05-28-2010, 11:35 AM
[cool][#0000ff]Sounds like you got it bad...and it's gettin' worse (tubeitis). The good news is that it ain't terminal. The bad news is that it can mess up your social life.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Those Big Hammers are good plastics...for a wide range of species. But if you want the big spotties and sand bass you might do better with larger swim baits and tubes...or big tailed grubs. Plain white with a red eyed head is always good. Ditto for chartreuse or fire tiger colors. White and blue or white and red are good back up colors. And, if you have some good diving crankbaits they can work great...but it gets costly if you find too much structure.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Not sure I agree with your horizontal rack. I went to vertical racks for salt water a long time ago because sand and salt water do not improve the inner workings of a good reel. You sacrifice some clearance around the tube with vertical racks but you keep the tackle in better condition.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If you just want to raise up the horizontal rack a bit, install a couple of vertical stabilizers on the long tube that has the hooks on it. Cut in and install two T's...angling down and in...for 6" PVC pieces that will rest against the tube and hold the rack slightly upward. Use screws for the first trial run, until you find the right angle when you are on the water. Here are some pics from the past...of one of the models of slanted rod racks I have played with.[/#0000ff]
[inline "SLANT RACK 003.JPG"]
[inline "TUBEDUDE'S SLANT RACK.JPG"]
[signature]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Those Big Hammers are good plastics...for a wide range of species. But if you want the big spotties and sand bass you might do better with larger swim baits and tubes...or big tailed grubs. Plain white with a red eyed head is always good. Ditto for chartreuse or fire tiger colors. White and blue or white and red are good back up colors. And, if you have some good diving crankbaits they can work great...but it gets costly if you find too much structure.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Not sure I agree with your horizontal rack. I went to vertical racks for salt water a long time ago because sand and salt water do not improve the inner workings of a good reel. You sacrifice some clearance around the tube with vertical racks but you keep the tackle in better condition.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]If you just want to raise up the horizontal rack a bit, install a couple of vertical stabilizers on the long tube that has the hooks on it. Cut in and install two T's...angling down and in...for 6" PVC pieces that will rest against the tube and hold the rack slightly upward. Use screws for the first trial run, until you find the right angle when you are on the water. Here are some pics from the past...of one of the models of slanted rod racks I have played with.[/#0000ff]
[inline "SLANT RACK 003.JPG"]
[inline "TUBEDUDE'S SLANT RACK.JPG"]
[signature]