New Tackle - What Are You Excited About?

[Fat Ika]

Hi Fellow Fishermen,

 

Just thought we could have some fun sharing our excitement for Black Friday gear.

 

1. What new bait, technique, and/or terminal tackle are you excited about using?

2. If it's not a new techniques, but a new bait within a technique you're experienced with, what's your past experience with this techniques?

3. Feel free to be as specific as you'd like why you're excited about it. Time of year, conditions, etc.....any and all variables you can think of. 

 

I'm excited about a lot of stuff, but a new terminal piece for me is a weedless neko hook. Going to test out these 2.

 

Gamakatsu G-Finesse Cover Neko Hook - https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Gamakatsu_G-Finesse_Cover_Neko_Hook_3pk/descpage-GGFCN.html 

Decoy Worm 128 Neko Rig Hook - https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/search-tackle.html?start=0&count=30&searchtext=neko+decoy

 

I enjoy nekos for tough or calm blue bird conditions from post ice-out/early pre-spawn to almost late fall. I use them almost entirely versus a traditional perpendicular wacky rig. I also enjoy them for different look if needed during finicky sight fishing. Excited to see how these work in grass. 

[roadwarrior]

Reaper

 

 

[LrgmouthShad]

Okay I’ll bite. I ordered quite a few Picasso spinnerbaits because they were on an additional sale on TW. 30% off overall, couldn’t say no. I am impressed with the components on the spinnerbaits. I think they have mustad ultra points, sampo swivels, a 0.035 diameter heat treated wire, and a really cool head design. This is a good list of specs for me. I don’t care about the skirts or the blades since I’ll likely be changing them but the components on these spinnerbaits are awesome. 
 

I bought AFTCO hydronaut gloves for cold weather use as well as the helm insulated gloves. Between these two, I hope my hands stay warm for winter fishing. 

 

edit: I should add the Picasso spinnerbaits I got were the Picasso Inviz R Wire double willows. Did double willows because more color selections. 
https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Picasso_Inviz_R_Wire_Double_Willow_Spinnerbaits/descpage-PIDW.html

[Cgolf]

The spinner bait blades I am ordering. I have noticed the last couple of years that lighter spinnerbaits are crushing it on the waters I fish and the standard heavier baits don't produce near as well, probably 10 to 1 favoring the light baits. My guess it is a pressure thing and the fish don't see light baits often. I will admit to buying almost 40 spinnerbaits for under the tree, but with how well humdingers and War Eagles work, I buy in bulk when I can because they can be fragile.

 

So will be ordering a bunch of unique blades from Barlows to hopefully give new life to the heavier spins. Only other new bait to me this year is the Rage smokin rooster and they better work since I bought 20 packs lol.

[LrgmouthShad]

1 minute ago, cgolf said:

ordering. I have noticed the last couple of years that lighter spinnerbaits are crushing it on the waters I fish and the standard heavier baits don't produce near as well

3/8 oz is my standard size in NY too. Heavier spinnerbaits started to catch up later in the season though. In particular, 1/2oz single colorado

[FishDieBroke]

15 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

Reaper

 

 

Sweet. Thanks for sharing roadwarrior.

[FishDieBroke]

14 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Okay I’ll bite. I ordered quite a few Picasso spinnerbaits because they were on an additional sale on TW. 30% off overall, couldn’t say no. I am impressed with the components on the spinnerbaits. I think they have mustad ultra points, sampo swivels, a 0.035 diameter heat treated wire, and a really cool head design. This is a good list of specs for me. I don’t care about the skirts or the blades since I’ll likely be changing them but the components on these spinnerbaits are awesome. 
 

I bought AFTCO hydronaut gloves for cold weather use as well as the helm insulated gloves. Between these two, I hope my hands stay warm for winter fishing. 

@LrgmouthShad Thanks for sharing. Sounds like a fun new addition. I too took advantage of the Picasso extra 10%. I love throwing a spinnerbait but have never gone down the analytical rabbit hole with this technique, but I appreciate you sharing your experience and why those baits appeal to you. Maybe someday I start analyzing all facets of spinnerbait of and start tinkering more. 

[Finessegenics]

I bought some Daiwa Samurai Fluoro and I’m excited to use it. Got a 220yd spool of 14# (.325 mm). 

 

I’ve heard great things about it and I don’t think I’ll be disappointed. This past season I used Invizx as my mainline fluoro and I was really happy. But I still want to try something new. 

[FishDieBroke]

16 minutes ago, cgolf said:

The spinner bait blades I am ordering. I have noticed the last couple of years that lighter spinnerbaits are crushing it on the waters I fish and the standard heavier baits don't produce near as well, probably 10 to 1 favoring the light baits. My guess it is a pressure thing and the fish don't see light baits often. I will admit to buying almost 40 spinnerbaits for under the tree, but with how well humdingers and War Eagles work, I buy in bulk when I can because they can be fragile.

 

So will be ordering a bunch of unique blades from Barlows to hopefully give new life to the heavier spins. Only other new bait to me this year is the Rage smokin rooster and they better work since I bought 20 packs lol.

That’s interesting @cgolf - Thanks for sharing. I feel ya with the war eagle spinnerbait durability. One of my favorites, but a lot of left over casualties of fishing war eagle spinnerbaits. I’ve definitely experienced McClelland’s Finesse getting bites when a standard size spinnerbait was not producing. 

[FishDieBroke]

2 minutes ago, Finessegenics said:

I bought some Daiwa Samurai Fluoro and I’m excited to use it. Got a 220yd spool of 14# (.325 mm). 

 

I’ve heard great things about it and I don’t think I’ll be disappointed. This past season I used Invizx as my mainline fluoro and I was really happy. But I still want to try something new. 

@Finessegenics Nice! I do not think this is a case of media presence & reviews overhyping a new flouro. I stopped fishing Assasin, Sniper, Abrasx, Tatsu this past season and exclusively fished Daiwa Samurai. Tatsu is still slightly better IMO for most positive flouro characteristics, but I don’t feel the need for it unless on straight flouro spinning gear. Samurai is pretty supple excellent casting line manageability, abrasion resistance (no breaks yet around zebra mussels), more resistant to kink breakage….that’s what I value about it. I’ve used the 14# for dragging heavy tubes, jigs, deep cranking, even bladed jigs in heavy cover with 14#….but I’m in north country so 7 # max fish is fine for me with 14# for a bladed jig in moderate to light heavy grass. Hope you find the same success and excitement for a new staple flouro in your arsenal. 

[LrgmouthShad]

8 minutes ago, FishDieBroke said:

I feel ya with the war eagle spinnerbait durability. One of my favorites, but a lot of left over casualties of fishing war eagle spinnerbaits.

Wire diameter might be a good discussion point for a thread at some point. I’m sure there are threads that have discussed this in the past too. 
 

I’m still not sure how I feel about the “ideal” wire diameter. So many say thinner wire is better and I do think it’s got it’s benefits but Nichols runs some decently thick wire on their 1/2oz and especially 3/4oz and those things get bit. I think I tinker too much with spinnerbaits for me to afford wire diameters in the 0.030 diameter range where War Eagles somewhere land. 

[Happybeerbuzz]

iRod Genesis III Punch Rod.  I have heard that the right punch rod makes all the difference in terms of how enjoyable the technique is.  I spent a fair amount of time this past year punching.  I am hoping that the new equipment, having a longer handle and bigger pendulum, will make it less tiring.  

[Cgolf]

26 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Wire diameter might be a good discussion point for a thread at some point. I’m sure there are threads that have discussed this in the past too. 
 

I’m still not sure how I feel about the “ideal” wire diameter. So many say thinner wire is better and I do think it’s got it’s benefits but Nichols runs some decently thick wire on their 1/2oz and especially 3/4oz and those things get bit. I think I tinker too much with spinnerbaits for me to afford wire diameters in the 0.030 diameter range where War Eagles somewhere land. 

I have fished SK bleeding bait spins side by side with the back seater fishing a war eagle I gave them and got out fished at least 5 to 1. Only heavier wire bait that has come close is the Nichols 33 mini, but that is a really compact bait so that may help. Could see different results on different waters though. 

[PressuredFishing]

1 hour ago, Fat Ika said:

Hi Fellow Fishermen,

 

Just thought we could have some fun sharing our excitement for Black Friday gear.

 

1. What new bait, technique, and/or terminal tackle are you excited about using?

2. If it's not a new techniques, but a new bait within a technique you're experienced with, what's your past experience with this techniques?

3. Feel free to be as specific as you'd like why you're excited about it. Time of year, conditions, etc.....any and all variables you can think of. 

 

I'm excited about a lot of stuff, but a new terminal piece for me is a weedless neko hook. Going to test out these 2.

 

Gamakatsu G-Finesse Cover Neko Hook - https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Gamakatsu_G-Finesse_Cover_Neko_Hook_3pk/descpage-GGFCN.html 

Decoy Worm 128 Neko Rig Hook - https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/search-tackle.html?start=0&count=30&searchtext=neko+decoy

 

I enjoy nekos for tough or calm blue bird conditions from post ice-out/early pre-spawn to almost late fall. I use them almost entirely versus a traditional perpendicular wacky rig. I also enjoy them for different look if needed during finicky sight fishing. Excited to see how these work in grass. 

Grubs, I am excited for grubs and hair jigs.

[FishDieBroke]

47 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Wire diameter might be a good discussion point for a thread at some point. I’m sure there are threads that have discussed this in the past too. 
 

I’m still not sure how I feel about the “ideal” wire diameter. So many say thinner wire is better and I do think it’s got it’s benefits but Nichols runs some decently thick wire on their 1/2oz and especially 3/4oz and those things get bit. I think I tinker too much with spinnerbaits for me to afford wire diameters in the 0.030 diameter range where War Eagles somewhere land. 

What a coincidence. 90% of my spinnerbait experience is with War Eagle and Nichols. Fairly pleased, but curious to see how the MB SV-3 does for smallie burning situations. Wish they were a little more compact with some painted blade options, but I’ll try it out vs the screamin eagle.

[Buzzbaiter]

Not a new technique by any stretch, but I want to start fishing finesse jigs for river smallmouth when the water warms up. I fished a lot of plastics on jigheads on the summer, which caught a lot of fish but not many big ones. I want to start consistently targeting fish over 2lbs

[PotatoLake]

2 jerkbaits that I can’t seem to find available to try, but look awesome.

 

1. Shimano Bantam World Minnow (coolest thing I saw during iCast)

2. Megabass X-Nanahan

[Fat Ika]

6 minutes ago, PotatoLake said:

2 jerkbaits that I can’t seem to find available to try, but look awesome.

 

1. Shimano Bantam World Minnow (coolest thing I saw during iCast)

2. Megabass X-Nanahan

Thanks for the jerkbait tidbits. Never heard of the Shimano bait. I'll check it out. I was bummed I missed out on the first batch of X-Nanahans too!

[LrgmouthShad]

1 hour ago, cgolf said:

I have fished SK bleeding bait spins side by side with the back seater fishing a war eagle I gave them and got out fished at least 5 to 1.

Thanks for your comment and perspective. Ya think it is the wire that accounted for this difference?
 

Lots I still don’t understand about spinnerbaits. They are really a rabbit hole. Sorta medium thickness wire around 0.035 has worked well for me and still allows me some good freedom in changing blades without worrying too much about snapping the wire short. But you are right, mileage on wire thickness could vary on different lakes across the country. Spinnerbaits sure don’t work the same for me in NC vs NY

[Oklahoma Mike]

Grabbed a bunch of these in various sizes and colors and can’t wait to try them out on their Scrum hook. 

 

 

[FishinBuck07]

3 hours ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Okay I’ll bite. I ordered quite a few Picasso spinnerbaits because they were on an additional sale on TW. 30% off overall, couldn’t say no. I am impressed with the components on the spinnerbaits. I think they have mustad ultra points, sampo swivels, a 0.035 diameter heat treated wire, and a really cool head design. This is a good list of specs for me. I don’t care about the skirts or the blades since I’ll likely be changing them but the components on these spinnerbaits are awesome. 
 

I bought AFTCO hydronaut gloves for cold weather use as well as the helm insulated gloves. Between these two, I hope my hands stay warm for winter fishing. 

 

edit: I should add the Picasso spinnerbaits I got were the Picasso Inviz R Wire double willows. Did double willows because more color selections. 
https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Picasso_Inviz_R_Wire_Double_Willow_Spinnerbaits/descpage-PIDW.html

I really like Picasso baits, Aaron Martens had a lot to do with designing a lot of their baits so I wouldn't think twice about trying some of their baits.  Like you said the ones I have used have high quality components on them!

[Munkin]

Berkeley Gilley baits. 

 

Allen 

[MN Fisher]

Picked up a quartet of Red Eye Shads in 1/2oz on sale - next year find out if they're up to the hype.

[roadwarrior]

https://www.espn.com/outdoors/bassmaster/fishingtips/news/story?page=b_KVD_redeyeshad

 

Geez...You're thirteen years behind!

 

 

 

[Smells like fish]

Yea, what RW said… what’s next in line for you to try, GYCB Senkos ? (fishing humor)

 

I am cutting edge on these lures, I am already thinking of image projecting lures on little 4” flat screens and 12” screens for you swimbait guys.  When it swims it’s your choice of minnow, Shad or bluegill and when touching bottom it will duplicate numerous crustaceans among other bottom dwelling bass fancied delights. Anybody wanna fund this project for me?