RDB

I don’t but I know people who do use a light coat of fingernail hardener on occasion. I don’t know what kind of effect it has on the lure but I do know that some of them are really good sticks. And I ALWAYS use cork sealer before using a rod the first time and will usually reapply once a year ?.

One last question. When I was researching prop baits, my memory is that one of the complaints on some brands was that the spinning of the blades would cause the blade to work free and result in lost blades if you didn’t watch closely. When you flip the blade, does it re-seat fairly tightly or do you use something to lock it in place?

I have never used it but there are a LOT of folks on the site who have and pretty much all seem to like it. I have no reason why I haven’t tried it other than I just haven’t. I also like to use fluoro for cranks because I always want to be banging into something and feel like I can usually reach depths with fluoro and line size changes that I might otherwise have to go to the next depth diver to achieve with other line types. I always try to minimize tug of war when possible. Again, that’s just my preference…nothing wrong with other choices.

I haven’t tried it either. It’s one of a number of things I have bought to try out but always forget about when I get to the lake. There is really no need to purchase the kit…it’s just a willow blade on a split ring attached to a swivel and held in place with 2 bobber stoppers…super easy DIY. I don’t have one in front of me but the blade is small…I would guess a #3.

Jerkbaits are year round lures for me. It’s usually not one of my first choices in the summer months but I have caught a lot of bass on them in 85+ degree water.

It’s going to be personal preference…there is no right answer. Personally, I like fluoro and use it on pretty much everything except topwater and my heavy sticks (heavier than the one’s you have listed). There is nothing wrong with choosing braid or mono. I typically use Sniper but have multiple 600yd spools of InvizX. I’m not married to a specific brand as long as it’s good quality.

I know prop baits are big and Florida but I have never really thrown them, so I picked up a few Lucky Craft Kelly-J’s and a Crazy Ace a few weeks ago. I never would have thought about reversing. How does it change the action? Never done this either. Do you split just the paddle part? Since each side has half a paddle, does it just produce random movement. I’ve done this a number of times but it wasn’t intentional. Here is a pic of the willow blade attached to the line. Decoy is the seller.

I bought some screw lock willows to do just that but never remember to try. I’ll have to add it to the list. The other thing I found interesting but haven’t tried is adding a willow to the line in front of a regular sized swimbait. There is a Japanese company that sells them and they come on a tab and slip on your line like a bobber stopper. I saw a few Japanese videos where they say it presents a look like a bait fish chasing a smaller baitfish. I will absolutely check it out. The only time I use a snell knot when I use a flippin’ hook but I’m not familiar with the nine times knot.

I agree…I am a fan of both the Lucky Craft Sammy & Gunfish, as well as the Evergreen JT and they all sit nose up as well. Outside of some of the larger pencil poppers, those are my go-to top waters.

I enjoy playing around with different tweaks to see if it has an impact on lure effectiveness and was wondering what tweaks others have found effective (I’m always looking for ideas). I know @A-Jay is a fan of red front hooks and I recently added to some of my jerkbaits to test it out. More recently, I have started playing around with using a rubber threader to add skirt material to wacky rigs and have also made some Tokyo rigs with longer wire drop arms. The other technique thing I tried last trip was kind of a spin on a Carolina rig (I’m sure it has a name). I used a 1/2oz weight with a bobber stop 3-4 feet above and a very small swivel to a 6” leader with a floating wacky rigged worm. When I would feel changes in bottom composition, I would keep the bait in that spot and work it vertically by allowing slack. It wasn’t really a dragging type day, so for me, the jury is still out. What have you all tried that you have found effective?

I agree with your thoughts completely outside of the “of course” part. I guess my point (though unclear) is that IMO, many on this site have potentially limiting biases. God I hope this doesn’t start a pizzing contest but here goes. There are many who believe colors don’t matter, no bass are line shy, scents don’t work, bass are dumb creatures that can’t be conditioned/learn, etc., etc. They may be right…I don’t know. What I do know with 100% certainty is that I don’t know what bass see, smell, or think. I also don’t think anyone else can definitively answer those questions either. A lot of time on this site is spent flinging mud on topics that nobody can answer. I choose to stay open minded with fishing. The wife on the other hand is completely unpatternable.

Amen times 10…smartest response I have read on any post this month.

You didn’t screw up and IMO made a good choice in choosing lighter weights considering your depths. Just like anything else in fishing, when something sees a surge in popularity, people start looking for innovations. You have a lot of choices on how to fish preacher style hair jigs. Most people think of traditional style preacher jigs but there are others that potentially expand your fishing options. In the pics below, one has a scrounger head and the other has a wide flat head that makes the jig sit at a 45 degree angle.

You may not want to…I was sharing what I would do. I feel like you get a more stable knot when the braid diameter is slightly larger than or close to equal to the fluoro. The diameter of 10lb braid is quite a bit smaller than 8lb fluoro while 15lb is about equal.

Here we go again with the ideal balance stuff (or ideal anything for that matter). Ideal doesn’t exist in fishing…ideal is in the eye of the beholder. Some posters should really go back and review their post history. The level of “I have everything figured out…listen to me” is breathtaking. I like light everything but that’s just me and it wasn’t as true 10 years ago. Tip heavy…never notice. Split v full grip…don’t care. Recoil guides…don’t notice. Are my preferences right? They are right for me but may not be for thee.

To answer your question, there is no reason you should be having this problem outside of user error or bad line. You shouldn’t have to change to a different test line or change your entire setup. Your setup is used successfully by thousands of people every day…6 & 8lb leader is VERY common. I can’t speak specifically to a uni knot and potential failures there as I use a Palomar with the line back through the eye. Edit: People on this site will always try to get you to change because whatever they use is always the best. You will hear all the reasons why it is so and most of it will be speculation or anecdotal at best. Use quality lines and try to sort out the teachable content from the sales pitches.

At the end of the day, any good quality fluoro will be fine and you won’t see much if any difference. The only thing I would change is your braid test. I would bump up to 15-20lb braid to your 8lb leader the next time you re-spool.

It’s what I do every time the mother-in-law comes over. Hope that helps.

No need to overcomplicate things. Stay within the rod line ratings and choose the braid you prefer. People will swear by one braid over another but in a blind test, as long as it’s good quality, few would be able to distinguish the difference. I use 832 and Powerpro on all my spinning setups but I’m not married to either as long as it’s high vis. I prefer a 12-15’ 8lb fluoro leader but my leaders are much longer than most choose.

Medium rod with trebles Medium heavy rods with single hooks 8.1:1 on 7’ Coin flip for the other 2 reels

I think it may be a little harsh to ask why you are asking the question. I read the question as asking for help in clarifying your perception/misperception and I think it’s a fair question. Personally, I have some older round reels but they are not my preferred style for a number of reasons including comfort and palming. Just like almost every question on this site, personal preference trumps most everything. Back in the day, most high end reels were round, so you would find many choosing that style. As the market grew and evolved, the current lower profile styles became the most popular. There still are some great round style reels on the market. The market trend toward lighter rods and reels has also impacted that popularity somewhat as well.

I don’t use 6XD’s but I can reach advertised depths and on all of my deep divers with 10-12lb fluoro. Today most companies don’t advertise max depths that are not achievable because anglers pretty quickly catch on and it’s not a good look. If they do, you will usually find them taking a beating in reviews and posts. As far as colors, if I were choosing 3, it would be something white, something bright, and something dark. I don’t typically throw chrome in deep water unless it’s super clear. Edit: I use an Alpha Angler Mag Rebound - 7’6, MH, Mod, S2-glass

I do the same thing with new gear…it’s my addiction. I just paid $11 for imitation poop.

You know you have to turn on the AI right? If you can’t find it, just ask another fisherman for help on your next trip.