moguy1973

If you want a weedless tube those heads with a 3/0 hook are great. I used to use regular tube jig heads to rig tubes that way and the wide gap hooks make it so much easier to rig them and it makes them a lot more weedless and snagless.

Definitely need to know what size tubes you are using. If you are using 3.5-4" tubes I've found these heads to work really well to stupid rig tubes. They are basically a wide gap shakey head with the screwloc removed. http://www.bluerocktackle.com/store/p16/Stupid_Tube_Hook_(10_pack).html

A - Evers B - Ehrler C - Kennedy D - Schultz E - Pipkins Not a bad 1st day and would have been better if Kennedy caught a few more big ones.

Gel superglue fixes the problem with the zinkerz coming off the hook. A little dab behind the head will hold that thing on there for many many many fish. I've caught 50 fish before using the same half of a zinker before. Also, for those using the Shroomz heads use a pliers to take the bait keeper wire off the hook shank. That thing causes more problems than it's worth.

Look up the Diawa Aird X on Amazon. I almost bought one at Academy last night but I went with a more expensive Lew's just because it felt better for the reel I'm using I'm with it and still within my price range and I was wanting micro guides. The Aird felt like a great rod though. $50-55 on Amazon.

I like trout fishing but since my mom passed away 11 years ago I haven't been trout fishing but a handful of times. She was an avid trout fisherwoman and I learned everything I know about trout fishing from her. Since then I've gotten more interested in bass fishing. Bass are just that much more exciting of a fish to catch. While its awesome to have a 3lb trout to come up and take a dry off the surface and put up a fight on a 5wt flyrod with 2lb test line, I'd rather have a 3lb bass blow up on a top water lure any day over that. Any other fishing is kind of boring to me. It's fun to catch a big catfish but typically with them you throw your line in, sit down, and wait for them to bite. Same with bluegill. I really don't enjoy sitting too long while fishing. Crappie taste good but they don't put up a fight so it's kind of boring and me being a C&R fisherman primarily I don't like keeping them. One fish I'd like to target someday is walleye but unless you know what you are doing and have the patience trying to find them out in open water they seem to be a tough fish to catch.

I use the Fish Grip Jr. too. I bought mine in orange in case I drop them over the side of the boat to make them easier to see. Can be found on Amazon cheaper than their website.

My Lew's Mach II has backlashes way more than any of my other reels for some reason. It does have braid on it and braid is much easier to get the back lash out IMO. I do have another lower end Lew's and that's my favorite reel and rarely backlashes. For those that are cutting their line try this technique next time. It works really well with braid to get out all the loops. Haven't really tried it with other lines though. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xK5UfRzLbR8

As I was reading through this I was thinking it needed some voice automation like Alexa or Siri or Google assistant or whatever. Then I read your post. The remote on these units seems great to be able to operate it from a distance but you can't use the remote while fishing. Got a big fish on and you are heading towards rocks or a dock or waves are pushing you around you can't reach for the remote very easily to steer. Being able to say "Enable spot lock" or whatever and have it do it would be great.

I use 1/10th oz and even 1/6th oz when I'm in streams and I want to get down into the current faster. Usually lakes get the light stuff though.

I use the 1/15th oz ones primarily. BTW, it's cheaper to get the 5" Zinkerz and cut them in half. You get 12 out of a pack to 8 with the TRDs. Can save even more by buying Strike King Zeros. Same thing and usually 50 cents cheaper than the Zman ones.

4" tube stupid rigged to help prevent snags.

I know you are in Denton, TX but if you are willing to go to Denison TX there is a library that has it on a shelf. http://www.worldcat.org/title/knowing-bass-the-scientific-approach-to-catching-more-fish/oclc/60843672

On the retrieve? Nah, not really. It does a nice spiral when it falls though.

All I use is BPS 4" magnum flippin tubes. And I recently started rigging them stupid style with 1/4oz wide gap shakey head hooks without the screwlocs and they work great!

Snag Proof Phat Frog in Crystal And I bet it works just fine. They make clear walk the dog lures that catch all sorts of fish in clear water conditions. I don't think colors matter much other than dark or light for top water lures since all the fish sees is the underside anyways.

Mustad are good, esp if they are black nickel.

A good lake in Illinois for kayak fishing is Coffeen. It's a power plant lake so it's got warm water year round. It's a little bigger than some that you've fished but it's got a great fish population. Another is Lincoln Co lake in Cuivre River St. Park. It's a nice small lake for a kayak and rather deep for the size of the lake. Other than what has been said St. Louis doesn't have that great of lake fishing opportunities. Rivers are where it's at. I've caught 4lb smallies out of the Meramec as close to St Louis as Eureka. They are there, you just have to find them.

According to Booyah's Facebook page they will be available starting on July 12th.

By the way, Photobucket doesn't allow third party webpage image linking anymore unless you pay them $400/yr.

I use rod gloves. They have spinning rod specific ones that fit my spinning rods.

I really like my Bass Tracker. It's a great boat for my first boat. I wasn't planning on buying it but it was my uncle's and he gave me a really good deal on it. My only regret getting it is that there aren't many good fishing lakes relatively close to my area to use it in. The closest decent lake is 2 hours away in Illinois and even then in the summer it's a party lake and my small boat doesn't handle the wakes well. I live 5 minutes from a river boat ramp, and several others on really good smallmouth streams are within an hour's drive. If I would have done it different I would have a river jon with a jet on it for shallow running. It would definitely get a lot more use as right now I'm only getting mine on the water 4-5 times a year and even though its paid off its not really worth filling up half the garage 3/4 of the year.

I have all left hand retrieve reels. I cast with my right hand and I can immediately start reeling without having to switch hands. I can work the rod much better in my right hand too. Personal preference though.

I sort mine by type also in large ziplocs. Since I also fish on other people's boats only on certain bodies of water I'll keep one ziploc with everything I need for that lake so I can easily take it with me. I have a river smallie bag like that too for when I go out in my kayak. I usually store everything in a crate I also use for my kayak that I keep in my center rod locker. Gives me just enough room for my rods to slide into the locker without hitting the crate.

I've used This stuff called Cat Crap. It works decent at first but after 6-7 applications it keeps them fairly clear except up at the top by my nose.