wnybassman

I have the same problem with 30lb and it is always when I start getting over anxious and trying to cast harder than I should be. Once I settle down and let the rod do the work, that problem goes away. The frustrating part is it usually (for me) breaks right in the spool after digging in and you can no longer tell where the end of the line is, rendering the spool of line junk because once you do find the end, the line is a mess.

I was trying to think what to say and that pretty much sums it up. I have had I disagree handed to me by both and visa-versa.

Just remember when working the bait, less is more.

I like bluegilly colors the best but I have yet to make a black/blue one yet. lol Dirty water from either algae blooms or muddied up shorelines from the wind are best for me, and in those conditions I like a flashy tail dancing around behind the bait. I usually stick with a steady retrieve and twitch it hard to clear weeds now and then, and just like other baits that can generate a strike. I fish it with 50 pound braid on a 7' M Fast rod. I tried white chatterbaits many different times last year and never caught a fish. The only thing I have caught on white chatterbaits is lake trout through the ice in 160 feet of water. lol

28 hours 37 minutes and 19 seconds. Give or take

The wind blows from the east after the passing of a low pressure system to the south of your location, which generally is associated with a cold front.

I am not sure if you are or not, but it is strongly recommended NOT to use the household microwave, that you use to cook food with, to cook plastic. I started out remelting commercial baits as well, but once I discovered how well virgin plastic pours in comparison, I have not since. I do remelt my salt free handpours though by adding them to a fresh batch of the same color.

I have always heard the later years of the Fast Strike series were some of the best motors Johnson ever built. I like hearing that because I have a '97 150 myself. (My boat is a '98 but they must have put a left over '97 motor on it)

I've had great days in the rain. I've had awful days in the rain. Just like.............. I've had great days with mostly sunny skies. I've had awful days with mostly sunny skies. Lots of variables, weather is just one of them.

All of the above. There is no wrong way. Some days will be different than others so don't get stuck in a rut.

No problems here either, and also order online. They have never sent me any tracking information but rarely does it take more than three days, usually two days.

Mailbox post?

Seriously? The nerve of them! I had to read that twice to make sure I read it right the first time.

The main reason to bend the blade is to get the bait vibrating more quickly once it hits the water, which is nice for very shallow water.

Estimated 25 pounds on 4 pound Vanish

Flood the basement with a foot of water. Might as well practice on the real surface.

Having spare gear? Not me, never! lol

Are the weed guards the right size? Mine are always so tight they can only be in one position.

I am keeping the bladebaits wet in 112 feet of water. Testing out new swimbait hand pours in 89 feet. Discovering that chatterbaits work in real cold water 148 feet down Putting a meal on the table once and a while in the shallows And trying to stay on topic now and then I have been quite fortunate to enjoy this winter lately, it's been a good one!

I have been making these for many years now, although only really began catching fish on them consistently a few years ago. Cheap enough to make, the blanks are about 35¢ each, the lead is free, the clips are about 8¢ and hooks are whatever you want to put on them. In the picture above I have Mustad Triple Grips on it, but since I took that picture I have been using a black pearl Eagle Claw round bend hook. I bought a couple bags of them somewhere for $9 a 100 and they are halfway decent hooks. I also use the Duo Lock snaps now, instead of what's pictured. Most people would probably cringe the way I attach the hooks. I read a couple years ago about someone doing it this way, and they said to attach the hooks to something solid and pull until something breaks. They said something will give besides the hooks every time, and I would have to agree. Basically I just use side cutters and cut the hook eye, flex the eye open just enough to slip on the bait then close back up with needlenose pliers. I have caught lots and lots of fish doing it this way and have had zero problems. Only once have I had a hook come off, but the fish was already in the net and doing the death roll and getting tons of leverage on the bait. My set-up for bladebaiting is a 7' MH casting rod with straight 17 pound flouro. I see no reason to use anything lighter than that.

All depends on the weather. About 12 years ago I saw 18-20 inches go from "this ice will be here forever" to boating in about a week. It shot up to the 60's all week with night time lows in the 40's and 50's. I have also seen 6 inches linger on for several weeks with below freezing nights.

Woo-Hoo!! Today I caught my first chatterbait fish of the year. Of course there was 14" of ice, I was vertical jigging the bottom in 89 feet of water, and target species was not bass, but hey, none-the-less! lol

Similar for me. I start with 3/8 ounce but rarely have to go up or down from there. lol

That is going to sting for a while.

Years ago I went through a dramatic cleaning out of crap I don't/won't ever use, and since then I really only buy what I will likely use. Sure, some stuff still seeps in through the cracks, it's the nature of the game. My problem now is I can't stop buying tackle making stuff. lol