deep

My first thought too!!

Still looking for my first 2012 bass.. 1/1/2012: skunked, fishing jigs 1/4/2012: skunked again, fishing 8" hudds Going out later today.

I swim. It's way cheaper, and heck, I get some work-out.

Mend-it for all soft baits.

I've lost a ton of mission fish, regular 6" hudds and other softbaits fishing from the shore over the last 10 months. And only ONE weedless hudd. Just saying.. If you're scared of losing baits, you'll never fish to the full potential. I know I can't afford to lose baits. So all of my hardbaits are floaters. If I'm fishing from the shore, the only softbaits I use are the weedless hudds, and ROF5 8" hudds (I modify the latter slightly).

X2

Flawless transaction.

I think there are close to 50 different kinds of scent. Google it, I'm not going to chance posting a link

Pro Cure Super Gel is all I use.

The 400TE holds 260 yards of 14 lb mono.. Actually casting is probably easier with a thicker braid. Thinner ones dig in too much, although you'll probably cast a little farther with lighter line. I haven't used the Izorline braid, but you get the idea. I do a lot of non-swimbait fishing too- mostly jigs. Be careful with the casts, and avoid backlashes, and you should be fine. I personally think 50 lb test braid is too light, not because of the actual strength but due to the diameter. Matt Allen uses 80 lb Power Pro and 30 lb leader for hudds I believe. I'm running 50 lb test braid on my casting jig rod (200 size reel), and 80 lb test on my weedless hudd setup (300 size reel) currently.

Prayers sent. RIP.

Actually I personally like the single-joint slammers better, but once again that's just me.

This is just my opinion, but I don't think color matters a lot for topwaters. The fish is mostly only seeing the bottom of the lure anyway. Just go with the biggest baddest topwater you have; the fish WILL come up to get it.

Thanks for the review.

Very interesting. OP, when the bait reaches you, could you snap a close-up of the joints? Looks like some sort of backbone running throughout.

15 lb Yo-Zuri for 6" hard baits, 80 lb braid + leader for 6" soft baits, 25 lb big game for 8" baits is what have worked well for me..

Upto 300 size, I like the lo-pros. The two lo-pro SB reels I have are the Curado 301E (~27 IPT) and the Toro Winch 51 (~22.5 IPT). Line capacity is the important deal here though. Either reel also has the guts to cast and retrieve swimbaits day in and day out. A 200 size reel will just not cut it long enough for 6"+ baits IMO. The regular bass reels were never designed to hold up to the strain that the big baits produce. For 8"+ baits, I did move up to a 400 size round reel. The Toro 60 has the same line capacity as the Shimano 400 size reels though, if you want to use a lo-profile reel.

I live in south florida, you cant get away with using a 9" bait unless the bass are big! How are the rising sons?? Rising Son: viewtopic.php?f=28&t=2887

Congrats Don!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Excellent review!