Choporoz

Seems like that could have been mentioned earlier when you implied that rod was near new.... had barely been touched and essentially broke itself...I would guess that we have no idea if it had been slapped on a gunwale, smacked in a tailgate and stepped on by a nephew...before you owned it. I expect Dobyns will treat you well, but I wouldn't be too upset if they determine it wasn't a factory defect

I never considered this a great answer, but....'you'll know it when you see one'....they are typically very well defined and quite obvious, even with a bit of chop on the surface.

Welcome to BR! Sounds like you haven't yet been introduced to my "friend" below....he welcomes, you, also:

well then.....:) good morning to you fine gents, as well

I'm a crotchety old fart....don't know my meme's.....either it means I shouldn't post until I've had my coffee.....or....you're generously offering me a heaping cup of shut the front door.....either way....get off my lawn!

I hope I don't come off as an ahole, but, threads like this drive me nuts. When it comes to safety laws and fishing regs, I don't think that interweb forum advice and 'guessing' are good approaches. Posting cut and paste or links of regs and asking for interpretation of current laws might be fine....but please don't make legal and safety decisions based on what I may tell you on BR.

Easily, 6'10" MF; Fenwick Elite Tech Small Mouth; 20# PP, 8# leader. I throw rage rigged 1/16 - 1/4....a LOT

What do the regs say? Pls post a link to current.

I disagree that it is the fishermen's fault for fishing there

These guys:

How did Creek Chub drop from the 'Famous' ranks? It used to be in every bass fisherman's tacklebox. And Bass O' Reno, for that matter? I took my father bass fishing last summer...a few months before he passed away....and he threw that old Bass O' Reno and ....what do you know? Caught bass. All that I have (Chubs and BassO'Reno's) are antiques, and I'd be afraid to fish them for fear of losing one, but I have no doubt that they'd still catch big bass....I just might have to get a new one...for old time's sake.

I think this is a great point. Ever tried to read a sonar manual? I mean, really. And don't even get me started on side scan....even one of the manufacturer's web sites use to say something like... if you don't get it...fold up a paper contour map like a Mad Magazine Fold-In...and just maybe...you'll sort of get it for five minutes....really? Just watch what happens when this 55 year old accidentally changes from having DS on a split to a single screen....takes me a week to get it back

Few years ago, @flyingmonkie posted a (now busted) link to a study of bass movement - post tournament release. There's another here: http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/fishing/documents/winnipesaukee-bass-movement-study-2007-08.pdf and there's others out there. Single biggest takeaway from those studies: 1. Find out where your local clubs weigh-in....and fish there Also...there's more study needed, but bass waters MIGHT be better off with dispersed release of tournament fish...take them back out away from the weigh-in site.

I'm probably the only one, but I can't catch Shenandoah smallies on tubes....or grubs for that matter...lol

I've fished a bunch of floats, both and above FRC, but not this summer, so I don't know what the river is like right now. Been pretty dry, though, so I'd expect fairly low and slow. I don't even take a baitcaster with me any more. I carry four spinning combos. One will always have an Owner Finesse Ball head with a four inch worm....stick or trick...doesn't matter much. Greens are good. Oxblood roboworm also good. One light crank or trap. Another should have a wacky rigged plastic. Other plastics that work very well there are Keitech Krazy Flappers and three to four inch swimbaits...I like flukes and small soft paddle tails. River is mostly shallow, and can be a bit swift and challenging by canoe. I disagree slightly with above posters about deep pools. I suggest that when you come up to a pool, take a good look at surroundings. Some of your best smallies will come from those pools; check for a place to beach your canoe at shore nearest the pools....get out and cast into them from shore. Take a handful of finesse jigs and throw those into the deeper spots....that's always the key to our biggest fish. Go ahead and get stuck in the riffles and cast down from them....always active fish in and below the riffles. In general, fish are facing upstream waiting for food to come down. But, it can be tough to fish from above while you're moving...between snags and keeping your lure slow, it is a challenge. You will find in most areas, that casting across will be most manageable for you. A number of folks use inline spinners, like Mepps...I don't anymore, just because they are bluegill magnets....you'll miss smallies because you're so busy taking the panfish off. There aren't a lot of productive laydowns on that float....cast to any wood, but don't waste too much time with them...your best luck will be below fast water and in the deeper pools. The least productive water are the long shallow rock flats...I think that float has one about a quarter mile....go ahead and paddle through into better water. With one caveat: some of those long flats might have a crevice angling from one shore or the other...you may find some in those cracks. Be prepared to lose some hardware. You're going to get snags you can't get back to. Go to FRC's websites and read the fishing reports. There's a number of guys that file great, detailed reports. If you don't see a real recent one, check July/August from previous years. Finally, FRC is a great outfit. I've been very pleased with them each and every time I've rented from them.

This is the part that I also have trouble with. How often do you read here on BR that "xxxx is the best lure, but you have to change out the hooks on them"....I agree with you

maybe it is much less related to feeding than we give credit....might be that most predatory threats come from above and that's where their focus is much of the time

YakAttack visipole. I'm well aware that there are cheaper options. But, I'll tell you, this is worth every penny. The flag alone would be worth it here. Mounts/unmounts quickly; folds and stows in mesh bag; the light works...every time...year three without ever changing batteries or having it go out on me.

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/165790-the-best-rod-thread/

Their eyes are in the top of their heads?

I agree pretty with both, @NHBull and @GrumpyOlPhartte. I believe that most of our waters are in some of the best shape of my lifetime. Not that anyone should relax, nor that awareness isn't a good thing. Just that, I'm not particularly alarmed right at the moment. And, I have always...and will continue to always....leave a place better than I find it. I carry out more trash than I take in. And I will 'educate' others as I see a need.

Cry? Seriously....I LOVE my ET SM's. First inclination would be repair...but then again, the handles are just about the best aspect of them... would they be like new after repair?.......good luck

I fish from a kayak, and all trebles get stowed before I have to turn my head lamp or flag-light on....I have pushed the popper and spook a little far into the dusk, but each cast gets a bit more nerve wracking

Rage Bug, and Rage Tail Cut-R... both Rage rigged

real easy to do there....but....I will sheepishly admit that I would be surprised if I've ever actually used more than 30% of the stuff I've gotten from there....the offerings are/were 'overstock' for a reason