jbsoonerfan

It is a tough lake to figure out. I am a shallow water, find cover kind of fisherman and that lake does NOT suit my style at all. As mentioned, it is deep and clear and if you are an off shore fisherman, you should be able to find some fish. There just aren't enough "targets" for me to do well. I can catch a few each time, but it just doesn't produce for me like it does some other guys.

Things finally worked out where the weather was nice enough to fish, even if it was only about 2 hours. Only caught one, wish I could have stayed longer. 5-03

Black crappie

The guys behind him who just had to fish those last few minutes are going to be mad when they don't make weigh in.

Overkill? Not much difference in the fish handling quality of 30 lb braid or 50 lb considering neither of them stretch.

Yes, I threw a 3/4 oz with a trailer the other day and it performed very well. I had a 1/2 oz on my Zodias and wanted to try a lil deeper presentation so I just tied that 3/4 on my chatterbait rod. Worked very well!

I use the same set up with 40 lb braid but I skip the leader. I had a buddy that was talking about this the other day. He catches a lot of fish on a spinnerbait but he misses a lot on a chatterbait. I told him that I think it does indeed take a harder "swing" to pin them with a chatterbait. I have no clue why that is, it is just what I have experienced and that is why I still use mono on my spinnerbait rod but switched to braid on my chatterbait rod.

Add Britt Myers to the one fish club. Next question, because I have no idea. What do the guys do that didn't make the cut? Head home? Keep fishing, or are they allowed to fish the lake or is it of limits if they didn't make the cut?

Great looking lil combo there!

It honestly may just be in my mind, but that is just my opinion. I'm sure others would disagree LOL

Only if I were 100% going to stay right at or under 1/2 oz. I find my spinnerbaits usually come in at over 1/2 sometimes up to over 3/4, so I would opt for the 7'2 MH. I also started fishing my spinnerbaits with trailers which makes a big difference IMO. Edit, I don't throw 3/8 much at all, but it would be perfect for 3/8. Edit some more if I may. I realize both rods are rated for 3/8 - 1 oz, but I think the 7'2 would handle a 3/4 oz better than the 6'8. The blanks seemed much different in the butt section to me when I had the 6'8. The 7'2 felt stronger in that area, if that makes sense.

I got rid of it because I was a dummy! LOL I wanted to put Mega 360 on my boat so I sold some gear that had that most value, just haven't replaced it yet. IMO that Zodias is a pretty stout rod down through the butt section with a nice tip. It works really well for spinnerbaits. If I had the money though, I would rather have an Expride. That is why I suggested an Expride. I just don't have the funds right now to swap out for one.

Zodias 20 7' MH - Spinnerbaits Zodias 20 7' MH - Buzzbaits Zodias 7'2 M - Med Cranks Zodias 7'2 MH - 5/16 oz T-Rigs Zodias 7'2 H - Frogs Zodias 7'5 H - Punching (Usually 3/4 - 1 oz) also 3/4 Carolina Rigs Expride 7'2 MH G - Chatterbaits Expride 7'2 MH - 1/4 oz T-Rigs Expride 7'2 H - 1/2 - 3/4 oz T-Rigs or Frogs in Heavy Cover Expride 7'3 XH - A-Rigs / Swimbaits / 1oz plus Jigs or Texas rigs in deep water

I think most people aren't reading the question as I am. Correct me if I am wrong, but I think you are asking if someone brings 2 rods (MH and a H) and 1 reel and fishes let's say a Texas rig on the MH and then swaps the reel over to the H rod and throws a frog. If that is what I think you mean, then no I don't. However, I can see where that might be beneficial in a situation where you didn't mind swapping out. I have plenty of room for rods and reels so I don't think this would help me, but yes, I can see where this might help someone out.

Expride models - Previously used - 6'6 M, 6'8 MH and currently use - 7'2 MH glass, 7'2 MH, 7'2 H, 7'3 XH Zodias models - Previously used - 6'10 MH and currently use - 7' MH (new model x2), 7'2 MH, 7'2 M, 7'2 H, 7'5 H

The grip on the Expride feels better to me, the handle on the Zodias feels good, I just prefer the expride. Even on a moving bait, such as a spinnerbait, I like to feel everything that is going on and I think the Expride transmits that feel much better. As far as whether or not you will notice it on moving baits, that I can't determine, but I fish a spinnerbait over/in/around cover and I like to be able to tell what is going on with the bait. Feel is very subjective though. A Scotty Cameron putter "feels" better to me when the ball comes off the face as opposed to an Odyssey but you may think otherwise. Also, the expride looks much nicer to me, not that it matters on performance, but something that might to you.

Both of those rods will fish very similar, I certainly like the feel of the Exprides over the Zodias though. They are worth the extra money in my opinion.

That is one reason I chose the Greenfish Ballistic HD, it has a heavier wire and a closed eye instead of an open bend. I think it holds up much better being like that.

I have heard this said for the last couple years that the MLF style of fishing is just too easy because once you find them, you can just keep catching them. I found that to be somewhat true when there was the 1 lb rule, now that they have gone to 2 lbs it doesn't seem AS easy. That being said, how can a guy like Shaw Grigsby fish a place like Rayburn during what many would call a "prime" time and only manage to catch 1 scorable bass in 2 days of fishing? I am certainly not bagging on Shaw, in fact, I use him as an example because I think we would all agree he has had a great fishing career. I just don't understand how a guy like that simply can't accidentally catch a few. I would expect someone like me to totally blow it and get skunked for 2 days, but I honestly can't see how it happens to a guy like him. Could he not find them? Was set in his ways and wouldn't adapt? Fished the wrong areas? What say you, how does this happen? BTW, other guys struggled as well, so it wasn't just him, I just used him as my example because he can for sure catch em.

I'm not a scientist, didn't even stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night, but I believe that KVD L&L Conditioner doesn't get rid of anything, in fact, I think it bonds to the line. Someone much smarter than I will comment.

I have said it before, but the lake I fish most often in full of timber, grass, brush, etc. so I fish a Greenfish Tackle Ballistic HD. It works better for me than other spinnerbaits I have tried (at least it has produced more fish).

I was being facetious. LOL

Just an observation from watching BPT a minute ago. Wheeler was throwing a frog and throwing it a long ways. JT says, man he is throwing that thing a mile. Marty says, how far is a long cast anyway. JT jokingly says, 7 miles. Then Marty says, 25 yards, what? JT says, he's throwing it at least 40 yards. I know those guys don't know a lot about fishing, but those are realistic numbers being thrown out there.

I buy Sufix 832 in 1200 yard spools and my braid reels are filed with braid. That's the route I would go especially on that reel.

I have owned a couple Bucoo rods and for the money, I thought they were nice rods. I'm sure you will enjoy.