radray

Congrats Flaswimbaiter! Very nice fish. I enjoy reading your reports and looking at the pics. Raymond

Good Job Austen! Very nice video. Are you using the Go Pro or something else? Raymond

Nice fish! Good job.

Good job! Raymond

Sorry to hear you lost your first swimbait fish my friend. I know the feeling. On Thanksgiving morning I got snapped off by a big striper at upper castaic. It hit my 8" BBZ-1 floater while slowly swimming it. I had a good hookset and was gaining ground, but I did not loosen the drag and thought I could horse it in. Big mistake. My 25lb. line snapped and my lure gone with it. However after half an hour, I walked up the dam and found my lure. The fish shook it off and current pushed it off to shore. We will get em next time. It's a learning experience. Raymond

Good job my friend. Keep us posted on the 8" weedless hudd. Raymond

Congrats! What a good way to break in the BB Deps 250. Raymond

Congrats on the swimbait fish. I like that hookset. Raymond

Congrats on the DD fish. I can imagine your excitement on landing that fish. Raymond

Just saw this video and all I can say is AWESOME! I am envious of you my friend. I look forward to seeing more of your videos. Raymond

The lakes here in Southern CA are now being stocked with trout and there are signs that the stripers are getting more active as they start to key in on the trout instead of the shad. I fish Castaic Lake so if you are planning to hit up that lake message me and I will be glad to share any info. I may have. I know that Stripers are also starting to get active at Diamond Valley Lake and Silverwood as well. Maybe the other members who fish those lakes regularly can chime in. Raymond

Guys, I appreciate all the feedbacks. It gives me something to try.

Thank you all for the reply. Just to let you know. I was using a uni knot and it was very well lubed.

Thank you Ceasar for the reply. I was really surprised when my line broke. The Izorline XXX in 25lb. is so strong I pull up branches and underwater plants when my bait gets stuck in the bottom. I was heart broken when that Striped Bass snapped my line. That would have been a new personal best.

Hello all swimbait fishermen and Happy Holidays. I have a question on how you set your drags when throwing the big baits. I have heard from some that says they lock down their drag and just haul in the fish. Others have said to set it 1/4 of the tensile strength. Some says you need the tight drag to get a good hookset and those who says to pre-set the drag says you need to do this so you don't break your line. I have always pre-set my drag to 1/4 to a 1/3 f the line's tensile strength and have never had a problem. I am asking because on Thanksgiving Day, I hooked up on a big Striper at Castaic Lake slow rolling an 8" BBZ 1 trout (Floating) and my drag was on the tight side. I was using Izorline XXX in 25 lb. and the line was snapped at the knot before I can lower the drag. This is the first that I have seen this line snapped on a fish because it is a very strong line. Anyways, if there are swimbait fishermen here who targets the big Striped Bass, I would really appreciate your inputs and any tips. Thank you. Raymond

I will include your cousin and your family in my prayers.

Ben is a very stand up guy. I was in the market for a swimbait rod and I gave him a call based on what I have read on this thread and the other forums. He responded to all my e-mails and phone calls. He is a very pleasant guy to speak with. He loves fishing and he knows his stuff. In short he earned my business with his awesome customer service and down to earth personality. I can't wait for my rod to be delivered. Raymond