Bluebasser86

FC always called it a smallmouth. I was like you, never felt like it was all smallmouth, just one of those things not worth debating with someone about because, whatever it was, it was a big, beautiful fish.

Should find some post if you do a search but I'm a big Duo fan. Rip baits from the 80, 100, 110, 120, even down to the Rozante 63. The cranks, from the little 48, to the G87. The Pencil and popper are good. I've been doing good with both the shad baits on spinning gear. I even have the cicada bug and the big swimbait. Oddly enough, the only bait of theirs that I don't like is probably their best known, the Spin bait 80.

I used to be all Shimano. I got frustrated with all the changes and constantly changing prices and designs. Then the spinning reels really went downhill imo. I made the decision to make the switch and now fish mostly Pflueger and Okuma with no plans of going back.

I'veheard about the sunny vs cloudy day thing, but I just use whichever I have available.

They're good in muddy water or low light conditions like morning and evening as well.

I'm going to Melvern next week now just because of all this glowing reports from there.

You should see my boat. It leaves a dus cloud like Pigpen from Peanuts Gang wherever I go right now. The joys of living on a dirt road.

Only plain ball head ones I've seen were at Walmart and they had junk hooks, they were made by Arkie. Tacklewarehouse has them on their site. Only ones I have that aren't football heads are the swinging poison heads.

I have one that I used quite a bit last year while night fishing. Some nights they eat it better than a Bladed jig for some reason, especially if I was around smallmouth.

Ned rig

Works on casting gear but not great on spinning gear. Fwiw, I haven't found a flouro I like on spinning gear. Going to be trying their new finesse flouro soon and have high hopes for it. I'm in the braid on spinning gear camp.

They're football heads. I fish a lot of rock and riprap so it helps keep them from snagging a little bit.

I use both in various lengths but all medium actions.

If I was buying them, it would be the Structure Jig by Strike King. I make my own, that 1/4oz is my favorite size for fishing riprap.

I keep all mine in the original package.

I believe it was cut off the butt section. I'm not sure what the actual rating would be considered, or what their UL feels like, but to me it feels like a light action now. I have been fishing a 65 pointer and a #10 Husky Jerk and it fishes both great.

My oldest son has asked to go fishing the last 3 days in a row, and I'm not one to say no to that! The great weather has them active, he even caught his first 2 bass ever without any help!

Recently asked @ghot to build a new rod for me. It was a trout, crappie, and light bait spinning rod for bass. Took some work to find the blank that would work, but eventually settled on a Rainshadow Immortal 7' UL that Gary cut down to around 6' 8" which made it more like a L/ML. I had foam fore grips and Winn butt grip. Gary suggested the Microwave guides, which I had no experience with, but they came highly suggested by him so that's what I had put on it. I received the rod from Gary 2 days ago, man it feels and looks great! It balanced very nicely with the size 25 Supreme XT I put on it as well. I already caught several fish on it. I've taken my son fishing at his request the last 3 days in a row. I let him catch some fish on it today and he approved!

First bass I caught on a 6" weedless Hudd barely measured 15" and I couldn't even see the bait anymore. I've caught shorts on a 7" Slammer and a Deps 175.

Yeah, tweaked my wrista little on that one.

I have one, I'd take then back if you can.

They're waking up ?

It's fishing season! Not that it ever stops.

I used to color mine, the smell doesn't bother the fish at all. Now I fish Seaguar Flippin braid, it's black to start eith.