DINK WHISPERER

Happens all the time to my son and I. Pickerel and bluegill are the most common in central Florida. When we're down South there's no telling what you're going to get! It can be anything from a tiny tilapia to a giant tarpon. The 2 in the pictures below both hit a 1/2oz red eye shad with big #2 triple grips.

Finesse fishing for me! I tried it all of 2021 and although it caught a few fish they were all tiny dinks! From now on a 6" senko on a 1/4oz tungsten and 17lb fluoro is as finesse as I'll get! ?

I'm kinda the opposite of the OP. My wife often pressures me into getting gear simply because I mention I like it or want it not really intending to actually buy it ?. She watches what plastics I usually throw in the cart while we're grocery shopping and will get them for me when she goes alone. She always recommends I get what I REALLY want the first time and avoid back tracking.

We were able to sneak one last trip in for the yr today down South. And what a day it was! Happy New Year BR fam! May 2022 bring you all the best.

It was an awesome Christmas Eve with my son in the Everglades! Merry Christmas to all the BR family and theirs. Wish you guys all the best.

Miami strikes again!

I'm sure! I was raised in the city during my youth so when I moved to Highlands county in the middle of nowhere all these animals in the neighborhoods were a huge shock to me. I had many meetings with the FWC about it and they basically told me to shut up and quit calling them! They said we were building houses in their habitat and we had to learn to coexist with them. They told me to buy a very expensive bear-proof can which they would not reimburse me for of course, haha. And of course I was warned not to harm them in any way or else!

I have seen enough of those YouTube videos to be terrified to travel anywhere they exist! ? FWC does not approve of this method! ?

Yes sir it is! At least a few times a week they will come try to open my trash. Even though I have a bear proof can they never give up.

This is basically what I deal with every other morning leaving to work. ?

That's what I thought too about the mouth. He caught a couple and they are really aggressive. I've never heard of a flier but I'm going to look it up now that you mentioned it.

Storm wild eye swimmin shad. I've caught some pigs on these.

That was the first thing I did actually, twice! One time I was told by a very unfriendly young sounding representative that it was an Alabama rig rod. The second time a slightly friendlier person informed me it was a flipping/punching stick. It won't go to waste at all though. I'm sure I'll find plenty of uses for it.

Well I finally decided to pull the trigger on this rod and I have mixed feelings about it from my initial impressions. It weighs 4.9oz on the dot and balances a couple inches above the lock not with a 2020 Metanium spooled with 50lb braid. I'm kinda disappointed in this thing honestly. It's in no way shape or form an extra heavy like it's rating says. To me it feels like a longer version of the 7' 2" heavy model. Somewhere in between a heavy and a medium heavy/fast. I was thinking it would be a hardcore flipping stick/bigger owner beast hook swimbait rod. The handle is labeled as power versatile also just like the 72H model. To me most of the Adrenas feel overrated in their power but they do have very crisp fast actions.

Whenever the bass bite slows down a little my son loves to go for different species. Golden shiners and what I think is a crappie were on the list yesterday. They are surprisingly fun on an ultralight combo. ?

Still can't believe this is real! ? Cancer is such an ugly part of this beautiful life....

My wife would absolutely love that turtle cake!! She loves turtles. Your wife has a real talent there.

Ok one more new combo this week! Curado 71 MGL HG and Expride 711XH punching combo.

I would rather it not be made in China for the price but it is what it is ya know. It's an amazing rod regardless. I'm very picky with my gear and I have no complaints about this one. Nothing, as I said above I use that rod for frogging and Big EZs. But flipping cover is another animal. I like to have the most leverage I can because I'm usually fishing visible emergent cover with thick, non visible hydrilla or other grass mixed underneath! And.... The 73XH is way too stiff for flipping/punching heavy cover for my liking. I like more of a moderate action for that. I will usually have at least 3 different flip, pitch and punch setups ready to go.

As far as I know they do not make a 73xh in the poison adrenal lineup? I use a 73xh Expride as my frog rod. I don't flip or pitch with anything under a 7' 6" here in the FL cover.

That's interesting because the heavier models like I have tend to fish lower in power than rated. For example my 72H/F to me is a true, traditional medium heavy fast action.

Nope, not yet... That's why I'm looking for info on it before I drop that much coin on one. But I've had no luck anywhere I've asked.

The SLX is an amazing value for the money! That's all my son uses now. The 70 MGL doesn't hold enough line for bigger cranks and long casts but does great for lighter line and smaller cranks. It's also a great option for flipping, pitching and punching. The DC version is what my son uses for frogs. It can bomb a 1/2oz hollow body frog a really long distance. I have an XT version listed in the for sale section of you're looking for one.

You're absolutely right! That reel has ruined me....