similar issues while fishing for panfish. I suspected some type of erratic bobber flight which led to line fouling problems. I switched to a spectacular little weighted bobber and problem solved. Plus longer casting. It has a J clip or you can set it as slip bobber, so it can be used either way. The product was called "Rocket Bobber". I used the ultralight size. Hope this was useful.

Jika Rig comes through grass beautifully...

You give me far to much credit! Most of the colors I use match the actual color (Golden, Green Pumpkin Chartreuse, Blue Melon, etc) so it's easy to remember. I also need to remember what colors when ordering online! LOL 😆 I did have to check online for the name of one color for the Hira Tailor before posting as in my mind I refer to the 2 colors as "Bluegill" and "Goby".

After musing further, another color I did well with, particularly on SM, was Green Pumpkin Chartreuse. I throw a poop bait as a primary presentation, and it's a toss up between Golden and Pumpkin Cheesecake with the nod going to Pumpkin Cheesecake. In the hand and water, Golden looks spectacular with more and/or bigger flake than in the pictures. Great colors both of them! Third place goes to Blue Melon. On the Free Rig front, I put in lots of work with the Raid Japan Hira Tailor. More than any other bait in recent memory, photos don't do these justice so it's almost not worth posting the stock photos. The colors are spectacular and seem to change in the light due to the slit edges not being painted. Somehow diffuses the light? I've added my own photos here. I fished 2 colors. Minagill, which is brownish, with purple flake and a lighter belly. And Dark Cinnamon Shad. Purple belly with Bluish top. But photos don't do justice! You can even see in my photos for the belly is REALLY purple, but when looked at from the side...white. And the colors on top also seem to change with the light...lots of glitter and sparkles throughout. These are easily the most amazing colors I used this year. Sorry for long post...fishing season mostly done here.

Solid Green pumpkin continually one of my least productive colors...year in, year out. The fish here seem to prefer a contrasting color rather than solids here. Of note, water here is stained to dirty often, so I suspect the contrast helps a bit in this case over pure solids. PB&J? I use a variation I fondly call "JDM PB&J"...Gorimiso Black. Works very well indeed.

Thanks!!

I've been fishing mono exclusively and have only just started using braid the last couple of years. This was mainly due to a lack of thin, finesse braids to match my preferred presentations. Having found some finesse braids, I'm still not convinced of any benefit for my case. My leader of choice is Berkley Big Game in 6lb. As far as EASY knots go, the GT knot is fast, easy and strong. About 10-15 seconds to tie. This knot has won "strongest" connection line knot in the past I believe. I've had no breakage or other issues. It also makes for a tiny knot, which is important as my rods have micro eyes. But my preferred method for thin lines is the Daiwa Sokkou knot tool. I don't know what knot it ties but have seen Euro carp fisherman use this on 4lb to haul in 20+ pounders. I've had no issues with breakage. It's ridiculously fast (5-10 seconds) And the best part about it is the tiny, tiny knot it makes. Oh, and for those who can't stand noise, Spro Finesse Braid is smooth and makes ZERO noise. Downside? Expensive. It's currently my favorite. I have been using Sunline Almight sinking braid lately and have been warming up to it. It is loud like most braids though.

I had considered this. But once I priced out similar components to an Expride, the cost was significantly higher. And while I do appreciate the artistry involved and often superior aesthetics, price/performance is more important to me.

I fish light tackle regularly up to 1/4oz and only very rarely 3/8oz. My primary presentations are all lift and drop or shake type presentations: Free Rig and Poop Baits my primary plastic presentations and Dropshot/Flick Shake secondary. I also use small swimbaits up to 1/4oz and up to 3.5" though they seem to throw well on just about anything. Since pretty much Day 1, I've been fishing Shimano Exprides and have gone through the different iterations. Needless to say, my expectations in rods runs high since the Expride is my standard. I think it's tough to beat from the quality/price standpoint and the feel from these is unreal. I'm not kidding when I say I can feel the vegetation squeak as my bait drags over it. I only run 2 rods all year. I generally run between 6'4" and 6'8", as I still love bank fishing. But these will be boat used too. One is generally rigged with Primary the other my Secondary. On occasion I'll have a small Chatterbait Minimax or some light topwater lure rigged on one or the other. But these are primarily for plastic..but versatility is appreciated. Most recently, I stepped up in price vs Expride and have been fishing a Raid Japan Gladiator Anti Spinning Rod. The Defender in 6'3", Light. It fishes beautifully has tons of power and I love it dearly. But I'm not sure it's worth the added expense over the Expride...though it does seem to be more durable. So I've been using that as my Free Rig/Poop Bait rod. I'm looking for a new secondary rod. Of course an Expride ranks very highly for me. Particularly the 7.0" Light. Anyone using this? Comments? I'm also not opposed to going downrange in price provided the quality is there. And to that end, the Levante Whipsnake has my attention. Comments? My search has just begun and I'm interested in opinions.

I use this too. It's very effective. I have the smaller version. Have also tried some BKK hooks. They come with their own silicone keeper. Very nice. I also have an assortment of JDM silicone stoppers.

Can confirm the 2.5" OSP Mylar Minnow in "Really Shirauo" works wonderfully on a drop shot for Yellow Perch!

I fish the Free Rig so my "deep dive" consists of figuring out what the bait does when a) chasing the weight down to the bottom b) when the weight hits bottom and bait is weightless. Some glide, some shimmy (like a Senko), some spiral, etc I just need to know how the bait reacts and what it does.

I use Duo Realis Spin Hook. Even the smaller hooks are available up to 3/8th oz. Downside? A bit tougher to find in EVERY hook/weight combo. I quite like them and they're a nice compact offering. Oh and it bears mentioning again. The Decoy Slide Weight allows any hook with any underspin you want. Also allows you to tune the attitude of the bait when you stop reeling. Finally, I often use the Decoy Zero Dan Flash in lieu of an underspin. Same idea but uses a chatterbait blade instead. Can change weights to suit.

I fish finesse with light line/tackle exclusively, so vicious hooksets aren't a thing for practical reasons. Nor is it necessary. I've noticed that with my gear, the fish don't seem to notice these wispy, thin tips on my rods: Fast (F) and Extra Fast (FF). And therefore they themselves load the rod tip enough so it takes practically nothing to set the hook...little more than a flick. Of course there's other factors that help (fine wire hooks, etc) but the extreme sensitivity of the rods and this fish seemingly unable to feel the immediate resistance have made hooksets a breeze.

I'd say yes.

Quite similar to my waters. The traditional colors just didn't work. One of my best producing swimbait was OSP Cosmos Black.

Deps Cover Scat, Golden Shiner OSP Dolive Beaver, Green Pumpkin Chartreuse OSP Dolive SS Gill, Vitamin Gill

I have fished the smallest Yamatanuki quite a bit. Weightless Texas rigged. As you point out, it's a pretty heavy bait for something so small.

I'm slowly coming to the conclusion that it (mostly) doesn't matter (for me). I fish baits and colors that absolutely do not exist in the fisheries here and they flat out get choked. And I haven't seen colors or patterns or shapes more commonly found here outperform them in a measurable way. I think fish will eat "whatever" they're feeling that day regardless of colors and shapes. And I'm only speaking for myself here. YMMV.

Great report! I love trying new baits!

If you want to see what bass MIGHT see, look at lures through a Tritanopia filter (no blue). Snap a pic and upload. https://pilestone.com/pages/color-blindness-simulator-1?srsltid=AfmBOorWACAZt_B2YRafWBYRVQYjsNuh3WDDbsgdvM8w8A5fByPN7U1v Might no be exactly how bass see it...because who knows...but still a fun way to pass time!

Here's a 2.8" and a 3.3" Fat Impact on the Duo Realis Spin Hook. Also three, 3.5" OSP Dolive Shad on same hook.

Absolutely correct...and something I rarely see mentioned.