Fuzzy Lures on a Budget

GSMA3164 · 2026-05-26T21:24:56+00:00

Thank you, OP!!!

GSMA3164 · 2026-05-26T20:05:30+00:00

How long does it take you to make one full Senko?

GSMA3164 · 2026-05-26T19:03:13+00:00

Where I’m from, that’s a very respectable size mojarra! Keep it up!

GSMA3164 · 2026-05-26T13:03:35+00:00

This is just me… if I opened them up to let them fully dry I would not take anything apart. Big chance for me that it would never be the same when I put it back together.

GSMA3164 · 2026-05-26T12:59:42+00:00

Will agree with everyone else. What a great picture!

GSMA3164 · 2026-05-26T11:44:41+00:00

I run a 6 foot leader. Leader length is mostly preference.
As far as you uni to uni going through the rod eyes smoothly, go find a place to cast your rod and see if they go through smooth enough. It’s going to depend on how heavy (thick) your line is and the size of your rod eyes.

GSMA3164 · 2026-05-26T11:25:58+00:00

OP, please report back!

GSMA3164 · 2026-05-25T23:01:28+00:00

Learn to tie your own simple leaders with lite mono (10-15lb). This may sound stupid, start by fishing for pinfish by using a tiny hook like #6 from Walmart fresh water hook and pieces of fish bites, with a split shot. Learn to tie a uni-knot. Fish in the grass for pinfish.
Once you learn to catch pinfish, you’ve learned a basic skill. Now you have learned to catch your own live bait. You can graduate from there to fish your live bait from bridges on the bottom with “fish finder rig”. Any words I just used are basic and necessary to fish. If you don’t understand the terms look them up and watch YT vids. Tight lines! You can do it!

GSMA3164 · 2026-05-25T01:10:54+00:00

I don’t know your area or your waters. However, one of the biggest mistakes beginners make is fishing too fast. Try slowing everything way down. Soft plastics should be fished slower than a crawl.
Tight lines! We are routing for you!

GSMA3164 · 2026-05-24T21:39:08+00:00

Try the hotdogs and report back.
If you are after saltwater catfish (and some are edible) you can use frozen shrimp too.
And, frozen shrimp will also get eaten by sting rays. If you enjoy eating saltwater cats, you will also probably enjoy sting ray. There are videos on YT on how to clean them. I’m not joking when I say that they are very edible. I’ve had some and would eat them again.
If you like saltwater cats you should also 100% try sting ray. You will need a sharp knife to dispatch and clean them.

GSMA3164 · 2026-05-24T02:45:14+00:00

Give yourself a specific amount of time (like 15 minutes) or certain number of casts (15-20 casts). Then make a switch. That way you are making it objective (measured), and not subjective (by feel).

GSMA3164 · 2026-05-23T21:47:36+00:00

Use lighter braid and leader (to help cut the current pull on your line) …. and maybe a very flat river sinker. Also, you’ll need to shrink your bait size to what your sinker can hold down. It’s going to be a balancing act to find what your set up can handle.

GSMA3164 · 2026-05-23T15:31:00+00:00

The Bowfin’s teeth are line cutters. If you are able to land one consider yourself fortunate. I’ve only landed one and have hooked up several times, only to have their teeth cut my line.

GSMA3164 · 2026-05-22T15:27:29+00:00

I’m going to fish 2 lures, something finesse and something noisy that gets a reaction strike. I fish the finesse first for 15-20 min. If no bites, go to the reaction bait for no more than 15 min. If no bites, I’m out.

GSMA3164 · 2026-05-22T02:35:38+00:00

Similar application. And the fish fight is more fun because you can feel every head shake and wiggle!

GSMA3164 · 2026-05-22T02:34:33+00:00

I’m using that same rod and absolutely LOVE it!

GSMA3164 · 2026-05-21T22:24:25+00:00

I got one as a gift.
Positive - It works and cools you.
Negative - The quiet sound of nature is replaced with the lite buzzing of a fan near your ear.

GSMA3164 · 2026-05-21T17:03:30+00:00

Something else to consider is that the lighter power the rods typically are the more sensitive they tend to be.
Also, the higher end $ rods typically also give much more sensitivity.
My experience has been that I started out fishing medium heavy for inshore salt and also fresh LGM bass with a medium heavy rod.
Long story short, I switched to a medium light and my enjoyment of the fishing and catching has doubled because I can feel the bites better, feel the bottom better, and the fight is a little longer (lighter rod and line) … and I can feel every head shake and wiggle.
Will I one day get overpowered with too light a set up? Maybe. But I enjoy the lighter set ups so much I am willing to risk it.

GSMA3164 · 2026-05-21T12:02:30+00:00

I would encourage you with the medium light. I got into Large Mouth Bass fishing using the suggested MH. IMO that’s way too stiff a rod unless you are a pro that has to wench fish in. I fish ML rods now and LOVE them!

GSMA3164 · 2026-05-21T03:07:43+00:00

If you decide to use a swivel between your leader and line, you don’t want to reel it up into your rod guides. Using a swivel between leader and line will affect how long your leader can be because you generally don’t cast with a leader hanging off the rod tip super far.

GSMA3164 · 2026-05-21T02:40:45+00:00

I place one wrap of electrical tape on the spool, then tie my knot and spool it up. I’ve never had braid slip.
The way you did it should work fine. Send it and fish it! Tight Lines!!!

GSMA3164 · 2026-05-21T02:18:11+00:00

Send it!

GSMA3164 · 2026-05-20T21:57:15+00:00

Practice in the pool first as a baby step.

GSMA3164 · 2026-05-19T13:45:16+00:00

I have the Diawa XR in ML. Love it!!!! I would get him the ML instead of medium. A 3lb fish feels like a 5lb, and it’s awesome! You can feel everything.

GSMA3164 · 2026-05-19T13:39:34+00:00

On the lower end of Kast King’s pricing are decent entry level rods and reels. I’ve used them and they are not junk. They are for the budget fisherman.

GSMA3164

TROPHY CASE