The stretching also makes them a little more wobbly, especially the thinner diameter baits. I think stretching even makes unsalted elaztech more pliable. Your point about stretching removing the shiny sheen is also spot on, so if you want the sheen, don’t stretch it!
Thanks. Usually I will stretch out all my Z-man plastics before I even put them on the hook. However, I have experimented a little. Sometimes I’ll use one that has been stretched out and the other person in the boat will use one straight out of the package. Same color, same hook, same weight, etc. Sometimes one will out-fish the other. I guess sometimes they prefer a little bit quicker fall with the non-stretched out bait and sometimes they prefer the float of the stretched out bait. Just adds a whole other dynamic to the fishing.
Thank you for the stand up tip! I have been using these for years and, although I have stretched one or two out just trying to get it to sit right on the hook, I never knew they stood up 100% better if you stretch them! I love the Finesse and big TRD's and, they are my go to when all else fails including the drop shot. You've got a new sub!
It's hard for me to get on the water at this time , I really appreciate you sharing some of your techniques. Once I get to go out again I will give them a shot for sure. Thanks...
I discovered something wit the ZMan Big TRD fishing it today and, wanted to share. My "The Deal" Big TRD kept laying over in the water when I was checking my setup. I'd let it drop to the bottom and it wouldn't stand up the way I wanted it to even after stretching the bait to get the salt out.. Here's the rub or trick/tip: Make sure the line to the eye of the jig head is in the upper most position before you cast the bait. If you were looking at the bait while it's standing up on the bottom, make sure the line tie to the eye of the jig is positioned as high up on the eyelet as possible. This makes the bait stand straight up way better! Just slide the knot to the upper part of the eye. I've found my line tie and knot rotated around and under the eye and that makes it almost impossible to make the bait stand up. It just rolls over. Hope this helps! Double hope I explained it clearly enough.
I learned this the hard way. I bought tons of the hula stix and zman finesse wormsfor drop shots. My intrusive thoughts won and i stetched the shit out of every last one of em. Now they stand straight up vertically in the middle of the water column. Can only use them for neds and shakey heads now... My tip is if you want a drop shot that stay horizontal use the non elaztec floating plastics like the "reins bubbler" or "xzone ned" baits they work great!
I understand the ocd brother. For noobs like me there are other elaztech baits from z-man & others with less or no salt for those horizontal presentations too.
Those Shroomz heads wire hooks do bend pretty easy. I recently moved to their NedlockZ HD, they beefed up the hook and seems to lose less fish. Nice video!
I’ve never had one bend from catching a fish and I’ve caught good smallmouth on them it’s either a drag problem or a you problem the only time I had them bend out is when I’d get snagged that’s about it
Okay, you asked for feedback so, I have some specifically with the ZMan Finesse TRD. Is there a way to know exactly where to bring the hook point out when rigging a Finesse TRD? I get 1 of 5 right. I know the bubbled end, the bottom, has a line drawn down it that seems to end right where the point should come out but, isn't the bubbled part the bottom? Next, if drop shot fishing with a ZMan product, isn't a constant suspending of the bait not natural to the bass? Sometimes they want the bait to slowly sink in my opinion and, I think a bait that doesn't ever sink doesn't look natural. Last, why did ZMan come out with a Nedlockz head when it already had a finesse shroomz head? I like that the Shroomz head bends out under too much pressure. I get my rig back and, I just bend the hook back! What's the advantage to the Nedlockz? Maybe do a Finesse TRD rigging video.
Good question. Maybe it does and when stretching the bait to get salt out very little actually comes out so you'll still have plenty in the bait but now it will float off bottom. Thanks for watching!
The stretching also makes them a little more wobbly, especially the thinner diameter baits. I think stretching even makes unsalted elaztech more pliable. Your point about stretching removing the shiny sheen is also spot on, so if you want the sheen, don’t stretch it!
Thanks. Usually I will stretch out all my Z-man plastics before I even put them on the hook. However, I have experimented a little. Sometimes I’ll use one that has been stretched out and the other person in the boat will use one straight out of the package. Same color, same hook, same weight, etc. Sometimes one will out-fish the other. I guess sometimes they prefer a little bit quicker fall with the non-stretched out bait and sometimes they prefer the float of the stretched out bait. Just adds a whole other dynamic to the fishing.
Thank you for the stand up tip! I have been using these for years and, although I have stretched one or two out just trying to get it to sit right on the hook, I never knew they stood up 100% better if you stretch them! I love the Finesse and big TRD's and, they are my go to when all else fails including the drop shot. You've got a new sub!
It's hard for me to get on the water at this time , I really appreciate you sharing some of your techniques. Once I get to go out again I will give them a shot for sure. Thanks...
Nice video. I’m going to try this next weekend.
GREAT TIPS MAN
That’s some good info right there!! 🔥🔥
I discovered something wit the ZMan Big TRD fishing it today and, wanted to share. My "The Deal" Big TRD kept laying over in the water when I was checking my setup. I'd let it drop to the bottom and it wouldn't stand up the way I wanted it to even after stretching the bait to get the salt out.. Here's the rub or trick/tip: Make sure the line to the eye of the jig head is in the upper most position before you cast the bait. If you were looking at the bait while it's standing up on the bottom, make sure the line tie to the eye of the jig is positioned as high up on the eyelet as possible. This makes the bait stand straight up way better! Just slide the knot to the upper part of the eye. I've found my line tie and knot rotated around and under the eye and that makes it almost impossible to make the bait stand up. It just rolls over. Hope this helps! Double hope I explained it clearly enough.
Awesome Video! Thanks as always.
I learned this the hard way. I bought tons of the hula stix and zman finesse wormsfor drop shots. My intrusive thoughts won and i stetched the shit out of every last one of em. Now they stand straight up vertically in the middle of the water column. Can only use them for neds and shakey heads now... My tip is if you want a drop shot that stay horizontal use the non elaztec floating plastics like the "reins bubbler" or "xzone ned" baits they work great!
I understand the ocd brother. For noobs like me there are other elaztech baits from z-man & others with less or no salt for those horizontal presentations too.
Great tips keep em coming
Well done. Thank you.
Great stuff, much appreciated.
Thanks for sharing 👍
Those Shroomz heads wire hooks do bend pretty easy. I recently moved to their NedlockZ HD, they beefed up the hook and seems to lose less fish. Nice video!
I like that they bend. They have saved me so many rigs. I just bend them back.
I’ve never had one bend from catching a fish and I’ve caught good smallmouth on them it’s either a drag problem or a you problem the only time I had them bend out is when I’d get snagged that’s about it
Okay, you asked for feedback so, I have some specifically with the ZMan Finesse TRD. Is there a way to know exactly where to bring the hook point out when rigging a Finesse TRD? I get 1 of 5 right. I know the bubbled end, the bottom, has a line drawn down it that seems to end right where the point should come out but, isn't the bubbled part the bottom? Next, if drop shot fishing with a ZMan product, isn't a constant suspending of the bait not natural to the bass? Sometimes they want the bait to slowly sink in my opinion and, I think a bait that doesn't ever sink doesn't look natural. Last, why did ZMan come out with a Nedlockz head when it already had a finesse shroomz head? I like that the Shroomz head bends out under too much pressure. I get my rig back and, I just bend the hook back! What's the advantage to the Nedlockz? Maybe do a Finesse TRD rigging video.
Thanks for the footage! Definitely makes it nice to see the underwater footage. Doesn’t the salt make the fish hold on longer?
Good question. Maybe it does and when stretching the bait to get salt out very little actually comes out so you'll still have plenty in the bait but now it will float off bottom. Thanks for watching!
the topspin head got pushed back til April NOW?
Hopefully they receive them before April. The Flash-X Swim jigs will be going out to TW and stores in the next week or so.