VolFan

15 Lb CXX for everything up to and including Wake Jrs and Baby Possums. Tie good knots.

This thread hurts my head.

What kind of line and how tight did you spool it? Loosely spooled mono or hybrid and a tight drag and you will hear a crackly crunchy sound as you pull as the loops tighten and moved around loops under them on the spool. Have you used the reel yet?

It sure was interesting - I was in DC for the one 9 or so years ago as well. This one was light compared to that. I thought a train was going by...we dont live near tracks.

Measuring to keep the head 12" underwater, I'd need at least the 48. With bow lift on waves and such, I didnt think the 54 would be terrible.

I'm going to put an inexpensive bow mount on my inexpensive tinny. I was looking at a MinnKota Powerdrive or Motorguide Xi3 in 45-55 lb thrust and 48-54 in shaft. Anyone have strong opinions on one or the other? I'm thinking foot pedal to stay hands free - am I wrong there?

Thats the UT Ag campus in the background I think. I used to kayak around there. Sad

Theyve got the letters theyve always needed...WFT...Just in the wrong order...

Seems appropriate for this year. It could be the Brown's year too!

Youre on the right track. Look at the Little T and Nolichucky drainages in NC and the Ocoee in TN. I dont know where you're coming from, but the Obed in TN is great too and a Wild and Scenic River. But its not necessarily in Eastern TN.

East Tennessee - near Knoxville or Chattanooga. Plenty of big lakes, plenty of rivers. Brown fish, green, fish, striped fish, and even some good trout. Chickamauga if you want to get big fish. Its just the best place in the US.

There's great mountain trout fishing here as well, but the bigger fish are usually browns not cuts or mysis-fat bows. A ton of put and take fisheries as well as various private waters. Norman is a good fishery, but not without a boat. Plenty of smaller rivers here to chase brown bass.

Ive had a few orders over the last month with no noticeable delays.

Great looking fish! The Potty is one of my favorite all-time fisheries. My wife and I were just took the boat out here and were talking about a couple great days we'd had there, although we fished it in and around DC.

Im still fishing Curado Ds stock. They get cleaned every season and lubed as need. Those reels do everything I need them to from 1/4 oz to 5 ounces.

If you are going solo and are going to stand mid deck for long periods - get the insert, especially if you're 200+. It doesnt hurt to get it other than maybe a little more water not draining.

I have a 2015, previously had two. I have had them in fresh and brackish waters. Of the problems listed, the only one I had was the deck, and then only when solo on a hot sunny day. It did not affect fishability at all, and when I run tandem its not an issue. The problem is the size of the span of the deck - that much plastic and the air underneath it expand when heated, and you see some waviness. Never had a problem with the scuppers. All of the cracks I've seen on Nucanoes were operator error/ignorance/abuse. Do not use scupper carts on any kayak, ever. Its just not worth it.

I can cast 110 yards with a steak burrito and a hollow frog.

Is this a bad time to mention I got orders from TW, Northstar, and even BPS all by today after ordering Sunday? Asking for a friend...

Not sure if they're still a sponsor here, but I just refilled the box with another dozen jigs from NorthStar Customs. Great jigs, great quality and his hair/silicone hybrids are KILLER on stream (and lake and river) smallmouths - I highly recommend his work!

I have not fished the Pigeon in Waynesville, but I would go with 6 lb test, spinning reels, and fish Roostertails, small Rapalas, and small soft plastics like 4 " senkos for smallmouth. I am doing just that on a different NC river in a few weeks.

I did three racks yesterday and forgot to take the picture- I cut them into two-bone sections before glazing them up on the grill with the reduced drippings and a little homemade sauce. Its not my traditional Memphis dry-rub purist model but it is a crowd pleaser!

Nah - look at the scales at the side of the gill plate for scale... 4 lbs 10.25 oz. Regardless - thats a dandy fish.

If theres much grass a swivel is really your only option. Once the back binds its a line twist tornado.

I lived in Denver CO for five years - great, diverse fishing out there. More green fish here, and some dandy brown as well. I live in Charlotte now - it just depends on what you want to fish for and how you want to live. Yoi could live in/around Denver NC on the north end of Lake Norman and have great access to that fishery, and an hour or two drive to great smallmouth fisheries. You could live near Jordan Lake, and be on a world class largemouth lake with DDs every year, but further from the brown fish (but closer to blue ones). Its all in what you want - pm me, I travel around the state and am happy to answer anything.