lightsout

The larger spook type baits.For me it's the rapala x walk 14 (saltwater model). This thing weighs 1 1/2oz (off the top of my head) and I've had fish knock it 3 feet in the air a few times. A certain fish in the 8lb range hit it knocking it out of the water 3 times, and I never stuck it. I actually think the bass was just trying to hit it and not eat....

thanks glen!

I fish a private lake that the game commission encourages us to keep fish under 13''. Weds evening I get one with eggs inside of it. We are still a little ways out in my neck of the woods for the fish being on the beds, especially the smaller females. And I'm curious as to how long eggs are present in a LMB. This would be under good conditions with the weather's cooperation.

Thats a great outlook my friend. I may have missinterpreted someone else's post implying that god is behind these things.

Praying for you and your family. Please consider that when bad things happen it's not god that does them to you. It's a combination of people and sometimes things just...well happen. This to shall pass and take heart that you seem to be doing your part as the leader of your family. You did some tough things, but it sounds like you did THE RIGHT things, which aren't always popular.

X100 Great rod, fishes more like a MH. In my experience it's the best you can do at that pricepoint. The powell's in that price range are awesome as well. Check out TT's review.

Very possible, pee is some corrosive stuff. I used to do a lot of metal detecting, and when digging metals out of areas that were once pastures it was unbelievable how corroded stuff got. Guys were supposedly putting urine on reproduction belt buckels to make them look 150 years old!

I vaguely remember reading that article and remember the guys saying they were getting sinker bites and this was their solution. I've used a downsized finesse version with a boo jig / bps dropshot minnow and caught a few on the minnow. But to be honest only tried it once. My thinking is that some of the advantages you get from using a C-rig are negated by using a jig. Heres a few ideas of mine: 1. casting distance- that jig isnt going to cut through the air like a heavy sinker. 2. Feel- That sinker (especially tungstun) will do better at telling you alot about bottum composition than a jig, IMHO. 3. getting bit- A fish can pick up a plastic on a C-rig and not feel much resistance, while with a heavy jig pulling it down the fish may spit the bait before you stick it. Ask any experienced catfish angler about using a slip rig / over other rigs. Long story short, I decided to stay with sinkers.

The James doesnt feed chesdin or the appomatoax, the appomatoax feeds into and out of the lake then flows into the james further down. A white spinnerbait couldn't be seen past 2' sunday if that helps any.

JUMP ON IT! I assume its last years model (which I own in that ratio), it will be perfect for lipless baits and last a long time.

a good primer will help it adhere much better

An awesome bait at a great price. They outproduce other more expensive frogs in my box. People hate on them, but trust me they get bit! Lube it with megastrike and it you'll get more life out of it and better hooksets.

Couldn't agree more. I experienced the same symptoms you described. Out of the box the retrieve felt "strained". After a thorough cleaning relubing I couldn't be happier. Saturday was a bluebird day without much going on, so I decided to put it the E7 through it's paces. I was amazed at how well it threw unweighted plastics (with a heavy action rod!). Initially I was a little discouraged, but I can honestly say I would rather use this reel than any other in my arsenal.

It's funny how baits marketed for ponds are so small. Don't believe that for a second. I tend to throw bigger baits in ponds because the fish will often be more receptive to them. The odds are very high you will catch big fish out of small bodies of water if you make the choice to pursue them.

Any diffrences between the two sizes (other than literal size lol)? I'd imagine like alot of topwaters the longer model is a bit easier to walk. I fish smack dab in the middle of the fall line on the James river and I'm thinking mr rico and mr smallie may have an apointment next year 8-)

LOL stringjam you convinced me! I hadn't thought about how you don't lose topwaters as easily other plugs.

There's alot of BPS lure colors that just make me shake my head. There are literally entire model lines without a single color I like. I agree it doesnt matter to the fish as much as it does to me, but honestly who designs a topwater rat and says "I know, we'll give it a zebra paint scheme".

Honestly I would look into other rods at that price point. You can get a much better rod for the $. I bought into the hoopla when they were released (I really dig the look of the rods), and have been disapointed with the sensitivity, balance, and quality (guide insert popping out). Several people have complented the look of it, but looks don't catch fish. I have been nothing but impressed with the 7'H falcon bucoo I have. I purchased it mainly for spinnerbaits / buzzbaits / jigs and couldnt be happier.

Reason, what is a michael?

Xs 100 I have thrown this color pattern 100s of hrs in my fishing life. I have caught a few fish on it but does not produce for me like natural colors. Kelley Please forgive my ignorance...But what color is XS100,and who produces this color? "times or multiplied by 100"

I'm a topwater nut and want to get around to throwing poppers more this year. I don't mind paying a premium if I can get bit a little more, but if there's no real diffrence I'd rather get more value. Would you rather purchase the rico or pickup 2 diffrent brands of poppers for the same price? I'm intrigued by the xcalibur zell pop and the bps premium popper at a cheaper price.

I own the mojo 7'M and have been disapointed. It feels as though there's a 1/2oz sinker taped to the end of it. And the sensitivity is no better than rods I own that were $40-50. The guide insert also has popped out of the 2nd from the tip. I don't own the compre, but fished it and it didn't really standout for me. Decent, but I wasn't blown away. Of course this is subjective, but i think it's very boring/plain looking for a rod in that price range. I own the 7'H bucoo and absolutely love this rod! It's very comfortable to fish, the grip has just the right amount of "give" when you hold it. I bought it for 1/2oz spinnerbaits/jigs and the feel of the blades thumping is very pronounced. Made in the US also if that means anything, as far as I know the other rods listed are not. Those are the only rods I have experience with, but I will say I've been impressed with sub $100 Daiwa rods in the past (procyon).

I have the 6' 6'' MH model and it's the most versatil rod I own. From 5/16 -1 1/2oz baits it performs great. I really like it for topwater, and imagine the 7' you have will be even more well rounded. From frogs, to spinnerbaits, jigs, buzzbaits, plastics, etc. it will serve you well. Fish it and you'll find a ton of uses for it.

A simple minnow trap in any branch that has craws is all you need. We put a peice of bread in for the minnows and the craws follow em in. I usually pull them out by the dozen, once in a while there will even be the occasional water snake. It's really neat to see how many diffrent types of fish can be in a branch thats 4' wide. You pull some WEIRD lookin' critters out.

Thats exactly why I'm interested. It should fill a niche as alot of similar baits run in the 5' zone. It looks like it'll cast a mile also.