Mike L

Ditto! Mike

To me more emphasis should always be on where and how instead of what. Smaller and slower in the tightest cover or deeper holes are the first and only considerations. Color is last Mike

I don’t throw cranks of any kind that much down here as I feel there’s always something better. So my opinion could be all wrong here. Since color choice is always my last consideration in choosing a bait of any kind, changing colors without changing depth, size, action or location first is a waste of time. But that’s me Mike

I wish all the Dads on here a Happy Father’s Day!! As I hope we all are remembered let’s remember our own, be they still with us or not! Mike

20# Tatsu or 50# Smackdown braid depending on what I’m throwing where. And yes, using a heavier line along with a less than full spool you can be more accurate with less bird nests. But, nothing takes the place of good mechanics and an educated thumb. Caveat.. If you’re not experienced yet in the fine art of skipping, Don’t try to make up for any loss of distance by trying to muscle it in. Just try to maneuver a little closer to your target area. Mike

You decided to try to fool a living being to eat something that’s not real even if it’s not hungry. The difference is that now you have to think… Where you go, read what you’re looking at, understand what you’re seeing, what you rig, how you rig it, where you throw it, how you throw it, how you “work it”, how you set, and how you land it. Mike

The key for me is to after a few hits kill it, let it float down, hit bottom, dead stick for a bit then repeat. Mike

Agree They are on the opposite end of the oomph scale, but after so many years I just enjoy them more now. Mike

Great comments I’ve tried most of what you listed and many more but keep coming back to the Macanudo Hampton Court, 5.5x42 I don’t like a Nicaraguan filler especially with a Maduro wrapper, they’re just too strong for my liking now. The Macanudo is a DM filler with a Connecticut wrapper which makes it much more milder and very smooth Mike

With a talented and educated thumb, it’s my experience either a dual braking system or a reel with centrifugal only, I get more distance and much fewer overruns. I’ll never own a mag only reel as it will give you only what you give it without the ability to adjust anything at start up. Doesn’t matter if the spool slows on impact, that’s what the thumb is for. Mike

The Vosker advertises a detection range of 100ft for both daylight and infrared coverage but it’s farther than that. I have mine attached to a trellis in my yard and have to turn the units sensitivity setting down as it will pick up traffic on the street barely seen behind the line of trees. Mike

To me braid is a specialty main line and only used for specific presentations. For years I used original Power Pro because it never gave me a reason to change or to even experiment with something else which I rarely do for anything anyway. I tried a spool of Seaguar’s Smackdown and never looked back. There are other 8 carrier lines that you’ll hear about soon enough, but for me and what I use braid for Smackdown is all I use. Mike

@new2BC4bass Even tho there’s not that much of a difference, Anything less than 30# on a 8 strand would scare me also. I’ve never had a problem with it since changing from a 4. Mike

30# Smackdown for everything on top except frogs Mike

12# or 15# for what you describe. Conditions will dictate which at any given time and place. Mike

Down here all 3 phases can basically go from approximately late November through early July, with the sweet spot from mid February to late April. The farther North you go the timing shrinks. Mike

Smackdown also. 30# for anything on top except frogs which is 50#. Mike

That depends on the frog. Some of the most popular here are “hard” soft body frogs. I only use the original Scum Frog and never had a reason to bend them out. I do touch them up out of the box once in a while tho. Mike

Excellent! OP Read paragraphs 4&5 again of @Pat Brown last reply. Mike

OP You got good advice In my opinion.. Location, technique, timing and equipment in that order is key. Every time I’m on “The Lake” a (green/pepper original Scum Frog) is the first thing I grab. It’s kinda my thing. Tip…Pay attention! When in a pad field don’t just cast and wind between pads. As you’re working it back scan the area watching for any pad movement especially if it’s in a fairly straight line. That’s Mama!! If you see it, she’s gonna hit it! You got her attention and she’s rubbing on the stalks coming to you. Give her every opportunity to keep her interest while keeping her comin. Some of my biggest hits come after I land or pull it onto a pad, let it sit there for about 5-10 seconds and then pull it off gently. Be ready while you twitch or walk it if you get that far. If you miss her, keep doing it as most times she’ll come back. If there’s one, there’s another Mike

I always wear a Buff. Sometimes I’ll just use that as a covering and not a hat, as I can also cover my neck and ears with it. Mike

Isn’t it funny how sometimes the people we’ve never met, Are the people we don’t forget. Mike

My Dad was a combat engineer during the war and he would never want to talk about it. He’d just walk away. One time when my brothers and I asked our Ma all she said was “stop asking” Never brought it up again. Mike

Ditto Its takes practice and patience to make an accurate and silent entry when flipping or pitching, standing over sitting. When flipping in a seated position use the shortest rod you have with less line out while bringing your rod up with your wrist only. It doesn’t take much to get it out while bringing the line down. It’s more of a timing thing that takes practice but not as complicated as you might think. When pitching from a seated position it’s all wrist when holding the bait with your off hand to get the momentum you need. In time you won’t even use your off hand it’s all a pendulum swing bringing the bait to the gunnel with a short swing up and out. Mike

Uncle Jim Staff Sargent 101st Airborne Div Normandy France June 6, 1944 My Ma was told the glider he was in crashed on landing more than 2 miles from thier landing zone. All aboard were lost. May they Rest in Peace