softwateronly

LC casting jig LC compact pitching jig I wasn't clear and looked it up to be more precise... scott

What's less than stellar about the regular Luke Clausen pitchin jig? Line tie orientation? scott

I'll second this. Sensitivity is not a strong suit of the champ series. scott

I still have 4 strand on my frog setup, but have moved to 8 strand on everything else. I vote for the 20lb. scott

I throw that keitech, 1/4oz fireworks jig, free rigs, tubes, finesse scroungers, and other light wire hooks with Major Craft Black Porgy 5G 7'8 M/RF w/ a 10lb floro leader. It's a fantastic rod that I'm always finding a reason to pick up. Highly recommend. https://www.digitaka.com/item/29/6/140/4573236273983 https://www.majorcraft.co.jp/5g/blackporgy/ scott

I think I do 8/0 and 10/0 for the 6 & 7" scottsboros like you said. I never tried the 8" so 12/0 sounds good, but the 10/0 might just be fine too. I like the scottsboros because I have more retrieval speeds available. It'll do the med/slow crawl like the magdraft, but you can also speed them up without blowing out if that's the deal. I also think the bass by me don't see the scottsboros as often as magdrafts, which can't hurt. scott

Alberto for the braid connection and I spent time rigging and got quick tying a flying bowline an it's been the easiest for lure connections. I should try a 3-4 wrap sdj for swim and regular jigs this year. Tired of losing them. scott

Brass main gear and handle/knob size are all that I know of. scott

The 7'3XH is a mod/fast action, it's just that it's backed with a ton of power and a no stretch line. A smooth reel set with a proper drag setting should get em up and turned without ripping lips off. scott

Brass main gear and handle/knob size are all that I know of. Kicking myself still for not going for one of each additional zillions. scott

Break out and reel rip/kill the big 7-9" flutter spoons, 7" scroungers, northern style preacher jigs, or shake a 7" jerky j, armor shad, or raid fish roller along the bottom. I'd also try 4-5" versions of all of the above till I find what they want. It's basically offering the right profile very erratically, like you can't reel it fast enough before you kill it back to the bottom type erratic or slowly dancing it right on the bottom and right in front of their face like a gizzard in the final throes. I don't think @Pat Brown is wrong about the difficulty in beating the real thing, but if you get it right, that's gonna be where the big fish are. They are not skipping out on the buffet. These are some of the easiest calories of the year for the big girls. This shad kill pattern is dominant for my water mid november thru mid december. There's also a version right after ice out till the turnover and possibly a week or two after if the warm up is fleeting. scott

I would and will buy another bantam. I cannot say the same about a curado dc. Nothing is wrong with the curado, it's just the bantam is far superior. Digitaka has a bantam for $232 right now and would be where I'd order it from. scott

Congrats to you!!! That is a week or a lifetime... scott

Mostly at twilight or over 25 fow, is when I think I see a difference with uv tape/paint on spoons and definitely consider it more now. scott

I think you can't go wrong with either. I have fished braid to leader for almost 15 years, but do use 15-25' floro leaders because of zebra mussels. I tend to catch a lot of my fish by throwing smaller and larger baits than "normal", somewhat limiting my need for MH. I have bought too much stuff over the years, but my breakdown is 6 medium, 6 heavy, and 4 MH rods. Do you expect to throw 1/4oz most often? I'd go Medium power. Throw 3/8oz most often? in cover? I'd go MH. scott