Mike L

The most I have are Shimano with a BPS thrown in. The only criteria I must have are a centrifugal brake system for any reel I may buy in the future If it’s a combo that’s ok, but never just a stand alone magnetic system. Thats why I have thumbs Mike

They are down here Pat Mike

All you guys are very lucky. If I ever told my Dad I was going fishing he probably would tell me not to forget to close the man hole cover in the street before I left. Growing up on the So Side of Chicago the closest I ever got to a fish was when my Ma would serve fish sticks for dinner. Mike

Not yet anyway! 😀 Mike

June Bug is a grape/black type color with a mix of green or blue flakes mixed in. In our tannic stained water the contrast seems to be ideal. That combination is also darn near perfect for night fishing. Another thing about June Bug is that it also works in clearer water but to a lesser degree. Most anglers assume it won’t and change to a green/pumpkin or even lighter shad base color. For me I’ll use the June Bug to about 2ft visibility in 4’ 6’ fow which is the sweet spot. The Watermelon/Red is best with visibility down the entire water column. Point… This only applies to the larger Magnum I use as I don’t like the standard sized Speed Worm. When that’s need I use something else. Mike

June Bug is King I’ll also use Watermelon Red if I ever find clear water. Mike

The majority of the time I swim them as intended using a 3/16 oz unpegged. The most effective is in and through emergent grasses from 1’ to 6’ fow periodically killing it from 4’ to 6’. After a few seconds of dead sticking I pull up straight and hard to the surface and let it fall back before I start over. The next few casts are just a straight retrieve back changing speeds with a few quick subsequent turns of the reel. Another way is weightless on top. One of the best areas to fish it that way is in obvious “frog water”. In a pad field, I’ll stop and drop it only in the widest of openings with the same type of retrieve. You can change it up using a keel weighted hook if you want/need more of a 3/4 horizontal fall but you’ll lose some of the tails action which is unique and the reason why it’s the most deadly of all swim worms. The Magnum is the most versatile. If you lose the tail for some reason then just use it as you would any oversized stick bait. Mike

Any information you can give would be a big help Mike

Yep, we take the younger ones every year. Kinda our thing. When the old man can’t walk any farther he turns around and sits at the end of the driveway taking care and looking out for other people’s kids. Mike

I’m sure everyone has heard of and used the Zoom UV Speed Worm at some point. As I’ve said many times the Magnum is my absolute #1 plastic. No other bait accounts for more 5lb + bass in my box. If you use any type of swim worm this is the one you need regardless of brand Mike

So Sad to hear May he Rest In Peace.

I’m very happy that things are finally looking up for you. I hope that it keeps getting better as time goes on. Mike

Well Said Mike

There’s your answer Mike

I never watch that stuff, but based on your example it’s definitely overkill. There aren’t 20 different times, places and actions of anything!! But Hey, why just show the ones that produced the most in the most varied of conditions for the majority of our subscribers, when we can hawk 20 so the video lasts longer to expose our sponsors longer. Or maybe I’m just too cynical. Mike

Great Job!! Mike

Gambler Duz It Mike

Like @Catt I always match my bottom contact rods (2 plus the big stick) to the presentation. Rod ratings should never be considered absolute as one can be totally different than another, they are indicators to get you close, nothing more. I don’t use a spinning rod for anything. My arsenal of MH/F and H/F rods in different lengths and varied powers are interchangeable with the thought of what I want to throw, but always where and how considered first. Mike

Ditto Mike

I Don’t throw them enough to answer definitively but that’s my point. How would your you tube guy or anyone else for that matter know for sure that she would just turn away? Possible I guess Mike

My answer was based on what I have. The “hook” on the one in your picture to me is a swim worm as it does not have the true spirals of a ribbon. Like I said, it could come down to an individuals definition of a true ribbon tail. Mike

👋 Crooked, Grassy, Placid and to some degree even the best of them all Istopoka, fish pretty much the same. At a tournament on Istopoka Saturday we found beds scattered in submerged hydrilla which is the best of signs I haven’t fished Grassy in years but remember always going out with a decent bag. Prop baits and frogs early through scattered reeds clumps, spinnerbaits only with a light water chop, weightless stick baits pitched into pad fields mid morning to late afternoon, and for me a Magnum UV Speed Worm anytime anywhere Mike

Try harder to get out of my comfort zone when warranted Mike

Other than receding high water currently in Central and So Florida lakes the conditions are fine. I haven’t heard about any access or ramp issues other than maybe in the panhandle and No Florida. I heard that the St Johns River area was hit hard also. By the time you leave most if not all should be good. But I’d confirm all that first. I fished a tournament on Istopoka Saturday. First place weighed 17.5 with 1/2 the field a lot less. Mike

The 12” Magnum would be a true ribbon. The other style in different sizes is more of a U shaped swimming worm cut. I guess that would come down to your own definition Mike