J Francho

Took my son out today, caught nothing but smolts. Had fun, though.

I pack the pinion support gear, any worm gear support bearings, crankshaft frame and side cover bearings, and knob bearings with grease. I prefer the smooth feel during the retrieve. Anything that affects the spool speed once the thumbar is depressed gets oil. Of course if it's someone else's reel, and they have a preference, then...

Took advantage of the warm temps, and hit the ditches near home. Went 3/3, and kept this spawned out hen for the smoker. Those are size 12 Korkers, for reference.

This question comes up about once or twice a month. If you don't know why you have a preference, does it matter what everyone else does? I think the real question is, what hand do you cast with. What side the handles are on will fall into place once you answer that.

Probably 50 F air and 40 F water. I teach a cold water reentry class, I know what's up, but thanks. I've even done it the wrong way - supervised, of coarse - jeans and a cotton hoody in 35/30 conditions. Probably the worst cold I've ever felt, but made for a great class.

I might take the kayak out on the big lake for smallies. Can't believe I'm saying that, lol. If they don't cooperate, I know where to find a quick limit of steelies.

Nice fish. Darn near as big as the trout I caught this morning. Congrats.

Look at you stealing my lines, lol. Have a happy new years!

Keep your boy away from mine, LOL.

Only on topwaters and suspending jerkbaits with a deadstick pause, otherwise, I see no point in the trouble. Even my LC wakes are featherless, mostly from all the fish they've caught - no change in effectiveness.

They could be bad, but I think they're just not completely flushed. Keep soaking and swishing in acetone, and replace the acetone until it is totally clear after an hour of soaking and occasional swishing.

I have no clue what you are referring to. Sounds like you picked up some digital scurvy. You might update your virus and ad/malware software, and do complete scans. Google doesn't work that way.

Must have had a huge eye on that hook.

Wow, I can't see that applying to anything bass related. But bigger game, sounds pretty sweet!

They have that in the 300e and the 300ej jigging model.... Looks like a simple update.

Sounds more like territorial behavior than forage.

Yeah, spill the beans...new Speedmaster? Or DC model for US?

You sure you didn't create a short in the receptacle?

Good lord that bass is shloppy! Is that a SC Rage rod?

I think we are both influenced by the same guy with the short rod theory, LOL.

I can't speak for everyone, but I never used a Trilene knot, so I didn't really abandon it. Maybe that's case with the rest of us?

True, drop shot is just a terminal that can be tied on just about any rig you own. I grew up fishing like this, using similar "off the bottom" or "catfish" rigs. In a traditional sense, the XF taper on Saint Croix's SCIII blanks (Avid/Rage) is purrrrrrrfect for traditional finesse dropshot. I use two, a ML/XF from super clear water and 4# line, and a M/XF for 6# line and general conditions. I use a shorter rod than most, simply because it's more comfortable to keep the bait in the narrow beam cone on both my bassboat and kayaks. Especially the latter. When I was stuck on shore, a 7' rod worked great for me.

That and the final cinching. Once you gather the mainline around the hook, there will be a loop of slack from the tag. You can pull the mainline to take up that slack, but you're running the risk of mangling it. better to finally cinch it from the tag end.

I'm pretty much on a three color kick. Since I only fish certain baits, it keeps my boat inventory down. I also fish in partners tournaments in the back of my buddy's boat, so I have a couple more 3700's packed to the gills. And then there's the man cave inventory....some of those baits might never see daylight, unless the price is right. The beauty of cranking, unless some slimy gator steals it, you can catch and catch and catch on the same crank. As long as you have a dupe of your favorite pattern, you should be good. With less expensive baits, that might mean buying a few to get a couple that work exactly the same. When I was a kid, I loathed spending my $3/hour minimum wages on plastics. One $5 crank could last me the whole summer, but a $3 bag Culprits might only last the morning.

A Rotti snuck in my house once. He was my neighbor's dog, and knew me, so I didn't mind at all. When I went inside, my Siamese had him cornered in the kitchen, whimpering in a pool of the dog's own urine. I like cats and dogs, together, they can be funny. Ceacer: And the two dogs he let's live with us: