Need some advice

[johnrambo]

Bassmasters, I need some help as I'm fairly new to bass fishing...

I recently updated one of my rods and while i love the weight and casting distance/accuracy I'm not sure about the sensitivity.

I fish zoom super flukes 3 times more then any other soft plastic. I've caught my biggest bass (and others) on a simple weighless superfluke.

Recently I went from a Shimano 6'6 MF from walmart to a st croix MojoBass 7' MF. If im not fishing the fluke on this ill fish senkos.

Now while i like this rod more then the shimano because of its weight and how far and accurate I can cast the fluke the problem is 99% of the time I can't feel the weightless plastic. I have no idea what the fluke is doing underwater, and since Ive had the mojobass ive been mostly just going by how i used to fish the fluke. I catch fish, that's not the problem, but the only thing I can feel with the weightless fluke on the rod is when there is a bite. is it too much to ask to feel the fluke/senko underwater (for structure/contours/movement etc.?). for some reason I get really frustrated when I have no idea whats going on with the plastic I'm dragging. I get the feeling that a ML or xtra fast tip would solve this problem, but then im worried about not having the strength to fish where I fish (very very heavy and dense cover along all banks). Ive been reading what rods you guys recommend for weightless senkos and superflukes and have yet to see my mojo bass rod mentioned. St/Croix claims its their plastics rod and thats the reason I bought it. Is it just me? am I asking too much by wanting to feel everything the weightless fluke/senko is doing? any recommendations or advice?

St.Croix offers a pretty decent upgrade program so another st. croix would be the cheapest option. however I do keep reading about falcon Caros...

[Grey Wolf]

The line is a big part of the equasion also. What are you using ?

[bassin is addicting]

i think i understand what you are saying.....but imo.... it is just the nature of fishing a fluke that it is hard to "feel" it.  since it is on slack or semi-slack line unless when moving it.  to me, it's hard to feel or watch for line movement with a fluke like i do other plastics.  i do more sight fishing with a fluke, where i can see it.  thats just my opinion...

[johnrambo]

I guess I should have added some more important details ...sorry

For this specific rod im using a shimano curado 100d and 20lb powerpro, I was using 30lb powerpro but I felt it was just a bit too thick. I'm really liking the 20lb.

I tried to fish it on my other rod (Falcon HMX 7' MH-F, Curado 200d) and I felt more of the fluke, so I'm kinda thinking its just the rod, considering the falcon is much heavier, its suggested weight range is 1/4-1-1/2

I realize that alot of the fishing the fluke is on slack or semi-slack line but thats just the problem, I can't tell if its slack or not unless I look at the line.  I do not want to physically look at the line just to see if its on the bottom or not, I want to feel it. It truly feels like there is nothing on the line at all as soon as its under the water, even when the line is tight.

hope this helps.

[evrgladesbasser]

Since both of those baits are worked on a slack line, you don't have much of a choice than to watch the line. That's the way I've always done it...

Braid should be providing you with the most sensitive "feel". Don't know much about that rod/reel set-up, but it sounds like you have exceptional equipment. Just gotta get the hang of it.

Good Luck!

[BASSclary]

First it says plastics on your rod because its a popular model that people use for fishing them, Plastics. But everybody has a different preference when fishing. Personally for plastics i would have gotten a M/XF. And I found Mojo's to be very tip heavy while not being sensitive enough for me, my Falcon Bucoo blows it out of the water and have nothing but great things about the Cara T7. But as you mentioned the St.Croix upgrade thing, I would definitely go for the St.Croix Avid. Sensitivity difference between the Mojo And Avid is night and day.

As for the slack in the line problem, i find that when fishing with braid, i tend to have more slack in my line. Maybe try a good fluorocarbon or mono.

And while you may not be able to "feel the weightless plastic" just remember that while more sensitivity helps, every rod feels different. You may just be really used to the Shimano from Wally World, causing you to think the feel is not there, while it really is there, but you just havent figured the feel out yet if that makes sense.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

It happens to everybody, Bassclary.  You develop a comfort level with a certain rod, or series of rods.  Changing to something drastically different can really mess you up.  Sometimes it takes a while to really develop a good feel for the rod.

[johnrambo]

thanks for all the replys.

I put the walmart shimano back on and found it to be only slightly better, perhaps the 6 inches? they are rated the same. Like I said though, I keep catching fish, I'm just afraid my memory is going to fail me soon. I'm really precise about how I want my rods to feel, and while the mojo felt good in the shop, i should have taken my brothers advice. :

My brother got me into bass fishing last year and told me to work up my collection slowly, and precisely. In the past year Ive aquired the setup mentioned (shimano 100d and mojo bass).  Ironically he tried to talk me out of the mojo saying it was too top heavy (wasnt sure what he meant at the time) and I should wait and just keep feeling everything until i find the one I really connected with. I thought it would be a little stiff, but I assumed while it lacked in action it would make up in other places. also I'm not going to lie, its by far the lightest rod I've ever owned (half the reason I bought it).   I was lucky to have the fenwick and shimano combo, as that was my trout and red stick but doubles perfect for jigging.

Regardless, I'm going to play with some other st. croix and see what I think of them.  I'm seriously thinking xfast or ML is what I'm looking for.

Also about line.  I really like the feel of flouro but I have really bad luck with the line snapping, and I have phobia of lines larger in diameter then 10lb mono for freshwater.  I cant stand mono, I grew up using it and swear when I made the jump to braid that I would never go back.  I've doubled my fish count since, no lie.

[BobP]

I'd give fluoro another shot.  Because it sinks rather than floats like braid, it allows a direct in-line connection to the bait and more feel than braid or mono.  I'd try 14 lb BassPro XPS fluoro and use a knot that includes multiple wraps around the standing line to tie it on.  I use a San Diego knot, but there are others.

[TBendBassin]

get the falcon cara! it is a day and night difference between the falcon and the mojo bass