AlabamaSpothunter

It really just depends on what depth you're trying to reach and what line size you're using. I think Megabass + lineup is just too hard to beat so I only use the World Minnow and smaller World Minnow the Zumverno 95. I would suggest any new jerkbait angler have 4 staple jerkbait sizes/depths. You really can't just use one and hope to fully utilize the technique. 1. Fullsize 110 length jerkbait that runs 4-6ft 2. Downsized 90 length jerkbait that runs 4-6ft 3. Fullsize 110 length +1 jerkbait that runs 6-10ft 4. Downsized 90 length +1 jerkbait that runs 6-10ft

As someone who is considering a FMJ......I'd use a JDM Zillion HD TW. Perfect reel for that rod imho.

Yeah, the Shimano jerkbaits are the only ones I've found that really bring something new to the game, and that's flashboost technology. It really does seem to work, as I've found their flashboost World Pop and Armajoint big swimbait both to be very effective baits. The foil insides flashes with seemingly no movement needed. It's suspended using two tiny springs. The Shimano jerkbaits suspend more consistently out of the box than the Megabass models, and the hooks that come on the Shimano baits are the best OEM hooks I've ever seen. Shimano sadly wouldn't sell me extra OEM hooks though. Overall the Shimano jerkbaits are less finessey than the Megabass ones. You can rip the Shimanos a little bit harder, especially the standard depth models. I still feel like the Vision 110 is the king though, it just out produces in my experience and I'm a jerkbait fan. I don't think there is substitute for the Vision Jr lineup. For standard size jerkbaits, there are lots of substitutes though.

Not much cheaper, but imho better quality are the Shimano World Minnow and the Zumverno The Rerange is a great warmer water jerkbait, as it's more violent. Hard to beat the Megabass or Shimano offerings imho.

I struggle with words after reading such a terrible thing happening to such a wonderful person. We love you too brother!!!!! Modern medicine can create miracles, and so can a higher power, whomever that might be for you. Fight this thing to the death, never give up! We're always going to be here for you, and so will the rest of your family and friends. You'll never be alone going through this fight! Saying a prayer for you and your family now and will continue to do so.

@Team9nine Alabama has a B.A.I.T. program that is very similar, and my favorite data point is they give how many hours fished per 5lb fish for all the big public lakes. Very telling data point in my book. Bass Anglers Information Team (BAIT) | Outdoor Alabama

As I always say, they don't call him Big Fish Pat for no reason 😉

I consider 5lb+ fish to be big Bass. I consider any Bass over 3lbs or 17.5" to be a quality catch though, and if I wanted to get a full picture of how well a lake's Bass population is, I'd start at that point. Once a Bass gets to about 17.5", it's got a great chance at becoming a big Bass. To me that's the number where you see a dramatic drop off in numbers of fish in a particular size class. In the month of January I've caught a total of 163 Bass thus far, of which 9 were over 5lbs 9 divided by 163 = 5.5% You can take that deeper...... 4 fish over 5lbs = 2.45% 3 fish over 6lbs = 1.8% 1 fish over 7lbs = .613% 1 fish over 9lbs = .613% Those numbers likely hold pretty true outside of the months of October, November, and December. It's ridiculous how hard 5lb+ fish are to catch in those months for me. If we really thought about the percentage chances of catching a 8lb NLMB, or a 10lb southern fish, we'd never go fishing. We're talking lottery winning percentages when it comes to catching those caliber fish outside of few places where they exist in stupid numbers.

I got a JDM 23 Stradic 3000XG back in October......incredibly smooth and quiet.

Yeah the Li Time I bought has "Low-temperature charging cutoff protection, preventing charging below 0°C to protect the battery and extend its life."

One of the biggest differences between first and third world nations is the quality of their watersheds. Nothing is more striking than looking at pictures of rivers in India or China. It's beyond sad, it's maddening and depressing. As the supreme intelligent being on the planet, it's our responsibility to protect the environment so that every other organism has the chance at a healthy life. I guess we're tree hugging friends now 🤣

Had a similar thought but just use a stranding tool and add your skirt material to your favorite jighead minnow setup. Also kind of sounds like the OP is describing a swimjig using an Alabama Shake technique. That only generates vertical movement for the most part though, and it seems OP is looking for darting or horizontal movement. I think your idea of using the BR Fish is the best way to get a darting action.

Back in October I paid $195 for a Li Time 12.8v 100ah battery. A lead acid group of 29 12v 100ah marine deep cycle battery from Walmart + recycling fee is about $125 We know lead acid batteries aren't getting any cheaper for the most part, so to me the absolute floor for how low a 12v 100ah battery can cost is around that $125 mark. For $70 more you get a battery that's has the power equivalent to a 12v 200ah lead acid battery that is 1/5th the weight of the 100ah lead acid. The point I'm trying to make is that even if they get a little bit cheaper, we're already at the point where it's a no brainer decision to go with lithium over lead acid or AGM, and whatever savings you might get by waiting another year or two likely won't be all that significant. I'd go ahead and buy them.

That sucks, the Lions were such a fun team to watch, and more importantly a fun team to root for. Campbell, and Johnson did an amazing job, and Johnson is going to make a spectacular HC......wish the Falcons would fire Morris and hire him. Can't be easy to lose in the playoffs because of one single player. Goff just choked that game away, devastating performance.

I haven't John. I've read that the +2 really needs a different rod, although I'm sure it would work in a pinch. I throw mainly 110s/+1, 110jrs/+1......Shimano World Minnow and Zumernvo?.......Jackall Rerange, and LC Staysees. Throw the Stunna 112 as well.

Good luck Pat!!!! All I know is that when the levee breaks for you, it's going to be absolutely spectacular. I can't even imagine how much of a benefit it is currently for all your heavily pressured fisheries to be getting ZERO fishing pressure. That would make me so excited! I suspect you're going to experience the most epic fishing of your life before the spawn. You heard it here first 😎

Fished with mine for about 15 months now, easily the best jerkbait rod I've owned. Run mine with an OG Steez and 12lb Daiwa J Flouro Hidden Concept.

Awesome fish @TnRiver46 Looks like you ate half a SM though 🤣 Your stretch of river seems to have lots of those meanmouths. eta: Thanks Katie and Pat!!!! Now I'll go another two years of chunking and winding that silly thing until lightning strikes again 😁

I'm not sure I've ever seen a bait that's more feast or famine than an A-Rig. We had a dramatic pressure drop and fast moving front approach yesterday afternoon, and it was like a light switch flipped. Caught 25.5lbs on the A-Rig in about two hours. 6.11 6.8 6.1

I've got a very fussy Daiwa JDM Certate with Mike at DVT as I type. I can't opine yet on whether the reel is as good as new, but I can tell you that he stands behind his service. That means a tremendous amount in my book.

Congrats on the job, and that's a great way to earn some money while still staying immersed in something you love to do. Granted all that earned money will just be funneled by into Johnny Morris's pockets 🤣 Don't forget they have a pretty good firearm dept. with a used gun rack. Seen some pretty rare guns bought from them like USGI M1 Carbines. Tackle monkey is married to the gun monkey 😆

Was just listening to Bass After Dark podcast and they were talking about Billy Westmoreland who lost what he believed was a WR SM on Dale Hollow on XMAS day 1970. They said until his death he never got over that fish. They also said that he would wake up in the middle of the night after a dream over that fish, and he would immediately hook the boat up and go fish the spot where he lost that fish. Quite literally that fish haunted his dreams. A panelist who currently has the C n' R state Idaho SM record lost a 10+ SM and said he didn't throw another cast that day, or for a couple of weeks after.

To me the whole 'made in Japan' becomes a lot clearer when looking at the higher end spinning reels. The complexity and tolerances on reels like Certates, Sustains, Stellas, etc. is pretty mind blowing. I honestly believe those type of high end reels could never be made outside of countries like Japan, Germany, or the US. There are only a handful of cultures and countries who truly pride themselves on quality over quantity in terms of manufacturing. Would you buy a Ferrari that was made in China? How about a Rolex that was made in India?

Yeah I've always heard the Ice fisherman are the most hot headed out of all anglers. Over the years I've heard a bunch of stories about brawls and confrontations on the ice. Turns out Grumpy Old Men was a documentary.

I feel like commenting on this thread will cause bad ju ju.....so let me make a pointless comment 🤣