SVT THUNDER

If I’m remembering correctly, they should be 10mm eyes. The Fish Skull eyes are very similar. https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Fish_Skull_Living_Eyes/descpage-FSLIV.html

It’s your first attempt. Don’t sweat it. Stick with it and one day you’ll look back at it and be amazed at how far you’ve come.

Looking good!

When I get baits in to paint, I have everything from the maker sent along with the bait. Standard practice for those of us who paint. I’ve always clear coated over the eyes on Hinkles or any other bait. I just stick them in place using what little adhesive they have on the back and hit them with a light spray of clear. It’s tacked off enough in 10-15 mins to the point they’re not coming off after that and I start spraying clear over the rest of the bait at that point. I would expect most painters to have a surplus of eyes in many sizes. I do anyways. If you can find out what size eyes are used, I can look when I’m back at my shop and see if I have any in that size. If so, I’ll mail you or the painter a pair.

The only thing that’s changed for me since I wrote that is my preferred hook has become the 10/0 weighted Beast. Last year started off with record low water levels and raging growth of eelgrass here. So the majority of bottom structure I normally crawl a Fatty over was simply smothered with the eelgrass. I like that 12/0 when staying in contact with hard bottom areas while fished slow over scattered with rocks, brush, stumps etc. But I’ve lost a lot of those areas fishing from the bank simply due to the takeover by the eelgrass. I normally run a bigger hook than needed on weedless soft baits for the extra insurance. But last year I had no issue running the 10/0 exclusively.

1. I HOPE in some mysterious miracle my prayers that every strand of eelgrass that’s taken over this lake vanishes forever and TVA quits killing the milfoil are answered. (More of a dream than a goal) 2. As always, catch bigger fish more often and break that elusive PB. 3. Force myself to stop throwing big glides every trip. 4. Leave the big sticks at home and focus more on smaller wakes and crankdowns more often. 5. Find a way to fish certain areas from the bank that I used to hammer them in from my boat. 6. Either start having operations again to have a small chance to fish from my boat again for a bit or sell the thing. Kills me just looking at it sitting. 7. Continue to try and help others find the passion for fishing swimbaits and share as much knowledge as possible. 8. Obtain the elusive 2 baits I’ve been after for too long…a Beast Mode Wake and a UFO lipped Mini. May 2023 bring everyone’s goals to fruition!

Looks and sounds about right brother lol

Didn’t break my PB. Likely won’t since I beat the banks these days. Caught plenty of 3-4lb bass on 10” baits. Only 1 blowup on a 14” Moby that didn’t get hooked up. Not sure I fished anymore than usual. But I did get to know more great members here. The last sentence isn’t anything I can judge for myself. But I tried. This year I will continue my never ending attempt to catch bigger bass like everyone else. I hope to pull back the reigns on my growing problem of buying so many baits. But more than anything else, I want to continue trying to help others as much as I can. God has allowed my passion for fishing to stay with me throughout my life and no doubt has helped me stay clean and sober for over 24 years now. Wishing all of you nothing but the best in 2023.

I have a lot of confidence in the rattle in jokers. I start out with resin and/or wood wakes and then switch to the Joker if they aren’t getting bit. I don’t know if the bass hate the noise or if it draws them in, but they crush that bait when they hit it. One bit of advice…be very aware of the lip when unhooking bass. I’ve popped a few into the lake not paying attention. I now keep backups. Also press on the lip after every fish to make sure it’s still locked in.

Was always a bit curious about that Jared. Now I know.

I know several guys who fish it. But I’m not one of them. Just watched the swim video on IG by Swimbait Reviews in the past week or so. It’s meant to be fished slow. As for your other questions, most are things you’ll need to figure out. I know guys that swear by this line and that rod with this reel throwing a certain bait that simply doesn’t work at all for me. Nothing can answer those questions better than trial and error along with time on the water. Here’s the link to the swim video and break down of the 255. https://www.instagram.com/reel/CkWjkd1J8-D/?igshid=YWJhMjlhZTc=

I’ll simply add the majority of us prefer the low float K9’s. I know very little about the bl8nket collab coming up but it looks like @LowSpinnergave you all the info. Tight Lines

9oz and up is when the 908 really starts to shine. Loads up and launches heavy baits like a catapult. And the rod will surprise you when you hook up on a bass. As @Morgan Ysaid, that 1/3 from the tip down bends nice and really feels a lot softer with a bass on. I keep the reel on mine spooled up with 25lb CXX and have horsed on some bass without any issue. I’m sure there are probably better rods out there. But as long as mine is doing everything I need, I’m happy.

Well done!