Dwight Hottle

Put the 5:4 or a. 6:0 on the MHM and use it for treble hook baits like cranks, jerkbaits & topwater. Put the 7:5 on the HF and use it for single hook applications like bottom contact baits, swim bait paddle tails & swim jigs. You could also use it for frogs & pitching/flipping.

Try a Johnson silver weedless spoon.

IGFA started a catch & release program a few years back based solely on length. They established minimum lengths for most species. Anyone conforming to their rules can submitt a fish that exceeds those minimum lengths. The program only pertains to fish caught after the *** of the catch & release program so previous records do not qualify. If someone submitts a bass for their state & that exceeds the minimum qualifier then that becomes the new record if it is the longest submission. IGFA sells vinyl measuring devices for proof of length along with the required photos. If someone catches a longer fish than the existing record but doesn't enter it the old record stands. The catch & release program is only as good as the participation and effort put into it.

Tom IGFA lists both fish at 22lbs-4oz, they are both are tied for the record. So a new record would be based on the 22-4 existing record. So a new record would have to beat by 2 ounces or be 22lbs-6ozs. I realize Kurita's bass was bigger but did not exceed the standard of breaking an existing record by 2 ounces or more for a record under 25lbs.

Here is the link. Caught on a night crawler in the Indian River. It's kind of cool that a Florida resident caught the Michigan state record. http://www.freep.com/story/sports/outdoors/2016/09/14/michigan-fishing-record-smallmouth-bass/90350918/

The new world record would have to weigh 22lbs-6ozs or more. The record stands at 22lbs-4ozs even though the Kurita bass weighed 1 oz more. It was considered a tie since it did not beat by 2 ozs or more.

Sweet! PB's are always special.

Great smile! LOL. Nice smallie too.

You might just need a rest. Maybe it's time to just fish for fun. You can always go back to tournament fishing if the desire arises.

Find the bait and the skis & pike will be nearby. Don't forget that they will eat bass too.

Sounds like fun. Great pics too.

Best trailer for a scrounger jig is a 6" or 9" Slug-Go. Fish it slowly crawling on the bottom.

I'm sorry for your loss. Losing a true friend is tough.

Check & see if the bill is loose in the bait. Also remove the split ring & tie direct to the bill tie. it's possible the split ring split is causing the erratic motion.

Dan if you use a plastic bag it probably won't register more than an ounce or two. I have been using a boga for well over 15 years & never had any perceived trauma from bass by hanging them vertically. You will learn to interpolate by reading between the lines to get weights rounded to the nearest 2 ounces rather than a quarter pound.

old braid favorite-seaguar smackdown new braid favorite-maxima ultragreen baid seaguar tatsu fluorocarbon sunline shooter defier armilo They aren't cheap but high quality without any disappointment.

I have the MHM in both an avid & legend elite. Great rods for baits up to an ounce in weight. I like to use braid with them since the moderate action keeps the fish pinned along with a moderate drag. Go with the avid if you can. I use mine for both crankbaits & jerkbaits.

Look at the diameter difference between power pro & smackdown by Seagur. Smackdown 10lb is .005 dia. Smackdown 15lb is .006 dia. Power Pro 10lb is .006 dia. Power Pro 15lb is .007 dia. You could increase your casting distance by using 15lb smackdown but still have similar strength. Just a different option for you to consider.

That was his first fish of the day. At 21.5 by 20.75 you would think it might have been heavier than it was. A real piggy for sure.

X2

Congrats on the new PB.

Not for Lucky Craft Man.

Owner makes a single replacement hook in X strong & XXX strong. There is a conversion chart available to help you decide what hook size you need. They are available thru the big warehouse (TW). I have used them on jerk baits & some cranks without any hook up problems.

Nice looking ski. The holy grail for musky fisherman is 50". That's a bucket fish.