Teal

Both of those are probably great rods, but Okuma makes a guide select rod with a rating from 1/2-5oz. Those okumas have been getting good reviews as swimbaits and a rig rods. The okuma can bee had for 130. That's a good savings from what your budget is. Whenever I get around to buying a specialized a rig rod, I'm looking that way

Costs more but Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard. Is a great " straight" protein. MPH makes a good meal replacement protein shake. This means that it is loaded with carbs and natural fats to give a higher calorie count. I Use both. Meal replacements in between meals and right before working out. I use straight protein immediately following a work out and about an hour or so before bedtime, and when I first wake up. When I'm cutting, meaning I'm attempting cilutnbody fat by manipulating diet and workout, Ill eliminate thenmeal replacements. And usen straight protein only.

I hate hearing about the scam issues for your folks. Take it tonthe geek squad and let them handle it. Call the banks. Now on to the rest of the hijinx..... .dude I just laughed so hard I spewed the Pepsi I was drinking all over my phone and coffee table. Good thing I call u q friend and I know enough to keep it that way

What's the water level up on Kerr? I plan on riding there in the coming weeks. I live about 15 mins from Gaston, I'm originally from the Kerr Lake area NC side. I fish there as much as Gaston lake.

Good stuff

Lmbo. Now that's funny

This. We arent warm enough here yet for the pre spawn, but typically after a front I have a rule going through the pattern in my head and then just backing it up to the first deep breaks. The fish aren't going far. Even if they aren't in a feeding mood, I still want to go try for a reaction strike. This may mean slowing down on the presentation or going more subtle. Key words there, back up and slow down.

Any fast moving lure. Spinnerbaits ans crankbaits in a fire tiger or blue girl pattern

Weird. Sounds like the reel.

I know that's right. Besides he probably eats ladel weilding resturant owners just to meet his post work out protein needs.

Probably 5 times what my wife thinks I have.

I don't think the guy in the video would allow an Asian restaurant owner to run him out with a soup ladel. Cool video. He's on the juice for sure.

Sounds like you have a good understanding of the rigging. I prefer a Snell knot and a straight shank flipping hook, but there's plenty of guys that are successful with an EWG. A couple of things that help bring it all together, a long stout rod, and a fast reel with a hight IPT and braided line. The reel is important, and you want to be able retrieve quickly and make another flip... The more flips the more you make the faster u can cover an area. It also helps after you set the hook, you can gain line quickly and get the fish out of the slop fast. A long rod helps with that the hookset and flipping in general. Braid cuts weeds. ... Punching to me, is pretty cut and dry.

Yup.

I like both of those reels. Go for the tournament pro. You won't be sorry.

BUBBA SHOTTING- is what this up sized version is called. Im guilty of not doing this enough. A lot of locals here employ this method in our hydrilla filled flats and have good production.

Good choice on Powell. Can't go wrong with a Lews TP for around 150 but 100 for a Curado is a steal. Its all in what u want. If you want a lighter reel the Tp is a steal

Felix, I'm the exact opposite, ive tried it that way witht the straight tail jerk baits and not much production. That method however has been very effective with the paddle tail baits like the money minnow, keitechs, shadalicious, and swimming flukes etc. Not saying that it doesn't work, it just hasn't done well for me...

Tom, I don't doubt you for one min. I've had wonderful days striper fishing that didn't amount to 62 lbs in my 5 best. That's an amazing feat. And you are right on with watching the birds. I've had a couple great days that hinged on me spotting some ospreys and eagles hard at work. Sounds like I need to fly out to CA and fish with Tom for a few days. Lol.

I forgot all about that sack. That was huge.

Double fluke rig is fun but the most versatile way for me is weightless on a EWG and on and around any shallow to medium cover, including stumps, laydowns, docks and dock poles, under over hanging bushes and low hanging trees, parallel to emergent weedlines like water willow ans tulies, parallel to submergent weedlines like hydrilla, and over submerged weeds , cocentrating my pauses over the holes or open areas. A general jerk jerk pause jerk jerk jerk pause is my main method. Soft plastic flukes and alike are a great way to both search fish in shallow to med water and to trigger vicious strikes from other wise lathargic or the ever elusive cruiser. But you have to come to it with mind set of using a jerkbait...meaning your presentation has to go along with the mood of the fish as far as speed and intensity of the jerks. My retrieve and action is much faster late in the year than in the early spring. I will also make use of dead sticking the bait when a more subtle, slower retrieve is needed. Its a bait that can shine all year but can be a flat out star certain times of year. During the pre spawn when fish are staging it can be electric if you can use it where the fish are. I also like it a lot on isolated cover ares and ambush points especially in the fall when bass are chasing shad hard. Double fluke rig can shine here too. I rarely put a fluke or caffeine shad on a jig head unless its on an Alabama Rig or maybe a fluke Jr on a scrounger or a swim jig but only when I know I have to tone the action down for something more subtle. Its a bait that I like on a med or MH 7' rod..casting or spinning.

I like them for topwater and jerkbaits. But I can do just fine with a 6 too

WW2 are you using glass rods? Or slower taper graphite rods?

Gosh, I hate hearing that.

By trolling.