Mad Scientist

On a side note regarding the Shadow Rap - is cracking still an issue? I remember some discussion and a video about them cracking fairly easily. Was this ever really a problem, and if so does it remain as such?

Every time I check my local WalMart I am disappointed. They have a sparse stock of tackle to begin with, and the clearance prices aren't much less than regular. I've pretty much given up on that place.

A while back TW had a sale on Xcite Baits Reflex football jigs, and I grabbed a bunch. They were advertised with two keepers, and they have a "standard" molded-in keeper and a bent wire one. However, instead of the wire one facing out like like a barb, the bent point faces in towards the shank of the hook. I've attached a quick sketch, because I don't have one in front of me. Now this may be a silly question, but how am I supposed to use that one? If I try and slide the bait over it so it snugs against the molded keeper, the wire one cuts the trailer as it goes on. Do I pull the wire one away from the shank as I thread the trailer on, and let it "clip" it from the outside? If so, i still can't slide it up way. What is the point of the other keeper if I can't slide the trailer up to it anyway? I hope that makes sense, and thanks.

I know exactly where you are coming from. I was in the same boat - I was snatching up all sorts of tackle just because it was on sale just to build up my arsenal, and now I have a bunch of stuff that I'll likely never use. But don't sell it. Unless you're in debit over it and you need the cash to make ends meet, don't do it. The money is already spent, and you'll never recoup that investment. If you want to start over, do it. But just pack that old stuff away, and sit on it for a while. You might be surprised how much you end up using in the end. And if after a season or two you still find yourself wanting to get rid of it, THEN start selling it off. That's my opinion, anyway.

Think of it as a oil-slick style holographic foil.

I hate using sunscreen, so I wear Columbia PFG hoodies. They are a little pricey, but you can find them on sale from time-to-time for $30 or so. The non-hooded ones can be had for even less, but I prefer the hood. That with a baseball cap and a UV Buff, and I'm pretty well covered (no pun intended).

I appreciate to feedback, but I guess I was more concerned with whether or not mods are necessary at all when fishing from the bank. For instance, say I'm fishing a riverbank with lots of snags and heavy current. Would a crank even be the best choice, or would a jig be a better option? Or a small pond - am I really going to be able to take advantage of that diving depth from the bank anyway?

I consider "mod" (or "mid") depth cranks to be in the 8-12' range. As for depth and structure, that can vary. This bag is built for versatility.

I'm putting together my "Swiss army knife" bag - a little bit of everything I might need for any situation. I don't get a lot of opportunities to fish these days, so I gotta' be prepared to go wherever, whenever. That being said, I'm keeping it fairly minimal since I will be bank fishing 99% of the time. Sometimes river, sometimes small pond, but always from the bank. My question is this - are mod-depth cranks really necessary for bank fishing? I have several in the box right now, but I'm wondering if their slots would be better used for more squarebills or bladed jigs. My concern is I don't have a lot of open water where I'll be able to get a crank down to 10ft or so without getting hung up constantly. Thoughts? Thanks.

There are a lot of similar baits in a few different "categories". Do you need every version? No. But it can be helpful to have a few baits that do different things. I try to break it down to three different types of action, and pick a bait that represents each category: "Flapping" - This would be a more compact creature bait that relies more on action from twitches and hops. My choice here is the Gambler Ugly Otter. "Kicking" - This kind of creature bait has an aggressive action as it falls. A Rage Bug or Speed Craw would be a couple examples. "Swimming" - This would be a more subtle but still active motion, usually from the addition of curly tails. The Brush Hog would probably be the most widely used example here. So those are the three "styles" that I look for. But the fun thing is trying different baits, and seeing what works for you (and the fish!)

I'm actually trying to thin out my collection. There was a moment before I really knew what I needed when I was just snatching up anything I saw on sale. But now I have a much more focused approach to my tackle stash, so I'm able to eliminate much of the stuff I don't really need. I do, however, still like to have backups of the stuff I use. But I try to limit that to a reasonable amount, too. So any soft plastic, jig, crank or other lure in my bag has 2-5 backups in the basement. I guess that would amount to "dozens" of unopened items. I don't think I've reached the "hundreds" level... yet.

For $14 I'd rather buy five or six Cabela's or Bass Pro lures that I know will be halfway decent than 30 that are probably garbage.

That about covers it for me. Maybe bluegill flash, too.

Just got plates and tabs put on a new car today, and now comes the fun part of making it "mine". That of course means throwing all my work stuff in the back, but also some "emergency" fishing gear. I've got a medium spinning rod and a small three-tray box with an assortment of lures for different situations. Never know when/where you might have a chance to get a cast or two in! Who else has a trunk kit, and what do you keep in it?

Just whatever "extra" I have for the month. I would never put my hobbies before my home and family, so my wife supports my fishing as long as I hold true to that. I buy a lot of stuff on sale, too. So while I might make a "big" purchase now and then, I really try to get the most bang for my buck.

In bins, on shelves, in the basement.

I enjoy all types of fishing - live bait, artificials, fly fishing, you name it. The only thing I don't do is spearing/bow fishing or snagging. But if it's legal and sustainable, and you're fishing for food, I can respect those methods. The real question is, do you catch your own bait?

My soft plastics are mostly Berkley/Havoc and Zoom. My hard bait collection is much smaller, but more diverse in terms of manufacturer. It's mostly Rapala/Storm and Heddon, with some Bomber, Berkley, and Sebile.