abkeenan

Hey fellas, Just wanted to get some opinions on fish attracts and if you believe in them or they are just another gimmick to get your $. I have never used any kind of attractant (spray, stick, oil, lube, etc) so I really have no idea. Was thinking of trying the megastrike stuff as it seemed easy enough and somewhat clean/non messy. Probably would not put them on moving baits as those are more a reaction type of strike. Would be using it on jigs/soft plastics where you need them to hold onto it and they get a better look/smell of it. Thoughts and opinions?

You guys use the nibblets by tipping them on a minnow under a float/bobber? Or do you put them on a moving plastic bait like when using a slider or swimming minnow on a jig head?

I personally like 8lb for my spinning gear. For my spinning gear I use it for shakey heads, small jigs, swimming grubs and drop shotting. 10# I use for cranks and jerk baits and I use fluoro for both. 12-15# I use for jigs, texas, jika rigs and use fluoro. Use mono for buzz baits and spinner baits in 15# big game. 17# I use on topwater and use Trilene XL mono 20# I have never used this high of test on TR before but I am going to get into throwing big flutter spoons this year as it looks fun so I will be throwing those big 5" 1+oz spoons on 20lb Seaguar Inv X fluoro. 65# I use braid for A-Rigs and gonna try frogging if the water ever gets high again to flip and pitch it in and out of trees. I know you didn't ask for all this info but hey its still winter and I have cabin fever and nothing else to do.

I also have used both P-Line Fluoroclear and Yo-zuri Hybrid and I disagree. I think the memory is less on Yo-Zuri and knot holding/strength properties are better as well on the Yo-Zuri. But will vouch for both as incredibly strong lines. I have pulled my boat towards the snag without breaking and I use 8lb line on my spinning gear. Can't really go wrong with either IMO as both lines are at the top of my list for spinning gear applications.

Surprised I haven't heard any mention of Yo-Zuri Hybrid. Best of both worlds with mono/fluoro, yet it is soft and supple with low memory and stuff is STRONG. Gets my vote.

Wow nice fish Champ/Ranger and Donna. Looks very healthy. Weight on that pig?

I'm an Oakley man myself.

Happy B-Day Bill!

Sunday April 29th at 1PM @ Old Hwy 86 Park which is basically Babler's back yard and easy transport for all his fillets. See ya then!

Wow two 7lb'ers in the same thread caught on the same day in the same area of the lake. Wow...rub it in why don't cha! Making my skin itch here in STL. Congrats on the fish to both of you. Need to come and get a line wet down there ASAP. Nice reports.

Tex-Posing is the only way to go.

Just signed up. Had such a good time last year and really looking forward to it again.

Blue Green Phantom......I like it!

Ended up buying 100ct 1/16oz minnow head with #4 matzuo sickle hook and 100ct 1/32oz minnow head with #6 sickle hook all for about $20. I heard lots of guys liking the sickle hooks for crappie so I went with those. $20 for 200 jigs seemed like a good deal to me.

Deal of the century right there.

What weight and hook size you guys use on your crappie jig heads? I 90% of the time just use a lead head with swimmin' minnow on it and was thinking of buying in bulk as I tend to lose A LOT of them in the trees. Before I buy 50-100 of them I'd like to get some thoughts. I see some good deals on eBay for some with sickle hooks.

The boat makes your house in the background look so small Champ/Donna..... :secret-laugh:J/K. couldn't resist. Beautiful boat.

Not much of a pitcher and flipper but I belong to BassBoatCentral and there is quite a bit more traffic there than here at OAF. Click this: http://www.bbcboards.net/rods-reels/146995-flipping-your-rod-reel-line-setup.html and there is 10 pages of peoples opinions and setups starting in 2004. Maybe look at the last 3-4 pages which are going to more current to what is newer and available. All that being said I hear a lot of guys raving about the new Shimano Cumara Flippin rods. Pair that with a reel like a revo, core or steez that fits comfortably IN YOUR HAND and I don't think you could go wrong.

Jerry, Not cool to basically sabotage his thread telling people to look for cheaper alternatives. If you don't have anything nice to say or have no interest in the product listed its best just to keep your comments yourself. Keeping someone from selling their stuff is a jerk move IMO.

WOW. Now that is a nice feeesh. My biggest crappie ever caught was on TR and was caught with a table rock shad X-rap about 5 years ago. Those big slabs will suck down bigger baits too!

I throw McSticks 90% of the time and I have rogues, pointers and RC STX's. My brother prefers the LC pointers. I don't do anything to the McSticks and fling them "as is" right out of the pack. Have had no issues with them other than a couple that filled with water and sank and those were the first run production ones that are now long gone and the ones you buy now will not have that issue. I throw mine on 10lb Berkley Fluoro 100% and have no reason to change as it performs flawless for me. No breakage issues and if it gets some memory I tie it to a tree walk off about 80-100 yards or so and give it a stretch then wind it back in and give it a spritz of KVD line conditioner. Works for me. As far as colors I have slayed them on a variety of colors. Chrome Shad, Blue Bandit, Norman Flake have all done well for me. I have a gray ghost still in the pack that I have yet to throw but it looks to be killer.

I'm gonna say buy 3 or 4 Luck E Strike RC STX instead of spending that $ on ONE Megabass. They are almost identical, have some great colors and catch fish. Some people claim that the action is different, or its this or that but I personally all think that is mind games the angler plays on himself. I think guys say the megabass is better because they are trying to justify spending nearly $30 on one bait. Sure megabass work, but I think the Luck E Strikes are just as good IMO. One more thing about megabass.....they are FRAGILE (not Italian). Lots and LOTS of complaints about the bills just breaking off on casts and while working the bait back to the boat.....not hitting any kind of cover, bottom, above water limb...nada. Just breaking outta nowhere. Megabass also will not replace them and I have heard nothing but bad things about their customer service. If you are truly wanting one then by all means get one. But being that you said you are not the $30 lure type guy you would be heart broken when on your 4th cast it becomes a useless bait with its bill cracked off. Spro McSticks are also a heck of a bait and less than half the price of a megabass. They are my favorite jerkbait actually.

I belong to Bass Boat Central's website and http://www.reel-ex.com/ always seems to get rave reviews on service. They are in California though. There is also another member there on BBC from St. Charles MO ( http://threeltuningandcleaning.com/reel_cleaning/Reel_Service.html ) that I know does work on servicing reels which I have also heard does good work. Might shoot them an email or contact them.

Champ seems to be confused since his recent purchase. The shine and sparkle of that beautiful new Ranger has his coordinates and bearings all haywire. Its been years since any big brownies have been caught in those areas around the dam. I believe MDC biologist said according to their fish tracking information and surveys that they all migrated to Aunt Creek. Every last one that is over 18". Techo can I get confirmation of this?

I also use Tackle Warehouse for about 80% of my tackle. But sometimes I need to have a "hands on" purchase and need to physically inspect a product to see what its all about (Rods, size of bait, etc). In that case I go to BPS and buy from them. I also go during their Spring Fishing Classic and pick up some of the stuff they have pretty good deals on and usually get in on the rod/reel trade in.