Smokinal

Dang! Now you've got me looking at that Tatula CT!

^^^This glide will be my first big swimbait. I throw a lot of 3.8" Keitechs but I just throw those on a 7' MH with the Revo S 6.3; braid to fluoro leader. Probably go straight braid with the glide tho.

I get to buy a new reel this spring and love my Revo S. So I'm looking at the Revo SX which Cabelas has on sale for $120. Any other quality reels I should consider for that money? FWIW I'm not the type to do maintenance so I need a bulletproof reel lol

I get better distance with a spinning rod.

Probably discussed before but when do you use a 7.1? I have around 12 rigs now and all are 6.3/6.4 area reels. Well I've had this 7'2" heavy rod in the rafters for a while now and I just got a 3oz glide bait I thought this rod would be good for. As well as other heavy baits like my BBZ Rat etc... So I need, i mean get, to buy a new reel and I'm torn between sticking with a 6.3 or going up to a 7.1. What else could I use this setup for? Now of course I could always just transfer one of my 6.3 to this rod for my heavy stuff if you all thought that would be better for heavy baits and put a 7.1 on one of my 7' MH rods. But what baits would you throw with that? Basically, when is a 7.1 more advantageous? EDIT: I just grabbed that rod and come to find out it's a 7'6" H Extra Fast. And I have my eye on the Revo SX.

I always get that question in the popup in the upper left corner asking this. After reading about it, I still don't know what it does. Do you allow notifications and what is it for?

I use spinning setups for my jerks with 10 lb Sufix Nanobraid to 10 lb fluoro leader. I have no reason to change a thing.

Whoa! I like that^^ I like that the hook size is a hair larger than the Shroomz. Thank you for sharing

Topwater.....all of my baits would be topwater right now

This is good info. And like he said, once you figure out this early sason bite, it's usually pretty reliable to pattern. And it's different on every body of water. On my home lake, just after ice out, you can walk across them in this huge cove where the main stream comes into the lake. It's mostly 3-5 ft with some pockets that get 9-11 ft deep; that's it, no deep water bite here, no ledges etc...just a big bowl where the water warms faster and bait starts moving up that stream in the spring and the bass follow in herds. And it's the same thing year after year; love it! Oh, and if you aren't already, throw a suspending jerkbait. And try different colors of it. Good luck and keep us posted.

Nope. Those guys are hardcore; they use JJ's on everything.

I watched him in MLF and he seemed like a good guy. You have some good convo with him?

Ya, she came unbuttoned and swam off. Luckily, though, she had scales on her back.... Sorry, thought this thread needed some happy to it!!

Good for you man! The best part about this is that you may have just uncovered a very reliable, early season pattern that can work for you every year. I used to struggle in early, cold water untill we figured out this early season pattern that is just unvelievable. Now, every year just after ice out, we can hammer them on this pattern for about 3 weeks. The bite is crazy and very, very reliable. Log it in the memory banks!

I know the feel bruh. Just last fall I had a 7lb 9oz bass close to the boat when she came unbuttoned.

Is that Jacob Wheeler?!?

^^^Ya it's about 12*F and blowing like a Banshee out there tonight. I checked the live cam on my home lake and it looks like the Arctic Tundra. Realistically we are a good 3-4 weeks out from having soft water again.

Can I get an autographed pic now? That kid is gonna be in the Elites before long. Of course the autograph will have to be in crayon....

^^You'll be better off with the higher lb line; and it floats off just as nice

I go 2 arm lengths as well. I retie when it gets about 4 ft. I don't like to let it go any shorter than that.

It's not so much of a backlash issue but more of a casting issue after the dig-in. When you set the hook, a small diameter line will dig in to the rest of the line, pinching it there. Then, on your next cast, the cast will go as far as the dig-in and stop immediately. I've had my line snap and lure go sailing because of this. And if you're throwing a big dollar bait, that's no fun man.

srs..I'd swim for it.

The point of my question wasn't to correct anyone; it wasn't to prove anyone right or wrong; it wasn't to make fun of those who don't know the difference. It's about learing, and those who come to forums or watch TV to learn a new technique. Tom had a good analogy in throwing a baseball. To someone not into the sport, it looks like the guy is just throwing a ball. To an up and coming pitcher, well that's a whole different story. A 4 seam fastball is performed completely different than a changeup; and they are in no way a similar pitch. A flip is completely different than a pitch. (jmo of course)

I have 20lb Power Pro Super Slick on my baitcasters and 10lb Sufix Nanobraid on my spinning setups. All get a fluoro leader due to rock.

Welcome back Keith!