smr913

Simon hasn't been to the site since 2014 but here's to hoping he graduated college, is making $250k a year, and has an arsenal of Metaniums and NRX's.

I have a Powell Max 701c that fits the bill. If interested shoot me a pm.

Port Sulpher, LA this past October. Spent three days fishing for reds and specs (which is an awful lot like bass fishing) with my pops. One day had the right conditions to sight fish. There is nothing like pitching to a tailing red or leading one as he patrols the weeds. Caught a bunch of fish and got spend some quality time with my dad. Bonus was old Tennessee Football Coach, Bill Battle, was staying at our camp and got to meet and chat with a legend.

Ned Rig produced my only river smallie over 20" this year.

I use a 6'8" Shimano Cumara Medium Fast for 3"-4" grubs and paddle tails with 1/16th-1/8th ounce jigheads.

Whatever is cheap and close to the same size. Ideally that knot will never see the water so I don't think it matters what kind of knot or line you use. I usually do a one-sided overhand bend knot because it's simple and has a small profile.

Is that guy peeing the background of the first pic? Nice catches. I'm jealous of how many species yall in Fl have.

They are. I think the cost for all three parts was right at $40

Sound like that would be a problem with either reel

Just did this with my curado 50e. You need the main gear, pinion gear, and drag washer from a core 51mg7.

A dark horse for me is the H20 (Academy) brand squarebill. It's a pretty cheap alternative so I don't panic if I get hung. It runs true out of the box and has decent enough hardware. Other than that I use KVD 1.0 and 1.5 in shad.

In the late spring/summer throw a 3/16 or 1/4 jig with a craw trailer straight up stream and let it bounce down. Use a high speed reel to keep in constant contact with the bait. I also do pretty well with a buzzbait or whopper plopper 90 in black across current breaks and eddies. In early spring/early fall you can't beat a white beetlespin or other shad colored spinnerbait but they move out of the fast water.

I don't find a lot of baits but as a kid my dad and his buddies would pay me a buck to dive down and get their snagged baits.

I caught a lot more fish this year by doing two things: 1. Exploring new waters. Past years I hit the same couple miles of river wading. This year I started kayaking and finding new stretches from Google Earth. 2. Reading a topo map. This pertains to Lake fishing. Once I sat down and located what I thought would be spawning locations I tried to figure out where they would be heading from there.

I don't fish much grass mostly rocks and timber. I like the feel of braid bc I can feel every little tick. This year I'm going to experiment with 20# Pline fluoroclear as mainline. The other reason I really like braid is it's cost. Yard for yard it may not be that much cheaper than fc but it lasts all season if not longer.

I have a 6'8" MH XF Cumara that is very stiff. I'd guess it is similar to some manufacturers' heavy. The rod is a great close quarters pitching rod with 1/2 ounce jigs and Texas rigs.

I like 3/0 and 4/0.

@WI_Angler1989 Yes, it is very sensitive and light weight. The combo is only 8 ounce. I am still playing around with line, but have liked using 10/2 power pro. A ML would probably have been more practical, but I've always been drawn toward to light rod.

@WI_Angler1989 It's sweet rod and handles very well for being a Light power. Hopefully can get some trout on it this winter.

20" smallie on the Ned Rig. I was lucky this year to have caught a bunch of nice river smallies, but this one took the cake. Didn't get a weight but I'd guess about 4#.

Is he running braid without backing?

Haven't used the 70 past some back yard pitching, but have had several different 50 size Shimanos. 30# is my go to size. Pretty sure I have 20# on my Ch50mg and never had issues with that.

30 or 40# braid and a fc leader has always worked for me. Micro guides can be a pain as the K of can get hung up on the cast. Everytime I try straight fc I end up going back to braid so I'm a little biased.

Clemson is looking pretty solid tonight. I think it'll be a good game but the Bama D is something else. Go Vols.

Mine is to study for the GMAT and get into a MBA program. It'll mean a lot less fishing for a couple years but trying to look past the short term.