jimmyjoe

Spoons are my favorite lure type. If you choose the right thickness, you can play them like crankbaits; deep or more shallow, although speed of retrieve is limited to slow and slower. jj

Chartreuse or chrome, depending on what the fish tell me. ? jj

I always believed in the SDJ knot, until I started to use fluoro. It broke at the knot. Now I use the triple loop (also called triple loop improved clinch) for fluoro and have no more problems. The problem with fluoro is radius of bend. The larger the diameter of the line, the more injurious to the integrity of the line to bend it tightly. I won't use 20+ lb test fluoro until I solve that problem. jj

Yeah ..... I noticed that with my old ones, too. That's just the way life goes in the soft plastic camp. jj

Hey @dodgeguy! How is that Lew's Custom Lite SLP doin' for you? That's the real light one with the Tanso frame. I'd love to hear your opinion. jj

I need advice on a boot-tail swimbait that has good tail action at slow speeds. The boot-tails I have now just die at slow speeds. I use 12 lb. InvizX and 1/16 weighted hooks. Thanks for the suggestions. ? jj

I'm a bank fisherman. I fish rivers and lakes but very few ponds, and very rarely. I have found the ponds to be less predictable in the daytime than the lakes and rivers. The smaller body of water heats up more, and I think that stresses the bass more during the daylight hours. If I absolutely have to fish ponds in daylight, I use a slip bobber-and-jig setup. I have found night-time fishing on ponds to be the ticket. jj P.S. - just to clarify: I do NOT like to fish at night. Poor vision, falling down, 'skeeters the size of Volkswagens ....... I think you get the picture. But the fish don't care. They "bite at nite".

The magic of kids is that they don't know that they can't do something, so they just go ahead and do it anyway. jj

O ya! That's why most of my retrieves are irregular and erratic. A few years ago, a friend was fishing a texposed Senko. He got a hit and fought the fish to within about 10 feet ....... and then the fish let go and departed for parts unknown. The hook in the Senko was unchanged. The bass had been pulling on the line with a "chomp" so powerful that the hookset of my friend did nothing. I had the same thing happen with some lures ..... including a Bomber A5. Hooks in plastic I might be able to understand, but exposed hooks on a crank? Huh? Really? How do they do that? How do they avoid getting hooked? But sometimes they do. And the lighter the line, the more it happens. I guess that's why we're called "fishermen" and not "catchermen". ? jj

You brought up something that has irked me no end when I use light lures. THE BASS ENGULF THE WHOLE LURE! Light line doesn't bother me; I've caught many pike on 4 lb. mono. But sometimes a larger bass hits a small lure and I can't set the hook. I've had fish fight and fight, and then spit out the lure. They clamped down on it tight, then let go. Does this happen to you? What do you do about it? I have to admit that it happens less with spoons. Unpopular opinion here, but true nonetheless. Thanks. jj

I've got a Daiwa SMD702ULFD that I use occasionally. It just occurred to me that I have 2 reasons for that rod. One is that when it comes to very light lures, I probably throw spinners more than anything, and I twitch light spoons next in line. Why? Because both types of lures catch fish, that's why! Second reason is that in-line spinners twist light line, even more than heavier line. Twitching spoons can do the same thing, sometimes more so. So I counter that by using fluorocarbon line; it resists axial twist more than nylon. But I HATE using fluorocarbon on spinning reels. So a BFS casting reel is perfect! I should note what I hope is obvious: I don't use these small lures if larger lures catch fish better. I use light-lure systems of any kind only as a last resort. jj

Ya gotta watch that Canadian stuff there, ya. Five years ago I saw a grizzly in the Yukon, running like all get-out. He was being chased by a mosquito. Our guide said that if there had been two mosquitos, the grizzly wouldn't have had a chance. I have vacationed in Arizona ever since. ? ? ? jj

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Daiwa_BG_Spinning_Reels/descpage-DBG.html?from=BASRES

The biggest issue on any lure that runs deep is line deflection. If you cast out and let your lure sink, the line sits on top of the water (even fluorocarbon). As soon as you start your retrieve, the point where the line enters the water rapidly moves towards you. Eventually, it'll quit that, and that's the point at which your fishing line forms a straight line to your lure. Up until that time, your line is effectively deflected by the resistance of the water. So your hookset is cushioned by line that isn't straight, but which forms an angle. That's a lot more important and has a much greater effect on your hookset than line stretch. There are four different solutions to the problem, and not one of them is perfect. You can 1) use lower diameter line, or 2) use fluorocarbon that sinks well (not all does) or 3) use low-diameter braided line. The fourth and last one is a little different; YGK makes several braided lines that are actually treated to sink. I've never used them, myself. All things considered, I think that the line slack (deflection) might be your problem. Check it out visually if you can. And ............. GOOD LUCK! ? jj

Wait for @dodgeguy. He's our resident Patriot expert. jj

Looks like it would be just about ideal for you, then. ? jj

I have the 7'-06" model, H/F. I use it with Big Game for spinnerbaits and spoons. My retailer didn't have the 6'-09" model in stock, but the design characteristics are probably the same. I consider this series to be good MH/F, not H/F. I say that due to the rod flex when I cast 1 oz. lures and the tip flex when I set the hook on spinnerbaits and Magnum Super Flukes. Personally, I would not try to cast an ounce-and-a-half lure with it, but YMMV. Good rod for the price, though. Good luck with it! jj

I just use these. Easy on, easy off. Easy on again. https://stopperlures.com/collections/stop-knots-bobber-stops/products/bobber-stops jj

Try a San Diego Jam knot and watch your incidents of abrasion. It's tender. I used it for 5 years, but I used it in the river. No great danger of abrasion there. Might be what you're looking for ..... or might not. Never know 'til you try. jj

Would you consider Nanofil? jj

At my age, there are some mornings when I could use that! ? ? jj

Just bought a Daiwa Fuego. Am impressed for $80. jj

St. Croix has a 6' M/F in both spinning and casting. Both could be used for skipping. Which one are you discussing here? jj

Correct. It seems when fish hit the Dardevle, which is a fat wobbler, they don't hit the Cop-E-Cat, which is a slim dancer. And vice-versa. I think the greatest curse on any man would be to understand both fish and women. It would drive you crazy. ? ? ? jj

Oooooh! Ford 861? jj