John G

I am in the same boat as you are. I want to use jigs to but I have never caught a bass while dragging or hopping a jig. I have caught a bass while pitching a jig though. Where I fish, a T-Rigged Craw or Worm rules and I don't know why I ever use anything else to be honest.

The problem with fishing a 1/2oz jig or heavier where I fish is that when reel it in, there is about 1 ounce of crap attached to it. The crap that I am talking about is all the leaves, pine needles and weeds that are on the bottom. The crap on the bottom makes the jig feel like it's being dragged through mud. Is this how jig fishing is supposed to be and I should get used to it or should I stick with a T-Rigged Craw with a 1/8oz Tungsten weight? I will add that I was using a 1/4oz Seibert Outdoors Arkie Jig with a Rage Tail Craw the other day and it collected almost the same amount of crap when dragged but it stayed really clean when being hopped.

I was thinking braid all the way except for a little bit of mono in the beginning. If braid makes for a lighter spool and you can maybe add some distance to your frog. Unless of course you are trying to conserv your braid.

Have you tried slowly dragging a T-Rigged Rage Tail Craw or a Yum Money Craw weightless or with a 1/8oz Tungsten bullet weight on a 4/0 or 5/0 EWG hook?

We have plenty of Super Wal-Marts around here but the one that I usually go to is in decline in the lure and terminal tackle dept. The used to have all kinds of Jitterbugs and Zara Spooks and Gamakatsu hooks. Went in the other day and not a single Gamakatsu hook to be found and the Jitterbugs and Spooks have been long gone. Now it's mostly Rapala and Strike King Lures but at least they still have Pop R's.

I have a hard enough time sometimes keeping track of one pair of sunglasses to have ones with different lenses but I do agree with you that a variety would be nice.

Aaron Martens uses braid as backing for flour and mono because braid is lighter than mono backing and he gets longer casts with braid backing and he can pitch lighter lures with braid backing. You should not have a problem with braid digging into itself if you put it on the reel super tight. http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/fishing-line-last.html

I was gonna say amber but you have that covered. My ambers in Costa Wave Killer frames. Have you tried Costa's amber?

I am partial to Loomis. I like how they look and feel. I am sure the Avid is a nice rod too but I don't think that I would like the hump on the grip that some Avids have.

I deleted my post when I read Carbon Lites. You know, if you look on eBay, you can find a really good deal on a great rod.

Dude there are not to many $300.00 combos in this Thread! LOL

It's windy here too. I tried a little topwater today with no luck.

That little washer was there for a reason.

Can you send it back for a refund. If so, do what you have to do to get a newer Curado. Only the good Lord knows how much future trouble you are going to have with the reel but I can take a guess!

Usually Big Game but I have recently bought some Sunline Super Natural and so far I like it.

I commend you for buying that many at one time. For me it's one at a time.

topwater

A lighter.

I know Raul's statement is a little far off. LOL Raul has a bias against round reels cause they don't fit his hands. I think he knows that the Conquest is the highest quality baitcaster that Shimano makes and has ever made. I have owned a CL-100A and I own some Conquests and to me, they are both examples of what a super high quality baitcaster can be. That said, I will take a Conquest 50 over a CL-100A any day of the week! http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/91464-shimano-reels-calais-core/

I am left handed and I always cast with my left and reel with my right.

It must be a great reel if the Conquest doesn't compare in quality!

They are not going to help you catch fish that aren't there to be caught. I have 7 Loomis rods and 2 of those are nothing special IMHO. I have only paid retail for one of the 7 and that is my MBR844 IMX. I paid $275.00 and I think it's worth every penny. I like how Loomis rods look and feel and my next rod will be another Loomis.

And having good electronics and knowing how to use them.

I wish that it would cool off some down here. Ha Ha Ha

The fish don't always cooperate.