MontclairDave

If you wear green eyeliner, the green in the reel pops nicely in photos—but only after you dial in your camera settings.

Yup, it depends on technique. I’ve been focused on skipping and target casting under docks and overhangs, hence my going with a sub 7 footer. Thanks!

Just curious what benefits you get from using the longer rod for moving/bladed baits? How long of a rod? Thanks!

Anyone have the Zodias 6’ 10” MH? Looking for another sub-7’ baitcaster for the yak, mostly for single-hook presentations (swim jig, chatterbait, T rigs, spinnerbaits) and light/open-water frogging. Shimano pros seem to think this is the perfect rod for what I am looking for (see vid below). If anyone who has this rod can comment on above uses, and/or what you like it for, that’d be great! About to hit the buy button on TW BF sale but wanted to get sone feedback first. Thanks!!! https://youtu.be/EGXbFJsSRTQ

Thanks! Sounds like it can work with a leader then. I’ve been practicing the Alberto knot and it’s a bit smaller than uni. Blood knot next on my list (TW guys swear by it).

Nice fish! Does the rod have micro guides? I may use this with a leader occasionally and microguides and leaders do not play well together, at least in my experience (no, I don’t have the patience to learn FG knot, use uni to uni, which isn’t the smallest knot out there, I know.)

Looks pretty good. Didn’t know whether the 1/8” the video mentions was inner or outer diameter but looks like outer. Will give it a shot!

Watch the video. I think the shape of the tube catches on tbe hook barb in such a way that it prevents the worm from flying off. I still can’t find the right tubing on Amazon. If someone has a link, send it pls!

From the man himself, who, by the way, is by far the best Youtuber at answering comments and questions posted on his site. One of my favorite tubers (see what I did there).

Well, that looks easy! I see a trip to the dollar store in my future… Thanks!

Matt Stefan has an interesting video on how to wacky-rig a Senko by putting a hollow tube through its center and then placing the hook through the tube. Two advantages: it gives you the preferred perpendicular hook placement, similar to using shrink wrap or double crossed O rings, which often yields better hookup ratio; and it makes the Senko last a lot longer than would a naked hook. I’m willing to try anything so I bought the tubing size Matt recommends (1/8”) but the wrong material: silicone. Way too soft to penetrate the bait. Anyone try this and have a source for the right tubing size and material? Yeah I can try coffee straws etc. And the shrink wrap method works pretty well for me. But if someone’s figured this tubing thing out, lemme know. Thanks!

Double header on Jackall Rerange. Tough bite today, this was about it other than a few dinks in 3 hours of shore fishing.

Big Falcon fan, have their HD MF, around 6’ 9”, killer budget rod for $70. Will definitely check the Eye Crosser out. Have you also thrown hollow-bodied frogs on it in any type of cover?

Anyone have this rod and can comment on what you like throwing on it? I fish out of a kayak and am looking for a rod under 7’ for skipping 3/8 to 1/2 ounce jigs. But I’d like to use it for other single hook lures like chatterbaits and spinnerbaits. Alex at ALX said this rod blank is the same one as the Toadface, which I find really interesting because I also want to throw frogs and toads with the Skipper. (Toadface is 7’ 2” and a bit long for my liking out of the yak.)

Sorry, my old eyes I guess. I’m not seeing what @Jaderoserecommended re hooks? Although I assume you’re referring to these? What size hook/weight? https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/VMC_Drop_Dead_Weighted_Hook_4pk/descpage-VDDWH.html

This one? https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Owner_Weighted_Twistlock_CPS_Hook_3pk/descpage-OTLW.html Glen vid recommends this one: keel weight is farther down the hook. I have a lot of these for swimbaits. Guess I gotta try em on toads: https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Gamakatsu_Weighted_Superline_Spring_Lock_Hook_4pk/descpage-GSSL.html

Interesting. I like the idea of keeling the hook with lead wire. But I can’t tell what kind of hook he’s describing. He puts Owner screw lock pin on it, but says Zoom makes the hook?? Can’t find it on Zoom website or TW.

That’s exactly where they were: buried in grass in a lake I had never fished before and was much shallower—and very little fall grass die-off—than I had anticipated. I can tell you that M rod was also not doing me any favors trying to stroke a 1/2-oz jig through that stuff.

So I only hooked up with about 50% of fish yesterday using a variety of toads of about the same size on a 4/0 Owner screw-lock hook (unweighted). I was doing the recommended wait of about a second, reeling down and setting the hook. Sometimes the fish just missed it but several times I could feel some hook penetration but they came off. Using a Falcon HD Medium casting rod rated to 3/4 oz. Question: was my meh hookup ratio more likely the rod being a bit underpowered, or something about my technique? Seems like MH rods are usually recommended for toad fishing, but the M is what I had in the yak. Today gonna try an Owner Beast Hook 4/0 but not liking the huge gap when I just rigged a Rage Toad. Also will try my previous hook—Gamy 4/0 EWG superline—as soon as I restock. They worked a bit better than the Owner screw lock in terms of hookup but definitely slid down the hook more, which can be a PITA.

Jersey bassin has been good for me this fall. 2 6 pounders in one week, crazy. One of em definitely my PB. This one hit a pearl Zoom Fluke Jr. on a 3/0 EWG hook (no weight). That smaller fluke really needs to be on light line to get any casting distance. I used 12 lb braid, worked like a charm.

Congrats! Jigs are big bass magnets for sure! Keep at it and you’ll have a new PB in no time!

I’ve got one in Mass near where my brother and parents live. Nobody ever on it because it is very shallow and almost completely covered by lilly pads. But if you kayak across the lake and around a bend, you get to the dam and a long section of riprap and drop-off into deeper water. Loads of quality fish there. All a reaction bite: swim jigs, chatterbaits, jerkbaits, paddle tails, etc. Next step is to get better with my frog and work those lilly pads. Gotta be some biguns in there. Bonus: when I get lazy and don’t want to deal with kayak put-in and paddle, there’s a hiking trail to that dam, with a raised grassy berm running its length. In spring, it’s a perfect spot to cast from. Summertime and the weeds get head-high and it’s a lot tougher to bank fish.

Last 10 days I’ve caught 2 6 lbrs in lakes less than an hour drive from me. Bigger than any bass I ever caught in all the years I have been dragging my arse up to the Adirondacks. Ya never know where the next pig will be!