MarkH024

That looks great Dwight! I think I'll be giving that a try. A have a few packs that smell too much like plastic and not enough like fish slime.

Stik jackets and BPS mesh. Both work great and are a life saver when stacking rods lined up together. I use the BPS solid ones for spinning rods. I have no idea if they float because they go right into a compartment on my boat so no need to worry about them flying off.

Hiroshima Customs makes really nice baits. I don't own any but have oogled over a couple items. 3:16 Lure Compay is another which I own a couple of baits. You didn't specify a price point but anything "custom" in the swimbait category be prepared to spend some $$$.

Understatement, lol. Swim jigs or a flip and swim jig style with a bullet shaped head will help keep some off. Its just the nature of the beast fishing jigs in weeds. I've gotten so used to cleaning weeds off lures all the time that it's just expected now. Pitching a soft plastic or t-rig plastic is probably the best "weedless" application. Even that will tend to pick up some junk here and there.

Good fish brother! What rod are you using for punching these days? The Dobyns 766c is a beast of a rod, I thought I recall you asking me about it end of last year. It'd be nice if I could use it more lol. Hoping to hop up north this weekend if I can swing it.

my reaction to that story. I agree...the picture or the way he's holding it certainly doesn't help his claim, unless he's a shaved up Squatch.

Pretty awesome Steve! Way to go!

Weed cut milfoil mats produce a lot of fish for me, whether punching, fishing the edges or sometimes on top with a frog. My lake has both, a ton of pads and milfoil combined in the same areas. It's hard for me to distinguish which truly holds more fish. The biggest fish have come from areas where weed edges are very thick right next to deepest waters of the lake. Usually within the first 3-4 feet of that weedline is where the bigger fish hang. Smaller fish seem to be tucked closer to shore or in shallower areas. Not sure that really answers you but an observation from my home lake.

I use a rod labeled "Topwater" for jerkbaits, weightless Caffeine shads, and topwater bait. Occasionally a t-rig worm or something too but that's rare for me.

LT Hollowbody frog or Rage Toad on top. Jig or t-rigged creature on missed blow ups.

Awesome fish man! Congrats!

5lb 8 oz

by the way....they're both smallies. Nice fish.

Awesome man!

Jeff, Was your partner sleeping because you were hogging all the fish? Looks like he's taking a snooze standing up. lol

You got to start sometime. I suggest you search the topics and read thoroughly. There is virtually information about everything in bass fishing on this site.As you advance in fishing, you may want to research rod/reel types before you purchase. Sales or not, it may not be the tool that fits your needs. My .02

Punching

Baby leeches maybe? Nasty whatever it is. Edit:Probably not leeches I guess if it was internal too. Heebeegeebees

just trying the line out. No particular reason really. I've come to the conclusion that I like 14#+ fluoro more as its better managabilty and less memory for me. I'll strip the Y-Z off when its needed. I will say that the 12# YZ is pretty darn strong and a nice diameter.

Im using a Dobyns 705cb glass, Ci4+, and 12# yo zuri hybrid. Hybrid is a first for me this season and im pleased so far. If I'm using fluoro im usually using 14-17#.

What IA and Jrob said. Im willing to bet your weight might be the issue. I use 50# on a Dobyns 766c, .75-1.5oz tungsten, and snelled 4/o Dennny Brauer flipping hooks.I have yet to break off on a hookset.

Good fish man. Solid chunk!

Watching your line is your best bet. Difficult to see if you use a lo-vis line (green/moss/black) so you may want to consider a hi-vis on the applications that get hit on the fall. You can always run your index finger just above the reel to help with feeling the tension but watching your line is going to be your best bet. You want to see your line "jump". That's usually a pretty aggressive bite. If you just see the line steadily moving in a direction, that tends to be a more subtle bite.

I've been trying out 12# on my cranking setup this season and it is a pretty decent line for the price point. I use a San Diego Jam knot. I've thrown some chatterbaits and swimjigs on it as well and so far I'm pleased. Not the greatest line, but certainly not a bad line.

Sweet smallie A-Jay! 30+ day of fish is stellar, way to go! I still haven't picked up any 6th sense cranks but that gill color sure does look good. Thanks for sharing.