Bluebasser86

Great looking bait! I love throwing rats, fish hit them harder than anything else imo.

I've got 2 rods that have been "in transit to their destination", since the 30th. Haven't moved since then for some reason. I have a feeling if/when they're found by the USPS, they'll be in perfect condition (end sarcasm).

It's a stick worm and Zoom makes it, I'd say the chances are good it'll catch fish. Will it be as good as the original? Doubtful, but if the drop off in productivity is minimal, then it might be worth it.

The Wild Thang is a very nice bait. The War Pig has been my most successful of the other 3 listed but a lot of that decision should be based off the water you're going to be fishing.

A Zman Trout Trick on a 1/16oz red Midwest Finesse head with a #2 hook. It's a large bait for a tiny head, but the slow fall gets them when it's tough. I was using a Ralph's Shad colored Trout Trick. https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Z-Man_Trout_Trick_6pk/descpage-ZMTRTRK.html

Zoom shakyhead worm SK Dream Shot Zoom Z drop Honorable mentions wacky rigged 4" SK Zero

Welcome! My only fishing experience in Arkansas is Bull Shoals and Beaver Lake. Both can be feast or famine type lakes.

Welcome!

I had the President XT and liked it really well for the money. I still have 3 regular President baitcasters and honestly would suggest just getting those instead of the XT and saving a couple bucks. I use the Presidents for bank fishing and in my kayak and they're solid reels that cast great.

Okay, one more time. I've been wanting a KGB Chad Shad for awhile now, and there was a drop and I just had a customer settle up on a big bait order, soooo, now I've got a 7" Winter Gold slow sink Chad Shad that should be in route before too long I hope. Hopefully I can keep it longer than I did my Donut Shad ?‍♂️

I like it better than PP personally. I use a lot of the Super Power from 10lb on spinning gear to 50lb on casting gear.

Something that I think few think/know to do with rain gear to keep it in good shape and working properly.

I've probably never caught 10 catfish total of any kind from this lake and certainly no white ones. I know they did a prize for a palomino trout this spring, but I didn't hear anything about them stocking a white channel cat.

It didn't have pink eyes, so I don't know if it counts as a true albino, but it was certainly white and not just washed out, the water is pretty clear on that lake.

Several "other" fish this weekend.

Got to sneak out twice on my days off this week. Met my buddy right after I got off work to close the lake down for the year. It wasn't fast fishing, and they weren't big (never are out there), but good variety including a white channel cat and a black nose crappie. Monday I was by myself at the power plant. It wasn't as cold as I've fished in, but haven't gotten acclimated to it yet this winter so the 25* air with 10-15 mph winds were biting. It was a grind all day, but I managed to find 10 biters, all on a Shad Rap or Ned Rigged Trout Trick.

Agreed, as long as there's soft water, there's fish to be caught.

$100 off is more than a little extra coin. I bought a 6' 10" MH Legend Glass. Appears it was made for someone else as it has a "made for" decal on it but that's the only "blemish" I could find. If a rod is defective, a 1 year warranty should be fine because it's going to fail the first few uses. I'm more than happy with the purchase because I couldn't spend the money on even a discounted full price model.

DVT does good work and is reasonable.

Should have mine today or tomorrow. If anyone is on the fence about it let me know and I'll answer any questions about it.

30lb braid is heavy for a spinning reel if you're looking for distance IMO. 10 to 15 pound braid is the sweet spot for the combination of strength and casting distance on spinning gear. Obviously like others said, a full spool will greatly improve distance as well.

Big fan of their topwaters. The Showerblows is a deadly bait.

For a true finesse worm, something smaller than a trick worm even, I like a Zoom centipede in green pumpkin or watermelon/blue flake on an 1/8oz pro slider head.

Up to 3 Tatula SVs, a 2500 Tatula LT, 2 Falcon Bucoo SRs, a St. Croix 6' 10" MH legend glass cranking rod, and a $120 fishing skirts order now. Now all that is left is how to explain it all to my wife.