Bluebasser86

Did you put backing on the reel before you spooled it up? Sounds like it's slipping on the spool.

I'd prefer the reel you bought for everything you listed minus the cranks so I think you actually got the better of the 2 reels for your needs.

Worked 10pm to 10am after only getting 3 hours of sleep yesterday, I barely made the drive home and almost slept in my truck instead.

I know the issue you're talking about but I wire tie mine and it doesn't seem to happen as bad that way.

Go to nearby Stockton Lake instead. Much less busy and a very scenic lake. You can catch all 3 species of black bass (plus meanmouth). I'm not sure if the crappie population is great, not on LOZ's level for sure, but it does have a very good population of walleye that are frequently caught while fishing for bass.

IMO, October and November are the best months to be on LOZ.

Finesse jigs it does just fine ?

I wonder how often these guys are having this issue that they're really feeling it's a major problem? I fish them with straight braid and the line tangling the hooks happens so infrequently that I don't even notice it.

I've got 2 EVX Okumas, 1 spinning and 1 casting. They're both great rods in my regular rotation.

I use braid with a leader but I never use circle hooks with my wacky rigs. I've watched so many fish get missed on circle hooks with wacky rigs, including a money fish that got missed 3 times on the same cast at Truman Lake, MO, no way I'd ever trust them.

The strands sticking together is awful. Seems like some colors are worse than others. White and chartreuse being a couple of the worst unfortunately.

I use nickel Mustads. Very nice and sharp hooks. Eagle Claw spinnerbait hooks seem to be a bit smaller than other companies hooks in the same sizes so take that into account if you order EC.

I had a request for some blueback herring colored baits for a guy that was supposed to fish the BASS tournament on Smith Lake that got canceled. I've never seen one in person so I just went off pictures.

I go either big or small for warm water jerkbaits (2 favorites are a Duo Rozante 77 and Lucky Craft Slender Pointer 127mr). I fish them very fast, barely any pause at all. They aren't as effective during the warmer months as they are in colder water, but there's days that they're still the best thing going.

That's what I do as well. I maybe carry a dozen, so I don't need any fancy, special case for them.

5lbs

Welcome and thank you for your service!

Welcome!

Welcome!

That pole must have jumped out in front of him.

Cover, sometimes it feels like neither though.

I use a Tupperware dish ?‍♂️

One of my favorite frogs. I like the middle size. They're bigger and heavier than a lot of frogs. I think that combined with the rattle calls fish through the grass. They also walk great and I get a lot of fish in open water on them. I'm pumped for the popping version to be available.

The full contact finesse. I'm really liking it so far.

Got to give the new Victory a workout on a solid jig fish today. Wish I could have found some of her friends instead of all her babies.