Master Bait'r

I operate on 3 setups and they're all different powers and actions. No doubt that people can do a lot with just one but I like to spread it around. My light plastics & jig rod is a Loomis NRX 852c (XF) w/ a Curado 51e (w/ abec 7s)and 10# SX1. Absolute beast when it comes to light baits. My moving baits rod is a Dobyns 705cb glass (F) w/ a Lew's SS1HL and 12# CXX. Just got it and can't wait to try it. My frogs, punching and swimbait rod is a 13 *** 7'2" HXF w/ a Lew's BB1 Pro & 50# FX2. Works great for those smaller-mid size swimbaits with a flouro leader. I'd probably say the HXF is the most versatile though. "It's all in the tips" as they say . The big deal so to speak isn't necessarily just to have specific combos, but also to have 3 looks ready to go at any point. The sheer amount of fish I've caught has jumped drastically since I started adding to the quiver. If a fish misses your topwater and you go back 3 seconds later with a light finesse worm you can stall there and work, your chances of landing that fish are much higher than with the same look or approach.

Wow. I'd really need a full keyboard and at least an hour or so to think that out.

X2!!! I want to know!

To put it nicely, I've had some pretty interesting... Uh... city folk ask lots of silly questions about my gear. I think some of them assume anyone with more than 2 poles is automatically a famous pro. Also it can be kind of disconcerting to have a small crowd approach you as you're taking the kayak out of the water... Thankfully so far it's just been curiosity though.

I can't. I just can't.

So when are they withdrawing the DQ and throwing out the Poly? I'd say they open themselves to litigation just by employing one and enforcing it's readings as FACT when they are known to give false positives regularly- on top of the men in question having been cleared from all wrongdoing. Something smells fishy.

I really wish I could have sent you more stuff, man. In any case I tried to mix it up with a little of everything and I hope they bring you the very best of luck!! Happy holidays!

Wow. Nice grab!

Cranks Spinnerbaits Jerkbaits Certain topwaters Smaller wakebaits Small chatters and buzzbaits Small swimbaits

I also really like FX2. It has no coatings to wear off either so the line stays more consistent over its life. I have 10# SX1 for my finesse combo and I love that too. 50lb FX2 on the frog rod has never let me down though. It's not as limp and ropey as PP but I like it better personally. There is no right answer though, and everybody is different so OP should research and try stuff.

I'm just stoked that the next box of baits that shows up at my door will be exactly 0% my fault and thus will be completely guilt free.

Having been a bank beater for a long time, and having fished while standing in the river more often than not before my kayak I highly recommend a sling-style pack if you can deal with that style of carry. You can flip it around and get at anything in the bag without actually taking it off or dumping all your stuff out I find it very intuitive and easy to use and I really enjoy not having to put it down at all. I believe DSG has the Mossy Oak one I've been lusting for- Looks like it's got it all unless you're trying to bring 40lbs of tackle or something.

Wiggle Warts. Who knew?!?? Some aren't even inexpensive anymore! It never ceases to amaze me that when something stands out and just flat out works, the public will adjust the demand and price accordingly. Also, this silly little SnagProof leech I have. I pulled the tiny frog style hook they put in it for a bigger sharper one and all of a sudden this ridiculous looking cheapo bait crushes 'em left and right. Oh, and Lunker City plastics. They last FOREVER (probably the most durable plastic I'm aware of) and they give you a lot per package. Their Slug-Go SS is probably my favorite sexy finesse T-rig worm and they take a BEATING even with the fine whip tail. Really nice guys too.

Seriously. People need to know that China's consumer industry excels at one thing: Ripping off other countries' hard work due to a dearth of copyright law and enforcement and making a vastly inferior copy of it for super cheap. Go check out their knockoff BMWs that make Daewoos look solid, ripoff brand name clothing that is never anything like the picture and shiny-looking facades of literally any proven product that are held together with bubblegum on the inside if you want a good laugh. It blows my mind how much effort the Chinese just put into making knockoffs of stuff. If they put half as much effort into R&D, Quality Assurance and actual innovation they'd probably be doing much better! China is a farce. There is no QA or QC over there and it shows in literally just about every non-controlled industry. I'd buy an absolute bottom-of-the-barrel name brand reel before I'd spend the same money on a Chinese 60 bearing maglev spool reel or something stupid that will never hold up. That's their MO all the way- over promise and under deliver start to finish. If you ordered it at all they've already got you and they've made their money. Kind of funny to me that Japan- world leader in quality in just about every manufacturing method- can be so physically and culturally close to China, which is literally just a sketchy penny trap that squeaks by on misleading consumers and slave labor profit margins.

Sonofa...

Oh man... Don't get me started!

Hahaha this is my life. Someday, zillion... Someday.

I would believe that. I've definitely caught the same fish multiple times on a worm. Also my go-to is stealthily finesse fishing with small worms or pit bosses, etc. so that could be partially attributed to sheer usage.

Uptons are quite good as well.

This site has a ton of things like that. You can't write "liberaI" either haha (had to use an "i"!) I would love to see the whole list of presto-change-o phrases for sure.

I believe I have a Silver Cert $2 bill. I'm going to have to check when I get home. I have a friend who has a full, uncut sheet of newer $2 bills.

Oh, I would never assume to know what is "best" for everyone, and I think technology is changing fast enough that even the most seasoned would be well suited to keep paying attention and trying new things. Each user, location, setup and method will result in a different "favorite" and no one of those people are wrong either! My comment was just to say basically for the guys who have really nice combos but find it hard to spend the extra $15 or whatever on the line they really like the best... IMO the line is the great decider, and the last place I'd want to skimp. It's all personal. If you like Hybrid, CXX, etc. then by all means buy them as they are fantastic lines and I don't think they're "inferior" at all fwiw. I certainly didn't mean to besmirch them in any way by encouraging people to spend on line and in fact include lines like that- Heck, I'm about to pick up a spool of CXX myself. Lots of people would consider even CXX or Hybrid splurging too, but if you like Tatsu the best and have invested in a killer combo... Just do it I say! Life is too short to not be using the gear you really want to. That's all I was getting at, not "The more you spend the better it is and anything that isn't $50 a spool is crap line" at all.

I don't get the guys that spend several hundred setting up a combo but won't pony up for the best line they can find... It's like buying a lambo and putting $50 a corner tires on it to save money lol Unless you're spooling like 10 combos I don't understand the obsession with saving a few dollars on line of all things. Heck, spend a million bucks on a combo and the line is STILL the only thing that keeps the bait- and the fish- on it.

It's a little rich for my blood too tbh haha... Moderation helps though. I have a small kit so I like to keep it all favorites and I pretty much buy 1 at a time. Stuff like that is more like collecting art than tackle IMO, and I really appreciate the details. Ok, I might have a bit of a Megabass problem... But let he who is without sin cast the first crank!

Frogs