catchnm

I've been making up Jika Rigs for a couple weeks now. Just doing a few at a time while I'm sitting at my desk after work and such, even started a thread here on the rig. Never even thought of using a casting sinker for a tube insert application. Like everyone else I've ALWAYS had a hard time getting the hook point into the eyelet of the inserted casting weight. I have found that if you don't hit it that the hook if inserted and rigged "tex-posed" will hold the weight inside the tube ok and you will still get a spiral fall. So it got me to thinking......how about inserting round split shot in varying sizes and rig the tube the same way. Just use those that are large enough to hold slightly against the inside tube wall, not the itty bitty ones. So I have some now but haven't gotten to try them out yet, I figure they will work and even may cause a slightly different spiral on each cast. I also purchased some cheap lead egg weights in the 1/4 and 1/8 oz. sizes to try the same technique with. I have figured out that this won't work unless the EWG hook is inserted completely throught the tube and then pulled back aginst the tube and skin hooked....i.e, texposed, just like in the Phantom Hook instructions in this thread. Any of you tube guys think this will work? EDIT: I have some Gammy EWG Superline 2/0 that I'm going to rig Jika style with some of the casting weights I have and try them out inside a 3 1/2" Coffee Tube. I'll see about maybe posting some pics when I finish. I've got about five different sizes of the weights to play with.

On 2-20 I fell at work from out of the delivery truck and turned my knee pretty bad. Muddled through and on 2-27 felt like I had it licked.....back at 100%. But when I got up on Tuesday I could hardly put weight on it. Turns out I tore the meniscus and quite probably now the ACL. Doc thinks I turned on it wrong while sleeping Monday night and finished it off. Will get MRI one day this week to be sure but I believe I will probably miss most of the spring fishing here this year....that's really disappointing. I've been clearing out, organizing, and aquiring new gear and was to be off 4 days next week during the full moon to get a real start on the pre-spawn. Good part is it still qualifies as a work related injury so all medical will be taken care of. Hate it but I should be back up and running and gunning after a couple of months.

Rage Craw Baby Brush Hog Rage Lizard

Awesome! That bug looks lethal.

Got some made up. About 20 so far. Hooks are Eagle Claw Lazer Sharp.....5/0, 3/0, and 1/0. Weights are 1/2 oz., 3/8, 3/16, and 1/8. #2 split ring to the hook and #1 to the weight.

When do you use them? Time of year, conditions, water temps, terrain, what presentations, trailers? 3/4 and 1/2 oz. sizes. I plan on using Rage Craws, Lobsters, and Senkos as trailers if that helps.

Not intentiionally.

Not bad. I like the colors.

http://www.google.com/search?q=jika+rig&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a I'm going to use #2 to the hook and #1 to the weight, seems to be the general consensus. If using a really large casting weight I'll probably go with 2-#2. I'll be using 1/2 oz. drop shot weights to start but found a guy who makes them in sizes from 1/32 to 5/8 oz. so I'll be sticking with that style for the most part. I may try some regular casting weights too but I like the slim drop shot idea and think tey will work for this rig best. Now I just have to aquire all the parts and start assembling some.

I'm guessing #2 or #3 but that is all it is.....a guess. I don't really know how the sizes are rated. Anyone with help?

I do mine according to the same principle as Alpster. I haven't reched the point of having as much or the total orginization the way he has yet. I do try to keep eevrything seperated by type, deep cranks, shallow cranks, squarebills, jigs, senkos, craws, jerkbaits, etc., and then pull and carry as I might think I need for the day. I do wish a had me one them big 20' floating tackleboxes though. I could carry all my gear in one of them.

Just take it in.....they'll replace it no problem. I've done it several times. No receipt = exchange fpr the original cost of the item, no matter if you replace with the same item or not. This is a big part of the reason I do most of my fishing gear shopping thru Academy.

I like cyclops2 post.

I'll offer you a rod choice first. From what you posted it seems a 6'10" rod would be your best best bet for an all around rod for the type fishing you mentiioned. MH action with a slightly limber tip. Check the tip actions before you buy as there are many variations even in the MH ratings. There are quite a few that are under $100 and are powerful and sensitive. Abu garcia Vendetta (6'9"), Shimano Sellus, Team All Star, just to name a few. As far as a reel goes the H20 Xpress reels are great and would fit right into your budget. Or a used Citica 200E like someone else said.

I don't know why it hasn't been stated more already but you simply must have a quality rod. By that I mean one that will transmit the lure's action to your hands successfully. It may be a really expensive one or not but it needs to be able to tell you more than I just feel a "bump" or a "hit". I have found that since I began to use better quality rods ($100 -$200 range) that I've caught more fish, had less snags, and all in all have become a better "catcherman" and fisherman.

Thank you gentlemen. Got it covered now.

Nice snag there Brandon. Check them for any grinding or other abnormal noises or feeling. If they seem right then go fishing. If not then just pull the spools out and clean and lube all the normal places and then go fishing. I wouldn't even worry with taking them down for a thorough clean and lube unless they are really bad.

Ok guys, I just spent a half hour Googling for a decent readable Solunar Table for Central Standard Time. I honestly couldn't find one to suit me. I just want to click it and see what are the best times, from - to for the certain month and day, for C.S.T. How hard can that be? I don't want to have to calculate it, or see the tide times.......just a simple click and see guide. Any help here?

The first gen Ethos rods were stronger than the present ones I think. As far as casting with the Mettle reels go, great for just what you mentioned. Smooth and easy to set and cast. They have brake settings quite similiar to the older green Curados and once set, are hardly ever needed to be messed with again. I've used them for everything from lipless cranks to light t-rigs without any over run issues. Their Menace reel with the 7:1 ratio for $20 more is a great buy also.

Best $50 reel made. I have three and would rate them right up with my five Citica 200 E. For half price..... during their occasional sales on these....Fine reel.

I like them. They have the same profile as a small bluegill. I have about 15 in different color variations and catch fish consistently on them here in southern OKla.

This is the way I rig a grub on a lead jighead or for unweighted open hook fishing like this one is........................ If texas rigging then I go with the bend of the hook the same direction as the bend of the grub tail.

I've always rigged mine where the end of the tail is the opposite direction o the bend of the hook. I have switched and rigged it what I call " tail up" but usually just switch when they get chewed up. I repair them later with a hot punch heated with a cigarette lighter.

The SCIII blank used on the Avid makes it a super sensitive rod as well. Haven't handled one of the new Crucials.

And Merry Christmas to you Goose!