Bluebasser86

That's what I did, but it was hard to do since I'm right handed and it was in my right hand. Trying to get my left hand to do anything that involves fine motor skills is like trying to explain something to someone who doesn't speak the same language as you. Those hooks flex so much and it was right in a callous, amazing how easy it went in but how much force it took to push through. It kept tearing wear the hook went in, but the hook wasn't breaking through the skin any further. Eventually used an Exact-O knife to make a small cut where the barb needed to come out and pushed it through that way. It wasn't hot out, but I was sweating a lot after that 10 or 15 minute ordeal.

No way a double plopper is the same as a regular plopper. It's going to sound different and act different, but we all know that baits that look similar can sound and act differently. That's why I have 1.5 sized cranks from different companies and why I have 110 size jerkbaits from several companies, similar walking baits, 5" stick worms from different companies. Different baits are going to appeal to the fish on different days, it's up to you to decide if it's worth it to own each for those subtle differences or not.

Shad spawns are going on in a lot of places across the central portions of the country right now. Big gizzard shad will thrash around violently in the shallows, along docks and weedlines, and even chase baits during this time. Possible that's what you were seeing.

Welcome!

I have zero confidence in weedless wacky hooks. Seems they prevent me from getting hooksets more than they prevent hangups. I've had days like that though, usually with some kind of topwater, or flipping into heavy cover when I just can't seem to keep one pinned long enough to get them out. It's not a good feeling but if you're doing everything right there isn't much you can do other than wait for the next bite and try again.

It always is, even more so right now though. I'll be there Thursday for sure.

My wife lost her job suddenly and without much explanation this past winter. She had been a good employee for the company that touted themselves highly as a great place to work but on the inside it turned out to not be the case. As scary as it was to be a single income family for a few months, especially with 2 young kids to care for, I knew my wife was miserable at her job and could tell she was relieved. Still, this is the second time she's lost a job out of the blue. Makes me even more glad I'm not in the cooperate world. You might have her check with entry level stuff with your county/city/state government, benefits and retirement are usually really good and you can usually advance or transfer pretty quickly.

I had a seasoned pro, and a first timer take a boat ride with me on Table Rock Saturday.

Don't tempt a cop with free donuts ?

I wasn't there to witness it, but my dad dropped his boat in the lake and had a rope tied from the boat to the trailer for self launching. Problem was, he forgot the part where he was supposed to get out and tie it to the dock before trying to park the truck. He said it took him and 5 or 6 other guys to push his boat back into the water he drug it far enough onto the ramp before the rope snapped. Thankfully he didn't do any major damage other than to his pride.

The panfish were extremely active on Table Rock this past weekend. I didn't catch many, but man were they pecking at anything I dropped down. I did managed a nice Goggle eye and a very greedy longear sunfish though.

No reason to use that thin of diameter braid for catfish if you're bottom fishing. A good mono is better for the abrasion resistance really.

You want to run WOT or just be able to use it? La Cygne and Wolf Creek are about the only larger lake open at this point but you can put it on Douglas County and run it for a few seconds before you run out of lake.

I throw the 75, 90, and 110 all on the same 7' M/F with an 8:1 reel and 20lb straight braid.

They were working Thursday.

I have several of their molds and they're really great for the money. You can buy molds you can't get otherwise. I spray mine with Pam to get them to come out glossy instead of dull also.

My PB chased an 8" Zoom lizard to the boat after I'd given up on the retrieve and was reeling in to make another cast. I free spooled the reel as soon as I saw her, she sank out of sight right behind the bait. My line never jumped or moved, but it just stopped sinking after it sank a couple feet down while we were floating over 20 something feet of water so I hammered the hook home. Moral of the story, if you want to catch a PB, you have to always be prepared to catch one because it's going to happen when you least expect it.

I use the 90's more than any other size. Never experienced the issues that others have with them. I swap the stock hooks for lighter EWG short shank hooks to make them ride higher and fish them on braid with the rod tip up. Start reeling right away so the nose doesn't have time to dip. These are my 2 favorites that have seen lots of service and several sets of trebles.

I hate those hooks. I don't understand how a barb on the outside is supposed to hold any better than a barb on the inside, but I can tell you, they make the line hook removal technique impossible.

Been gone for a minute, on a much needed family vacation at Table Rock this past Friday-Monday. Thursday before we left I took a friend and his friend to a lake that usually doesn't treat me well. It's where he wanted to go though, so that's where we went. It was much nicer to me than it has been in my past trips. They were smashing Pepe the Slammer and a @Munkin swim jig for me and my bladed jigs for the guys. Table Rock was a blast, although I think the fish were very much in transition and probably feeling the effects of having almost 2 straight weeks of being pounded on by MLF pros to go along with all the regular pressure that lake gets. I still managed to catch my fair share and put my dad, my wife, and Lake on some fish as well. Even Finn got to meet a Table Rock bass during his first ever ride in my boat. Most of my fish were on a Duo Realis Rozante, shakyhead, or video fishing with a dropshot. Even I impressed myself with that last one. I usually find a bunch of baits at Table Rock, but I only found one this time, a River2Sea Rover. It was floating about 20' off a shoreline and still attached to a 7' MH BPS Carbonlite and Abu Revo SX. Couldn't have been there long, reel seemed to still be functioning well. Took it apart when we got home so I can let it dry and clean it.

Fish are very good at dislodging hooks when they have something to leverage against, like a lure. It's likely freed from it already, especially with line trailing behind it. I'm always ready to release the spool and thumb the spool in case of that last minute surge if the drag is tightened down, but a crankbait reel shouldn't be tightened down so tight that a fish can't pull line.

Welcome!

Heard lots of stories of guys sending defective RES back to Strike King and getting them replaced plus some.

One of my other Slammers is custom painted in a skunk pattern with a custom tail. I fished it for the first time yesterday and it got it's first several sets of battle scars ?