softwateronly

I'm a big fan of Nishine jerks and love the customization of the float/sink with the outer weights. I own a couple 3 packs and use those weights on other jerkbaits because it seems smart and simple to me. Changing one weight or partial weight on the water is just more efficient than swapping hooks before fishing for me. With vision 110 jr +1, I've had best luck with attaching a #6 power swivel to the front hook. It just happened to be with me last fall and is giving me that super slow sink in mid 40ish degree water. It's slightly visible in this last pic. scott

Modified alberto is what I use with tieable leader. FG needs to bite into the leader coating to work as well as it does, I don't trust it with metal. I've only lost one swimbait to a northern in 6 years, it was a gantarel fully pinned flat in her mouth. I had forgotten my net and had hands on her when her last boat thrashing snapped my line. She was a definite double digit and at least 40". Felt terrible for days that I left her in that condition and lost my $25 mostly because having a net wouldn't have led to that outcome. My bigger problem is all the jigs I lose to northerns. The tieable leader is a grass magnet and limits all my bites, still looking for a best option other than luck and 20lb mono as a leader. scott

Maybe I'm ignorant, but I don't see why it's strictly finesse. Most of my reels are 70 size and cover pretty much everything outside of swimbaits and deep cranking. But I get where you're coming from in terms of price. The upper upper end of shimano/diawa are diminishing returns. What I really want is for digitaka to carry left handed 22 bantams. scott

This rod keeps surprising me at what it can do. It's quickly moving up my list as a favorite big bait rod. I've lob/launched 4.5oz 8" spro swimbaits no problem, but I really dig it for the 6" burrito, more than enough backbone to thump em when slow rolling. Even flipped and frogged a bit with it last summer, super versatile. https://www.digitaka.com/item/29/6/5/4573236260358 scott

I've had the same experience as @NorcalBassin with the 795. scott

@ol'crickety that's smart for sure. We had sustained 25mph out of the N at times today, and I was about to tie up to someone else's pier and walk home. My canoe goes sideways fast with both a trolling motor and a paddle. Luckily, the wind and snow died down for a bit and I was able to get back safely. It was a wild mix of weather today that didn't affect the bass one bit. @MIbassyaker it's the water not the fisherman. I can't be too far from you, we're around 131 and 12 give or take some miles. DM if you wanna take a trip. scott

Yesterday was 2 hours of skunk, today in an on again off again blinding snowstorm had the jerkbait working. scott

I completely agree with this review, ended up selling it. 7'2 Steez power pitch and 7'3 XH Expride are better versions of it or what it wanted to be. scott

Lots of great suggestions above that I have done well with, but my best jerk bait days ever have come on the nishine eerie darter 115sd and 115md. Lots of body roll and flash, great hardware, and the only one that can consistently work 15'+. If they're deep and active, a double weight on the SD can get that upward fleeing on the jerk and seemingly make them angry. scott

normal spool - https://www.digitaka.com/items/4/4/2/ALPHAS+SV+TW shallow spool - https://www.digitaka.com/items/4/4/2/ALPHAS+SV+TW+800S The country of origin sticker is in the pics. Thailand for this model. I have 2 of the shallow spool alphas, absolute best bang for the buck reel that I own. scott

@Jig Rookie Congrats!!! What a tank! scott

Set your drag properly and all line types and rods will work. It’s just gonna be a preference thing. The 735 is a good action for worms and jigs, soft tip with good backbone. You will catch fish. scott

I've been very happy with the regular san diego jam. Just curious if that knot was in your repertoire before you moved to the double, and if so, what prompted the switch? scott

I have a champ 735 and throw mag worms on it. I have too many rigs so this is one I leave up at my in-laws, meaning it's not my 1st choice for the technique, but it does just fine. When I have all my rods with me, I tend to lean on the poison adrena 6'11M+ as my worm rod. I also fish braid to leader. scott

@king fisher I have no idea how to target large prespawn Mexican bass. Here's my simple thoughts, since prespawn extends for a few months for you and your water, my guess is that you are either missing the water they swim in or you need to present a bait that better resembles what they target when they need to bulk up. Since you know how to get on them, I'd hedge on the bait. I'd pick bigger Tilapia imitating swimbaits and rip those around your known spots. Reality is, I'm just guessing, but I'd really love to see one of your 27"ers all filled out in a pic scott

I catch all of mine with no blade, still on my first jig that lost it's blade in the weeds by the 10th cast. The long 5/0 hook shank on the 3/4oz w/ a 6" gambler GZ is a slow rolling nighttime champ. There might be a josh jones opportunity to open water fish the Uoze w/ no trailer, but I've never tried. scott edit: I don't really get on big fish, but the decent ones definitely prefer this big profile certain times of the year.

If I really wanted a state record smallie in Indiana, I'd never leave Lake Michigan. I have no proof, but willing to bet there are multiple records swimming around the Indiana shoals the next 8 weeks. Probably a few walleye too. The gobies have changed everything. scott PS - The IL record is probably even easier to break and probably has been numerous times without certification

I use 3/4oz dirty jigs cali swim jig, MB Uoze 3/4oz, and North Star 1oz Flip 'N Swim all year long and they're my number one big fish and nighttime bait. 120mm D Walker, 5" and bit off 6.5" Gambler EZ's, and Beast coast Miyagi have enough shake and roll to move the heavy heads and pulse the skirt on their own. The Uoze does best in light cover/open water and often loses it's blade, the Northstar and DJ swim jigs can plow through most all vegetation. Most of my fish are in cover on breaks in the 8'-20' range, I can bust through, erratically slow roll, and burn the deep edges. The water is clear and relatively pressured, and I think my bigger bass target juvenile crappie and bream when on structure and cover and can get skittish with blades of any sort. Big and heavy swim jigs are a staple for me for years now. The Scott Canterbury Flippin jig and North Star do some craw profile swimming for me at times as well, though I definitely prefer swimbait trailers most often. scott

Fish Fish fish! If rock and wood aren't present, find anything green on the bottom in 15-25' near a shallower flat and stay there till they bite. Blade Baits and small flutter spoons have done best for me December thru February when the ice was gone. Neither needs to be fished painfully slow. Small frequent hops do the trick. scott

I have a Major Craft Days 6'9 M/RF 2 piece rod that I'm really really happy with. It costs @$135 shipped. The line right below Days is Benkei and costs right at $100 and is worth a close look in my opinion. 6'6 M/R https://www.digitaka.com/item/29/6/5/4560350818114 6'5 ML/RF https://www.digitaka.com/item/29/6/5/4560350818084 scott https://www.majorcraft.co.jp/roditem/4353

Now that I'm a better caster, I do 1 or 2 on most of my 4-6 brake models with no problem. Just oppose the brakes you do have engaged. Your centrificalness will hold up just fine. scott

I have a casting 6'9M/F MC Days 2 piece that spent last spring in my car along with a messenger bag w/ small jigs, hooks, weights, and soft plastics. Allows me to easily hit the harbors for smallmouth when they're in shallow and I have time. Great rod at a great price from digitaka at $135 ish. scott

I don't know anything about it, but here's Ben's take from the hook up tackle.... scott

Deps sakamata shad watermelon pro blue/resevoir shad are the closest I can think of, though neither is exactly that. scott

I think bite windows are more prominent in cold water, if you can't spend more time on the water maybe you can vary the time you're getting on the water. There's a surprise early morning bite up here as the shad migrate. scott