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I talked to him for a half hour today. Like you said. He grows on you. Like mold

i have had plenty of aprils that weren't as good as january. it would sure be nice if the rest of the year plays out this way. here's a few of the good ones.

Turns out, Massanutten has more than just stocked trout in their ponds. Because who would go to a ski resort and actually ski ? Hopping a 3/16oz Rippin Rap. My first Dwight shaped fish, weighed 2lbs.

I've seen bass try to eat spinner baits, plastic worms, wooden crank baits, metal spoons, all kinds of crazy stuff!

If you really get into stick baits, a big difference is whether it has been made with enough salt added to increase the weight of the bait. The original Senko is significantly heavier than most other stickbaits and that gives it a different sink rate and action that many consider superior to the various knockoffs. Some guys will argue that other brands work "just fine" or "just as well" as the Senko. Personally, I think most of the knockoffs work as well as other knockoffs but the Senko is a cut above. Unfortunately, that includes the price, too.

My wife and I are in Kissimmee Fl on vacation and I'm getting alot of fishing time in. Yesterday was the first day I got to fish and had a slowwww morning and didn't get any bites until the afternoon. I stopped at alot of neighborhood ponds and a few golf courses. Ended up catching 3 total with the biggest close to 3lbs. Today I set out in a different direction and the first few ponds didn't produce anything until I got to the gold mine. I was throwing a River2Sea rig walker swimbait along the bank and felt a nice hit. After getting her in she was about 3lbs and fat. A few more long casts into the middle and halfway back in it hit like a freight train. The rod I'm using is puny for traveling purposes and didn't have much backbone trying to fight her in. When she was close to the bank I could see in the clear water that she was a hawg. It was tricky getting my scale and camera while holding her in my other hand. She was just over 10lbs and fat. I have 4 guided trips to do still. Can't wait to hit some big lakes.

I am planning on not going. Nothing I see/want.

I'm flattered. I just don't think I would have fun deleting my own posts.

All already mentioned ... 1 - At a minimum I use 40lb Braid due to the diameter size. 2 - As Mike said ... good thorough cleaning (bearings and all) 3 - Ensure that you aren't overpowering the lure with the rod. 4 - If you get here then I'm no more help ...

If the issue is related to the reel at all a good cleaning and bearing flush should remedy it. It's right to take the approach of examining the whole setup though.

The KR Rapid Choke concept is specifically for just such a setup. I just don't know ho well it is employed on this particular layout. I'm sure it will work just fine, it just bugs me when production rod marketers usurp techniques and terms that are unique to a custom build. I have never seen, and don't even believe it possible for carbon fiber of any quality level to degrade over time. Sorry to come off sounding harsh but I call BS on this one. If you want the most crisp and responsive rod you can get, use the smallest lightest guides that will hold up and pass your connections.

The rod you have, while a decent rod, is not an effective rod for Hudds. Listen to what has been said to you in this thread. There has been one rod mentioned a couple times and for good reason. There aren't many guys throwing swimbaits who haven't at one time owned the Okuma Big Bait rods. For the money, they are absolutely a great value. Buy what is recommended by guys who do what you want to do. It will save you time and money in the long run.

Take it from a person who has been to a ton of DSG's over this sale (NY, PA, NC, NJ) ... they are notorious for doing this. That EXACT same braid was on sale in Yonkers and rang up "properly". My friend was at one close to home and he was in the store and watched as a bunch of people scrambled with price guns pulling things off the rack. They are either notorious for the "bait and switch" OR can't seem to get pricing straight EVER! It can be very frustrating BUT if you catch them at the right time it could be extremely beneficial.

These all are from various years because my phone lost all my pictures. Still some good bass though 1st one was caught on a 7in Power Worm T rigged 2nd was caught on a Wacky Rigged Senko 3rd was caught on a Black and Blue 1/2 ounce Stanley Jig with a Black with Blue Fleck Rage Craw.

If you don't have a choice, either one. If you do have a choice, neither one. One's too fast & the other's too slow. A-Jay

Zero! I have a Virginia salt and freshwater "lifetime" fishing license. Purchased one each for my grandson and granddaughter when they were born. Wife has her "lifetime" fishing license, too.

dave mercer and mark zona are my 2 fav fisherman to watch , they both have shows on the outdoor channel

Have you done a forum search? It is a very popular Senko knock-off. Lots of topics with it. I use it all the time and love it.

I spend $58.50 for two states. What gets me is my state was $8.50 a year for at least 25 years, then one year they jumped it up to $19 out of nowhere. It's not the price that gets me, it's the fact that all that money gets poured into saltwater boat ramps and trout. They do absolutely nothing for freshwater ramps or bass management of any kind.

Made this the other day. I'm sure there are others that can relate.

No one's mentioned most critical, must have , wait for it......... Dude Wipes!

I've only been bass fishing intensively for about a year, but I seem for some very strange reason to have accumulated many boxes full of plastic creatures, swimbaits, senkos, ribbon tail worms, frogs, toads, flukes, crankbaits, jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, spooks, poppers, and propellered torpedos. I use the senkos and soft swimbaits mostly; the other stuff patiently waits its turn. I have enough rods: M, MH, H, in both casting and spinning setups, braid on some, fluoro on others, mono on one of the spinning reels. I keep telling my wife, don't worry, I finally have enough stuff. No more boxes from TW on the doorstep. But, you know, I certainly MUST learn to use a JIG better: "...the most versatile big bass bait. No tackle box should be without a selection of jigs." So, I ordered a dozen assorted jigs with bags of matching trailers and got 'em in just last night. Today I tossed two different craw-trailored brown and green jigs fifty times with no bites. I wanted so badly to tie on a T-rigged senko or cast a swimbait. I started to sweat, to shake, but I persevered, resisted the urge. Kept with the jigs. Changed colors, changed trailors, but kept with the jigs. Finally skipped one under a low bridge and nailed a powerful 5-6 pounder that unfortunately popped off just before I could grab her. Okay, jigs probably could work pretty well. Though the first batch of them cost me over $60 bucks. (Naturally you have to order $50 or more for free shipping, but then you'll surely want to pay extra for second-day shipping). Now I'm thinking about a dedicated jig rod, heavy/fast, about 7'3" and superbly sensitive and paired with a nice, fast, strong, light baitcaster reel spooled with #15 fluoro. I know my wife will be ticked off, we can't afford this stuff. But you GUYS understand, right! I NEED a jig rod, right? Whoa! Whoa, what was that? A determined little sharp toothed monkey just zipped across my bedroom! The monkey's going to bite me hard, again -- soon; I just know it! Hmmm, you know, just maybe I have a problem...

Hi Guys I have had some bad luck with my old trusty Private Farm lakes, but I recently got access to another Farm and Bingo!!! Well Maintained and Well looked after Private lake!! Got the following two beauties and many other decent sized fish, population is healthy in this lake!!

To me ... it's all a marketing scheme ... lets add something new and watch everyone go nuts over it because it might be just a little more in terms of IPT or give a little more speed or give whatever you want to call it. 7.1:1 has always and will always be more than enough in regards to IPT for me. I don't see much, if any, advantage in purchasing and using a 8:1 ratio reel. When you break it down, it ultimately comes down to personal preference for me. If I felt the need to use a 8:1 ratio reel I would, however I don't.

No more Senkos for me. Stick-Os are all I use. $10 for a 50 count bag isn't too bad either.

You have to have enough discipline to put the rod down and get graphing experience. That's not easy when you just want to catch fish. As far as schooling fish, I regularly fish 55-60' deep in the late fall and winter for bass attacking shad schools near the bottom. If you can't recognize what a shad school looks like, and just as importantly recognize what bass attacking that shad school look like, you will not be successful spoon jigging. You need both the shad and active bass to succeed. When you see it once on the sonar and catch bass after bass, you will always remember that sonar scenario and will look to repeat it. It's a scenario where the sonar is critical - without it, you would never fish that spot that may be 20 ft in diameter in the middle of a large lake. The same thing applies to other deep water situations. Graph until you think you recognize a concentration of bass, then fish to confirm. Graph until you are familiar with the lake and its bottom features and can identify bass sitting on the bottom, which can be difficult. For shallower bass, I look for structure and cover features that SHOULD hold bass since I expect the boat and sonar to spook the fish away from the sonar. In reservoirs in summertime, one good strategy is to find the thermocline and then explore depths where the thermocline intersects the bottom. If I can find structure and cover at that depth, there's a good chance I'll find fish.

Glad to hear you got a job Wesley! I couldn't imagine belong laid off all of a sudden.

I just throw mine in the box with my other jigs and haven't had a problem with it. What will really mess them up is applying an oil based fish attractant to them while fishing - ruins them.

Great job. Are some of those details wood burned in the first picture? When do you find time to work? I can't comprehend how many hours you have in those baits. Really nice.

No offense to the current mods....but if there could ONLY be one.....well....it would just have to be me. Given my rather lofty opinion of my personal greatness, did you really think think I would chose anyone else. Give me a week and I would have this place cleared right out of undesirables , and we could get down to the important business again. You know, like which $100 rod is the best, which color senko is the best, and my personal favorite...........braid for cranking 101.

December 2013 I witnessed the biggest bass I have ever seen (looked to be over 10lbs it dwarfed my 8#) blow up out of the water and grab an adult duck that was swimming about 10 ft from me while I was catfishing darn thing landed on my line that was out haha. It was down right insane Tight lines Andrew

You were fishing the mm41 offshoot as we call it. That dead end canal can be incredible for action. Many days with well over 200 bass in there. Never really caught size in there. How about all the gators back there? I had a issue with a gator back there. Started carrying a pistol ever since.

One day I was fishing Hopkins Prairie in the Ocala National Forest and I saw this bird land on a cattail about 8 inches above the water line and a bass jumped out of the water trying to eat the bird but missed it.

I like it, but I have some worries. The man is Italian and from Chicago. Don't think I have to remind you of Al Capone or Benito Mussolini. It is good to see the old Raider is back. Welcome back Raider.

I guess I should have said darker bottom areas, which in my area are usually mud/muck. They tend to be a little warmer on a sunny day and a few degrees can make a big difference when water temps are in the 30's.

My couch pulls out how ever I don't and now have #4 on the way. So that's 5 now between the gf and I she has a son already and I have two boys so if this ones a boy you can have it and start fresh and not have the bad habits of my other two boys lol.

Well last week I was laid off from the oil field. But today I landed a new job with another Drilling Company. I should still be able to make the road trip to Toledo. The new job starts the end of March so now that I have a job lined out will be working on my professional fishing career.

8 ft! My ponds and some lakes don't even exceed that... you're in a river I believe

OK - so we're going on six pages - of what ? ~ Speculation ? ? ? Has ANYONE Actually fished the darn rods yet ? ? ? Geez . . . . . A-Jay

Look at it this way, If your boss offered you a substantial raise, but in return you'd have to relinquish your Mac for a windows 7 desk top would smile and make it work?

Not trying to be an arse, but if you don't trust your Smithy to help you with the decisions on your build, I'd look else where. Brian.

LMAO! It must be a rough winter when our southern fried presidential candidate feels snowed in!

slonezp

Pick your favorite lures, almost anything works in the spring. These are some specific suggestions: Topwater: PopR. Sammy, Spook, Cavitron Buzzbait, Rage Shad Shallow crankbaits: Norman Fat Boym DT6, Bandit 200, Red Eye Shad Spinnerbaits & blades: MegaStrike StrikeBack, Siebert Outdoors Cosmic, Rage Blade Soft plastics: Rage Structure Bug, Cut-R, Baby Craw & Craw; MegaStrike MegaTube Craw, Senko, Fat Ika, Kut-tail on a ShakE2 Jigs: Siebert Outdoors Swim Jig (bluegill pattern)

Here you go.. We can't do this all the time, but We wanted for you to see personally. Check out the pics.

Awesome Senko Guru

Well, At least Tackletour will be happy in their review. The rod comes with a rod sleeve. I always wondered why they knocked off points for a rod sleeve

For me it is a tossup between Carl Spackler & Al Czervik. "Cinderella story, about to win the Masters..." versus "Hey Whitey, where's your hat?"

Tell that to the guys who troll for salmon on the Great Lakes or guys who troll for walleye in the north. There's a lot of precision involved

A whole whopping 21 days in 2014. Three spent walking on the water for bluegills/perch. Four days trolling for salmon/trout. One day dragging crawler harnesses for walleye. The rest were spent actually targeting bass. It's got to get better some day.