Bluebasser86

I haven't found a bait very similar to the Hudd shads, but I've gone through lots of them on the first fish or even the first bite without landing the fish. A 3.8" swing impact fat on a belly weighted screwlock swimbait hook is about the best replacement I've found.

I mainly use a simple slip sinker rig with a barrel swivel to a short leader in current, longer leader in standing water (if I use a sinker at all). I like to use either a Kahle hook for cutbait, or a beak hook designed for tuna with livebait. Sinkers are typically flat bank sinkers in the 4-8 ounce range, but can be an ounce or two, up to a pound, depending on bait type and size, current, and location. My second largest flathead was on a big piece of cut Asian carp fished weightless in a slack water area off the main river like I was dragging a big jig though.

Not a good idea. Not only is it going to be overloading the rod, it's going to be much harder to get a proper hookset with an underpowered rod on that bait.

I take my oldest, and will take my youngest in a couple years, as much as I can.

Looks like Bomber Model 9A's to me. Apparently fairly rare, but not overly valuable because they were mass produced.

Sloppy game with terrible officiating on both sides of the ball.

Stock hooks on the old warts were/are absolute garbage. I put EWG short shank Mustads on mine.

Impossible! Now repeat after me "Ned rigs only catch little fish!" Don't be spreading those nasty rumors around!

Sounds like maybe the atmospheric pressure had already begun changing and possibly pushed the fish deep into cover despite it not being cloudy, just my .02.

Not exactly, but I caught a big male stocker rainbow on a 1/2oz jig flipping bushes in a creek off the main lake once. Weird bite, missed him two cast in a row before I stuck him.

Pinch the barb down on the hook, then learn to unhook them through the gills. You should be able to remove nearly 100% of deep hooked fish on a DS with that technique.

Depends on the lake. The bigger reservoirs they're more spread out still. The smaller state and community lakes they're very much in the shallow ends and up the creeks.

I would take you on a Monday or Tuesday if you were just a little further north.

Depends on where they're living. I use several different rods but I prefer a surfcasting rod with a large capacity baitfeeder. I have a 7' MH with a 50 size Okuma that has easily handled several 20-30 pound fish. When I'm after larger fish I have a 8' H with a 65 Okuma and a 12' H with a 90 Okuma baitfeeder. For really big fish I have a 7' XXH with a 309 Penn and 130lb braid. Of course with all that, I caught my biggest flathead ever on a 7' MH with 15lb flouro on a finesse jig

How big is a big cat?

For sure the truth in those power plant lakes. I think the real feeding binge just doesn't happen when we feel like it should. I usually do better in late October through most of November when water temps range from the high 50s to the mid 40's. All through the 60 degree water temps it's usually pretty tough though.

Spinnerbait or bladed jig is probably my best numbers bait in fall. Fall is big fish time for me though, not time to worry about numbers. Numbers are a nice bonus if they happen, but this is when I'm out looking for those big fish 6+ that are much easier to catch this time of year.

Interesting. I only own 1 Hammer rod but it's one of my favorite rods I own. Way nicer than any BPS rod I've ever felt, but it's the only one I've ever seen in person so it's an extremely limited sample size.

I had a guy lose 3 in one trip. Almost didn't make any money on that trip he lost so many of my baits. I think a lot of people fish them too fast. I've seen it time and time again on guide trips when I'll tell someone to slow down and they'll get slammed the next cast or two. Reel them just fast enough to get them "plopping", and they seem to be at their best. I have lakes that they won't touch them, but they kill a buzzbait, and vice versa. Sometimes a bait just doesn't seem to work on a body of water while another does great for whatever reason.

No spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, spooks, spoons, bladed jigs, cranks? Maybe not quite done yet.

They're used in molds to pour jigheads. You might be able to use them if you buy some screwlock keepers though. Just clip onto the eye of the hook and screw on the plastic of your choice.

Have a few rods I'd like to sell local if anyone is interested, all 3 St. Croix casting rods. All are local pickup price, not going to ship any unless the buyer is willing to pay shipping. Send me a PM with a # to text pictures. LTB 7' 3" MH/F "Carolina Rig" model. It's one of the older full cork handle rods, telescoping. Ordered straight from St. Croix and has my name on it near the first guide. I've used it for both C-rigs and jigs/T rigs and it does it all well. Good shape with your normal wear and tear on the cork and a few light scratches and such in the finish, $150 Avid X 6' 6" MH/F Very light use. I used it mainly for smaller jigs and T rigs, which it did fine, just have too many rods that I use for those types of baits. Retails over $200, will sell for $120. Premier 6' 6" M/F Got it in a trade and have not put a reel on it in since I got it well over a year ago. Rod is in great shape, but obviously I haven't needed it so would like to get to someone who can use it. Would make a good topwater or jerkbait rod, or rod for smaller spinnerbaits. Retails for $130, will sell for $75

Don't waste your time on Truman, fish the strip pits in Clinton instead. It's called Pogue or something like that. Was a lot of fun when I fished it.

It happens to everyone eventually I'd suspect. Just be glad it was a little guy. I had one in the 6-7 pound range do that to me while bank fishing a pond by myself. Nothing I could do but wait for my line to break or the fish to come loose. If I get over a small limb near the water, I'll actually leave the bait in the water and lift it up and down several times or splash it on the surface. I've caught lots of fish doing that.