Bluebasser86

I had never done it before, until I did it twice, two days in a row. I caught 2 flathead catfish 2 days in a row while fishing for bass, that inhaled my bait so hard it it blew out their gills and I hooked them right outside their gills (one in the base of the pectoral fin with a Ned rig and one with in the skin just outside the gill flap with a finesse jig. Both were during their spawning time so I assume that they weren't attempting to eat my bait but instead get it away from their nest ?‍♂️ Best reason I could come up with it.

RIP Mr. Scott

The thumb bar had a tendency to engage mid-cast, which occasionally would send baits flying into orbit. It was a very loud reel, both during the cast and retrieve.

The Megajaws was one of the worst reels I've owned, there is no upgrade they could do to them to get me to buy another just from my first bad experience. Plus I really like the Daiwa CC80 which I can get for the same price.

I've been really happy with the Daiwa CC80, which I've got for around 50-60 bucks each time I've bought them. They cast and handle way above their price range.

I've had a few different KK reels and they've been serviceable, not great but not bad. A lot of reel makers have come out with affordable priced reels lately and I'd have a hard time spending the money on another KK that didn't have some major innovation (the new baitcaster with no drag has my interest).

I've had good success with the bluegill colored squarebill from Academy.

Slow and steady wins the race for me, even in very cold water. A lift drop retrieve catches snags, catfish, and drum a majority of the time, but I never rule it out. When I say slow and steady, I mean like bumping the bottom if possible.

I drag it but I'm sure swimming it would be good also.

I really like them. They have a good swim but nice durability. I've had my best success with the 5" version.

This is my favorite way to fish them. Caught one of the biggest smallmouth I've ever caught with one rigged like that a year or two ago in a tournament.

Like I said, I put a 5" swimbait on the back of my 3/8oz bladed jigs at times, a 4" Menace will be no problem.

4" is the best size Menace to use as a stand alone, or a trailer IMO. I use the whole thing as a trailer, no trimming. Of course, I also use a 5" swimbait as a trailer at times so a 4" Menace doesn't seem like much to me. FWIW, one of my biggest smallmouth fell for a 4" Menace in the Moon Juice color on a swinging football head.

Very late report, this new spot at work has me running round nonstop and getting way less fishing in. Got out for a few hours Saturday morning at a reservoir near my house. Was hoping I'd get out before the crappie fishermen woke up and the wind got bad, I managed to do neither. Wind was bad from the start and the crappie fishermen were everywhere and just as rude as ever. I caught a handful on a Booyah Covert and YUM Bad Momma before I called it a day. Sunday was on a different lake and I continued with the tough/poor fishing I've ran into all year. A decent number but small fish. Fish was by far my largest and was only 15" I did think I had a state record smallmouth for a minute. He never did any of the normal drum moves.

Welcome!

I do typically, these were special requests to be silver blades. Some people don't want to pay the little extra for the gold or painted blades.

Looks to me that it's a natural color that would still offer some flash, good in stained to clear water on sunny days.

It's not terribly difficult to replace one good enough to fish with. Little bit of tape to hold it in place, some rod thread, wrap it best you can, thin layer of epoxy with a brush, good to go. It may not look pretty, but I have a couple guides that I repaired like that probably a decade ago that I'm still fishing.

I have that same mold and it's one of my favorites. Every one comes out perfect. My biggest jig bass I've ever caught at one last spring.

I might be depending on what you have.

Have the pulley system and did the net extension like Greg Blanchard shows in that video, very happy with both and both were easy to install/do.

A friend of mine has the 106PDL instead of the 120PDL Sportsman and has no issues brining 8-10 rods and uses the same size rolling tool box I do for his tackle box. They take the length off the front, the back is all the same. He stands no issues also. I'd guess he's in the 5'8 range, probably 200-210 pounds.

Got out for 2 brief bank trips, after work yesterday and before work this morning. About 4 dinks yesterday, one with a lot of heart. Then a last cast before I had to leave for work this morning.

It's a full tab of the gold/black, half tab of plain black, 1/2 tab white

Yes I do standup pretty often, it's easy to do and really stable. I got mine at Eco Fishing Shop also.