Rod, Reel, line, swivel, hook, etc?

What do you use?

OK......baitcasting reel with 17lb test; 7ft rod medium action, 1/2oz barrel weight, swivel, 3ft flourocarbon leader, with circle style or kahle style hook...........I hook the shad either thru the nose, oe thru the tail.

Put barrel weight on main line, attach swivel, tie on leader and hook.

Exactly as stated above. The only thing I would add is use a 1oz weight if the wind us up too much like this weekend is scheduled to be this weekend. My 2cents.

Check the site for Reaxion lures. He has some nifty straight line weights that have the swivel attached. much less drag in the water so your bait won't "fly" as badly when you drift.

Here are a few options.


http://www.seeinstripes.com/baithook.htm

Abu 6500 with an ugly stick works fine for me,
I have used up to 25 lb test line and heavy lead,
but on some days, you have to go to much lighter
line and leaders to get bit.
MO

How about hooks, which ones do you use?

I like soft tips for live bait...doesn't jerk the bait around when the water is rough.

The ugly stick "Striper" is a good rod and can be replaced at Academy if it's broken, no questions asked. That's a good investment.

My rigs are Amb. 6500, 7 1/2' Ugly Stick, 20# Big Game, 2 oz. egg, swivel, 18" to 4' 15# Big Game leader, and a #1 or 1/0 Gamakatsu shiner hook through the nose.

I like the soft tipped rods for the same reason stated above. The heavier wts help keep bigger baits from tangling and seem to offer more depth control when drifting.

In the summer when fishing the thermocline, I'll drop down to a 10# or even 8# flourocarbon leader.

I've tried circle hooks and when the fish are biting aggressively they are great. When they are just picking, I have a better hookup ratio with the shiner hooks. I've also tried red hooks and can't tell any difference in number of bites.

The main thing I've noticed about getting bit or not when fish are around is keeping fired-up baits in the water. When they get sluggish, change them out.

G

My nephew was messing around last year when all our live bait ran out and all we had was dead sunfish and shad. He would give the bait a little jerk once in a while and he got bit several times! It was kinda like slabbing with a dead bait. Must have looked like an injured bait in its death throws. Anyway an anecdote at best but seems to work. worked better that a sluggish bait but not as good as a lively one.

mwd, believe me, we've definately been scrounging the bottom of the boat for deads when we've run out of bait on a hot bite. Did exactly as you described and managed to box a couple more on more than one occasion.

Good tip, G