Choporoz

Certainly. I'd first put a beaver on a weighted hook or a swing-jig. I like to work it in messy laydowns. If I'm patient, I'll work it back to the boat along the bottom, but most strikes are on the fall through timber.

LOL

I'll play a Rage Tail Structure Bug on the first team. Senkos come off the bench.

I apologize if it sounds insulting, but my first thoughts were the same as Zeth - was the line coming off the spool counter-clockwise?

Most anything plastic that isn't a chatter trailer or paddle tail. I have been working hard on my ninja skills the past year. If it isn't a reaction bait, I think subtleness and stealthiness has to be a positive 95% of the time.

I see 125 3-joint for 15 at Monster

My clear Super Spook is my best producing dog-walker. Far more strikes than shad-colors. I have come to believe that less attention to detail is better for this lure.

Thanks, all. Patrick, I particularly appreciate the detailed description -- going to practice that this afternoon.

I use Amazon Prime for fast shipping. I use eBay for cheapness. I have no expectation that anything eBay will ever be shipped faster than what's in the "Shipping and handling details".

I've been working on my backhand with baitcasters, and let me just say that it is not pretty. How to you handle targets to your right (if rod is in right hand; or left if rod is casted with left arm?) I am sorry to admit that I've let a lot of likely looking targets go by - especially if there's malicious-looking low overhang to get under.

Thanks for that report, Quanjig! I AM sorry you didn't do better. However, I won't lie - I feel a bit better about my day knowing that others were struggling. Self-doubt sucks.

Must have been in a show recently...maybe The Americans, but Brother Louie has been in my head for a week, now https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exl0oSfTSoY

I have a cheap sling pack - I like it ok, but it won't stay on same-side shoulder without a hand on the strap....unlike some backpacks. If you put a strap over your head it works fine

I didn't see option C. more frequently for longer periods of time. If those waters are your only choice, anyway. No such thing as too much fishing

5+ pounds of ornery on a DT-6

Thanks, all. Mike, I did just that yesterday. Casted a practice plug with no appreciable problems. Had my wife grab it and load up good -- no scale, but I'd venture a good 10+ pounds. Rod bend didn't look abnormal or like there was extra strain. I will try to find local rod builder, however. I always figured this to be a $40 rod based on the combo price and the (surprising?) reel quality, but I've been very happy with the performance up until now.

small, unmarked bills

I broke a 15 month old Abu Garcia rod yesterday. I don't have the receipt, so I understand the warranty probably isn't an option, but I wrote AG anyway. The rod may not be worth the cost of the warranty shipping and charges, anyway. (It was an Orra SX combo. $120, and the reel was probably 3/4 of that.....but I have liked that rod quite a bit and it got heavy use the past year.) My question is about what's left of the rod... On a 'normal' cast with a jig yesterday, the second guide from the tip broke off. I sanded down the glue and now the rod is without that one guide. My question: What will be the effect on my usage? Does this further threaten the integrity of the rod? Will I lose fish - or casting distance? I've done a little research on rod repair and I don't feel comfortable taking this job on if it'll be ok without it. Thank you.

I don't know how many more times I can keep putting that Live Target Best of Show pack in my cart and then take it out. That'd add a quick $25. Their terminal tackle listings are always changing...already have a swing jig, a jika, a Freedom jig, and a scrounger? Can't ever have enough skirts and JJ's....I don't seem to have much trouble getting free shipping at the warehouse place.

No kidding? Upper end? I've spent a lot of days on the Occoquan and have never caught a smallmouth. Interesting...

I had a 7up/7back alberto fail on me this weekend. Sent the jig across the lake and got the worst braid backlash I've ever had. Examining what was left, it appears that the leader tag actually pulled through after a few hours of jigging, vice breaking. I did use yo-zuri vice fluoro and I now recall that copoly can have creasing/breaking issues when 'folded'. So I suppose its possible that hybrid isn't the best choice for leaders, but for now, I'm still doubting the knot more than the hybrid.

I feel bad for the tourny guys tomorrow. Beyond slow today. I got skunked out there. Man...spend every waking minutes since November thinking about getting out there and it was brutal. One jig bite. I sensed that drop shot was probably the way to go, but it was hard to hold on deep ledges in the wind.

Wanted to note that while I stand by my comments about pricing strategies that I find questionable, I did want to point out that Amazon has a (little known?) charitable donation function called smile.amazon . If you log in through smile.amazon and pick your charity, Amazon gives .5% of each purchase to your charity. There's a number of fishing related charities available to choose from.

How long before we can add XXXX by Paul Roberts to our libraries?

I'd probably put 10 or 12 pound Yo Zuri on it. Set it and forget it. What could be simpler?