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Well I upgraded from this, a 1998 Fisher Fish and Ski with a 150 Mercury EFI to a 2015 Bass Cat Caracal with a 225 Yamaha VMax SHO!!!

After my last 4 trips out in the cold rain and wind without a sniff(besides a 6+ that snapped my alpha shad off last trip) I have been blanked. Although the water is still cold for this time of the year here, if there’s open water, I’m fishing regardless of temps. Water was about 50 degrees today. Decided to bring my girlfriend with me today in hopes she’d catch something or at least she’d be there to take some quality pictures if I managed to catch one and that’s exactly why she came lol. No bites on any soft baits, tied the 175 on and just worked it with reel turns and the fish were all fired up, follows back to the boat, eats right at the boat, it was a very different day on the water for me. I ended up with 4 total, 3 that we’re about 2 lbs and this last big girl that ended up weighing 6lb1oz. It’s already been a grind but keep grinding and you’re time will come eventually...I usually call it luck haha

Listen up if your looking to get in to throwing rats don't waste your money on expensive rat baits it’s all hype!! I have a Nezuma XL and will fish the spro over it any day of the week it straight catches fish. Size 13 boot for size comparison

Damn Mike that looks great!

I’d imagine it’s from the lead harness

Before... and after... Painted console. Not going to put more fish in the boat but didn’t like the cheap plastic looking console.

certified NY slaunch

The straight razor did the trick. I cut out what appeared to be old epoxy from where the old tail had been installed. Thanks for the help.

Not sure what others have done, but I have used a single edged razor blade and a small regular screwdriver to clean up the old residue in the slot so the tail would fit flush. I used rubber cement as well to affix the new tails.

My go to baits are the Jackall Gantarel and MS Slammer. I definitely get blanked a lot as well. I definitely use swimbaits in ponds and have caught some nice fish doing so. Target the same areas you would with conventional gear but it's just a bigger profile bait.

Congrats and great fish!

What a sweet rig man! Congrat bro

Fish in heavy wind with SBS.

One bait that doesn't break the bank that i fish in any conditions is the 3:16 5" weedless rising son. Ive caught some good fish on it (9lbs) and they are priced very good. One question for you is, do you just blind cast? Cant anywhere and every where? if so..... your wasting time. Focus on areas that you know fish should be at ie... structure, drop offs, points, ambush points..... Find those spot and try different things. not to say you won't catch fish by blind casting but at least you are upping your chances on getting bit.

It seems that same body of waters are better for swimbaits, but just might be the day you are fishing them. So give then many days of fishing to really figure them out. Fo to would be the 6" HPH. This seems odd, maybe something is bent so the two are not fitting together. I fish 2-3 times a week and almost always catch a least one swimbait fish evertime. Yes and yes, you need to spend time on these waters and figure out what the fish want. If you feel better fish with a worm to see where the fish are then move on to swimbaits. There are many, start with a salvage or sweaver then move on to HPH or Hinkle, phoney, etc. Depending on the day and time and what fish are doing. Wouldn't say more baits but hopefully bigger fish bits. Good luck and stick with it.

My confidence bait is definitely a Tiny klash. That thing will catch fish ALL sizes anywhere from a small pond to big lakes. for the reel, add tape I have that same issue bullshad or savage gear shine glide will cover the cheap gizzard bait i can almost always catch a fish on a 316 mission fish or 316 minnow/5in rising son. Definitely my confidence soft bait.

I am far from a swimbait expert, but here goes... - my confidence bait is a 5.8 Keitech in Pro Blue Red Pearl / weighted Owner Beast 6/0. I catch everything from aggressive 1.5lb to 4.5lb bass on it. - I've been eyeballing the Smash-Tech gizzard shads, both 5" and 7", line-thru and weedless. Gonna pull the trigger one of these days. - can you describe the reel / reel seat situation a little more?

Congrats and cool video

Easy going guy. Easy to buy from. I'll do it again with no worries.

Thats a tank- congrats!

Obviously you don't use a lathe to make a gill shaped bait. My point is that builders using composite materials (like Azek) use exactly the same tools as you would using wood. If you ever built a deck using Azek you use the same saws, drills, routers, etc that you would use on wood. Not a great deal of difference in tools or labor. Check out the Tackle Underground forum if you want more information. BTW if anyone wants to try building with composite lumber make sure you do NOT use a polyethylene-based material like Trex. You need to use a PVC based material like Azek. People are free to fish whatever baits they want. Been at this for 50 years and I haven't found a "magic" bait yet.

Hands down the TORO Rocket. Same gear ratio and size as the bigshooter I think. You can always reel slower, but when cranking fish that hit at the end of a long cast, you can never reel fast enough.

Round: Shrapnel or Conquest 400 Low profile: Tranx 400 or Lexa 400

On a roll! Way to go dude.

I was able to get a bite but will see if she holds.. Been fishing my new OD XL Rat... So far it’s been producing... here is a 9.1lbs

Must be a Shellcracker week. So happy to finally stick one during the SUB and not come home to find someone had posted a bigger fish. Just tied on a a G2 that I bought from BigSlant about three years ago and on the first cast got slurped. Went 7.12 on one scale and 7.09 on another, settled for 7.09. Hope it holds up!! Here's a cast to catch vid, I was a little excited!

Got my first swimbait fish today on an S-Waver 168. The bite had died down on my chatterbait so I figured what the heck, I'll throw the S-Waver. First cast, and I pulled in a 3 pounder. Dobyns Fury 806 and Tranx 300 performed flawlessly. I know this isn't a big deal to most of you, but when that bait got hit I dont think I've ever been so excited while fishing. Gonna start throwing it a lot more now that I have a little more confidence in it.

Try seagar tazu floura. It also may be line twist and when you go back to cast the line wraps around the top guide and then when you cast the bait cast off. I have casted off on mono, floura and braid, and trust me $1000 isn't that bad, it sucks big time.