Master Bait'r

It's been fixed. Also having never used the GLX I can't comment on the similarities and differences, but I would just go for it. You only live once. $100 spread out over the next 15-20 years is nothing. Totally worth it to not second guess yourself

When you say no boat access is that because of the coontails or is it actually restricted water? I fish a few places like that in my kayak and suffer through brutal portages because the open water fishing in the middle is incredible. If you're allowed to finagle a yak or float tube in there, I would say absolutely do it. Sometimes spots like that are just not bank friendly enough to be worth it unless you can. Heck I know of one place a guy made a homemade raft and just left it there tied to a tree for when he feels like fishing there. Also if you're feeling ambitious, you could start throwing an anchor out there and pulling it back in just to clear a slot in the weeds to see what sets up shop in it afterwards. It's going to be hard but it's another option.

*GASP* BLASPHEMY!!! The only problem I ever ran into with Smackdown is that the finesse diameters are so fine that they can actually get caught in the space at the end of the hook eye and break off during a fight. Just buy epoxied-eye hooks and it is a non issue though. Never had to deal with that before haha... I love Smackdown though, it's just so thin, strong and quiet. I put #40 on my HXF Frog/Jig/medium simbaits rod and can't believe how much farther I can cast over 55# FX2. It's probably a good 20% if I had to estimate without being too generous because I love it so much. I just wish it was a little less expensive. I personally think it's worth it but it is still on the expensive side. I'm not really a fan of 832 simply because of teh waxy coating they have on them. It makes knot tying weird and grabby to me. OP, it's 100% an individual preference thing. As you can see from just the few responses, there is no such thing as a consensus on what is "best" much like ice cream flavors or anything else for that matter. We are fortunate enough to be fishing in this day and age when there are literally dozens and dozens of perfectly good options- it just depends on which characteristics you're looking for in a braid. You may not have enough experience with braid to even know yet, so if that's the case I'd say go with Power Pro original. It's pretty much the baseline standard for inexpensive, strong and supple braid and as such it gets recommended a TON. If you find down the line that it is behaving in a way that you don't like, then you can dial in your next re-spool based on your experiences and wants/needs.

Feel free to send me the rest of that 25# Tatsu

They're pretty cool as a jig trailer but they're best on a scrounger head from my experience so far (picked them up this spring). On the scrounger they look like they're wiggling SO hard. Usually I like a straight tail worm on them for that whippy wiggle but the vibra grubs are definitely in the rotation now. Pretty durable too which is nice.

I don't think anyone can argue the merits of minimizing the risk of failure but everybody has their process... But sometimes it isn't what you think it is the first time around either! I was going out of my mind earlier this year because I was having a TON of break offs right at the knot- but in the hook loop, not even the knot itself. I was SUPER careful tying and I couldn't figure out why I was having so many breaks. I blamed the knot, the line and everything else you immediately think of. Changed all kinds of stuff and it still happened. Then I was retying once and noticed the tiny braid I was using (15# smackdown, Trokar Mag 4/0 EWG) was getting caught in the space at the end of the hook eye and cutting the line enough for it to break during the fight. I literally smacked my palm on my forehead when I saw it. Picked up some heavy duty VMCs with the smooth epoxied eye and WHAM. Problem solved! Hasn't happened since!

Man, this guy is GOOD.

Oh man, talk about a great little frog imitator! I would t-rig the heck out of that thing and toss it in cover faster than you can say FISH ON!

Lunker City has quite a few iirc.

Let's be honest, that is way too level headed for any of our DNRs to think of. Besides, there's overtime to be had!

There is a pretty clear blood trail on the tail. Could have been a bad hook but nonetheless it's a shame.

X2!! Wood rots and is very heavy. Pressure treated wood is also very corrosive to aluminum so there's that too. Aluminum is the only way to go if you have the means.

You guys would love my winter storm day onezie haha

1) tilt head to the side 2) carry on

I would recommend no lighter than a MH rod for Frogs. Meduim rods generally don't have the backbone or immediacy to drive home two big frog hooks. If you want to use the Medium rod though, try picking up some of the 1/4oz frogs or maybe some soft plastic ones that you can texpose a normal EWG hook through as if it was a craw or worm. If you want to be successful in using hollow bodies though, you've got to bring a grenade to a watergun fight. MH or H rod, and heavy braid. Now you may be able to get by without the specific setup and boat a fish or two now and then but froggin' is one of those techniques that every requirement you take away, your odds of landing a fish drop off significantly.

Honestly I feel like I have more control DURING the cast with a BC reel as my thumb is babysitting but to each his own. I don't feel there's any bait out there that HAS to use either, but it certainly helps to have it dialed exactly like you want. Also with the way I palm the reel and turn the crank all within a very tight area, it just feels more... How do I say it... "tight" or "compact" or "all in one place" so to speak. Spinning rods your hands and the components feel more spaced out and farther away. That's not to say that I think it's better, just different. I am simply happy that we live in an age where we have so many high quality choices. There is no wrong or right, just what feels good to you.

Only do this if you want poison ivy inside your lungs and throat.

Get a light goretex shell- the best you can afford. Just layer in the winter. I spend days and days out in the cold on windy mountaintops and never have an issue with proper layering. Avoid cotton under the shell though- it will trap moisture. Go wicking synthetic ALWAYS- like a fleece or something along those lines. Even one layer of cotton can ruin your whole deal. Maybe I'm nitpicking because I sweat a lot (especially when it's cold) but it makes a huge difference.

Arc'teryx, Norrona and Patagonia. My ski shell jackets make great rainwear in the summer.

How long have you had that PPSS on there? I almost but on some but have heard mixed reviews. Interested to hear how it performs longer term, particularly fraying. I'd love to never buy Nanofil again honestly haha

Man I love that boat!!! It is PERFECT and those rod holders- why didn't I think of that?! That's awesome, definitely will be doing something to that effect!! Thank you!!

Trust me. I don't like tooting my own horn but I'm a pretty decent welder, fabricator and engineer. It's kind of been my thing for my entire adult life haha... There are aluminum 1x1 floor joists welded in on the belly bands and that is what the floor is mounted to. Very solid. To add to it though, I did a two-part 2# flotation foam under the floor and it stiffened it up even more. It is very solid now. Under the front seat there are two levels of said floor joists, and they are stacked and joined. This little boat has been way overbuilt. Seats are ONLY mounted directly on the floor joists for adequate support. There is a whole thread on the build in here somewhere.

Well I did a custom build and there are no benches so it has to be mounted to the sides. See what I mean? It's nice having the open floor but I hate having rods on the ground as it puts them right at your feet.

Ouch. That's the worst.

Don't wait. The time it takes for me to get my tip from down low (my preferred walking position) to the 12:00 hookset position is plenty of time. Too many times I've waited and lost my chance when they spit it. I find the quick rip while they're still in the engulfing/strike stage to be the best way as they haven't had the chance to spit it yet.