Ozark_Basser

I can get decent blanks down the road for cheap. I will build a few for my mom, nephew, etc. before I tackle my own project. Just to get a good idea on my strong and weak points. I'm not much into anything too fancy, but I want them to look as good as possible so a few practice rods couldn't hurt.

They call one stream a river and the other a creek. The last half of the Buffalo National River really does seem like a river, but around the area where I live, it's more of a creek if that makes sense. Crooked Creek is actually the better of the two If you ask me. Everything in there is just bigger and more plentiful for some reason. Carp, catfish, minnows, suckers, along with bass are all bigger. It's strange, but I can't complain.

Good point. I tend to target good looking shallow areas adjacent to deeper water first since those are usually the more aggressive fish, and they are easier to catch if they are there to feed. I'm not too sold on the soft bottom idea. The softest bottom I usually target is sand. Although there isn't a lot of areas with soft bottoms where I fish or sand for that matter. I suppose crayfish could use these areas to burrow and come out when the sun warms the area enough. Is that what you are getting at?

It's graphite. To the OP, When it comes to swimbait rods, the lure weight rating is rarely ever completely accurate. In the price range you are looking at, I would go with the Okuma Guide series 7'11" xheavy.

If you are ever in NW Arkansas, take a float trip on Crooked Creek around the Pyatt area. I have caught five 18" in one float before. However, I rarely catch them any longer.

Frog. Skips well. Fun to walk. You can throw it anywhere without getting hung up.

For 1/16-1/8 oz weights? A light action is about all you can use effectively. Just go by the lure weight ratings on the rods. Although these aren't exact, they are a good guideline. A cheaper and lighter rod than the mojo is the tfo signature series. It also has a better warranty. I like mine a lot.

If you are going to throw 1/16 oz and 1/8 oz weights, I'd stick to a spinning outfit unless you wanna drop some serious dough on a good finesse baitcaster. You can still throw those weights with casting gear, but to me it's a pain. It's up to you though.

It really doesn't matter. Try them all.

This is very true. It all depends. However, if you are just wanting to fish sparse cover and some rocks with a Texas rig, I would recommend the following.If you mainly throw 1/4 and 3/8oz t-rigs - 6'6"-7' medium power fast action rod on 10-12# fluorocarbon line 3/8 and 1/2 oz - same just up the power of the rod to medium heavy and jump the line up to 12-15#. Anything heavier or lighter just move up in rod power and # test accordingly. A good cheapish fluorocarbon line is Seaguar red label.

Thank you all for the replies. I found someone down the road that will hook me up for cheap.

I would but our house burnt down and took a lot of my stuff with it.

I plan on it. If I buy a blank from you guys and the handle, can you tell me what size reel seat I will need?

Girly

Get some lipless cranks as well. Yo yo them and rip them out of the grass. Awesome technique.

Bring a variety of soft plastics and look for a real big one on a bed. Learn to pitch.

Molds, but either way would work. It would be cheaper to buy pre-poured jigs and modify them.

Hand rod wrapper 110v drying motor Epoxy for bonding Epoxy for threads and decal Tip top adhesive Reamers Brushes Syringes for epoxy Color fast thread Reel seat with arbor Carbon fiber handle with arbors Guides with tip top Tape Alcohol torch Blank Buttcap (I plan on getting the CRB balanced butt cap. I wonder if it will fit in the back of the .98" carbon handle) One winding check that fits above the reel seat. I'm not a fan of foregrips. Am I missing anything? Any recommendations?

As far as a pattern goes, I think I'm just gonna have to hop in the canoe and hop from one deep pool to the next till I find some stacked up. Got plenty of jigs since I make my own.

Definitely fast. Don't see how kistler could rate them as mod fast unless they get something different.

Where can I get some cheap blanks to practice on? Like bottom of the barrel cheap.

Around here anything 18" or over is considered a big one. I've only caught two over 20" out of the creeks ever. Its far more likely in Crooked Creek to catch a 4 lber than it is out of the Buffalo National River if you ask me. Although both are supposedly Blue Ribbon smallmouth streams.

You are probably right. What are some other blanks that are good in comparison but are cheaper?

I've been looking at the HM 705

I would use a crankbait or something I could cover a lot of water with. If I was fishing around a lot of rock, it would be a crankbait if I were fishing around a lot of grass it would probably be a swimjig. Color etc. just depends on water conditions etc. You would have to be more specific.