Bluebasser86

I like the 6th Sense baits but bill durability has been an issue for me. Not even when fishing them either. I had a Flat 75X with a broken bill when I took it out of my box a few weeks ago and it's not the first one that's happened to. Seems the Flat 75X has been the worst offender. Hasn't been bad enough to keep me from buying them, but something to consider for someone just getting into it. Strike King or H2O is the best bang for your buck IMO. I'd highly suggest having a #5 or #7 Shad Rap in the mix too.

I fish those sized baits like the 3.8 Keitech on either a 6' 8" M/F spinning rod or a 6' 10" MH/F casting rod depending on overall weight and what I'm doing with it.

Got out for an hour after work and got on the board for 2020. Not big ones, but felt good to catch a few in the middle of this stupid long work week that's messing up my fishing. There was ice around the edge in parts of the pond, but oddly enough I was spooking fish off the bank and saw some turtles creeping around under the ice. A very gently twitched 65 pointer in Ayu got the job done. Got up to almost 50 today, but it was not 50 while I was out there.

Yes, I really like it so far. The water wick comes with the box is is supposed to attract moisture to prevent rust.

I've been using the 8.4lb Seaguar Finesse Fluoro for leader (the leftover on the spool after spooling reels with it), and it's worked very nice.

Agree with all that has been said (8lb or less, premium line like tatsu/AbrasX, spool was likely overfilled). Also add that if it's cold outside, line becomes even more difficult to manage so that could be adding to your issues.

I wouldn't even consider owing a 2WD truck for hauling my boat. I've needed it too many times throughout the years for various reasons, mostly because I fish during the winter months and a lot of people aren't courteous enough to let their trailer drain before pulling up the ramp in freezing conditions.

No there isn't. I thought they had 2 different ones but there's only the one that I have which is the jig/bladed jig box.

Mondo had a guy but since he shut down I don't know of anyone that does it locally. If it's anything beyond what I can do myself, I send it to DVT. We get a discount too since he's a site sponsor.

There's quite a few guys that use casting gear for Ned rigs, but it's more BFS gear than traditional casting equipment. I agree that it's much better suited for spinning gear, but it can easily be done with the right equipment.

Skipping a popping frog way under docks is a really underutilized way of fishing them and exciting. Kind of like night fishing, because you can't see your bait, just listening for the blowup.

Emphasis on the phrase "good guide". I can say from experience, a bad guide can ruin a trip just as much as a good guide can make it a great experience.

Welcome!

Being a midnight shift worker, I couldn't live without coffee. The last several years I've been a big energy drink user too but made a big push to stop drinking them this year in combination with losing weight. They don't even do much for me anymore, mostly the placebo effect of drinking something I think. Switched to V8+ Energy and really been liking those. Just vegetable/fruit juice mixed with tea and only 50 calories. Plus I can buy them in 12 packs for about $7 instead of $2 a can for the Monsters or whatever. Can't remember the last time I drank a regular energy drink and don't miss them.

They're great for adding a little flash to a weedless rigged swimbait.

Always do

Thanks everyone. That gives me something to start with so I can hopefully find a nice pair of warm thermals so I can stop wearing 3-4 pairs of cheap ones and still getting cold.

I've watched several videos of people fishing for them, enough to know I'd be down to try for them.

Welcome!

For those of you that need them, what kind are you using? I'm talking the ones for snowmobiling, ice fishing, and hunting in below freezing temps. I've got plenty of light and mid-weight thermals that do fine until the temps get down below freezing and I'm on the water, then the cold starts to creep in after a few hours.

My dad had it done several years ago and had similar results as Tim. He loves not needed contacts or glasses for most things, but he needs readers for close up stuff. I've considered it as well. My eyes have been stable for a few years now and especially in my line of work, it would be great to not need lenses.

I was a Shimano fan but they've fallen out of my favor the last few years. Tatula SV TWS gets my vote.

So many proven companies out there, not interested in jumping on the Googan "hype train".

Looks like the SR is pretty much being discontinued. TW has 5 bags total in 2 colors. Sooner Run in the SR size was a big bass getter for me, but I guess I'll have to find something else now. Might have to try that Missile baits, but I've not had much luck at all with Missile's stuff.