the reel ess

I can still smell the grape.

I remember these for sale in my grandfather's general store. He also had boots, hardware, pistols, ammo, feed and gas. My dad was still making these with two Aberdeen hooks when the Crème worm went away (around here) out of Mann's Jelly worms until the offset shank (Texas rig) worm hook came on the scene. That limited the gut hooks.

Might pass for a swimbait rod or smaller A-rig.

Berkley P'Bait, Zoom, Yamamoto. I've got some others, but I don't use them enough to say I use them. I got several sample packs of Stinky Fingers "Sponge baits". It's one of several lures in each color in each pack. I'll give them a try one of these nice, warm days.

I second this. Weightless is best for me. Carolina, splitshot, wacky, weighted T rig. It does it all. If you start off presenting it a certain way (I usually start weightless like a jerkbait when it's warm) and they don't want it you just need to slow down and adjust with the same bait. If they won't chase, I'll just let it sink and drag it ever so slowly. That will usually get some interest, usually on the fall. Sometimes wacky will get them more into it. And it's just an inherently good bait for Carolina rigs.

Spoonerbait?

They aren't much fun to me. I know their purpose and I've caught a good many on them, but chunking and winding is getting old to me.

Well, being such a T-rig lover, I have to keep one open for that. So that's 2 combos. I have a Med BC combo for trebles and a Med spinning combo for smaller trebles. And one MH spinning combo for single hook presentations, like Trick Worm. That's 5 total. I only have 5 rod holders on the kayak. But I intend to add another flush-mount. I do have one more BC combo, but it's cheap and the idea has been to replace it before it lets me down on a big fish. I think the composite reel frame is getting warped.

I bought black/blue flake because that's my best craw color. I buy other craw colors, but rarely use anything other than black/blue.

Looks like I can rig 'em any way I want. LOL

Exactly. I carry five rods and would carry more if there were more rod holders on my kayak (and there will be, crate included) but he has one rod, one lure. Simple. And rarely does he get skunked. I even have to rig it for him and retie. LOL! I'm convinced he's on to something by keeping it weightless because it forces you to slow way down to keep it in the strike zone and the lack of weight makes it extremely finesse. There is not a more finesse presentation than weightless. As for the hardware (swivel) I think that bothers us a lot more than it does the fish. I tie braid directly to the bait-no leader.

I love the Carolina Keeper!

Berkley Powerbait Chigger Craw, black/blue fleck. 6.3#. I caught several over 5 on this bait. I caught a couple over 5 on Rat L Trap and Chug 'N Spook, Jr.

I would attack this pond with two main lures: Trick Worm, T-rigged weightless and hollow body frog I use the Trick worm year round in ponds. My buddy, who kayaks with me just to drink beer, ONLY uses this lure. When they won't chase it like a jerkbait, just throw it out and slooooowly work it back. Go as slowly as you can stand to.

My biggest deficiency is with the jig. I use T rigs to avoid it. But I'm all over the jig this year. I have a dedicated combo for it.

I picked up a bag at Cabela's. How do you rig them? Jighead? What style? I am a T-rigging disciple so that's probably my go-to. But if there's an advantage to be had, I'll take it.

nm. Got it!

Easing up on the drag. Using braid, but on a med action spinning combo helps. And I try to buy baits with good hooks on them. Buying baits with cheap hooks to save a buck, only to have to replace them, would negate savings. But I haven't found the bait I normally use that NEEDS new hooks.

I'm replacing my old boat seats but reusing the pedestals. There's a built-in lean to the pedestals. I didn't pay attention to witch way they were on the old seats, which were rotten anyway. Which way should they lean? Forward for pre-tension or rearward for leaning back?

I don't change any hooks. Being the cheapskate that I am, there are other ways to improve my catch ratio. But I love Gamakatsu and VMC in that order.

Do yourself a favor and get one with a solid metal frame. A lot of baitcasters in this price range are essentially the same as the $125 model except without the lightweight components or without one or the other type of braking system. Buy one with a solid metal frame and you should get years of trouble free operation. You can tell the difference by looking at the reel foot.

Pfleuger quality is impressive.

I meant I checked out the T-Wing thingy on the Tatula. I hadn't held one. I wondered how the guide "came apart."

I have that Lightning Rod for Spinning. I use it for smaller treble lures. It's not the most sensitive, but you don't need that for trebles. It has a springy enough tip to not rip out trebles and a good enough backbone to land a big bass. Still flexible enough for crappie in a pinch.

I was in Cabela's today and just had to seek one of these on the Tatula out just to see how it works.