Choporoz

A couple/few years ago, I got some worms with rattles from MTB or LTB. I don't recall the brand, but there was a slit near the tail where you could stuff a rattle inside. Yes, you could hear the rattle just fine once inserted. But, no, I never got a bite on one. Also, tubes accept rattles pretty well....and might be fished in similar locations and styles (as flukes.)

I'll bet in not the only one on here with a couple of these still around

Thanks, @Tracker22. I won't be using the chute for now, either. It won't work with my tracks or trolley. I am going to try using a rod holder to stow the anchor and see how it goes. Using a carabiner to run line through the trolley. Will update after I test drive it.

I, too, use 5-fillet method. However, if you have slots or length limits, be sure to check your regs. Got a thorough tongue-lashing at an Ontario Fish Check station when they couldn't tell the lengths because of the way they were filleted (though no fine, thankfully.)

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I sure hope that you aren't jamming sharp hooks into their heads and guts....or suffocating them by removing them from the water....I'm being sarcastic, but it seems that you may have to get past some issues...If you fish long enough, you are going to kill a fish...maybe many. Maybe you should face those concerns, fry up a nice walleye (legally caught, of course) and let us know how you feel afterward. I consider myself something of an advocate and a steward for the environment...and I try to approach fishing and hunting in as humane a manner as possible (for example, I'd never harvest something I didn't plan to eat.) But, its hard to imagine being a fisherman and not being able to deal with dead and/or legally harvested fish. Good luck.

Sums up my thoughts, as well..... only additional complaint is that when a hammer-handle hits a treble, he will invariably get hooked in both the top and bottom of his mouth.....the time spent landing, unhooking, releasing, reviving and cleaning up the slime is not worth it to me. I feel similarly about cats and snakeheads....they all take me off the bass fishing for way too long

https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Wallet-Holder-Organizer-Storage/dp/B0773TM46W

I switched from Walmart to Interstate a couple years ago and couldn't be happier.

@Big-Bass, did you get your rod?

This does work....maybe not with same hook stuck in two hands, but it would have worked for one of them....sorry...I'm not scrolling back up to see which

LOL....sorry....not laughing at you...with you... You may be the only person in years here on BR who has given Ugly Stick too much credit IDK about a 'lie', but I think that the mfr probably figures 13# or better...anything above is a bonus ? :)

Thanks, Mike. After a week in the house, all appear to be back to 'normal'. It was just a little frustrating; especially the Procyon and Ballistic....and I wanted to sing the praises of the Pfluegers.

I cannot help you. But... -I wouldn't be surprised if max drag could conceivably higher (or much higher) than the highest advertised spec.... -Couldn't you test those drags with some known weights? Like dumbbells or gallons of water? -Requiring 30# drag sounds a little crazy off the top of my head....I've landed cats over 20# with regular bass gear (10# test....3-4# drag) -Interesting questions, though....I fish piers alongside cat fishermen and I would bet you a dollar that not one of them ever considered what proper drag setting in pounds ought to be Good luck

Not a sure thing, but I have caught deeper suspended LMB's by fishing heavy (1/2-3/4 oz) spinnerbaits like a lipless crankbait. I am not real confident about hitting the depth (zone) right, so I use exaggerated yo-yo-ing back to the boat. Long upward rips and then sometimes, hits on the fall.

I don't do it all the time, but often - and always subconsciously. Usually on a perfect flip/pitch to a very specific spot that I'm confident holds a fish. I believe my brain prevents me from interrupting my concentration....even the routine act of engaging the reel is enough sound and movement to distract from bite detection sometimes.

When fishing bottom contact and very slow moving plastics, I first detect many bites in the tips of my fingers holding the reel handle. This means for me that the line, the rod and even the reel all play a big part. If the spool is tight, or the knob bearings are dirty, overall sensitivity is affected...at least for me. As the picture of Gary Klein above illustrates, your bite detection can/will be affected by how the reel and the rod handles feel for you. One big reason to handle rods with a reel attached before deciding on a purchase.

This summer I (along with other family members) have had the 'fortunate' opportunity to observe a number of different spinning reels in extremely wet conditions. I feel I've seen enough to make some personal observations/decisions. Reels all between 2 months and 6 years old include Shimano Symetre and Sienna; Daiwa Procyon, Ballistic and Aird; Quantum Smoke; Pflueger President (2 different sizes) and President XT (2); Abu Garcia Orra SX. All three Pfluegers performed flawlessly no matter how wet they got (including at least one submersion.) The AG, as well. Every other reel developed some degradation, all temporary; most were binding issues....some slight, but still noticeable. Nothing about this experience should reflect normal conditions, nor care. This was an admittedly abusive few months. But, I cannot say enough about the Pfluegers and I will likely stick with them from here on. Those President XT's, especially....you'd never know they don't cost hundreds of dollars for the performance they offer.

No...sorry....didn't mean to be insulting...just that focus apparently isn't yet a strong suit...and I get that can come from information overload....the fact is that little of the details on equipment beyond basic specs are going to matter very much until one gets some time in with different gear

TLDR. Adderall, maybe? Sorry to be a smartazz...but, you want it simplified, its going to be simple. Couple of Chop's personal observations: -you get what you pay for here on BR -very few product info posts incorporate thorough, honest comparisons...it just isn't every thread that you find someone who has compared the exact two or three models you're looking at -very few of us are professional reviewers -- everyone has different things they value, notice, dislike, etc....so you'll find little unfiltered objectivity -just maybe those tech/feature differences are subtle or negligible to 98% of the novice bass equipment buyers -I'll go out on a limb and suggest that if you spend, say $120 on any rod or reel with specs close to your intended usage...you aren't likely to be disappointed

Will probably suffice perfectly....if there's no wind or current....but, then I suppose you wouldn't really need the anchor

At risk of oversimplifying....the main thing is the concept that an anchor rope that is more vertical than horizontal isn't going to hold well.

Lots of cool different options out there....google kayak hybrids; raptor; native; versaboard; freedom hawk; diablo.... I think Diablos would be right up your alley, but they are a little heavy....good, stable designs, though