Mike L

I don’t post anywhere, but if I did it would only be here Mike

Yeah Buddy!! Got my PB on the Fat Max Mike

Rage Bug..Junebug, White, Okeechobee Craw Rage Craw..Junebug, White, Okeechobee Craw RI Sweet Beaver..Junebug, Watermelon/Red Zoom Brush Hog (standard size) Junebug & Tilapia Mike

The longest I throw is a 10”Rage Anaconda but most times a 7” Culprit Fat Max is big enough. Both in Junebug or watermelon/red Mike

Sometimes you can only do what you can do. I also only try to hold her with support especially the fatties, but sometimes like in your case I can’t either But I’m sure you’ll agree that doing something the right way just takes a little thought. Mike

AL My comment wasn’t intended to imply you’re going anything wrong and wasn’t directed at you or anyone else specifically I was referring to the damage caused by not holding her jaw straight up. Most folks don’t know that if you don’t hold her jaw perfectly straight and not bend it back thinking you need a better grip, THAT will cause the untended damage. If it’s broke she’s as good as dead. Mike

These are some of the things I’ve done over the years…. When rigging a Fluke type bait I always rig so the hook eye sits about 1/4” back either below or on top which makes it dart up or down when I hit it. (To lock the angle in place I heat the nose very lightly with a lighter then cool it quick) I reverse the front blade on all prop baits Either use or paint the belly’s of jerk baits bright orange. Chartreuse Spike It for watermelon or greenish colored plastics Always use Snell knot for all bottom contact baits. Always used red hooks for t rigs (before changing all to Trokar) For all jerk, trap and top water hard baits I always change the front treble to a red one. When using a large flat tail worm I use a razor to split from about 1” into the body. Mike

Honestly, that’s a hard question to answer. I refuse to throw anything “finessey” with small baits on light line with a spinning rod so that entire segment of what’s available is eliminated. For me it’s more about what presentations I’ve quit throwing instead of which particular bait I’ve quit on. Mike

Beautiful place I wish you all the best! That has been a dream of ours for years as we settled on acreage in North Carolina overlooking Lake Nantahala. (The only lake in the SE that has Salmon along with Trout and Bass) We’re probably too old to take the time to build a cabin now but at least it’ll be something else I can leave the kids. Mike

Holding her by the jaw for any reason is absolutely the worst way to hold a bass regardless of how heavy you think it is. The heavier she is just compounds the damage. Either learn how to do it the right way, or learn how to estimate holding her level with 2 hands. If that doesn’t work for anyone keep a tape measure, piece of string or line in your pocket ready to measure length and girth. Mike

I hear ya! When she wants to make that “sour grass” stuff (sour kraut) I almost have to live outside as the smell will linger in the house for days!! Mike

The Boss is and she just started putting together the corned beef and cabbage and Shepard Pie for tonight’s dinner. Mike

Batteries die all the time. OP Looks like you’re close on your estimate but I’d say closer to a 3 than 4. A close up like that kinda skews the picture. Her belly and mouth are key Nice catch Mike

Enough that I don’t have anywhere else to put more bags. Junebug and Watermelon Red Mike

Lifetime supply of Zoom Magnum UV Speed Worms… Mike

Yeah Buddy! Yesterday got a 4.1 and a 6.2 in the first 10min. Mike

I don’t/won’t “finesse” anything. I can’t stand droppin, neding, shakin or wackin! Throwing small, skinny baits slow and deliberate on light line with a med to light spinning rod to catch a 1# fish makes me crazy. I’ll rotate through t rig, top water, swim plastics and a few hard baits from time to time. I’m in and out, back and forth, up and down looking for a pattern then stay with it. Time, location and conditions will dictate what, where and how. Mike

They look like a mini clip that’s used to connect a full spool of main line to the reel itself. Mike

Trokar has always gotten negative responses on here which is one of the reasons I always hesitate to even bring them up. They do what they’re designed to do…cut through the hardest part of a fishes mouth quickly especially when leverage is lost as in punching through heavy weeds which is my preferred way to fish. They require less setting pressure to get maximum penetration. In fairness they have never let me down and gives me one less thing to be concerned about when landing. Mike

I use Trokar hooks for all presentations except for when rigging paddle tail swim baits. For those I use 5/0 Gamakatsu with cps. Mike

Congratulations!! Hoping that the next 30 will be just as great as the first. Mike

A friend of mine started using the Deep Dive app since last summer and after reading this post I decided to call him and ask if he’s still using it and what he thought after all this time. “I use it every time I go out now even if I know what to expect. The detail surprised me. It took a while but I’ve come to trust it. Mike

Great Job! I’d be lucky to run 10Ft 😄😄 Mike

I THINK you mean @geo g (And you’re exactly right) Mike

Everyone listed above are deserving for sure (Honored to be mentioned in that company) But there are None more worthy than the 2 we lost last year. Catt and WRB Rest Easy Brothers Mike