twitchfish

Let's just say some dude had a 6'10" Heavy, X-Fast rod just sitting there, begging for something to do? This boy doesn't have a reel for company (which I find sad) and other than frog season, not really sure what other contributions to the team he could make. I told him, I know some folks, real good folks who are VERY well versed in matters such as these and I will ask them. All of them are very important, very busy people, so be patient and the real answer will come. He assured me, patience he has, reel-less, his choices are limited. Thanks in advance - Twitch

Spring GYCB DT Hula Grub Texas rigged VERY light and tubes stuffed with soaked earplugs and slowly swam. Summer Stike King ZToo, getting hard to come by, being forced to try Perfect Plastic Caffiene Shad in their place rigged weightless. Fall 10" worms, haven'f found any that don't get bit rigged anyway you like. I really want to try Fat Ika's, double rigged flukes and a lot more shakey heads. Twitch

I am a slow learner. I read something 5 times to learn it, but if I see it twice, I pretty much get it. Some of the questions I have read lately involving "walk the dog", "roll cast" and some other topics, while the verbal explanations are awesome, seeing it would be of another benefit. Does the site have a video learing aspect, or is one coming or are there other sites (besides youtube) where we can see some of these things? Thanks - Twitch

I took some years off from fishing due to 2 masters degrees, a wife, a big dog, 4 young children and a job that demands 65 hours a week away. Now, I have the monkey his own room in my house and one of those sad dad kid carriers that he rides around in with me all day because my wife wont let him stay in the house when I'm not home. I have a job in medical sales that affords me on some days a few minutes to wet a line. In order to be prepared for this, I keep in the back of my truck 2-3 rigged baitcasters (plastics, lipless and spinnerbait), 2-3 rigged spinning outfits (drop-shot, shakey/plastics and lately a spinning rig with 15#braid on because Bill Dance told me it would be handy when I was 16) and 2 medium sized tackle bags with accomanying worm binder, spinnerbait binder and an FTO Magnum worm bag. NOW, my justification for this, I tell myself, is i have only really gotten back into fishing 3 years ago. I am trying to find my style, and who knows what they are going to be hungry for that day. What I spend most of my time doing is trying to learn from as many people as I can how, what and why all of the tackle I have acquired is worthy. 2 of my children are now fishing with me (occasionally), so they have their own stuff. I do try to keep it simple for them and create opportunities that they can use "some of daddy's stuff". EVERYBODY I know thinks I have gone completely nuts. Twitchfish and I am an addict.

Thanks for all of the suggestions. Will be checking all guides and drag. Will als run the line through my fingers for nicks. I will also not be lifting any more fish by the line, that was an awesome point. I am a taller guy and I always bankfish, so will start bending myself over. Thanks again - Twitch :-[

AAAAAAARRRRGG!! 6# Suffix was behaving well on this Shimano/Mojo Wacky Style set-up. Got soft water, wacky rigged (more weightless texas rig) a nice green Senko and broke off 2 happy little toads the first day. Palomar knots, 2/0 hooks fishing weightless. Neither fish was probably 1 1/2# and broke right as I lifted them out of the water. Looking at the line, seemed to have broken before the knot, as there was no "memory" left at the end of the line. I don't think it's a drag issue, because the fight was over. Certainly 6# test on this set-up should be sufficient, no? Thanks again - Twitch

Stripped the CXX off the reel. Had a partial spool of 6# Suffix (Red Box??) that i spooled on the reel. Problem seems to be resolved. It amazes me how helpful you all are, and also how finicky a simple spinning reel will be. Thanks again - Twitch

Thanks. I am sure my drag is not set properly. It seems pretty soft. Have not had a fish on yet to really tell, but sure it needs more most likely. It is a 2500 FD reel with 8#CXX spooled on it. It does not lay the line evenly on the spool when reeling. Seems to lay better if I tun the line back through my fingers. Thanks again - Twitch BTW, how do I check and how much should I have in regard to drag??

I am using #8 line on a Sedona Spinning reel. Used KVD Line&Lure while putting line on initially and since. Paid attention to all of the rules for filling line on reel with regard to line twist. Put this reel on MOJO "Wacky Style" rod and went fishing. Not one time, when reeling after casts, did line go back on the spool with any tension or level line lay. Was also getting a litlle twist. After advise from you folks, I ALWAYS close the bail by hand. Was fishing a Senko with a 1/16th bullet weight free on the line. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. I really want this to be my finesse rig, but this problem has me second guessing my setup and choice. As always, thank you very much for you advise and guidance - Twitch

If you choose the 6'10" heavy rod, it is a "pitching rod" by name, you said can also be frog rod, heavy spinner baits and the like. Because a "pitching" rod, does it change the way it casts? If one was to have to cast with the heavy rod occasionally? What line would you put on it to cover all those situations, in an effort to make it a more all purpose set-up for heavier stuff? Twitch

Where does this fit in frogs? Heavy more likely because of the slop? How heavy do you folks go on line with heavy action rods?

Is "Fast" then (for lack of a better term) the default action on most rods. I am assuming these are lower priced models, Team Diawa and Berkely Cherrywood and 2 more that are well fihed enough I can't tell. Thanks again for all of your help.

I have some older rods that I would like to put back in circulation to give some needy reels good homes for the spring. I would like to use the set-ups the best way possible, but some of the rods do not say whether "Moderate" or "Fast" action. Is there anyway to tell by looking or bending or where taper changes or am I merely overanalyzing? Thanks all- Twitch

Have the MH baitcaster which tried throwing some heavier jigs during cold day with some success and then switched reels, as planned, to an Accurist 7.01 and big rattletraps and it was a better rod for those, at least until the guides started to freeze. That is what this will stay as, a crankbait rod. I just put the spinning reel on the M spinning rod this evening and noticed the same thing, the reel doesn't contact the blank. Other than that it looks pretty cool. Twitch

I had my heart set on the Stradic, did tons of research and had made up my mind. I go to the Chicago Outdoor Show where one huge hall are tackle shops. (Spent WAY too much money, but I will say there were alot of folks following me around wanting to pet the cute monkey, still don't get that??) Went to MikLurch and had the 09 Stradic in my hand for $99 without a spare spool, which I was positive I was supposed to receive. The reel right next to it was the Sedona and i start loooking at it talking to the Reel Dude. Everyone of the major specs between these two reels were the same, bearings, line propulsion, etc. He looks me right in the eye and says he knows of literally no difference other than $40. "If ya got cash money, I'll get it fer ya fer $45." I happened to have cash money. I am sure there are differences greater than I see, but for the "same" reel for half, I took the plunge. Hoping for softer water in the center of Illinois soon, I want to try this Mojo. It is the first reasonably nice rod for me. Twitch

Need suggestions for line to put on my new "finesse" set up. Going on a new Mojo Wacky Style spinning rod with a Shimano Sedona 2500FD (another story) that I want to use for Wacky rigs, drop-shots and some finesse fishing. I bank fish 98.8% of the time. Mostly very light cover although a few spots have spome laydowns and only one has much of a rocky bottom to speak of. I have had experience with P-Line, caught a 33" across snapping turtle on a spinnerbait no less using 15# Floro-Clear on a medium action baitcast rod that never broke off. Also tried some Sufffix Seige and Elite as the season went on, 6# and 12# if I recall. Just looking for suggestions and opinions. I am new to these forums, but will admit I knew there was ALOT of information, but the knowledge you folks share has made me a much better angler and has given me an incredible appreciation for equipment and tackle.

I also spent alot of time forcing myself to learn and use the dropshot. All I do is bank fish and it proved to be my most successful method during the summer months. I did learn, as was previously stated, making a longer leader does help because then the bait tends to ride higher in the column the farther away it is. Gulp minnows were a very high producer, but also Senkos and Super Flukes, anything worked. Another interesting method was shown to me by some random dude who decided between telling me his ENTIRE sorrid life story pipes up and says" Ya shuuuuuuld be usin' a jig as uuuurrrrrr drop weight". This kind, caring fellow now shares a room in my basement with the baitmonkey. First cast both the dropshotted fluke and the jig brought money fish. It was well worth hearing about 3 wives and the stripper. Hope you all are well. By the way, who's turn is it with this dastardly monkey?

Winter project/goal. I wouldlike to take the winter to teach myself how to pitch and flip with baitcasters. Last winter got to be proficient with baicasters for normal casting (mostly), but while continuing to hone that skill want to learn to pitch and flip. How do I set the baitcaster? Is a switch really necessary? Are certain lengths or powers of rods easier? Certain speed reels? Certain line? Lastly, is there a good video demonstration somewhere? I prescribe to the theory "See one, Watch one, Do one". Thank you for your help.

Searching for clubs or fellow hopeless addicts in the Bloomington Illinois area. Have done a pretty thorough search for bass clubs in the area, but no luck. I fear a long winter and would like to try a few meetings to take the edge off. I am not a bad person , but I do get twitchy if I go without for too long. This site has been an excellent find for me and I really do appreciate it.