Master Bait'r

Orochi xx jerkbait special or flat side special depending on the length you like..... Can't say enough good things about the versatility and action in those rods. They are just a joy to use in every way for me.

Its different from company to company and many have their own bends etc.... There is no universally good size, as each company makes them slightly different. I did find that the jawbone frogs' hooks are right about the golden size and shape, and the frogs are cheap. Booyahs etc also will work but I don't want to ruin a Booyah, y'know? You definitely need a light gauge hook to avoid sinking it though. I really hope a company or two will come out with an actual true finesse frog with protruding hooks and skirt legs so we don't have to go through so much effort to dial them in. I miss froggin so much. I seriously can't wait for pad season to be back in full swing!

I'm the Operations Manager at a northeast ski area. The work load and stress level pretty much guarantee I won't even be able to glance at my gear until May.

The censoring of companies never ceases to make me chuckle... it actually brings more attention to the company, not less as is desired. Oh, the irony!

I can't decide whether I want the sustain or the twin power. The sustain has an extra bearing, looks sexier and is cheaper but twin power is twin power. *sigh*

It's been literally months since my last fishing purchase, I haven't had 5 minutes to daydream. Found this really nice perch pattern +1 today tho. The dream lives on!

Oh god not this again. To some, yes. To others, no. Find your own comfort zone. Nobody but you can decide what feels right, and there are no shortage of options. Nobody is forcing anybody to spend dough, but you'd think they were based on some peoples' response to this topic. I havent read read the whole thread but I'll give an "over" bet of of 5 posts where someone can't wait to tell everyone how awesome they are and they only use an ugly stick etc. haha

8# CXX. Very little stretch and super strong. Also really cheap. By far my favorite jerkbait line, I couldn't handle how stretchy the Yo-Zuri was.

Dude... That looks like an arms grip with the Adrena monocoque butt. My brain is filled with so many swear words, rainbows and fireworks right now.

Pshhh... Naw, me? Never. Not even once. ?

MUUUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA goes the Bait Monkey

I'd give 'er 3.5-4, camera phones take terrible shots. I try to hold it right up against my chest/torso for size reference rather than outstretched arm, which never gives any real scale and always makes your hand look huge simply out of perspective.

The deciding factor is INDIVIDUAL ATHLETIC ABILITY AND THE MEASUREMENT OF THAT SPECIFIC ACTION. Fishing could absolutely be in the olympics BUT ONLY IF if was something like "who can cast a 1/16oz weight the farthest" and DEFINITELY NOT "who can catch the most fish" as that depends too heavily on outside variables and not the individual athletic performance itself. So come on- nobody is saying fishing at a pro level isn't physically demanding. The very structure of the sport is why it will NEVER be an Olympic sport, and curling can be.

Too many variables to be an Olympic sport. It could never, for the same reason hunting could never be.

The katsuages are definitely finesse hooks. I've gotten the drag dialed just right so it keeps them straight longer but big fish can still mangle them. Super sticky though, and the lighter the weight the more action you get per tug. I keep spares rather than try to mess with perfection. Those AMart nano trebles may work but I haven't tried.

Right around 3' or so seems to be their money zone, but you can keep them higher if you keep your inputs light. I don't have any problems with them suspending. They're actually really fun in super clear water, as I love giving them a whip and then watching them just sit there... Long pauses and tiny twitches slay with these... Working along weed lines, stalling them and watching something just crush it on the seventh motionless second is always exciting. Not too many days one of the two doesn't produce for me.

Actually... Trick darters and the 110jr's are pretty much neck and neck. Both are flippin' amazing.

Trick darters. Nothing else quite does it for me like em!

My pleasure! I love frog fishing and this dimension of it is so much fun it defies logic. It needs to be shared and enjoyed!!

After being reminded of this thread, I wanted to post this fattie skunkbuster I got about two weeks ago on a FF. It's continued to produce for me even into the fall even though I've been so busy I haven't been fishing much.

I've done a ton of research and testing with the tiny finesse frogs... Spinning or casting will work, but it had better be a finesse casting reel if you want to really chuck a 1/4oz frog. It also will REALLY help if you put in bigger hooks- the lighter line and rod needed to cast the lighter baits make stock hooksets pretty much a luck scenario. Here is a link to the thread I made on it a while back. Definitely some decent info on finesse froggin.

Yes I generally like longer rods as well. Never got into back winding though, I'll have to give that a try sometime.

felt the same way about Yo-Zuri Hybrid. I found it way too stretchy. I do, however LOVE CXX, which in comparison feels about it is as close to braid as you'd actually want for trebles and vibrating baits. Just enough stretch, just enough stiffness and gobs of strength. It's cheap too... For clear lines it's all I use.

Orochi XX Flatside Special. It is such a joy for jerks and cranks, can't say enough nice things about it. For me it's a combination of all factors. It's light weight, super comfy handle for long twitching sessions, the super sensitive blank and the awesome parabolic action once it hooks up... Not exactly hard on the eyes either

Topwater is a million different things. Some have a very narrow window while others seem to slay 24/7/365, and results vary from person to person, lake to lake, etc... Basically what I'm saying is get out there and fish a ton. Only you can figure that out for yourself with your baits and on your waters. We are just a bunch of idiots on the internet swinging wildly in the dark