OkobojiEagle

... it's an issue with me.

Bluebasser86... as a frame of reference for me/us, what is the turbidity of the water you are fishing with those?

Despite what the box reads, I'm going to believe it is a monofilament.

bottom up... easier to use my lips/teeth as a 3rd hand.

Hard as I try, and I try each Spring (define insanity), I can not retrieve a jerk bait with a spinning reel. Throwing the rod tip back at the bait ends up throwing loose loops of line on the spool (yikes). Bait casting reels allow me to apply light thumb pressure on the reel and keep the line flat on the spool.

😉...

NYLON MONOFILAMENT vs. FLUOROCARBON MONOFILAMENT vs. COPOLYMER MONOFILAMENT☹️

Texas Tackle split ring pliers

Doin' a little cat'fish'in around...

GIM...I use a leader with jerkbaits and seldom have that problem, BUT... I do have a similar problem fishing shallow crankbaits and lipless cranks over/through weed cover having weeds on the front treble. For several years I've been cutting off just the leading tine of the front treble. This might be a better solution to your problem. (inline trebles are available if you change out trebles) oe

I fish out of a 16' Alumacraft powered with 30 hp tiller, Terrova with auto-pilot and 4 rod holders. I'm pretty well set up to troll, HOWEVER... since I became more sedentary in retirement, I would be fast asleep before I reached the other side of the lake and ran out of water! oe

My thoughts... a fishing rod, more than any other piece of tackle, should be handled by the end user before purchasing.

Dear Great Smallmouth Hunter, For the last few years I've watched Al Lindner (and a few others) glorify bright bait colors for smallmouth. He caught me and reeled me in. Bright pink, blaze orange, lemon yellow, lime green; my tackle bag looks like a bowl of Fruit Loops. I have not caught a single smallmouth on one of those bright colored baits in the several years I've been carrying them. I'm ready to accept defeat and admit I've been shilled, conned, bamboozled. Are there others that carry this shame, or am I just not persistent enough using them? signed: I need guidance...

Hey GIM, Is that a cardboard cut out that you just stick a big smallie on and shoot a pic? There is absolutely NO change in facial expression. It's scary man!

Reel... when using the +4" baits what size smallies are you catching? Does the smallmouth size reduce when you reduce bait size in the summer?

In my glacial lake of 5000+ surface acres, I choose baits that are from 2 1/2" to 4" and boat smallmouth from 13" to 20". Primary forage species are perch, various minnows and crawfish. Why are some of you fishing baits larger than 4"? Pre-selecting for only larger fish? Are your forage species larger than 4"? Do you just like the feel of big*ss baits? When responding please include the type and size of water you're fishing. Thanks oe

I share drop shot and light plastics duty with the same rod. Being a smallmouth first guy I usually start deep 10' - 20' and have the drop shot rigged from home. As I look shallower and want grubs, tubes and 4" caffeine shads, I cut off the drop shot at the hook and rig a light jig head which usually is not displaced until next trip. Thanks for all's confessions...

Of those that fish with a drop shot occasionally, do you rig your drop shot combo during your fishing day in the boat as you decide you want it, or rig it at home before the launch and keep that rod/reel strictly drop shot?

think this is worth repeating...

If its show 'n tell time again... Lunker City Swim'n Ribster has been my long time favorite. If I want a more finesse grub, Charlie Brewer's 3" boot tail grub.

I'd fish in it as is for the season then revisit this discussion.

I'd like my kids and grandkids to live a little closer, but I'm happy living where I'm at.

Zorro short arm, 5/8 oz weight. I cut off the wire weed guard.

It's easier for me to think in terms of oligotrophic vs. mesotrophic vs. eutrophic.

define what it is you're calling a tail spinner please.