Hooligan

The system I use for my muskie and pike flies: http://moldychum.squarespace.com/home-old/2010/3/2/titanium-bite-tippet.html (We catch a LOAD of smallies every year on the same rigs.)

I tie commercially, typically in the neighborhood of 1200-1400 dozen annually. Like fly-fishing, it's something that takes time to learn and get used to. When it comes to spun/stacked hair, I might tie 2-3 an hour. A stonefly nymph pattern? 1-2 dozen an hour. It just depends on what you want to accomplish with it. I tie all winter, fish all spring and summer. Fish and tie in the fall. It's a pretty good gig.

I just popped in to Cabela's here and they had a PILE of Mini MRs on clearance as well as a a bunch of the other SKT baits. I bought a few, but just giving a heads up that sometimes they do silly things like that company wide.

Yes. I Crig them a bunch, too.

Kudo's. I just feel bad for Montgomery, he's been dragged through the mud because of an OP ed piece that was politicized. People taking what they want, and making it into something it isn't. Bum deal for the guy.

Jerkbait Suspending shad bodied crankbait Jig

I've had really good luck with SK Finesse worms on the old style of spot remover, too. Drop of glue and they stay pegged for what seems like an eternity.

Xrap is much more an aggressive bait than the LC. I tend to really be ripping Xraps, almost constant motion, no deadsticking there. In summer, Xraps are one of the first baits I'll throw.

Didn't end up with either of these. Ended up with the CUS72M Cumara. It just felt more "right" in my hand for the prospective purposes of the rod. I went to what's known locally as "desperation hole" and dropped a shakey in and fell in love with the rod.

Anyone fish these? I ran across a guy that has 80 of them for $35, all new in package. I bought them, thinking what the heck. Went and picked them up today, and they're an interesting little bait. The free riding hook seems like it would be much less likely to let fish throw it, there's nothing for them to leverage against. I'm thinking the bait monkey I keep reading about around here has struck. (What can I say, it's been a long, cold, hard winter.)

Year round. Same with rattle baits.

I don't buy into the clarity thing much. Here in NE we have a tremendous amount of stained/off color water, rarely do we have clear water. A jerkbait is what accounts for close to 60% of my fish spring through summer. I do tend to lean towards clown/chart colors in our water, though.

I'm going to go against the grain a little, I really like the Wild Shiner in spring. Husky jerks and Xraps through the year.

Uh, Revo, Revo, and Revo. In case you want to get specific SX or STX. If you are talking deep cranking exclusively, a Winch could well be thrown in there.

Two rods I'm looking at right now. I've fished neither, but own different rods in both lines. I have my opinions on which rods I like, and they really go back and forth versus each other on technique. Background (in case the title didn't give it away(see it now?)) I'm looking for a finesse rod that will handle shakey heads, splitshotting, some light dropshot, and dragging light tubes as well. I'll also be likely to throw some light jerkbaits with the rod, 2" and 3" Senko's for instance. The two rods I'm looking at are the Cumarra CUS72MH, and the Legend Tournament LTBS68MXF. Both are what I would deem as rods being able to do what I'd ask of them, yet maybe I'm not seeing something that someone else will. Thoughts, any and all, are appreciated. (For the record what's going on the rod is a CI4, or Sustain. Typically it will be spooled with 6lb Fluoro, occasionally 20lb Tufline.)

As much as I hate the color, I'm fishing a Skeet now. It's a great rod for the money, and I'm actually starting to disregard the comments about the rods. Thus far, I'm impressed with it. It has the right touch and tip for the way I fish jerkbaits, it isn't too tip heavy, and the components seem to be in order. Before one of the guys convinced me to try the rods, I'd likely have been the biggest skeptic there could possible have been. Being aware of the problems that W+J had with many of their OEM blanks was one of the leading factors. Then I thought about it a bit. If a guy like Reese is going to jump ship on a current company, a company that stood by him regardless, it led be to believe there was something that really was wrong. I'm not bashing on Carrots, but let's look at it in a logical manner. Just doesn't make sense that things went down as they did. Anyhow, that's a good one, the Crucial CRC70ML is a good jerkbait rod, and the Avid ACAC70MHXF is a great rod, too. The Avid's a little more money, but not dramatically out of range. FWIW

I've had really good success on the bait with a 3/16oz Ike's Spike fished much like a spinnerbait. (At least in the same areas, situations.) The Ike's Spike hook is a bit small for the bait, but it works well enough that I'd use recommend it. I've fished them weightless, but never had as much luck that way.

I'm really fond of the Husky Jerk for smallies, in the HJ12. Black back/chrome is one of my best. After that, Wild Shiner in glass clown.

Hrrmm, I'd have to say Husky Jerk (HJ12) in silver. It's a bait I fish year round and can elicit fish into. I guess it just goes along the lines of use what you're confident in.

Nope, The Prince is a Diamonback rod, Tooth Tamer is its own entity. In regards to the Prince, I have the rod and love it for multiple things. I fish inlines, spinnerbaits, a few topwaters, and swimbaits with it. It really does excel at bladed baits, however. One of the best rods in my arsenal.