Mike L

Just use a quality line… Tatsu, Shooter/Sniper, InvizX in that order paired with a quality jig and it won’t matter as much what action rod you use. Personally, I use Shooter or Sniper depending on cover with a XF rod. Mike

Keep the faith brother I / We certainty do! Mike

I kinda pigeon hole myself to just a few things because experience and success taught me too. I don’t change for the sake of change but sometimes the experience part takes over and forces me to branch out a little if I’m struggling to find success I know what I want to do and how to do it, but when the results don’t meet my expectations the ability to revert back to what I do best almost always is the right choice. Mike

To the ones who came home, and to the ones who didn’t.. May God Bless You All! Mike

Great Job! Good for you !! Mike

Everything revolves around the rod, it’s the deciding factor for all else… Line, technique, bait, bite detection, even casting distance but to a lesser degree. Mike

After cycling through everything I pre rig I’m in it until I find what they want. Some days I get lucky and made all the right choices, but more often I’m rummaging and changing as often as I need. Mike

As far as color goes, I always use white for sight fishing beds. If not, June bug most of the time with watermelon as a change up if needed. Mike

There’s no denying the positive economic impact that tournament’s give each local community. They are one of the driving forces of the tackle industry as a whole to help bring improvements in the Research and development of the baits and equipment we use. I also feel that tournaments are the biggest contributor of increasing awareness of our natural resources, and overall awareness and growth of the fishing industry as a whole. Mike

Cut tails like a Speed Worm or Rage Cut R are my 2 favorite “swim” worms hands down. I swim both with 3/16 regardless of the depth because it opens up more options. The Speed Worm is also used on top but because of the different ways to rig the Cut R, it’s more versatile to keep it in the water column. When a change is needed the only other thing I will use is a Fat Max ribbon tail. With those 3 and each only in one color, I’m good. Mike

Exactly right! Just like you’re supposed to know the rules of the road whenever you drive. Claiming ignorance of something you’re supposed to know and then blame someone else, is just an excuse to not accept responsibility for your actions Mike

I got braid on 2 outfits that’s been there for at least 3 yrs now and have no reason to change. Color fade isn’t a consideration Mike

When I first saw that also I was ready to respond Then I said it’s not worth it Mike

Murray, Hartwell and Santee/Cooper All are great fisheries but different. Santee/Cooper has more wood Murray has more brush piles with both shad and blueback herring the predominant food. Hartwell is bigger and deeper There are many more but those are the only one’s I’ve fished, but never in a kayak You’ll need to investigate them more for your preference. Mike

Ranger….Ride, storage, durability Skeeter….Value for the money Bullet, Allison….Overall speed Big O….Fishability Tracker....Average lower cost Mike

Tournaments…. Florida Georgia SC Alabama Tenn Kentucky Just messin around… Texas NC Illinois Wisconsin Montana Mike

Because of what happened at Falcon and other places it put a spotlight on mortality rates throughout the country. The greater emphasis on C&R can trace their roots back to around that period. It took awhile to get anglers educated and accept the new protocols but now thankfully its mostly common practice Mike

The bag they use to bring fish up for weigh in has enough water to keep them covered. Once in line the bags are put in tubs with aerator lines for each. The only times they are out of the water is during weigh in or for a quick picture, then they’re back in the bag to either a release boat or back in a live well to be taken immediately back to the lake for release. Mike

In more ways than one! 😀 Mike

Apologies to the OP for contributing to derail this thread into a jig discussion. To get it back on point, a trailer hook on a swimming lure is intended to snag a short stricker. There’s a lot going on with a spinner bait as opposed to a swim jig, which in my opinion is why it just makes more sense to use one as opposed to a compact single hook swim jig. Mike

I also don’t even think about using a jig down here. I have a box full of them but leave them home unless fishing a tournament north of the state line (except for certain stretch’s of St Johns) There are always better choices for me fishin vertically, especially for punching and sight fishin beds in any type of grass. Mike

Ditto ^^^^^^^^ (Again) Mike

Ditto ^^^^^^ Mike

The next time hold her by the tail and gently move her back and forth after you put her in the water. By doin that you’re forcing water through her gills which will help to revive her. Sometimes just a gentle push a few times is enough and others you may need to be more forceful especially as you push forward. Watch her gills, when you feel her pushing back against you a little let her go. If she’s not to far gone it will help. Mike

I don’t either. The best test is how it performs for what you use and how you use it. Fir those who don’t have the time or means to experiment, buy the best you can afford. There are differences between lines in its particular category, but not that much Mike