5dollarsplash

If your fine with it, no reason to change. .....however I agree with A-Jay and Mark on braid. Clear or murky, I prefer the feel and manageability of braid.

Siebert Outdoors has a Finesse @ 1/8oz and his Tournament Bullet comes @ 1/8oz Great guy to deal with and a great product to go with it.

Looks like a heck of a day. And I have to agree, my better half beats me everytime fishing a stick bait.

We've got a decent sized group in my area that fish over the backside of the dam, I've always wondered what the plan of attack will be when they hook a big pike or musky. Sure small walleye, bluegill, and bass may be hoistable, but those 40+" toothy critters? I suppose I'll have to ask one of those dam dwellers about it someday.

Digging into itself is one of the main reasons I hear. I like 50lb on my frogging gear as it tends to saw through weeds and such easier and won't break off if the fish takes the lure and wraps itself in lily pad stems. I'm not a fan of a locked down drag, and find that in almost any inland instance I tend to use maybe half of the maximum drag on a reel.

Interesting idea, I hadn't seen them until just now. A neat option for those with limited space/funds for multiple rigs. To me it seems like a good idea for backpacking or camping as it would a allow you to target multiple species easier. I doubt I'll pick one up, but I'm curious to hear more. Fenwick makes some nice rods, so I'd expect it to outperform its pricepoint.

I buy some leaders every year from Rollie and Helens musky shop, I believe they use Berkley components. Lb rating I tend to lean lower unless targeting pike an musky.

Everywhere I fish locally seems to have pike. For me I weigh the risk with reward while bass fishing. I don't fish a ton of baits I'm afraid of losing, but if I did I'd use a leader. Hook, worm, and soft plastic don't warrant a leader. But if I'm throwing a $30 bait you bet I'd use one. Flashy white/chartreuse baits automatically get one as they seem to be pike magnets.

Whoofta, much relieved that the hand has found a owner, and congrats again on the hog.

Nice fish. You've got some creepy stuff in that background though. Disembodied hand and boat stalkers.

If you've got some vegetation, or if your dean rojas in open water, give a frog a shot. For some reason I've had good production, especially at the start of a rain with a frog.

For bass fishing, the only time I don't use braid for my mainline is with a treble hooked lure.

I don't think your going to get a clear cut answer. They are called all the things you mentioned and more. I think if your trying to discuss Drop Shot Hooks, that is the term I'd choose. Unless I'm completely misunderstanding your question, in which case disregard the above.

For your bc's I'd go with 2 tatula's or 2 curado's(leaning towards tatulas for cost sake) one in a 7 and one in a 6 ratio. Symetre for the spinning reel, probably lean towards the 2500. Rods I'd put the most money into the spinning. I'm a St Croix fan so I'd pick a Avid in M/F, Aetos from Fenwick would get a looksie as well. For the Frog I'd use a Premier in MH/F, a H is a broomstick. Finally for the All Around I'd get a MH/MF, Fenwick has the Elite Tech Smallmouth that I think would work great for this unless you are looking for a longer rod.

Look under "Pegging and Rigging" in terminal tackle on TW and you'll find them there. Quite a variety and one should serve.

Just like Back Country said, and I know its not the easy answer, but keep changing it up and the fish will let you know. At times, when I feel like "gosh a fish should strike right there" I might let the bait sit for close to a minute. I've had fishing partners ask if something was wrong or if I felt ok even! But its paid off before, so I do it. Other days the "blink" pause you mention might be the trick. The beauty of the sport right?

I always have a rythm or cadence, and tend to change it up frequently until I start getting strikes. So many strikes come on the pause or right at the start that I'm not a fan of walking it straight back, I save that as a last resort before giving up on the technique and trying something else.

Nice haul of perch. For getting and keeping kids interested, nothing beats a honey hole like that!

Nice catch. Fish Grips, or any like brand, are finger saving necessities!

Baby's first words? "Just win baby" Congrats, hope everything goes smoothly.

80lb is overkill in my mind. I use 50-65, and I think to myself at times thats over-doing it. 80lb is similar diameter to 18lb mono, which is pretty thick and most smaller reels won't hold much line at that diameter.

If your set on St Croix, I'm thinking you might need to step up to one of the musky or saltwater blanks for that weight range.

Nice post, and that's what I love about this site, sharing knowledge and experiences to help a fellow angler. Now I'm going to have to go pick some up lol.