Bluebasser86

You're looking for a push pole like this; https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/o-h-mfg-duck-bill-push-pole?gmc_feed=t&campid=71700000087427731&adgroupid=58700007424094169&device=c&keyword=92700066839398978&Channel=ps&&ogmap=SEM|PLN|GOOG|SHOP|c|OUT||Non-Brand-SmartShopping-Outdoor-Upspend|Stream|||&gclid=Cj0KCQjwlOmLBhCHARIsAGiJg7nW02vFuh5JcIgFFmp22S6es9aD_pgShaHbjjQM_MPuZskb7Dp_9H0aAjGPEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds That one is a 2 piece, but they make telescoping ones also. The issue with telescoping models is if you don't get them locked in and push, they'll collapse.

Is the mole okay?

I use Smackdown Flash Green but actually stepped up to 20lb because it seemed to handle better than the 10 or 15 on my Ned rig and wacky rig rods.

I use a 7.3:1 for mine.

I use 15lb fluoro for a majority of my jig fishing but will go up to 20 for heavy cover. I don't fish heavy grass with jigs so I never fish them on braid.

I actually swap my plopper hooks out for short shank EWG gamakatsu hooks and have a much better landing ratio with them. I think they're not able to get as much leverage since the bait can't flop around as much with the shorter hooks so they tear loose less frequently.

Seems like if you want a good quality balsa bait, you're going to pay for it. I get mine from a local guy, they're great baits, but they're made by hand 1 at a time and they're priced like it. They've caught me a ton of fish though and one of the few cranks that I have a lot of confidence in.

Color doesn't matter, until it does. I keep my color selections pretty simple, but I've seen times when a slight difference in color makes a huge difference. I just assume those times are few and far between and accept they're going to happen.

The orange is likely a tracker or tracer sticker. Popular with big bait guys so that when you pause a big glide bait you can see that bright sticker in case it moves while it's supposed to be sitting still. The other stickers are likely to protect from hook rash. Most guys don't worry about it too much but some get really worked up if their bait gets worn from use.

Not in my boat. I've taken people who want to make it a competition and that's not fun to me. If I wanted to fish a tournament, I'd fish a tournament. When I'm out for fun I don't want to have to keep track of numbers and size if I don't want to and I really don't need someone heckling me about catching a fish from the back while I'm trying to relax.

I use a 3/8oz 95% of the time.

Leader knots are very easy to tie and braid to leader is the way to go with that reel and those baits you're wanting to fish.

I use the H/F for bladed jigs (chatterbaits). It's a 6' 9" H/F but it would make a poor crankbait rod. I use a 6' 10" MH/M St. Croix Legend Glass that I think would probably do pretty well for bladed jigs also but it's out of your price range unless you find a deal on it like I did.

I have 1 deep 3700 box that carries all the lipped crankbaits I have in my boat. I've got about 10-15 that I fish with any regularity. I've got 3 different rods for them, 1 for shallow to mid range with a slow retrieve and heavy line, one for the same range with a faster reel and lighter line, and 1 for deeper cranks or mag squarebills. I have another box and combo for lipless baits.

Lots of companies make a morning dawn drop shot worm, does it have to be the Zoom for some reason? I've had good luck with the YUM and Strike King drop shot worms in that color.

I'm not normally a big believer in color mattering but with jerkbaits it can be a huge factor.

The low pressure system just before the rain arrives is usually best. During or after a heavy rain can be good but is usually more sporadic. I fished in pretty steady rain Saturday in my kayak during a tournament and the bite was horrible.

If you see me fishing a C-rig, I'm about to call it a day because I've tried everything else and reached my last resort.

I use a H/F for bladed jigs and a MH/M for cranks. If I had to use one for both, I'd probably opt to use the MH/M for a do all rod. I do use a 7' MH Lightning Rod Shock for my bank beater bladed jig/crankbait/lipless/spinnerbait rod and it does a pretty good job.

Pretty sure I'm subscribed to his channel. His videos fishing for Wels with 190 ploppers are just nuts. Not sure why he choses a belly boat but he makes it work.

You can use a slip float. Just keep adjusting the stop until your weight hits bottom before the stop gets to your bobber. Move the stop so your bait is about a foot off the bottom. The craws won't get it and the catfish will have no problems finding it.

Toss them. No reason to risk the fish of a lifetime to save a couple bucks.

I ate a ton of fish growing up out of necessity. We fished for anything that would bite and kept anything that was legal and probably quite a few that weren't. Of all the fish I remember eating, bass were by far the worse, probably why we never targeted them since they were plentiful and easy to catch. I wish I liked to eat them so I could make use of the slot limit lakes by my house, but man they're just awful tasting and packed full of worms ?

My son won a Booyah giveaway and a Livingston Lures giveaway. A friend of mine won an Okuma spinning reel from Tacklewarehouse.

Gross, I was still catching them on topwater Saturday.