Top Ramen

I have limited experience with them but I have noticed that if the counter weight is not balanced properly the handle tends to swing around during the cast and lock up your spool. Then, bad things happen. I would imagine it's much less likely with a properly balanced one. EDIT - from reading the thread above, it appears they can all do that if they're not positioned properly.

Hang from paper clips when not in use. I toss what I plan to use into a big Plano when I'm on the water.

While I personally would not buy a bait in order to re-sell it for money, I see nothing wrong with buying one specifically to use to trade. Also, selling a bait for 10-20% over retail, if there is a real demand for it, would not offend me. If someone got a bait for $100, I could not bring myself to criticize them for selling it for $120. I would not, myself, charge double for a bait. But, that's a personal decision. Also, those of you criticizing people who get them to trade don't understand how that affects the overall market. They are actually INCREASING your chances of getting a bait you really want. While keeping a few people out of this morning's frenzy might have extended the window of opportunity from 5 min to 10 min, it would not have made it any easier for many of the people that missed out. By bringing those baits into the forum for trade, they are giving you a MUCH better shot at actually acquiring it. Even the 'flippers' are increasing your chances of actually getting your hands on a particular bait, though at an increased price. Any bait not sold to a 'flipper' may very well end up in the hands of a collector/hoarder who never (or rarely) fishes it and never be available to you. To me, any transaction where both people walk away happy is a good one. My .02.

Weel, crap, for some reason the site won't let me upload images . . .

Okay guys - My PM inbox is exploding. Please do NOT message me about the bait. I'll make the decision when they come and and post something then. But, I promise SU will have the fist shot when one of them goes up for sale.

I got a Kokanee and a Perch Trout. If it turns out to be a really big topwater (which is seems to be) then I'll sell at least one of them to someone on SU.

X2. Best two knots for tying on a bait. I use a double uni for attaching the leader.

I was so excited to see my thread had jumped up to six pages over night . . . . . . . . . . . [sigh] then I read them.

A rod too? Then it turns into a $600-$800 bait.

I don't think I even have a rod that would comfortably throw a bait over ten oz. Tacklewarehouse lists the Trick at 7.5" and the Roman Made site lists the Negotiator at 7".

I think it's just under 8".

That is exactly the type of input I was looking for. I already have some TTs, so it sounds like I was right to be leaning towards the Negotiator.

I'm ready to pull the trigger on a Roman Made bait and I am conflicted as to which color to get. I am going to get either a Trick or Negotiator (leaning towards Negotiator) but have gotten myself completely vapor-locked over picking the color. I know I am making this more complicated than it needs to be, but here I am. I would love to hear thoughts on color selection from those of you with hard bait experience. I live in Austin, so there are no trout in the lakes. Forage consists of bluegill, shad and juvenile everything else. I'd also love to hear how these two baits compare from anyone who has fished both. I am assuming the three piece is similar to a triple trout and the two piece has a slower, less pronounced S movement, but I honestly don't know.