Phelptwan

I had a long cast over a point and didn't notice that there was a thin branch sticking out from a near tree. My bait was hanging over said branch and slightly in the water when it got nailed by a good size bass. Water was about 6" deep, but still managed to land that stupid bass even though my line was still over the branch the whole time.

I knew it.

I love these scissors, but every time a new friend or co-angler hops on the boat they seem to disappear. I try to grab them whenever I see them on sale cheap.

Hey, you find out, let me know. I use a lot of ZMan spinnerbaits, but that's mostly because I've gotten them for cheap. They seem to be rather delicate and don't last long. I started picking up the Siebert ones, as they last a bit longer than the ZMan stuff, but they don't pulse as hard. I feel like I catch just as many fish with them. I've played with some Nichols and War-eagles, but either of them seem to be done for after a single hit from a pike or bowfin. I grabbed some of the shimano's this year to try out, as I'm interested in seeing how they hold up.

I really like Frittsides. My only issue is it seem the pike do as well. I've lost a decent number of them to pointy fish.

I like to skip them up under docks. I especially like docks that are floating catwalks where I can skip all the way under the dock to the area between the catwalk and the shore where some weeds and grass usually grow.

Under $150, I'd consider the Shimano SLX 6' 10" Medium. It's an absolute steal for what you get. The deals might be drying up at this point for the Expride A's, but the 6' 10" Expride (A or B ) is the best Jerkbait rod I've ever used and I own a couple of them now.

Also, superglue/mend-it is your friend with this. They tear pretty easy. I've had good look with them where there is overhanging branches.

I've got 3700's with all the dividers removed stuffed full of them. I pretty much use 3... Sometimes I don't know what's wrong with me.

Rat'l'trap

Cast like a dream for me.

Water temp was 56 yesterday and finally started catching them on the blade bait. Nothing quality though and I lost 3 on it that all felt bigger than the ones I caught.

For me I don't really notice it until I hit the shower...and then realize I'm still swaying like I'm moving with the boat on the water.

Had a couple that really burned; Last nightly tournament of the year I had a backup co-angler in. I hooked a very good one that I'd guess was slightly over 3lb on a wacky. It was doing a good job of pulling drag. Got it up near the boat and my co-angler donked it on the head with the net and dislodged the hook. Would probably have been big bass and put us in first for the tournament. Earlier in the year I hooked a very solid bass on one of the new Sleeper Gills. For the first few seconds it pulled drag, and I knew it was good. It ended up throwing the hook a few feet from the boat.

I don't use a Palomar with FC for this exact reason. I use the Tri-Tag, double pitzen/improved clinch, whatever it's called and it seems to work MUCH better for my really hard hooks sets.

I tried to start with them last weekend, but I think it was a little warm yet. Had better luck with the lipless though.

I believe scents are going to be making a bigger and bigger play in the industry. With better electronics, more realistic baits, and various electronic garbage already being added to baits (small vibrators, lights, etc) I think scent technologies will keep expanding.

I thought I had a similar issue recently but it ended up being the hook keeper on the rod was catching line as it was coming out.

Never really had luck with them before this year. I could get bites on them, but I always seemed to pull them off. Switched to a moderate action rod and I rarely loose them now.

For me, this year has been lipless. Specifically a Blue Chrome Rat-L-Trap.

Had one on my first cast with one and haven't caught anything since that cast. I casted up at a the corner of a dock with a very steep bank. Noticed I had a bit of an overrun and spent a minute picking it out, jerked it a couple times, let it sit, wham. Tried to replicate it in many different places and times, but haven't been able to get anything off it since. Other notes, doesn't seem to hunt quite as much as the Stunna. Also runs pretty shallow (haven't tried the deeper version). The hooks are nice and sharp from the factory.

If a tree's in the water, I'm gonna fish it. Number 2 is always going to be docks, the older looking with big wood posts and narrow gapped boards the better.

Tried it and I hated the one I got. Just can't seem to get the hook in fish. I prefer Fogy's and Jackhammers. On a side note, compared mine to a friends and it seems the hook on mine is bent in a bit further and slightly offset to one side. Not sure if this contributes to the issues or not, but I have zero confidence in it.

I've had a few quantum reels and a couple rods. About the only one that gets used regularly anymore is the Quantum Smoke rod. Like was mentioned above, over time the reels just loosen up.

The Expride 7'2" MH F (EXS72MHB) is a fantastic Wacky rod. I've been using it for most of this season at this point.