Big Bait Fishing

check out the new EVX line of rods from OKUMA , very nice rods with premium components , priced around $90.00 ..... http://www.***.com/descpageRDCOKUMA-OEVXCR.html

i live in San Diego , CA and i have never heard that live crawdads are illegal (in most lakes) the tackle stores sell them and every lake i have fished at , they are legal ........

at the bass-a-thon , i talked with Scott Martin and Gregg Hackney for a couple of hours !! both those guys are very approachable and answered alot of questions i had . mike Long was there but i did not talk to him .................... :

Mattlures hard-gill and Tylures sunfish ....

OWNER twistlock w/CPS , i change out the smaller centering spring lock with the large one . the hook is a 3x wire hook but is not too thick of gauge . i use these for worms and frogs . for big worms i use the OWNER oversize worm hook in 7/0 .... the twist lock is pictured below ....

for the rod - Reaction Strike super magnum custom wrapped ( fuji micro guides ; spiral wrapped , fuji ACS reel seat , eva spit grip ) for the reel - Abu Garcia Revo Toro 51 line- Izorline XXX 25 lb. test in ''smoke'' color. i love to throw big baits , so this set-up would be my favorite choice . btw, i have 2 swimbait rods already , but will have this rod set-up in about 2-3 weeks !!!!! ..................

if you really want more info on their blanks , call Baston and you can talk to Karry yourself . and to as these blanks being of an unknown brand , obviously you are un-informed there guy (swimbasser) : . anyhow , i have 2 swimbait rods built on Rainshadow blanks , a 2-6 oz. rod and a 3-8 oz. rod . both are pretty light for their rating . i am in the process of getting another wrapped by the same guy as ArcticCat500 . this time it is gonna be able to throw VERY BIG , HEAVY BAITS !!!!!! ........

i just got the ''nasty shad '' deep-diver , and that thing casts far and goes deep !!!!! i will say a good 5' deeper than a dd22

i've got a long A in rainbow trout that i have caught quite a few fish on by using a slow retrieve , oh , and mine is not suspending . i use it about every other time i fish , a good producer in shallower waters . a tackle box staple in my opinion ......... ;)http://www.lurenet.com/productdetail.aspx?id=B14AXRT

So how many real fish have you seen swim by just moving their tails? Paddle Tails are just a different technique of soft plastics, not real swimbaits. Heck the Rage Tail Eeliminator is a better swimbait than any paddle tail I've ever used. obviously you have never fished one cause they catch fish , btw , with your line of thinking , a 8'' huddleston is not a swimbait ???? : : :

Blackdog's mini-cracker , Sebile soft swimmers , Mattlures trout (new one) , 3:16 freestyle , 6'' bbz , Swimbaits inc. Tsunaga trout , and the 8'' weedless Hudd ......

for a good bait at that price , you would be better off with a Optimum swimbait . they are 10 times better than a Castaic anything !!!!! here is a link , get the 7'' or 8'' - http://www.***.com/descpageSWMOPTIMUM-OPSI.html#pImage

i also fish a clear water lake and i do alot better on silent crank baits . that's exactly where i use them , the lake i fish is hammered all the time . try the bomber switchback shad , a very good bait , comes in a medium diver and a deep diver . the only thing is is that you got to get them from Bass Pro Shops ............

i like them silent (no rattles) . i really like the switchback series from Bomber , you can turn the rattles off or on . i seem to get catch more fish with them off , just wish alot more manufacturers would put out lures with this concept

OWNER CUTTING POINT are the best hooks period ............ 8-)

that sounds like a nice little spot you got there !!! i love those spots for frogging in all those pads . try punching the mats in shady spots .....

x2 , i always use braid for drop shotting . a 3-6 ft. leader joined with a uni-to-uni should do the trick . but if fish are spooky , don't hesitate to use an even longer leader !!

don't worry yourself over it he probably uses the 6.3:1 for spinnerbaits and the such .

if you want good braid , get a spectra line . those other dyneema and polyethylene lines fray to much , they might be quieter but that does not make them better . POWER PRO and P-LINE SPECTREX are your best choices , go to 30# in either brand lines ( power pro or p-line ) and you will be good to go !!! btw , i use 30# power pro on my REVO SX 7.1:1 reel and can cast it all day without a backlash or line digging ........

i, myself , don't think it makes a difference . you get acustomed to different setups by using that set up alot and on a regular basis . i bring my swimbait rods with me along with my crappie rods and a bluegill rod , talk about a major difference !!!! from throwing 1/8 oz. lures up to 6 oz. lures on 2 totally diffferent stlye rods is fine for me . i think the pros say that to make you want to buy more of their ( their sponsors) products

if you notice when he casts , he actually uses a energy pt 5.1:1 reel , i have seen it on many occasions , but he might switch to the tour pt sometimes ....

i can't wait for the next one !!!!! ;D

another very good bluegill hard swimbait is the TYLURES SUNFISH , i just got one last week at the bass-a-thon , fished it the other night and it fishes great !! very good at ALL speeds , swims like MATTLURES hardgill . here is a link http://www.***.com/descpageTYSWIM-TKS5.html btw ,don't let the paint schemes fool you , in the water they look incredible !!!!

FYI Kevin VanDam 6.3.1 I think we know how KVD stacks up to those guys. KVD uses a 5.1:1 reel .............

if you want the best trebles , get OWNER ST-41's ( they have the cutting points ) ............