Bob8899

Wave Worm Ticki Bamboo Stick either on a unweighted hook or a weighted hook. They are fat, heavy and cast well. Deadsticking with a weighted or unweighted hook can be very productive.

I have the Citica E and it is a great reel. I have it and a Curado 200 E7 as I wanted more line capacity than is available on my 50 MG's. Thereby maintaining a greater amount of line retrieved per handle turn after a long cast. Makes a big difference when one comes close to clearing all the line off the spool of a 50 MG on a long cast. If you are interested in casting light lures the 100D would be superior as the spool empty weighs just 0.3 grams more than the 50 mg spool. Because the line capacity of the 100 D is less than the Citica E the total spool weight when filled with mono is significantly less--18 grams versus 25 grams using 14# Original Stren

Perhaps this is old news. It's in beta form. I did a search for Gord Pyzer and obtained his articles. Have not fully explored it yet. Looks like it could be very useful. http://www.in-fisherman.com/

I finally tracked down a crankbait that most likely will provide what I want. The Bandit walleye series which is about 6" long including bill; weighs ~0.6 oz. Floating and dives (trolling down to about 12' according to the package"). Have not fished it yet so don't know how deep it will dive an a long cast. Bill is about the size of a Bandit 200. I want the bait for a heavy floater diver that will cast well into the wind for fishing smallies on shield lakes in the spring. Something different to fish on waters that are hit a lot by traditional crankbaits.

I'm trying to locate a minnow shaped lure like the Rattlin Rogue or Magnum Rapala Floater that weighs 1/2 - 3/4 oz. so it will cast well in the wind. The floating rapala magnum in the 4 3/8" length that weighs 9/16 oz would be ideal but none seem to be available. Don't want a suspending lure but a floater one the dives down to about 4-6'. If anyone knows of other lures that would fall in this category it would be appreciated.

I own both the Curado and Citica 200e reels. The Curado is somewhat smoother on the retrieve. Spools are different but I can not tell any difference in casting. The spool on the Curado weighs 13.8 grams and the Citica 14.8 grams. Load them both with 14 # mono and the Curado spool weights 24.2 grams and the Citica one gram more. Difference is negligible. Neither reel casts light baits as well as my 50 MGs. A 50 MG spool weighs only 1.5 grams less than the Curado spool yet filled with 14 # mono weighs 17.7 grams.

Thanks for the replies. I've also found that Falcon has a weighted weedless hook called: Falcon Weighted Weedless "K" Wacky Hook

Does anyone know where I can obtain a wide gap or octopus style hook with a *wire* weed guard in a 2/0 4/0 size? I've used Gamakatsu finesse octopus hook with a weed guard for wacky rigging 4 and 5 Senko brand sticks in light cover. However the weed guard on the hook is not wire and it is somewhat flimsy. I fish a lot of Wave Ticki Bamboo Sticks aggressively in the spring in moderate wood cover rigged weedless. However there are times when I want to fish them wacky rigged. Their thickness makes it difficult to use a wide gap hook with the point of the hook turned back into the bait. That is why I'm looking for a hook with a wire weed guard. Thanks for any help.

Reaction Innovations Boom Boom tubes are very soft.

Yellow Rocket Fuel. It is very close in viscosity to Shimano oil

That is a good suggestion. Never though of using a Chatterbait in a cold water situation.

Agree on the suspending jerkbaits. Just seldom use them as the lakes I fish have a lot of submerged and standing wood in the key early spring areas.

In process of putting blades on spinnerbaits and usually go with a #5 colorado blade on a 1/2 oz spinner bait. Wondering what you preference is? I'm considering the possibility of two colorado blades. However will loose some of the "thump" and possibility lift? Ice out ten days ago in my area. Primary forage is bluegill. Water clarity 1-3 feet. My three primary baits in these conditions are a jig, spinnerbait or crankbait.

This is an update to my original post. I had an opportunity to weigh the spool (without line) of the Citica 200E. The spool weighs 14.8 grams. The Curado 200 E spool weighs one gram less. I did not weigh the Citica's reel with line but assume that it has the same line capacity as the Curado 200E. In view that the Curado 200 E spool weighs 24.2 grams with 14 # test Stren Mono line the Citica's spool would weigh 25.2 grams. Unless there is a difference in spool bearings it would seem that both reels should cast so close to the same as to perhaps be imperceptible.

Thanks everyone for the info. I ordered out a bunch of Baby Paca Craws today.

For texas rigging the Paca Craw what is your favorite size and what size/style hook do you use. I've a package of the Regular (5") Paca Craw and am wondering if the Baby Paca will take a 3/0 EWG hook? Can't buy NetBaits locally so trying to decide if the Baby Paca would be a useful size, but don't want to have to use a hook smaller than a 3/0 EWG. Thanks! Bob

Only the first half inch or so of the Paca Craw is solid so not sure how well it would stay on the jig. I use a lot of double tailed grubs on jigs and when they are torn up, I can continue to use them by biting off the torn area. Could not do that with the craw. I prefer a more compact bait when jig fishing and with the Craw it would be longer. The Chunk is a little cheaper.

Is the new 3" twin tail a grub type?

Which Paca Chunk (3" standard or 3.25" sr.) on the lower half is comparable in size to the Regular 5" Paca Craw? I've got a package of the 5" Paca Craw and want to match it with the Paca chunk for a jig trailer. Thanks in advance! Bob

I'm going to try to standardize on one craw bait for texas rigging. Have come down to the 5" Net Bait Paca Craw or Strike King's Rage Craw. I notice that the Paca Craw is hollow. Is that a benefit? Which do you prefer and why? Thanks! Bob

For years I've been using liquid drain cleaner. Place a couple dozen sinkers in a glass jar, swirl to mix. Swirl every so often i.e. 4-6 hrs. . Don't worry about it overnight. Check in 24 hrs. The sinkers come out a nice brown-gray color. Don't leave in the drain cleaner too long or they will corrode. Of course rinse well (see below) . If you use gel drain cleaner you may have to insert a wire inside the sinker hole under running water to flush out the drain cleaner. For the non-gel liquid drain cleaner I overflow water into the jar a number of times, dump water and rinse several times. Turn sinker to larger end and let faucet water enter the sinker hole. Not as pretty as painted sinkers but it does get rid of the bright "silver" look.

Only like the EWG version. Have no faith in the J bend hooks as the point of the hook which bends down sometimes digs into the bait when texposed on a hook set.

Boom Boom 4" tubes, internally weighted texas rigged when fishing the back side to big bolders as then drag over the top better. Also fish them with an internal 60 degree bend jig hook exposed. Prefer Boom Boom tubes as they are fat (less chance of getting snagged between rocks) and they are soft so when texas rigged a better hook set.

Rattlin Rogue

Four pound test fireline is great on spinning reels (crappie fishing). It is a little stiffer than Power Pro so seems to handle better. Any line weight above that I go with Power Pro