FryDog62

I think it’s close, although I look at line diameter as much as anything. It’s a little thinner than most 8 lb fluorocarbon lines, but I have more confidence in its strength than any 6 lb lines I’ve used.

I use 7 lb Sniper a lot and it is fine for bass unless you fish a lot around weeds, skip docks, etc. Open water it works great.

For weightless Senkos I throw on a baitcaster - 20 lb Sufix 832 and a 10 lb Sniper fluorocarbon leader... sometimes 12 lb if skipping a lot around dock posts, cross braces, etc.

Marabou jigs were a main staple here in the upper Midwest for many decades. My father was a wizard with hair jigs on the Mississippi and tributaries as far back as the 40’s. Guess what, they still work. I primarily throw 1/8 oz black VMC Marabou jigs... will occasionally put a chunk of Heavyweight Powerbait worm on the hook - not only for additional casting weight, but to flare the skirt a bit. Due to several wrist surgeries, I’m a baitcast only guy. I throw hair jigs on a 7’1” MLF Phenix Feather and Tatula Elite baitcasting reel. Chucks it pretty far although not quite as backlash-proof as a spinning reel... but very close. Sometimes hair worked slowly works when absolutely nothing else will...

7:1 ish retrieve is what I use. I use a Tatula SV TW for chatterbaits because I do occasionally skip one. I have switched all other lighter/higher profile lures to Tatula Elite (Spinnerbait, buzz bait, jerk bait, hair jig). I don't skip those lures and the elite launches them farther/better than anything I've ever used. You either get far more distance - or you can cast easier, get the same distance as the SV TW, and prevent your tennis elbow from returning Truly a rocket-launcher...

Curado 70 7.2:1. Most palmable reel I’ve ever had and I have Steez, Alphas, etc.

734c Champ is my dedicated swim jig rod... typically 3/8 oz and it excels with this. Have also used it as a spinnerbait rod and thought it was very good for that too.

I was able to visit Denver again, although briefly, to move my daughter from one apt to another. Was able to shore fish 2 mornings on some local ponds. Sloans had a major fish kill due to low oxygen levels so I didn’t go there. And my understanding if you are targeting largemouth, there are few there anyway. So I went to Lowell Ponds, Berkeley Lake and Rocky Mountain Lake. Neds, Senkos, jigs... not a sniff. A fair amount of other fishermen all using live bait under bobbers. I think in a total of about 10 hours, I saw one fish caught that looked about like an 8 inch largemouth.

I don’t think moving lures for largemouth need a leader, braid is fine in most cases. However I have been out-fished in scenarios with live bait or slower moving finesse lures especially for smallmouth or walleyes. They are more visual feeders and I use leaders or fish straight co-poly/fluoro then.

It will vary by every homeowner. Those on big lakes with lots of tournaments don’t even notice you’re there most of the time. Smaller, quiet lakes could bring more ire. It varies by individual too. Some people really don’t want you around their dock/equipment at all, others know it comes with the territory and as long as you don’t damage anything they really don’t mind. My parents had a cabin on a quieter 900 acre lake in Wisconsin for 25+ years. If someone was skipping our dock my dad would almost take it as a compliment that someone thought enough of his lake front to fish it. My mom on the other hand would have squawked and yelled something to the effect of “move on!” I was a middle child and I guess I always try to compromise, hence I usually throw weightless plastics that don’t damage or draw attention. If I get hung up I always retrieve. If someone gets ticked I just try to be respectful, wave and move on. One last thought, don’t go dock skipping mid day on a weekend. Mid week most people aren’t around to care if you’re there ?

Looking thru the comments above, I think skipping provides a lot of opportunity to expand fish-catching and there are 2 general schools of thought in technique. One is the side-arming, skipping a stone method and the other is more of a stand up method with roll cast. As mentioned above, key is the lift at the end. Personally I gravitated more to the roll cast method as this kept the tip moving up and the lure in the right direction best for me. Especially when using a baitcaster. Swindle has some YouTubes about this method and specifically not crouching like a baseball player and side-arming it. Gotta pick what works best for you but it takes practice and time on the water. I started out skipping 3/8 oz jigs and klang’d off a few docks or worse yet pontoons over the years. Never really had a homeowner get mad but close. I have gradually switched over to skipping weightless Senkos either T-rig or wacky style. So now if I hit the uprights it’s more of a thud since there isn’t any lead to ring the gong so to speak... I also feel that I’m catching more fish now. That subtle, slow sinking worm in the strike zone seems to get more bites vs. the fast-reaction jig that is a quick hit or miss. YRMV

Good post. Credit to Rusty_Shackleford got me on a new worm that I have used recently as both shaky head and T-Rig. Caught a 20.5 incher on second cast. Airtail Rattler https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/GrandeBass_Airtail_Rattler_Stickbaits_8pk/descpage-GBAIRRA.html

I use the Strike King Skipping Jig, or any jig that is intended for skipping - but also has the screw lock for the trailer (otherwise it gets tedious always pushing the tailer back up, super gluing, etc.). I tend to use 3/8 oz most often and the two trailers I prefer are either a Rage Bug, or my new favorite the 4 inch Biwaa Armored Craw - the thing doesn't even bounce, it goes straight across the surface like a water skier.

This... Tatula SV if doing anything involve lighter finesse, shorter/medium distances and obviously it excels for skipping. I have both reels (and that rod) and the only knock on the Tatula is that it doesn't hold a lot of line. So for instance you are using heavier line (i.e 17 lb fluoro) to chuck chatterbaits long distances, you can run out of line after a few break-offs. The SV spool is great but does not have a lot of line capacity.

Lol, I wrap it 5 to 7 times depending on how the fish are schooling...

I had been using the Grigsby knot and it is strong... however, the 3 tags all stick forward like prongs and I found they tend to catch moss and weeds a lot. I started tying the Double Shindo knot recently and it is tied almost exactly the same as the Grigsby knot except at the end you go through the loop at the bottom next to the hook eye instead of the loop at the top. The result is that 2 of the 3 tags face backwards and don’t catch debris. So far, so good and either one is strongest knot I’ve ever tied.

Our fish in Minnesota aren't as big as that worm!! lol

Thx looks very good?

Thank you, I’ve heard good things about your dredge jig. What size hook is that?

I also put two of the mice repelling “buzzers” in my boat all year long. Doesn’t keep mice out of my garage entirely, but more importantly it does seem to keep them out of my boat. I’m sure they can smell my scented Biwaa plastics and Maxscent stuff but no evidence they’ve ever gotten into my lockers or storage bins.

My boat is stored inside an unheated garage all winter and I leave everything - rods, reels, lures, plastics, etc locked in the boat and have never had a problem. We get below zero frequently...

Excellent info - thx much! How does this head come through grass? It looks a little “complicated” and could catch vegetation easier, but maybe not??

I went thru this transition 3 years ago. I also went thru 3 different rods I thought would be the best froggin’ rod. Some were quite expensive. After much trial and error, I ended up with an ALX Toadface. Heavy butt section and a MHF tip. It could cast far, walk the dog, yet had the heavy butt section when you lock up in the slop. Game over...

C-Rig might work unless there is too much silt then probably drop-shot/Bubba-shot long enough to be above the puff..

I see Megastruke makes an EWG too, but doesn’t say hook size. It has a screw-lock which can be good or bad. I look forward to using them but open to other suggestions too...