Hogsticker

Reload on the Flick Shakes. Managed to drop my Rcs 1000 orange shallow spool. Let me tell ya, these things are fragile. Went with a purple Rcs 1012 SV spool this round. Hopefully I can keep myself from dropping this one.

Depends on the amount of current. All medium or medium light rods are not created equal. Some have more power, a faster tip, less progressive action, etc. I like a rod around 6'10 with a fast tip, yet a blank that has a nice progressive bend to it rather than shutting off really quick. I no longer do spinning gear,but once upon a time I had a Falcon Cara T7, 6'9 medium that was river magic - river made.

Going to take the plunge and start fishing the ned in deeper water while it's pretty hot, and continue using it as needed into the fall. I will be placing an order for some Gopher mushroom heads in the 3/32 variety for current conditions. What size hook do I want for the Z man TRDs? I'm thinking 1/0. What are you guys using?

Something slow and enticing. I'd pick up some paddle tail swimbaits and swimbait jig heads in various sizes. Do you know what the forage is? You don't need to shop around. Pick up some Keitechs and be done with it.

I'm with you on this one. I'll hit it this last week and probably won't return till the 3rd or 4th week of September, maybe even wait till October. I'm getting 1 to 2 good fish bites just before the sun goes down in the deepest water I can reach from shore. Been throwing the Jackall Rythm Wave and those few good takes I'm getting are hitting it on the drop just before it touches bottom.

Good job. You beat me to the punch!

I've never used any, but they get stellar reviews as being one of the better value based blanks available. Never come across anything negative about them.

Classic! They think they're so much bigger than they are. Gotta love the attitude!

Sweet! The only other high end blank on my bucket list is a point blank. . . . For the time being!

I don't know. We'll have to agree to disagree. Maybe not as much for the bass folks as the salmon and steelhead people though. All I know is I've spoken with several reputable well known builders and they all tell me numbers (strength to weight ratio) don't lie. I've also read several threads of people stating the K2s and nfc high mods are the top dogs in all categories, with the IMs not being far behind. Some people really like Croix. I think you're one of them. Most of what I've heard from builders and users is that the Sc5 isn't quite there, but close. Obviously these are all opinions, but I don't see how Nfc blanks couldn't be in demand. I know you're an excellent, seasoned builder, and I know some people think Nfc blanks aren't worth the price, but they are pretty amazing. Probably why Rainshadow is now having the Eternity line manufacturerd in the States, likely with Nfc being they have partnered. Folks in many different parts of the world adore these blanks and consider them the cream of the crop in terms of strength, sensitivity, and versatility. So obviously they're in demand somewhere. France, Italy, Australia to name a few. Some people like super duper fast painted blanks. I don't fall into that category as don't many others. So there's demand right there. At any rate I'm sure I'll be grinning ear to ear when I unpack this bad boy and especially when I fish it.

I agree with MassYak85. I'm always looking for areas where fish have quick access to deeper water. Look at the landscape you're standing on. If it isn't somewhat steep, move. How bad is the vegetation? Can you navigate away from it? You need to find out if fish are indeed in the area. When I'm fishing a new spot from the bank I always start with 2 presentations. A small paddle tail swimbait and a flick shake style worm. Fan cast the paddle tail. Work it on top and then the bottom. Fan cast the wacky rigged flick shake on the lightest weight possible and let it sink on a semi slack line. Try dead sticking a small stick bait in areas you feel in your gut fish should be. Lastly, split shot a small creature / craw imitation. You just have to keep experimenting until you get a strike and the light bulb goes off. If you get nada after all that it's probably time to find a different spot. Getting frustrated won't help. You gotta be zen man, dialed in and in tune. Don't give up. When you figure it out it will be that much more rewarding.

I don't see a big deal with it. It's a short, limited offer that rarely occurs. It's also a good way to put an NFC blank in someone's hands who refuses to pay retail premium like this guy. If the blank is all that and a bag of chips, myself and others may now be willing to pay retail on future builds. I doubt anyone truly knows what most dealer costs are anyways. It's not like dealers aren't still going to get my money. Can't build a rod without components.

Should have posted this sooner, but ordered direct through the NFC website all blanks are half price. Sale ends today though. My builder ordered an IM blank for me. Came to 102 dollars shipped. Saved 75 bucks had we ordered elsewhere. Not too shabby

I'll do it if it's a free league.

Nice to have some advice from some locals. My advice and from nowhere around those parts - bring em. You'll regret it if you don't because you'll never know. Lesson #1 I've seen some real dink smallies try to eat baits 3 times there size. I caught a 3 pounder on an 8 inch Spro. Right place, right time. You just never know. Smallmouth are awfully curious critters.

I've watched smaller bass try to eat a stick bait. They will grab on to an end and pull on it, never really getting to the center portion where the wacky hook is before they spit it or give up. I'd downsize to a finesse worm, same presentation.

Insert a rattle into a tube bait.

If you're looking for a more durable version of the Keitech Fat Impact with the same great tail action, you need these. More flat and robust with greater roll. Won't slide down the shank of the hook and holds up to multiple fish through several hours. Not as squishy and, yet feels soft and solid. Winner winner chicken dinner.

The new Jackall Rythm waves are fantastic. Same great tail action at any speed, however the body is more robust and not as squishy. A little more flat and wide it has a really nice roll to it. I was able to use one bait for several hours with multiple hook ups, plus it didn't want to slide down the shank of the hook. I'll continue purchase these, and they are a little heavier than the equivalent size Keitech. High recommend.

I'd try fishing a Jackall Clone Fry in bluegill pattern, nose hooked with a split shot weight just heavy enough to make a decent cast clamped on the line 12-18 inches above the bait. Just let it sink on semi slack line and when one of those bigger bass pick it up she'll start swimming away with it, so watch your line and when it gets taught set the hook. If they don't take it on the drop experiment with your retrieve. Any small bluegill minnow imitation should suffice. I'm just partial to Jackall. I'd also try a wacky rigged Jackall Flick Shake in bluegill pattern. Use the lightest weight you can get away with. Fish it the same as I mentioned above. Realistic as possible, slow and finesse oriented is what you want. Think along those lines and you should catch some. I'd hit it hard the last 45 minutes before it gets dark. Good luck I'd definitely down size the baits you have listed.

I have some Easy Shakers on the way. I want to see what they look like wacky rigged. Also ordered a couple packs of Jackall Rythm Wave paddle tails.

Mono - Sunline Defier. Simply no substitute. Fluoro - Seaguar Tatsu. Need I say more? Braid - Maxima ultra green braided line. This ones a real sleeper, and I highly encourage trying it. It's good stuff

My nephew was up visiting for the Holiday. Taught him how to use a baitcaster and got him hooked up with his 1st bronzeback. Let him outfish me? I don't think so! Not a huge smallie, but a 3 pound chunk super fun to catch on a medium light and 8 lb test.

Try a Jackall Flick Shake and cover water with it. Fan cast and let it sink on lightest weight you can get away with. I don't bother working the rig back much. They usually hit it on the drop, and if it happens to fall next to or above a big smallie they will usually ****** it up.

Rather than trying to work uphill in the rocks from shore, consider dropping something between and along the rocks. The wacky rig is your friend. Use the lightest weight you can get away with. Make a cast, let it fall to bottom, pop and jiggle it a few times, reel up and cast to another spot. You can cover water and work it slowly. The slower the bait falls the better. Don't get me wrong, it doesn't catch fish 365 days a year and you will get hung time to time.