Dwight Hottle

They never work for me either. I have had great success with them using them on a deadstick rod in a rod holder while drifting on lake Erie. Obviously they need to be worked slowly & they work better pulled rather than jerked. I have multiple baits in the color shown in the picture.

Sounds like great day. Where are the pics?

It's great to see kids accomplishing their goals. Makes everyone proud of them.

Congrats on the new PB.

If you want to save money stick with one wife but vary your tackle considerations.

Discount time.

I use #1 owner hyper welded snaps for jerkbaits & #2 for cranks & swimbaits. The #1 is rated for 33lbs and #2 is rated for 46lbs. I have never had a failure using these.

You can do it either way. If weight is a consideration you could remove the split ring & attach the snap direct. When using a snap you don't have to worry about the knot getting worn from the split ring opening. Baits work more freely with a snap. There are numerous manufactures who supply snaps on their bait from the factory. I have always used snaps on jerk baits, cranks & swim baits. Just retie daily or more often if needed depending on wear.

Duo Realis 120 sp Ima Flit 120 sp LC Pointer 100 sp LC Pointer 128 sp Megabass Ito Vision 110+1 Rapala down deep husky jerk hj12 Rapala max rap 13 (discontinued but readily available) Smithwick deep suspending rattlin rogue These 8 will cover you from rip baits to jerk baits, deep water to shallow, small to large size & all water temps. Color choices are up to you. I like natural colors like perch & smelt & lake shiner, loud colors like clown, dark colors in black with flash, brown with flash, gold with flash & chrome & blue. Good luck with your jerk bait fishing. It can be very rewarding.

The wind was your friend.

Congrats on the new PB. You guys had a great trip for sure.

Welcome to BR.

Welcome to BR. Sounds like a great ride to enjoy your sweet time.

The longer rod helps moderate the tip action. The regular Avid line doesn't offer a moderate action spinning rod. You can get a 7' medium moderate in the Avid inshore model listed under saltwater rods.

All good advice so far. I would suggest the 7' Avid medium as a good all purpose great lakes smallie rod.

Yea but what did you catch?

My advice is to just use the reel & forget servicing it until it presents a problem if ever. The factory sealed magnetic oil system is not meant to be serviced like a conventional constructed reel. I have several diawa certates which just keep running smooth without any servicing for multiple years. The mag sealed reels are an exception to reel service protocol based on the design.

I have that same rod in a one piece. Great smallie & walleye rod. I would try some 6 lb Tatsu or the new Seguar finesse fluoro.

Welcome to BR.

Welcome to BR.

Congrats on the new PB.

Jerk bait bite is a blast. You are figuring it out.

Good luck out there.

Florida state record Shoal bass 5.2 lbs caught June 2016 Washington state record largemouth bass 12.53 lbs caught Aug 2016 New York state record smallmouth bass record tied 8-4lbs caught Aug 2016 Montana state record smallmouth 7.4lbs caught May 2016 South Dakota state record smallmouth 7.3 lbs caught May 2016 Tennessee state record largemouth 15.20lbs caught Feb 2015 Rhode Island state record largemouth 11.2lbs caught May 2016 Virginia state record hybrid striped bass 15-13lbs caught March 2016 Michigan state record smallmouth 9.98lbs caught Sept 2016 These records would suggest that bigger bass are being caught recently. I sure there are more records caught within the last few years that I haven't listed.

Great start to your season.