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I saw those Crucial crankbait spinning rods at Cabelas. They look really nice for those who don't want to use baitcasters. But even a fast action rod can make a good crankin stick if it's light enough. For years, I've been using a 6'6" MLF spinning rod for fishing light jerkbaits without any issues at all. I rarely miss hookups or lose fish and I actually prefer using the graphite spinning MLF over my MM or MHMF composite baitcasting cranking rods when fishing light jerkbaits and cranks.

How do you guys feel it compares to Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon line? I haven't tried any Seaguar lines yet.

Haha, love the reaction, although I bet it was staged for the blooper reel for a laugh. "Dag Gommit!" You might think so, unless you've ever seen the one where he hooks a hornets' nest and has them flying around while he's swatting at them with his hat and finally jumps in the water. I doubt anybody would do that on purpose just for the blooper reel. ;D Haha. Good point. I heard about that.

I tell people I'm fishing with in my boat that they must wear eye protection. PFDs are optional, but eye protection is a must. I have 2 pairs of $20 glasses for them to choose from, and 4 nicer pairs for myself. Some have very little tint, so I can wear them in low light and still be protected. I even have a very light pair of clear shop glasses for night fishing because the last thing in the world I want is to catch a Jitterbug in the face that I didn't see coming. I had my lip split wide open by a flying crankbait a few years back. Had that hit me in the eye, even a closed eye, I'd be hurtin...bad. Not to mention, they'll help you see cover and catch fish. Also, if you ever get into wading, you'll be able to see where you're stepping and that will keep you from falling.

For general soft plastics, you could start with 2/0, 3/0, and 4/0 Gamakatsu EWG hooks and go from there.

Very interesting comparison. I'll give that a try this year. I have a lot to learn about dropshotting. It's certainly not one of my confidence baits, which is kinda funny considering how insanely popular it is in my neck of the woods. Thanks for the tip.

I supposed you could you any size jig, or soft plastic for that matter. But I think the key to getting reaction strikes with this technique is the fast rise and fall of a heavier jig or worm.

A watermelon gold flake or smoke red flake finesse tube on a 1/16 oz tube jig, or a 1/16 oz. jigworm with black 4" curl tail worm.

The thread that will not die! :

Skin side up, and put it back in the jar. Or just use plastics...

Haha, love the reaction, although I bet it was staged for the blooper reel for a laugh. "Dag Gommit!"

The Double Uni is what I use for leaders and reel backing. It's easy to learn and to tie, but it's not as small and streamlined as some others like so it doesn't pass thru the guides as well.

I use X-Raps when I'm looking for the fastest, most aggressive, erratic jerkbait in my box. FWIW, they make a great aggressive fall walleye jerkbait, too. Caught by PB on a #8 Clown in 2' of water, ripping it hard off of riprap.

High, muddy water in the river and smallies get the chartreuse blades.

Terminator makes them. Check out color 519, red with orange fleck. http://www.cabelas.com/p-0053976114635a.shtml

Couldn't have said it better myself. In the world of increasingly expensive crankbaits, this is a forgotten gem. They're one of my favorite cranks, and certainly the cheapest. I buy them at WalMart for $2.50 because the local Cabela's and Gander Mt don't stock them. I would suggest swapping the hooks with something better. Also, you may want to get multiples if you fish in waters with a lot of Northerns. There's something about the Super Spot, especially in Rayburn Red, that small Northerns cannot resist. I'm certain I've lost more Super Spots to Northerns than any other lure.

How about a 4" black curl-tail worm?

Thanks. Here they are, they're called BOSS Punch Hubs. http://fishingskirts.com/product_info.php?cPath=69&products_id=748

Does anybody thread their line through a standard skirt and use it as a poor-man's punch skirt? Any disadvantages to doing this? Where might I find the rubber slider so that I can make a few? Thx

Don't they call that snap-jigging? I do that with 3/4 oz grass head jigs and curly tail trailers when the fish go deep in Summer, but I don't impart as much rod action as he does. Just a 1-3' snap and a fall. I'm going to have to try that with the football head and more rod twitching on the rise.

I was thinking the same thing as you and I tried them in the Spring a little last year with so so results, but I love red spinnerbaits at night in the Summer or in very low light at dawn/dusk.

This cleaner you use, is it petroleum ether/naptha?

One of the 2009 STX that are floating around for cheap.

6' 6" - 7' MF is best for the broadest range of techniques, if you're including light to med sized crankbaits and soft plastics, as well as 1/4 - 1/2 oz spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, and buzzbaits, light Texas rigs and jigs, etc. You can easily toss lures ranging from 3/16 - 5/8 oz with it. If you're not frequently going to be tossing lures that are 1/4 oz and under, than a 7' MH will be your best bet.

I had a bad batch of scuffed up Fireline Braid last year. It was scuffed every 5 yards as if I had a cracked guide. I'll give it a try again this year because I like the smoothness over PowerPro, and that it's quieter going thru the guides. There's nothing wrong with PowerPro though, it's terrific line, but like anything, someday it will be surpassed in quality. I caught and landed a 50-52" muskie on the 15/4 two years ago while fishing smallies on the Mississippi, so I'm sold on PP for life. ;D