Drew03cmc

I'd love winter if it stayed above 40...

What are your goals for the winter and how do you plan to set about attaining them? I have three. 1. Learn to walk a bait with a casting rod consistently. 2. Acquire more of the baits I like and prefer to use...ie:Zip'n Ziggy, Fakie Dog, etc. 3. Read 6 new books about river and creek fishing for bass of all species, but primarily smallies.

Yeah, just have a hard time casting with one hand anymore. A decent 6' rod is the same effective (reel to tip) length and has the added 3" on the handle for the other hand.

You're not wrong. I just look for something a bit beefier for MH. Granted, these rods, if the handle were longer, are great creek rods, I can't get over the short grip. That's just me again.

Those rods aren't a true MH. They feel more M to me and the handle could stand to be another 3" longer, but that's my preference.

A lot of good suggestions so far guys, keep them coming. I'm keeping a running tally.

Man, find a creek, go wading. Fish anything that looks good and you'll quickly realize where they're at. Look closer and you'll realize why they're there. For example, the water in the top picture is really skinny and shallow, mostly sub-1'. Halfway up the pic, there is a rock in water that current scoured out an 18" deep hole behind it. The second pic is a 30 yard long hole that ranges from 1 foot deep to 6 or so against the far bank. There are three boulders in the water against the bank as well as a tree. This hole always produces numbers as well as size. The bottom picture is typical creek habitat my son is fishing, shallow weeds, less than 2 feet deep running along a very shallow run of about 6". The reason I suggest a creek is to learn what the fish relate to and how. They hold on the same stuff in a big river, but to a larger degree. Also, creekin' is an absolute blast!

I've used 6'6 from my yak on Ozarks rivers and I prefer 6'3" or so. Here is a killer stick at a good price. FFO Tackle has a 6'4" M Berkley E-Motion for $37.

Ok, allow me to preface this by saying I am not interested in a Shimano as this is on my creek wading rod. I am looking for a $50-100 spinning reel to go on my St. Croix Eyecon 6'3" MXF with 15/4 PP S8S. My old reel was a Lew's SG300 that was $50 new. I used it for 8 years. I just got a Lew's Mach MS200 for the Eyecon, same price point, but the handle is plastic and the reel is a little geary under load. If I could stick with Lew's, that would be awesome, but if not, let me know guys.

Does anyone know the difference? I have one SS and 3 QW and am not sure what the real difference is. Pic is of 2 QW.

Bass Pro and Academy stock CX. That is my preferred clear water copoly. Hybrid is great, but use the diameters, not the test rating. 10lb is more like 16. I use it on my spinnerbait, chatterbait rods. For my favorite fishing, give me braid to a copolymer leader, normally 8lb Hybrid on 15/4 PP.

Honestly, I don't see a value in a $250 cooler. To me, it is a waste of money that could go to another trip, a new rod, reel, things for the kids or whatever have you. Yeti, to me, is one of the biggest rip offs of our time. If I were to get that type of cooler, Ozark Trail for me.

With enough skill, anyone can skip a bait. Honestly, I skip my 3/8 Dark Sleepers, weedless Keitech 3.8 on an 1/8 oz swimbait hook, stuff like that. I can use my Ardent, Kastking, Piscifuns, Haibo, etc.

Man, if it catches bass, I'm in. Swimbaits are too time intensive for so few bites. Give me a walking bait on a smallie creek.

Sammy 65. We have a winner. Thanks everyone!!! Now to find a rod for them.

Jim, I really don't know. I'm assuming so, but I can't confirm. The only close bait I've seen is one of the 85mm Daiwa Skaters, but these are over a half inch smaller and a gram lighter. These things will slay in my little KC area creeks for bass and sunnies. You know, the Sammy comment has me intrigued. I'm going to look that up.

If you've ever fished a walking bait while wade fishing, a short rod is almost a necessity. Also, there are those of us who fish walking baits with a spinning rod exclusively.

I have no idea. I'm really asking for my knowledge really.

@JediAmoeba, not quite. Those are 98mm, these aren't 70mm. By my scale, they weigh 7g with #8 ST36. These baits are tiny, perfect for a L powered creek rod with light line. I should add, I was told they were Daiwa. It could be anything. They're cool little guys.

I just got these 2 Daiwa walking baits and I'm not sure what model they are. They're like 2.75" long, 1/4oz. I put #8 ST-36 on the back and a 6 on the belly.

The Cultiva Zip'n Ziggy came stock with a #8 ST-31 and a #6 ST-31. I put #6 ST-36 on both hangers. It's a 3.25" 1/3oz bait. It seems like it'll work out well with the 36s.

Man, I can skip with every casting reel I own. Just practice.

Guys, I believe the rear hook is an 8 ST31 and the belly is a 6 ST31. I hate the tipped in points. They don't hook fish that swipe at a bait all that well. This is also my feeling on the ST41. I'll check out some ST36 in a bit and see if they're a size match for these.

Guys, I drove to a northern Ozark stream in search of smallies and was not disappointed. I waded 1.5 miles up and back dowmstream and my body is a little achy today. To say the fiah cooperated was an understatement. I caught over 60 fish, 35 or so smallies, 18 or so largemouth and the rest sunfish of some persuasion. I lost the 2 biggest smallmouth and biggest largemouth due to my own error. I used one bait all day.

I've heard the G Finesse trebles in a 6 are ideal, I'm just wondering what else would work. The KVD angle bothers me on a walking bait.