Todd2

Interesting discussion, I have never had much luck with suspended fish other than swimming a grub through them and that has been spotty to put it mildy. However, fish buried up in brush piles/laydowns/log jams are often inactive but I've had one of my best summers in 4 years targeting them. The key has been making repeated casts/pitches. I mean a lot of casts. Saturday I stayed on a laydown (not even a big one) and just kept pitching. About the time I'd want to give up, I'd hook up. Caught two keepers and a few small ones off the same tree. Was probably on it for 30 mins, in the past, I'd already have moved on. Much different than suspended bass, but the question is the same. Did the jig finally ignite the bite or did they just turn on? Who knows?

This is exactly how I fish jigs and plastics on BC. Line between thumb and index finger. BTW, the index finger and middle finger are both on the blank (opposite sides) also so I really do know where the sensation is coming from, I just know when I feel anything, I reel down and swing.

My best night spot after everyone clears out is a ramp. Almost guaranteed to catch fish.

Fluoro has it's advantages.... but more cost effective than mono? I swap mono once or twice a year. Big Game is like $10 for 1500 yards. But I do like the feel of fluoro, tried it several times, just not for me. For what it's worth, Invisx was the best fluoro out of the 3 maybe 4 that I tried over the years.

You mean the money from the wallet? ?

I've heard of outboards starting up and running fine with rabbit ears but dying when put under load (water). I guess it could be something similar but I'd guess electrical like Brew said.

The meeting down a bank has never been a problem for me. It works itself out. Sometimes if I see them pitching up close and I'm backed off, I usually swing wide first for example. I never cast until I'm clear of the boat. I don't tournament fish so it's not a big deal. Most folks are cool in this encounter. However.......I've fished the last 4 Friday nights at my local lake. There is a decent size tournament that runs that night. For the first time in years, I've had words with two separate boats on two separate nights of blatant cutting me off. Fishing a tournament should not be a factor on how you handle a boating encounter. On the flip side, most of the guys are cool. I even had one boat ask if they could fish a point I was on to pick up their last fish. I let them, ate a sandwich, they caught a nice keeper and left. I went back to catching them. It's all how they ask. Being in a tournament gives you no extra rights. Ok, sorry..got derailed there. Off the soapbox now.

I've never seen a squirrel swim but we did see a whole herd of Deer crossing the middle of the lake on south Barkley one morning, that was cool. For years, I've had several white albino squirrels in the trees behing my house. A big red tail Hawk moved in back in the Spring. No more white squirrels left.

? ..I probably follow the pros less than anyone on this forum, I want to care, I just don't.

The only big worm I've bought in the last 2 or 3 years is Zoom Ol Monster in California 420 color. Strange name, but that color works here.

Yup, I agree, seems like a solution to a problem that doesn't exist to me.

I just keep my index finger on the blank on spinning reels.

That setup should work, just reel hard and keep pressure on it. Out of curiosity, are you using braid? I seem to have a few more shake loose since using braid myself. But losing 6 of 6 sounds strange.

Which one do I pick if I wacky rig a TRD on a drop shot while shaking? ? lol In all seriousness, I go with the Ned. Last year, it would've been the drop shot.

A lot like the rest of us. Some people think they don't miss any, but how can you ever know about a fish that you never felt. Underwater cameras have backed this up. Now, what we can try to due is limit this. You've got some good advice so far. The line bumps and jumps are easy to detect, it's those little pressure bites when you go to move your lure and feel some pressure like you experienced. I posted about this a few weeks ago. I still struggle with these. The best advice I can add is if there is any doubt, reel up slack and set.

I store 2 kayaks for a friend in my shop, in return I get to use them whenever. I've had them for about 2 years and have had them out twice. They are Pelicans, on the lower end I believe but serve the purpose. I went with a group Sunday and they were talking up Jackson as a good brand for me to look at should I choose to buy. Fishing clear moving water for smallies was a lot of fun. No size to speak of, but those river smallies are fighting machines. It's a different experience than driving the big boat on big water and chasing green fish.

20 lb Original PowerPro in Yellow. I use a marker to darken about a rod's length of line. I usually fished stained water but kayaked a clear creek yesterday and had no problems getting bit by brown fish. Of course, I was throwing the Ned. I don't see a reason to go less than 20lb with braid.

I spend about 45% of my time on jigs, 45% on plastics, and the other 10% I'm looking down at my jig/plastics rods wondering if I should pick one up.

This thread has taken a strange twist, we are now studying light physics..lol Slow down, don't blind others, assume somebody is out in front of you. Get home safe.

I have no rules on the trailer color, sometimes I match it up, sometimes a little contrast seems to work. Throw something on and try it. I use the same jig in Bluegill color and a trailer that has been working is the Zoom Speed Craw in Sprayed Grass color. It's been working so I keep throwing it. You might try that if what you have doesn't work.

I usually throw one on..not necessary. The bobber stops I have won't go through the weights I have. From a bite perspective, I use one for my stained waters but to be honest not sure I've seen a difference.

I haven't had that problem. I got mine at Academy...something with an X in the name. I used to use the Carolina keepers but like the stoppers a little better. Both work well.

Thanks, I wish I could take credit. 99% of what I know about fishing is from what I've learned from others. The other 1%, I've wandered into aimlessly. But you're right, two rods for the price of one..lol. I keep a stop on that rod and it doubles between both. Been doing it for years, but sometimes I'll do a dedicated c-rig rod with a heavier cylinder weight.

Speed and night time boating is recipe for disaster IMO. I have a Spot light that I use sparingly. It blinds other boaters, because their's is blinding me. I've seen kayakers in the middle of the lake without lights at midnight. Not smart, but does it matter whose fault it is in a tragedy? Keep the speed down and make it home safe.

Same here on the rod position. I just hate getting the bite when the rod is at 9:30, I miss more of those.