lynxcat

I’ve been using Fogy’s and Swim jigs along grass lines in my local pond. I also caught a few on Rage Craws really close to the grass. I struck out on multiple prior trips which is very rare in my pond fishing. I haven’t gotten into fishing drop shots yet...I know I’ll need them in the winter and I don’t enjoy fishing them (so save until I can’t catch them on other things). I like the Jackhammer and Fogy because they upsize the fish I’m able to entice. I’ve caught a few on 10inch worms. I may try an Arky jig if I have the patience to go for a bigger bite.

I won’t be buying anymore stealth blades. I’ve found them very disappointing. If I need stealth, then use a swim jig.

Zman crushed it. They have numerous innovation that I’m definitely buying. Buh bye dark sleeper.

I used the Lobster on a swim jig today and caught four (missed a 5th that was a big one...it just didn’t get the lure). I cut down 1 1/2 sections of the body because it would otherwise have stuck too far out and led to short strikes. Gives some bulk for sure but I think it does pretty well in the application. I paired a Falcon Lake Craw with a California (green pumpkin with some red flake and some black) swim jig...for murkier water (rained a ton today), it creates a even more water displacement without being as aggressive as a Chatterbait.

The break typically happens in three places when using the leader. 1. Right at the bait leaving the leader behind in tact. That’s the easiest one to identify. 2. Breaks at the FC to Braid connection. Leader will be gone but sometimes that braid knot is still left so you can identify it. 3. The main line further up the line breaks (prior to FC connection knot). This will just look like frayed braid but it’s difficult to know how far up or down the line the break occurred. Caught one small one prior to rain rolling in...no breakoff Confidence being rebuilt!

Typically 45 degree angle over my right shoulder or a 'sweeping' horizontal hook set if I'm casting more parallel to the bank.

I much prefer the sensitivity and castability of braid...swapped out the line and will get back on the bus again ?

Alright, just happened a third time where the braid just snapped randomly. Probably a 2lb fish because it jumped and threw the jig after the break ? I keep inspecting the rod but every eye looks normal...

The FC leader breakage is rare for me and recognize it is a risk of adding another weak spot between me and the fish. I’m super confused on how I broke off 30lb braid directly tied to a Chatterbait with a moderate action rod. I’ve never had that kind of failure so it happening minutes after the prior failure makes me think it’s something more structural to the setup (either bad line or something creating abrasion unknowingly).

I check my line after every fish (typically was catching them every 15 minutes or so). I had retied the FC shortly before that breakoff because I had caught 4 2lbers on it and pulled a couple through some grass. Checking order history, bought the line from Tacklewarehouse....so should be authentic. I rechecked the guides with a Q tip as another suggested and nothing that caught my eye as off. Decided to cut out any line that had an abrasion and feel good about the knots tied. If it breaks again, then I’ll toss the line.

I lost two sizable fish tonight on back to back hooksets from line breakage. Here is the situation…because the breakage happened on different bait types. 30 lb PowerPro Superslick v2….put on the reel a couple weeks ago. MH Moderate rod Fishing from bank. No sharp rocks in the area. #1 I had a 17lb FC leader (Invizx) tied to braid and was fishing a swim jig. Set the hook and I thought the rod had broken…I’ve never had such an awkward snap back. From the feel, I don’t believe the break happened on the knot or the FC to braid knot. It felt like it happened on the actual braid itself which is shocking for 30lb braid. Up to this point in my life, I don’t think I’ve ever snapped 30 lb braid. Until… #2 I re-tie. Instead switch to a Jackhammer and no leader. Straight braid. Double check Palomar knot and it looks and feel strong. Next bite….set hook and AGAIN it breaks off! Things I’ve thought through…. 1. I’ve inspected every guide eye and reel eye to see if there is something creating abrasion that weakened the line. I’m not seeing any issues here. 2. Could the bites be from alligator gars (I’ve seen them but haven’t caught one before) and the line is cutting on teeth? This feels improbable. 3. Adjust my hook set? I’m 6’4 240…so I can definitely create some torque even on what I consider my standard hook set. I didn’t feel like either of these situations was me really laying into the hook set. 4. Is the line bad? I inspected the line that’s left on the reel and did find one knick randomly. After both breaks, feel like I’ve lost a notable amount of line (which makes me think it’s not breakage at the knot?). What am I missing here? Over $20 of baits lost but more annoyed by the fish that got away.

Daiwa Tatula Elite Ish Monroe Frog rod 7’4 H/F Daiwa Tatula Elite 8.1:1 50lb PowerPro Slick V2 Got for 20% off from Omnia thanks to this thread. Should arrive Friday!

Assumes he wants to get off the bank...

The most important thing to catch bigger bass: Fish in bodies of water that have bigger bass. Technique wise...generally larger baits, jigs, and Chatterbaits.

Yes, but price per yard is outrageous.

Update: I ordered the Daiwa Tatula Elite 7’4 Ish Monroe Frog Rod H/F and am pairing it up with a Daiwa Tatula Elite 8.1:1 and 50lb PowerPro SuperSlick V2. I’m going to use it for pitching jigs as well from the bank and I’m interested interested in the sensitivity that comes with the AGS guides. I really wanted to try to Shimano Expride 7’3 XH but I didn’t find one on deal. I got everything listed above for 20% off on a Memorial Day sale so $450 total. This is my third Tatula Elite rod but first with AGS...let’s see if it’s worth the extra dollars I was very close to giving the 7’3 H/F Daiwa Rebellion a try. It’s so hard to get a decent read from the lack of reviews online and I never got to see one in person. Handful of reviews talked about the sensitivity being just OK and so I went with the more commonly reviewed Daiwa option.

What are you using it for? Responses saying 50/65 lb braid are assuming this is a pitching/heavy cover application.

A duck in the middle of a large pond get drowned by a turtle. Duck went crazy for two minutes trying to get loose and then silence.

I recently bought some Lobsters and I’m trying to figure out how I want to use them. Rage Craws are so versatile and I use them mostly as jig and Chatterbait trailers. Lobster seems a big bulky for those applications.

Zoom must have a 30% share of the soft plastics market...maybe more. No way they go away but could definitely be getting acquired.

Raw materials sourcing constraints can throw the industry sideways. Plastisols and metal/alloy availability albeit I’m not close enough to those upstream supply chains to have a point of view. Nonetheless, inflation is hitting / will be hitting in the next few months so prices will be rising. For TW, it’s a strange phenomenon that they are facing. I think there are two issues that likely main contributors. COV spacing requirements make their picking operations significantly less efficient. They quite literally will have fewer people in the same space to be able to process a higher number of orders (because popularity of fishing has risen in the last year). Every company that produces a widget has dealt with these protocols. Second, there is a major labor shortage that is taking place. The stimulus and unemployment payments are creating labor market distortions and it is very difficult to hire unskilled / semi skilled resources. I think this is probably the bigger issue TW is facing...a labor force that stopped showing up for work. Their picking process is highly manual so labor shortage would put them on tilt.

General question: When is the next big industry sale? We’ve got the Black Friday through Christmas sales but when else can we get things off full MSRP? Specifically, I want to buy a Expride 7’3 and a Daiwa Tatula Elite BC.

Interesting point of view. I’m the opposite. I bounce it off the bottom and practically never swim it (with great success). I fish it almost identical to a shakey head.

Sarcasm.

I’m shocked that you have that many technique specific rigs already and a finesse spinning rig isn’t one of them. Sensitivity matters a lot in the rod and you need a pretty dependable rig with a decent drag if you are fishing lighter lines that finesse typically requires. Daiwa Legalis LT would be a great option to consider for the reel. Lightweight, solid performance and $70. Daiwa Aird-X has some of the best reviews in its class at $50 for the rod. You need to decide how finesse would expect this to be...Medium vs Medium Light action in particular. Fishing shakey heads and Neko rigs I would lean towards Medium but I’d go ML if light weight Ned Rigs and Drop Shots are the primary purpose.