Todd2

Academy had several in clearance at my local store yesterday. Looked like new models were in. I'm an Allstar fan, but honest it's a preference thing. Head in there( or somewhere else) and feel a few of them to find the one that you'll be happy with.

This sounds very similar to the water we fished this weekend. The main lake bite has been slow, so we headed up in the headwaters and found a little pattern pitching jigs in very shallow laydowns and log jams. No real size to speak of but was able to catch a few in this range. I think next week, we are going back with kayaks and see how far we can really go.

A lot of good advice. Work it over the limbs slowly and when it pops over hang on. If it hangs up, loosen the tension and lightly shake it over the limb. I know you are asking about t-rigs but I actually have better luck with jigs when throwing into laydowns. I use to trim the weedguards but I fish them right out of the package now and don't lose nearly as many and haven't noticed one bit of difference on the hookups. One last thing, make repeated casts starting from the outside then into the heart of the laydown. When done hopping, slowly swim it back to the boat for the next cast. Sometimes they'll follow it out and hit near the boat.

Yeah, I don't play with Hornets. Got stung 3 times in the head at a company picnic by them years ago. Hornets nest was right by the volleyball court that nobody saw. Felt like crap for about a full day.

It has that 76 to 78 look. I was born in 71 and this looks like stuff I remember when I was young.

1976

Not yellow jackets, I think they were ground nesting bees (miner bees) which look like honeybees but are supposed to be docile from what I read. Apparently these bees read different articles.

As I was running down the dam, I thought of jumping in. If I'd kept getting stung I would've.

Had a wild one last night. I left the boat home and was fishing a big pond I have access to. I was bringing in the worm for the next cast and it got wrapped up on a little shrub by the water. I go to get it and while I was working it loose I felt what felt like a briar or thorn jabbing me. I looked down and saw about a dozen bees crawling on my jeans. I drop everything and run down the dam fast as I can while swinging my cap at all of them. Had to be a sight but nobody else was there. So once I get down about 50 yards, I killed one more than hung on for the ride. I check everywhere I can and then regroup because I have to go back get my 3 rods and tackle. I wait about 10 mins and head back. I get the two rods on the ground and the tackle bag away from the scene. Now time to get my hung up rod. I creep up and flip the bail and walk off about 20 feet and start pulling. The bees came out of the ground and started attacking my Zoom worm in the shrub. I cut the line and took off. I've had a lot of crazy stuff happen while fishing but never with that many bees. Anybody got any similar stories?

Keep the rod low and bowed. Survive the first jump. If you make it that far, you've got a good shot.

Anything over 4 automatically gets put into that "around 7" range. Saves me time weighing and less stress on the fish. ?

10 lb mono or 20 lb braid - Spinning 14-17 lb mono - Casting

Those look great, Arkies are the only skirted jig I throw. Very versatile..nice job.

Wow, the bait monkey has been around for a while.

I'm not a fan of clips. I just like direct to the lure. I'm sure you could though.

I have a combination of braid and mono on spinning reels. Mono for baitcasters. I run straight line on all...no leaders ever. "Leaders are the devil." in mama's voice.

Interesting, from Sufix. Sufix Advance... Sufix revolutionizes the monofilament world with an advanced monofilament that features HMPE molecules blended with nylon. HMPE molecules are the same material braided superlines are made of. This creates a super abrasion resistant and extreme low stretch monofilament line that is also extremely supple and sensitive. Unlike other abrasion resistant lines, Sufix Advance is very supple and sensitive - a combination that has never been seen before in monofilament lines.

Reminds me of a few years ago when I read somewhere that the Texas rig was making a comeback, I never knew it had left. But it is interesting, are there different types of nylon? How are they making it more sensitive? I know there are differences in mono but have never noticed much of one in sensitivity between the brands I've used.

Bald Eagle on the Salt River last Saturday.

I read a lot of bass articles. I can say that I've seen the worm, jig, and spinnerbait all be given the title of best lure by different pros and the #1 producer of bass and winner of tournaments. They all can't be right, lol. But I'm a Hank fan too and always have a jig tied on. However, given the versatility of the lowly worm, I give it the slight edge over a jig for me personally.

I'd put a worm ahead of the jig. Hard to fish a weightless jig, lol.

Other hobbies, we are supposed to have these? I dabble in archery, kayaking, hiking, camping, astronomy, and chess. But all of them added together would be a distant second to fishing.

I had a similar question last year.

A lot of you guys are dragging from deep to shallow, I don't do that much. Makes perfect sense, you can pitch shallow cover and work the depths from the same boat position. I need to try this more.

When alone, I cast parallel or at a 45 with crankbaits and such. When fishing with someone else, usually more perpendicular. Now jigs, alone or not, I usually pitch perpendicular depending on the situation keeping my casts much shorter, usually targeting some wood around here.