Bluebasser86

8lb braid is extremely thin for a baitcaster and going to be very difficult to manage. I'd suggest trying some mono first to get a feel for it, something in the 10-15 pound range, (I'd go with 10lb clear Berkley Big Game for your jerkbaits). It's cheap and easy to use, if you get a backlash you can't get out you're not out much. If you really like braid, once you get a feel for using the real, put something like a 30lb test (which will have approximately 8lb diameter), and I think you'll find much more success using the reel.

We've had local lakes close areas to bank fishing due to people leaving trash, I'd like to see more of that. Teach people to take care of their resources or they'll be taken away because if we don't take care of them, they will go away whether we like it or not. One of my favorite river ramps in the headwaters of a local lake is closed probably forever due to lowlifes that turned the road into their own personal mud run and destroyed the road. The state isn't going to fix it just so they can do it again so they put a gate up and a road closed sign. I can still cart my kayak in, it's just a lot more work now, but I'm fine with that because it greatly reduced fishing pressure in the process. People can be real jerks with no concept of the effects of their actions, and unfortunately, it's usually not them that suffers the repercussions of their actions.

I like a black or green pumpkin weightless trick worm. Sometimes I'll use a 1/32oz bullet weight too if I want it to sink a little faster.

That's the size and type I use for making bladed jigs, but they're not specifically Eagle Claw brand. I'd remove the split ring if you're going to attach your cranks with a snap. Nothing wrong with doing it, but I get complacent if I do it and end up not retying often enough.

War Eagle and Booyah if I'm buying them. Recently started making my own big, ugly spinnerbaits for fishing dirty water or when I want a lot of thump and they've been doing really well and it's not even prime spinnerbait time yet.

We've had open water for a few weeks and a couple days of cold, snow, rain, and freezing temps over night had skim ice around the edges of some ponds. You might see some thin ice but nothing that will last for an extended period if it's supposed to warm back up.

Hooks don't last forever. I've lost baits and found them a week later, already showing signs of rust and corrosion. When I find crankbaits that have been in the water for very long and try to remove the hooks, they'll often crumble into dust basically. I don't know that tungsten ever breaks down. I don't break off much and make sure not to throw old plastics in the lake so they can be disposed of properly. I'd be much more concerned about all the bottles, plastic bags, and just general litter than specifically fishing related waste but we should certainly do our best to clean up after ourselves as well.

Welcome!

Welcome!

I'm thinking maybe another day or two. They won't have a winning record again after a couple weeks.

I have 3 casting and 2 spinning, excellent rods for the money. I keep a couple in my car, one with braid and one with copolymer. There isn't much I can't do with those 2 rods.

I'd start by contacting a ranger or game warden.

There's always fish shallow.

Royals solidly in the lead in the AL Central ? I'm excited for this season. They have some talented young guys on the team and in the farm system that are going to be up soon, going to be able to see the impact soon. Hard to do much worse than the 58-104 season last year.

Not my picture, but my buddy that runs the guide service I guide for, who is also now the video editor for Milliken Fishing, got a hilarious picture of his dog going full send mode on a squirrel that he saw on the bank. It was actually taken from Ben's GoPro.

Well the whole "slow year for other fish", has officially gone out the window after this week. Caught a ton of white bass and some huge drum I didn't take pictures of too. Everyone was released safely back to the lake.

Unless the catfish you're targeting are very small, like bullheads or tiny channel cats, you're going to need 2 different combos for panfish and catfish. Even a 3 or 4 pound channel cat is going to be a real test on most ultralight gear, especially around any kind of cover.

Welcome!

Welcome!

I throw jerkbaits on spinning and baitcasting gear, either works fine. I'd try to get a jerkbait that is weighted so it rises slowly to try and avoid some of the junk on the bottom. A lot of the lakes around here have tons of snot on the bottom every year early on so that any bait that touches the bottom is fouled instantly. A slow rising bait has been the best remedy I've found.

I'm going to guess since the OP hasn't been on since 2013, he's probably not going to see this ?

The Guide Select is a great rod. I've got one in my swimbait lineup as well.

This is a couple comparison pictures I took of the WP and the Savage Gear. The SG isn't as fat of a bait and has shrink wrap on the back ring and hook to keep it extended back to catch those fish that slap at the bait. I think the fins are supposed to help prevent rolling too. The WPs are 90 and 130 sizes, the SG are 100 and 135 sizes.

I like the regular one in heavy slop, popper for fishing smaller clumps of grass or mats with lots of open holes and open water. The small one is a good option if they're seeing lots of regular sized frogs or striking at but not eating the bigger frogs.

When I get to the very thickest cover, the skirted punch rig with a beaver or creature is what I opt for over a jig. I pour my own lead skirted punch slip weights, paint them whatever color I want and wire tie the skirts on. A Havoc Pitboss is my favorite thing to fish behind one but regular beavers work good too.