Bluebasser86

The H2O baits are top notch. The Slush Daddy is my go to prop bait.

It's just slightly larger and fits in my hands much better. The 50's were too small for me so my hands would end up hurting after a little while because I had to hold onto them so tightly because I always felt I was going to drop it. I think it feels tighter as well, a little better put together.

The casting distance increase in significant with spinning gear. You should have no issues if you choose to tie direct. I use a leader regardless for the extra abrasion resistance. I opt for copolymer or mono personally.

I think this is a pretty standard fish weighing method for a lot of people.

Man, I see that same face every time we're going to the lake. Cassidee pouts for week if I leave her behind and won't hardly look at me. I wish she was small enough, or had the balance to sit on the front of the yak so I could put my crate in the back.

If they went to a MLF style it would completely kill off the need for a weigh in, which loses all the crowds at weigh ins and a lot of money will go with it. Live weigh ins aren't going away anytime soon.

The same goes for a private seller for me, probably even more so. I found one that I liked while I was shopping and the guy refused to take it out because it was winterized and he didn't want to have to pay to do it again. I was ready to buy it but I walked away because of that. Glad I did because I'm much happier with the boat I have now than I think I would have been with that one. If I can't at the very least hear it start and shift in and out of gear, it's a deal breaker.

Do you know how many hours the motor has on it? Has it had a compression test recently? Have you heard it start up?

I wouldn't be buying any boat that needed work right out of the gate.

Stained water is the main time I fish it. I've had good success with it in clear water on overcast days too though. Smallmouth really seem to like it, as do walleyes, but I've caught plenty of largemouth on it as well.

Wolf to Melvern? I've been using the stuff on both and have yet to get cut off with it. Had a couple pretty good tussles with some wipers, cats, and drum as well.

I take my Golden out in mine. Makes it so I can't take a crate in the back, but it does draw some attention for sure. Cassidee is a vet at the whole boat thing now that she's been doing it for a couple years. It's funny because she's a different dog on land versus what she's like in the boat. She's a nut when we get to the ramp and while I'm strapping the boat down to leave, mainly chasing her tennis ball. Then as soon as we get in the boat she lays down or just stands next to you and watches. Very rarely does she get excited about anything in the boat unless someone picks her ball up. Never had her jump in from the boat either. Fall in yes, but she's never jumped in. Her first time meeting a bass at 4 months old. And now showing how excited she usually gets about one of my catches.

Looks like whoever makes their baits also makes all of BPS and Zoom's baits. They're plastics in proven shapes and colors though, they'll catch fish no doubt.

Awesome fish and thanks for going the replica route! Who knows, maybe you'll catch her again when she's even bigger!

And the Royal's aren't even going to win their division last year

Academy has their jerk shad that looks a lot like the Luck E Strike STX, but it's only $6. Not as many color options, but it covers the basics. I've had good luck with them.

It's a little stiffer than the Swing Impact, but for all but the very slowest retrieves you shouldn't see a lot of difference. I do know that I used the same 5 on my A rig last time for the whole day and caught several fish on them as well as got it hung up a few times and never had to replace a bait. I would have probably gone through 2 packs of Keitechs.

Welcome!

Welcome!

Welcome and thank you for your service!

Welcome!

I've caught a seagull freelining shad, an owl at night on a black jitterbug, then there was this guy.

I've used the regular Swing Impacts on the A rig and the Speed Shads, never have popped for the Fats though. There's not a time of year when paddletails, especially the Swing Impacts, don't work. Might not be the best option, but they'll always work.

The grippers on the scale hook works well for me.