Spankey

Ok I’ll bite. What makes you think that’s gonna happen? I think I understand that you are implying that Rapala setting lifeless is gonna get crushed?

Not sure totally what you mean. I don’t think I’ve gotten ripped off. Maybe made a poor color choice or something like that. I was all hot to buy a couple of Rapala Tail Dancer lures years ago. Thought I would kill some river smallies on them. They never produced well for ME. But it’s a good lure for somebody. I’m a Rapala fan boy but that one never panned out. But if you are talking something like that fish lure that had a light bulb or something like that in it or it made noise or talked underwater. I never fell for anything like that and hope you didn’t either.

Bass or all fish? Id like 10 cents for every trout I caught on a Panther Martin. Great in-line spinner.

I haven’t tie one of these on in a long time but I’d like to have $0.10 for every smallie I’ve caught on Rebel Craw ( various sizes and patterns ). No BP’s off of it. But you are not saying how you are measuring success. I’m talking shear numbers.

I know where you are coming from but it’s a tough find these day. It is what it is. Some good stuff comes from Japan. A lot from China. A good bit from South America. What can you do. BPS took a nose dive when they started pushing all the house brand. Was not always like that. Some of these guys on here can tell you they were full line dealers of some bait manufacturers. That was not all that long ago. There is not a dang reason that they should not be a full line dealer of Strike King. Every variety, Every pattern. Same with Rapala, LC, LiveTarget or whoever. I didn’t realize there was such a want and desire for their XP/RXP/XPS Tourney stuff. Guess I’m wrong.

Well that’s another thing I don’t have any decent mom and pop shops around anymore either. Two that I hit a few time a year each are no prize as far as baits. Both are well stocked St. Croix Dealers and both carry Shimano Reels. One has a decent amount of Zoom the other is more of a Z Man, Jackell, keitec place. We will leave it at, neither float my boat. DICKS......when they stopped carrying shot shells, rifle ammo the boycott started there. But I’d never tell anyone to boycott these establishments. I’m principles are my own and won’t push them.

^^^^^This also is my way^^^^^ Rapalas, Bandits, Bombers, SK’s. My comfort zone cranking is down to about 15 feet. Was a lot shallower when I was strictly a river rat. Lake riprap and the lake fishing in general has forced me to fish deeper. 1000 way to approach I guess. I don’t fish heavy jigs but this is another way I like to go at it. Just not heavy.

Hard to find a sizable amount of fishing gear made in the USA. It can be found. Who knows if all components are US products. I’m a crankbait addict. Fish numerous Brands. I’ve caught countless smallies on Bandits. Jumped on the Bandit Bus when they first came out. Was fishing Bandits in my area before anyone knew who they were. USA company, great customer relations, was always able to get my hands on special run colors, I own quite a few of them and I sincerely believe every pattern I possess has caught me at least one bass. What a great period of my bass fishing journey. I don’t know all the ins and outs of why they sold out. But I have not had a purchase since. They are not the same anymore. Their product line is not there anymore. If they were bought to become better I don’t see how it is happening. I’ll lump Bomber Lures in this same situation. I’ve boycotted Wally World a long time ago. I have my twisted reasons as to why. The ones in my area suck anyway when it comes to fishing stuff. I guess all Wally Worlds are not created equal. I’m glad you guys make out well with the ones you have. I’m just not that lucky and have stuck to my reasoning. I would never tell anyone to not use WW.

I hear that, for the longest time I couldn't get anyone to go. Fortunately my two grandsons love it and I'm trying to make bass guys out of them. Been trial and error my whole life. Try to repost on the line of something like "Need rod help for ..... baits" or drop shot or jigs or crankbaits. Something on that line. You will not have a problem getting opinions on rods here. But I can't buy a rod unless I touch it first.

I find this to be true on my lake fish. Be out Thursday, hookie day from work for me, pretty warm here in the East. Weekend looks sour and we have a tendency to go from summer into winter which will hit soon. My crankbait fishing all season Has been bluegillish and gizzard shadish patterns. Some crankbaits and soft plastic creature types I have to stick with. I’m not setting the world on fire, but it’s working and I’m afraid to mess with it.

If you are at place that has a nice handful of rods there you can get a pretty good idea of tip speed and maybe do a bit of a sensitivity test on a few objects laying around the place by tapping them. Should have a reel on it though. Would think anyone with a bit of ability looking for a drop shot or mojo type rod should/could feel the difference between an Ugly Stik and a St. Croix Avid Rod. Maybe.

Do you have any fishing buddies or acquaintances that will lend you a few different setups for you to use and try? Getting to a good shop with a lot of rods is important. Crap shoot otherwise.

It’s not like Smallies just got introduced to lakes a few years ago. The lakes are their natural habitat. They certainly seem to be adapting pretty well. They are different than a Largemouth. But Largemouths can survive/adapt in a river system and Smallies can survive/adapt in a lake impoundment. Being a smallmouth guy most of my life, I’m more apt to roll that way. A lot of time and years fishing that way but I enjoy fishing those Greenies as well.

I hear ya. And I do agree. I have to to some degree because it’s a fact people and pressure are up. But in my case I am very taken back by not catching smaller bass. The 11” and under crowd. Those fish will take a 5” kit tail worm usually as quick as a 15” fish. I don’t want to get your thread off track. Note: You are to be commended for putting in all the thought you do with these smallies.

Well you some what make it sound Largemouth don’t get lock jaw and always are ready to take something. I’ve caught some nice fish this year. But I’ve been dealing big time with fish with lock jaw or they’ve been wearing a mask. No numbers of fish at all.

I don’t know about that.

Great post. Way more than once while river fishing, fishing a lay down from the tree top back to the bank did I pull a smallie off of it first only to catch a greenie closer to the bank. And vise versa. Just river fishing.

For the record I don’t have a problem with live bait fishing. To each his own. This whole site could switch to live bait but I’m gonna fish my way. You let us know when you make that transition. It ain’t easy. And if you bring livebait and lures to the river at the same time that will be even harder. If you but your mind to it, you can do it b

I use to. But there were largemouth also on the river. Mother Nature has disrupted my home waters. Practically in my own backyard. I moved to lake fishing for awhile. She’ll bring it back. I just hope I live long enough to see it. My best fishing moments were on the river. My personal best smallie came off the river. But my personal best greenie came out of the lake. I have the red butt over what happened with the river but that opened the door to fishing largemouths. My skills from the river set right in place at the lake. Hey dude you can respect and disrespect what you want to. Granted they are two fish. Slightly different but in the same family. I’ve been bass fishing a long time. Most likely before you were ever born. I like your posts. They are different and unique. And I don’t have or will ever have an issue with you. But, I think you are TOTALLY off base and out of touch with reasoning behind your post. You primarily for the most part fish all livebait. I think you would see it through a different lense if you fished artificial baits. Just take those crawdad for instance. I’d rather catch one 15” smallie on a Zoom or Strike King Craw then five 10” or 11” smallies on live bait. But I don’t care what anyone fishes with. I respect you as a person and fisherman.

Pressure could have a part in it. Baitfish location? Out here in my parts of Penna. that fall transition as well as spring to summer doesn’t take place all or most years any more. Very short window. I’ve gotten some nice fish this season. Surprised in one sense but not too surprised because I fish hard at it when I’m out. My biggest stumped for the season is the numbers are low. Where were the dinks and runts? Died? Got ate up? That bugs me to some degree. I’m a bit stumped that I only caught one bass this season on a fire tiger pattern. Generally chart. w/blk. bk, firetiger craw, chart. craw, brown/chart. Craw will get it done. Even if it were dinks and runts only. Can’t seem to wrap my head around that. Shiner, Shad and bluegill patterns have been what I’ve been throwing. But I’m still getting bit on soft plastics. My biggest fish have been on soft plastics. Tuff to fish real slow sometimes.

If you feel good about cranking, stick with it. Pull some baits you have the utmost confidence in. Try to be able to cover a depth range you feel comfortable with and have at it. Probably on right or wrong answer. I’d be fishing my strengths not a weakness or something New now. I know in my case that I’m not sure how many more time I’m going to be able to get out. I’m fishing for 6 pounder. I have to take that approach. If he doesn’t come on Sunday that’s ok. If it doesn’t happen in what I have left in the season that fine also. I’m fishing baits that have working during the season and baits that have produced for me in this fall season in the past. Most importantly have fun and good luck.

Hope you are feeling a bit better. Stubbled on this thread late. Sorry. Best of luck to you and your family.

If that fits your hands good and the action is what you are after go for it. I never in my wildest dreams thought I’d fish with a white rod and reel set ups. Well I fish with two of them now. They get a lot of use. They work perfectly how I’m using them. If it feels good go for it. That means a lot in itself.

Don’t make things out to be more than they are. Don’t make things more expensive than they have to be either.

Sounds like those rods would be better suited for lighter crankbaits.