Bluebasser86

I don't have a problem with backlashes, don't need to make super long cast (although I can make some pretty long cast with my reels), and I don't like the whine. I've used friends DC reels before, they were okay, but nothing impressive to me, especially for the money. Pretty indifferent on them I guess. If someone likes them, great, they're not for me and that's okay too.

The Collins molds are great, but if you're just making jigs for yourself you're going to have to pour so many to offset the cost of the molds that it's not really worth it IMO. If you were selling them it would be a different story but I can tell you from experience that it's a lot of hassle trying to tie and sell jigs.

Copper blades work great here too.

Good muskie bait, but eat your Wheaties if you're going to cast it much. I've got a couple that are pretty old now, they're a load. The 3 and 4 inch baits are pretty good too, but not at slow speeds.

Treated myself to a Falcon Bucoo SR 7' M/MF spin crank rod. Replacing a well worn H2O that has caught me countless fish (including my PB smallmouth), so it has big shoes to fill. It feels nice, hoping it performs as good as it feels.

Zoom shakyhead worm, green pumpkin on a dropshot rig. Zoom Mag Finesse worm, redbug, black, green pumpkin on a shakyhead. Zoom Centipede, some shade of watermelon or green pumpkin on a slider head. Zoom Trick worm, about any color or rig.

Bandit 100 and 200, Berkley Frittsider, Shad Rap, Strike King 1.0, 1.5, 5XD, 6XD, wiggle warts. Pretty much all I need right there.

I like the Ocho better and I can get them for 2-3 dollars a bag regularly so it has to be in that range.

Wind doesn't blow baitfish, it pushes plankton that the baitfish feed on and they follow the plankton. Something else that feeds on plankton and other small organisms that are pushed by the wind? Carp. Carp will feed on baitfish, but do not possess the equipment needed to do it effectively. Their small mouths are not capable of creating the strong vacuum effect from a distance to pull a healthy baitfish into their mouth. My guess is the carp were just there feeding on things getting pushed by the wind.

First time I'd been to this lake since late winter/early spring when it normally fishes best. Back then it was nasty, pea soup green colored instead of clear like I expected and the fishing was terrible. I was hesitant on going because it has been raining and I thought it would be dirty again, but that wasn't the case thankfully. Not only that, but they'd done some renovations on the swimming park area and pushed a lot of bushes into the lake along the backside of the riprap that lines the park, and the fish were thick in those bushes. Caught a lot of skinny, postspawners, there was drum everywhere that I tried real hard to avoid and nearly did except back-to-back cast that I caught my only 2 of the day. Caught 1 surprise walleye and dropped another when I decided I was too lazy to lean down and grab it and the hooked pulled out. Finally had some success with a frog, swung 3 times, caught 3 fish ? Ended up with 24 largemouth, 4 smallmouth, 2 drum, 1.5 walleye, 1 crappie, 1 channel cat, and 3 green sunfish.

A self timer is about the only way you're going to get the whole fish and scale in the picture and have it turn out very decent. A selfie stick works okay.

Had this feeling watching my Donut Shad skipping across the surface before sinking well beyond the "No Boats", buoys at the power plant lake. At least I got to catch a few fish on it before I cast it off.

Possible the fish you're catching was spawning by this brushpile (protecting a bed), and is now protecting fry by the same pile. That could explain why he's been so easily caught. Or maybe he's just a dumb fish. I wouldn't feel bad about catching the same one over and over again, there's been some days I'd love to have a sure thing waiting for me like that.

I enjoy talking about fishing and teaching others to fish about as much as I enjoy fishing itself. I've learned a lot from the members here in my time as a member and a moderator. Everyone has different experiences and different ways of looking at things and may approach a situation differently that I do or have a small tweak to something I do that is a big help. You never know all there is to know about fishing and I'm always looking to learn something new.

I'm still catching spawning fish here in NE Kansas.

Welcome!

Welcome!

Looks like a Northland Reedrunner with a replacement skirt. https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Northland_Tackle_Reed_Runner_Double_Willow_Spinnerbait/descpage-NLTRRSP.html

It's happened to me many times. Most memorable was a 7.76lb fish that ate a snagged squarebill off a rock while I was trying to pop it loose. Popped it once and it stayed stuck. Second time I tried it was moving and I cranked and pulled and watched a big head and bug eyes wallow on the surface with my bait.

Spend a few more dollars on some pre-rigged Savage Gear soft baits and you'll be much better off.

Looks nice, a whole lot like my last boat, a Lowe Roughneck 1652 with a 60ph 4 stroke Mercury. Caught a ton of fish out of that boat.

That's not bad at all. I can't remember what I paid to have my johnboat fixed but I remember it was way less than I expected and they got to it quickly.

I'd think maybe heating it a little with heat gun will allow you to bend it.

First cast of the day with a buzzbait this morning one blasted it in some flooded bushes but missed it, going to be a great day fishing a buzzbait, or not, never had another bite on it ?

Happens all the time. This one was last week, my only Slammer bite of the day, on my first cast of the day with it.