fishballer06

Shad Raps are the go to whenever we troll for walleye. Catches plenty of bass too.

I can't comment on the Redfield, but if you're in that $200 range, check out the Nikon Pro Staff series. They're the clearest/brightest scope I've found in that price range.

^^^ Same here.

Either method can work. The "Locked Drag" method that you describe can eventually lead to two things - A. broken line. B. Hooks ripped out of the fishes mouth because there is no give. But like you said, having too light of a drag allows a fish to run around more, giving them a chance to wrap you up around wood/rocks/weeds, or for the fish to throw the bait out of their mouth. So both methods have their pluses and minuses. So with experience, you'll learn a happy median and style that suites you best.

The Chronarch MGL is going to a little smaller body and more comfortable to palm all day. Also, because it's a smaller/lighter spool, I would guess that it can handle an 1/8-3/16oz. texas rig better than the larger 200 sized Curado.

I saw the numerous postings by this guy on Facebook. I went as far to even post screenshots of them to the California Department of Fish & Wildlife. Upon looking over their page, about a dozen other guys had also done the same. I really hope they can stop this guy.

Rubber is the only way to go these days. It's less harmful to the fish and it doesn't get hooks tangled in it. Only downside is they're a little heavier.

I'll agree with you that the Shadow Raps have very light (some may say weak) hooks and hardware. The first fish I caught on a Shadow Rap back whenever they were released was a 4lb. 2oz largemouth. The fish had both sets of hooks in him. However, upon inspecting the lure after releasing the fish, I noticed that I had straightened out the front split ring and bent out one of the rear hooks. So this alone is an issue with these baits. However, your setup is a little overkill for jerkbaits. The higher pound test you use, the more your action is killed. I never go over 12lb. test for jerkbaits. So using 14lb. is going to kill the action some and potentially lead to more straightened out hooks. As for a replacement, check out the Gamakatsu TGW Finesse trebel hooks (designed by Aaron Martens). They should make a fine jerkbait hook if you're wanting to keep that bait's slow floating action. Another good option for a lighter wire hook is the Megabass Katsauge hooks. These are the hooks that come on the 110 with the outward barbs. These hooks are also very prone to bending out, but they're great for jerkbait fishing with the proper equipment.

I'd talk around with friends and guys at the boat ramp about who they use and what their opinion is on your said shop. If this seems to be an issue with this shop, I would go pick up my trolling motor whenever it's done, pay the man, and then tell him that you're not happy with his turn around time whenever you were told it would be quicker. That way he knows you're not happy and you can then decide where you go next time you need service.

Did you get an email with the tracking number in it? You can track on the UPS website with that. If not, did you call TackleWarehouse and ask for the actual status of your order? 1-800-300-4916

They look like Magnum Wiggle Wart molds, however those paint jobs are not Storm/Rapala factory.

My Photobucket account is over 12 years old, and it's now useless.

A good swim jig fish from yesterday.

Maybe they got enough complaining to stop with their new "policy". I know I sent them a nasty (but courteous) message about it and I got a generic computer generated response from them. I have since switch to Imgur for my image hosting.

While they are very sticky sharp, be careful using these hooks. They bend out/break very easily as well. I suggest lighter line and a looser drag than normal.

I was just looking at the specs. A 115mm handle?! Good Lord!

WHY ARE WE YELLING??? The original... Bill Lewis.

I can't say I've ever taken a photo of a backlash... But I had a doozy fishing on the 4th. I was throwing a squarebill around some fallen trees in the water. I made a cast parallel to a tree and my lure landed directly on top of the wood and of course those Owner Stinger hooks stuck to the wood. I started popping my rod trying to get those hooks to pop off. While doing this, I accidentally hit the clutch release on the reel and my reel just blew up... I had to cut it out and respool.

A Rapala countdown can be a good bait. For fish like that, I really like yo-yo'ing a fish head spin with a small Keitech.

The Curado 300 series are a pretty wide spool. Step up to a Calcutta 400 series if you're willing to use a round reel.

That giggle. I love it. Congratulations on not only the nice fish, but having a fishing buddy for the rest of your life.

Try it with the 2/0's. If they don't foul up together, you're good to go. It's always best to use the biggest hooks you can get away with on crankbaits.

The Okuma TCS Mat Daddy is a great option. Another solid option (and my personal choice) is the Dobyns Sierra 735c. It's an excellent rod for punching, frogging, and heavy swim jigs. It's right at the upper spectrum of your price range, but with the various 4th of July sales that many online stores are having right now, you can get one for well under $150 shipped.

When the sun gets high and the water temperatures get warm in the summer, catching fish during the middle of the day can be tough. The first thing I would try to do to get rid of your "skunk" would be to hit the water early or late in the day. My most productive times to catch fish this time of year is between 5:30 AM and 8 AM, and in the evening from about 7:30 until 9:30 PM. With that aside, learn to fish a wacky rigged worm like the Senko. If you want to spice it up, put a nail weight on one end and you've got the Neko rig. These are very effective fish catching presentations when the fishing gets tough. As others have said, a frog. If you don't have heavy enough gear to fish a hollow body frog, I'm betting your standard rod that you're texas rigging with will work for throwing a buzzing toad. Check out the Zoom Horny Toad or the BizzBaits Pad Daddy.

Give it 6 months to a year. I'm betting we'll see a 50/70 sized Curado K. The 70 sized I series was a huge seller for Shimano, and smaller reels are the new trend in bass fishing right now.