mod479

Nice smallies, they're feeding on craws you say? Try some similarly sized/colored tube jigs, or texas rig a beaver style bait. probably only need 1/8 to a 1/4oz of weight. Throw those around the points you mentioned. If that doesn't work I'd do some dropshotting.

I'd probably go all custom, man that'd be sweet... or trade all my current sticks in for comparable Dobyns DXs and start ordering Zillions, Pixies, JDM Stellas, and Cores!!!

Interesting read. Carp are known to do their carpy things on the surface and I have mistaken them for bass before as well. I have a related story. Up on a lake I fish quite often, we always used to think the fish breaking the surface and slurping bugs down were trout. For like 10 years we ignored these fish that were all around us in the morning and evening. We fished dropshots plus the usual stuff down on the bottom and we caught our fair share of bass every season. Well long story short, I finally decided to target these surface dwelling fish last summer out of curiosity...started throwing weightless flukes at them, and I was shocked to find out....these bug eaters were smallmouths all along. They literally had hundreds of tiny black flies in their mouths when we would get one to the boat. Ya never know!

I tried it too hoping it'd be decent a cheaper fluoro....it was too much like TNbassin has said: slinkyish...it blew off my spool in a dozen coils the everytime I flipped the bail...and I used KVD L&L on it too, Tried stripping some off, still came off ths spool in coils, Tried stretching it out, it didn't help for long. Guess ya get what you pay for in this case.

I've got a 6'6" veritas "medium" and its more or less a heavy action spinning rod. It's got a short handle and is very stiff. I use it for tossing some swimbaits and frogging......good rod for $99. This option will save you some coin. I'm slowly going all Dobyns myself, I've got 3 rods, all of which are a different series. (savvy, champ, champ extreme) To me, the power they assign them is overrated, and you might want to go with a "heavy" action if you go the DR route. Dont have a loomis rod so I can't comment, and the only shimano rod I've got is a M/XF dropshot cumara, so I cant really tell you much about the crucial either.

Should just run straight hybrid. 30# braid is overkill in a creek.

Sunline sniper FC...6 or 8# whatever you get, pick up a line conditioner...it makes a world of difference when it comes to minimizing line twist.

Been trying izorline XXX co poly all season, 6lb on a spinning set up, and 8lb on a finesse BC....it's durable and still very managable line for how cheap it is. I still prefer ZY hybrid however. Staying on topic however...one combo? I like my spinning setups...this one in particular: Dobyns Champion 703 SF Shimano Sustain FG 2500 Yo-Zuri hybrid 6# (green)

Nothing wrong with a 4-14 in my book, was still fun to bring her in no? Anyways like someone else said, ~4 months ago, that fish was probably a 5lb bloated beast. You caught the fit and trim summer version Go find her in a month or 2 and she will be fattened up a bit in preparation for winter.

Kelly J in ghost baby bluegill Black Cavitron Damiki D Pop in holo bluegill

Summer can be tough....and electronics are just a tool, they dont catch the fish, even if it that unit does find them for you. Contact someone with some experience like a guide maybe? Might cost you a few bones, but its better than getting skunked day after day. Dont let it get to ya, stay focused, and keep fishing baits you have confidence in.

Nice smallies, I have always wanted to give them a shot at night time...Black spinnerbaits?

Not sure what your budget is, but you mention upgrading your gear...so I'll assume you aren't looking for cheap stuff. +1 on the Okuma Trio, solid reel for the money. Mine is still holding up after 2 years of use, I let my friends use it, and if they cant kill it, neither will you. Kinda heavy though. But that's all relative. Seeing I own 3 of them, I'd reccomend the Stradic FJ or Ci4 if you feel like truly upgrading. I've had a lot of spinning reels in my 20+ years of fishing experience, cheap/expensive ones, quality and absolute garbage....I can say you will not be dissapointed in either of those reels.

Late in the afternoon when I should be fishing, and they have me working....I bring in my baitcaster and practice pitching in the common. Otherwises, I am on here learning.

I hate reading these kinds of threads. Hope you find your gear...lesson learned I hope.

Check out Izorline XXX or Yo-Zuri hybrid. Both are excellent copolymer lines for spinning gear. Cant see you needing more than 6 or 8# test if you set your drag properly. No snag issues or heavy cover, and 1-7lb fish. You probably dont need braid at all. Both of those spools of line will cost less than one spool of quality braid too. Not to mention they will fill ~3 or 4 reels if you decide to get another setup down the road.

Whats best? Who knows, the fishes preference change change daily, even hourly. I always tell people to experiment, sometime the odd colors will get bit. I'd start with one of brown ones myself, but in the course of the day try to throw all the colors you have. From your picture, I can see the bottom...it looks like a sandy brown/tan color. A good starting point is to try to match your tube as closely to the color of the bottom as possible. Drip the scent stuff you have on the tube jighead before you insert it into the body of the tube, itll smell a bit longer, and make the jighead slide in easier too.

Drop offs + emerging rock piles. Focus your efforts at these locations, and fish off of the main lake points. Like you said, its summer, and its been a hot one...so the right depth is key to your success. Use your tube jigs, let them get to the bottom and slowly drag them back to you. If that doesnt work, snap them off the bottom from time to time. Try your topwaters early in the morning near those emerging rock piles.

I decided to give the spinshots a try this season, here is my take on them: (I usually use gammie DS hooks) The good: -easy to tie up and get a rig put together if you arent so sure about tying a palomar. -Decent quality hook right out of the package. -The design of the hook limits line twisting, so you dont have to use a barrel swivel... but makes for a new problem (more on that in "The bad") The bad: -Visibility of the shaft which goes through the hook eyelet. ( I fish superclear waters, and this sort of thing bothers me) - Tangles....The shaft inheriently ends up wrapped with line when you hook up...and this ends up ruining your expensive fluorocarbon. If you dont mind re-tying, its not a big deal, I like my rigs to be perfect as you never know when big mama might be prowling around.... -The hook: From my experiences this spring and summer, this hook is moderately sharp out of the package, but dulls very quickly when you start fishing in cover. Also, using a #4, I had one big smallmouth make a run at the boat and bend that hook about 20 degrees back. Never had that happen with a gammie hook...yet. Final verdict: Great hook for someone looking to try drop shotting out, They are certainly easy to use and have caught quite a few fish with them, but I have better luck tying a hook on the old fashion way...so I use them more now for fishing perch with livebait.

Lots of good ideas have been posted, I prefer robo worms of all colors, but if all else fails try: 3" senko/dinger nose hooked 4" senko/dinger wacky rigged Sounds strange, but I've caught some nice smallies wacky rigging it, give yourself a long tail end below the hook when you tie up the rig, so it has some extra distance to fall and shimmy.

I use Sunline Sniper 5# on a spinning reel and I can say it makes it much more manageable and has almost eliminated any issues with line twist. It handles as well as normal mono or a copoly now that it's had a few treatments... I cant say that when it comes outta the package brand new. (Its like a super thin steel piano wire)

Yo Zuri hybrid is a bonded copolymer line, you could probably get away with using 4# test in the crik. Maybe you could give the ultrasoft a try, although I dont think you will have an issue with the original, especially with KVD L&L.

Roadwarrior, you mention this color quite often, do they still produce it? Cant find any, not even a picture actually. I have a big pack of transparent tan / black flake colored ones, but I feel like this color you speak of it more of a mustard yellow or chatruese hue?

2 3/4" tubes , lizards, baby brush hawg, twin tail grub, 4.5" finesse worm

X 3 for Yo Zuri Hybrid. The stuff is just plain TOUGH. I fish it in chunk rock and jagged ledges daily, it gets torn up, but has always held strong...just inspect your line occasionally and retie when needed. The fact that it is also very controllable on spinning gear is just a bonus. I haven't even tried the ultra soft...but only because the original stuff works so well.