Bluebasser86

Braid will get cut just as fast as any other line. It'd be easier to just throw whatever bait you're planning on fishing with that rod directly into the lake, at least that way a fish won't have to haul your bait and a length of line around behind it after your line breaks. You could easily remove the guide and replace it yourself or pay a couple dollars to have someone else fix it.

I don't do anything other than rig mine up. Never had a problem hooking them as long as I'm using the right hook/line/rod combo.

1. 4.5 pounds 2. 7" MS Slammer in Hitch 3. Mound City Lake, KS Biggest smallmouth 1. 4 pounds 2. 5" Bull Shad fast sink in green gizzard shad 3. Melvern Reservoir, KS Biggest fish 1. Big freaking grass carp 2. 168 S waver in Bone 3. friends uncle's pond

I've only personally ever owned 1 Pinnacle reel, and it was a lower end baitcaster. I actually really liked the reel but can't remember the name of it for the life of me. I'm as leery as the next guy about trying one just from word of mouth that I'd heard from guys who may or may not have actually fished with one. You know as well as I do, however, that a fair amount of "reviews", are nothing more than someone spewing out what they heard someone else say or read online. I think I have been making a mistake in discounting their equipment as subpar just because of what I've heard others saying. I've had the good fortune of getting to fish with and handle a lot of different reels from the $30 Shakespeare baitcasters, to the Calais DC and Steez. I value my reputation and integrity too much to try to tell anyone that the Optimus LTE I have is going to outperform those top of the line reels. At the same time, I can say it has been a joy to fish with for the time I've had it. It palms very easily, cast great, was easy to setup, and the retrieve is very smooth. It's similar in weight to comparable reels and is very easy on the eyes, not that that effects performance but it never hurts a reel to look good. There is no "geary" feeling, no grinding, no back play, it really has been a treat to fish with. At this point the only thing in my mind that is left to be seen is the reels durability. I put a lot of miles on my reels in a season, if it can stand up to what I'm going to put it through then I will have no problem paying out of pocket for one. I honestly wish I had the money to pop for one right now since I've found them as low as $85 online. If someone was looking to step outside of the box and try a new reel I'd have no problem pointing them in the direction of a Pinnacle Optimus.

Welcome!

The 6' 9" ML Vendetta does make a pretty good shakyhead rod as does the 7' 3" ML Ethos from Academy. The Ethos is what I'm currently using for dropshotting. I own both rods and bought both of them for under $40.

I don't know if the fishing will be any better on Bull Shoals, but there's likely to be way less boat traffic during the daylight hours. Taneycomo used to have really good bass fishing but I haven't heard about anyone bass fishing out there in a long time. Once upon a time it produced trout eating monsters though. Chasing the snot rockets around in Taney is a good way to beat the crowd and the heat though.

If you're looking to move to a good area for fishing, around here would be one of the last places I'd look.

I had Progressive. Only had to use it once when I spun a hub coming home from a long road trip. I was almost an hour from home but after giving them my location they sent a flatbed and hauled my boat the rest of the way home for me for no charge.

Luck E Strike RC Stix in French Pearl or Lucky Craft Slender Pointer 97 MR in Gunmetal shad.

I interchange the two year round. It seems like the pork trailers are a better option when I'm after big fish, and when I'm after largemouth. Smallmouth seem to prefer the plastic trailers for some reason.

The splotches usually mean a saugeye in my experience. I catch them pretty often in a lake close to my house that has saugeye but no walleye in it.

Welcome!

Fish the power plant lakes

Welcome!

One of my favorite types of cover to fish it around.

My first fish of 2015 was an accidental catch

Favorite mono is Berkley Big Game. Fluorocarbon I mostly use Sunline Super Fluoro.

Welcome!

Buying in bulk and getting discounted or free supplies is how most of the guys I know do it.

ditto

Black on black because it works

Yes, the 6930 is my favorite size for bass but the 6925 is good for finesse applications.

Sad news. RIP Scott and may your family have strength in this difficult time.

I'd also spend the extra money on the shad rap if it were me. A #5 shad rap with upsized hooks and a suspend dot or two turns it into a very slow floater. Crank and pause it around likely areas when the water gets cold and it's a killer little bait. I've never fished the SK and probably won't but I have a box full of the Flicker Shads I use for trolling and casting for whites and walleyes. I've caught a few bass on them but I know guys that troll a lot that catch tons of bass on them and some monsters too.