Team9nine

In that case you would deserve it Hope you tied a good knot!

Uni-uni or blood knot; whichever is easier for you to tie. In reality, it doesn't matter which as you should never have a bass (or any other accidental catch) ever take you close to your backing. The knot should never come into play, IMO.

Upper barb holds the worm head in place which they say allows the worm as a whole to completely slide off (vs. sliding down the hook shank) on a hookset so the worm doesn't ball up in the fishes mouth. Also a very quick way to Texas rig. The open loop becomes/replaces the hook eye.

Yes, you’re on the right track. Water is most dense at 39.6 degrees or thereabout, so most of the water deeper than 5’ or so regardless if ice covered or not will be warmer and more stable. Temps increase several degrees rather quickly as you move away from the actual ice sheet (vertically or horizontally). I’d focus more on the terrain under the open water you can fish rather than the actual area covered by ice.

Ditto @Todd2 Been using Stren for open water applications for the past 6-9 months and been very happy with its performance. If you are fishing around a lot of heavy cover, timber, dock posts, etc., then try Big Game. Either should work fine.

Found it - Lindy’s version was the Shur-Lok, but it was slightly different in bend and formation, and not what you have pictured. Yours is the Lew’s version or a real close facsimile. Not certain how many companies made a version.

Yes

Lew’s made a version called the Speed Sticker. Lindy also had a version, but the name escapes me at the moment.

Very unusual - think their more immediate concern was how to recover as many of those transmitters as they could. They’re expensive. Heard they were hiring a diver to get the ones at the bottom of the lake before a catfish finds ‘em.

A classic that still works in situations just like you mentioned - more vertical or dropping such as in winter or at night.

Next video from MLF site: Wheeler recap

LC LV in Mad Craw...not a single fish - ever.

Speaking of talking and info sharing...I didn’t get to catch all of the live coverage, but there was a moment during one of the days when the boat officials had to relay to their pros that Jacob was catching his fish cranking. I haven’t got the full story yet, but believe it was a case of some observer must have made that comment to another competitor, and in fairness to all competitors that day, and to not break the no-info rule, the info had to be shared with all competitors so there was no advantage gained by the info. Seemed strange and a bit “sucky” for Wheeler, but interesting. I’ll try and remember to ask him the next time we talk.

It used to be years ago, but haven't seen it online for a while. Every event he’s ever done well in since we started fishing together makes me proud...and that’s been a bunch over the years - lol ?

Yep, 5:1. True story - I taught Wheeler how to deep crank on a local reservoir back when he was about 15 or 16 years old. We crushed them. He was so excited, he called Joe Thomas ( he was friends with Joe and Joe’s son) and convinced him to drive over and film an episode of Joe’s show, Stihl’s Reel in the Outdoors, on the lake about deep cranking. It was his first TV appearance and his comfort with being on camera was obvious and only grew from there.

Limpness right out of the package. Also very small diameter, good color. Casts well - above average. Holds FG and other connecting knots securely. Not certain yet on the sinking claim.

Been nothing but impressed with it so far. Used it all fall/winter. Liked it so much, I bought a 2nd spool. Regular PP is my main braid, but at this point I like the YGK better for what I’m using it for. Only wish I could get it in micro sizes (have 10# and 14#).

Agree with @Tizi and @A-Jay If you want a dedicated deep crank outfit, stick with the 5.x ratio reels. I wouldn't move up to 6.x

Cast my vote for length, weight and balance. I’d speculate longer length means longer keel which would create a more defined glide path. Increased weight means increased inertia, which should translate into longer glide time. Finally, better horizontal balance means more lateral movement for the same amount of effort since the bait doesn't first have to be brought horizontal, or fight tail gravity and drag. Which exact bait fits those criteria...I have no idea ?

Nice take. This is where my mindset is at presently - identify with your ignorance of the situation, not your overconfident interpretation. You can still create good content by stating, “Here is what I think was happening” without having to tear down someone else’s assessment of the situation first. Turns out some of his guesses were right, and some wrong, with a lot of unsubstantiated/contradictory personal commentary in-between (my assessment of his video).

IMO, yes - anything under 4.8 or so. Several companies used to make 3.8:1 ratio reels and they were simply too slow. In IPT terms, David Fritts swears 21” is the sweet spot for deep divers, so you might consider that as a baseline. That’s pretty close to 5:1 generally

Nothing over 5.1:1 for me, including some older “high 4” reels (4.8, 4.9). Squarebills and shallower diving baits (Shad Raps, Bandits) get higher, but actual deep divers don’t. If I have to move the bait faster to get bit, I’ll troll ? I don’t buy the argument that you just reel slower...not the same

Day 1 video has been posted. Most of the fish catches are in the middle of the video, starting around the 11:00 minute mark if that's all you want to see. He also does a recap of baits around 2/3rd through the video before the end of day stuff. There is a practice video released yesterday, I believe, but it doesn't have near as much in the way of fish catches. Wheeler - Eufala Day 1 Action

Kind of sad, isn’t it? Not happy with the way the whole industry is going these days, but a younger and younger demographic are driving it that way. I see the same thing in corporate America. Is what it is - glad I don’t have to participate

Mod jons are about the same IMO. A lot depends on the water available to you and common sense. Are you fishing big bodies of water (tens of thousands of acres), or smaller waters? Lots of available launch ramps or only one? You can go out in a lot of rough conditions if you have sheltered ramps and fishing locations available, and can use the bank as a windshield to move around. There will always be some days that you simply shouldn't be out on the water regardless.