Choporoz

FIFY

https://www.fieldandstream.com/fishing/angler-catches-new-york-record-smallmouth-bass/

So glad all the tackle R&D divisions are overflowing with originality and innovation. I mean, I know there's little that's REALLY new....but a major announcement for a half a stick worm? We can just go ahead and cancel ICAST this year....no way anything tops this

This is the only reply needed for so many threads. I have, I think, four rods (out of at least couple dozen) that are used regularly for the purpose I bought them. Every other one fit better for something else.

My foot dragging is only because I assume it wouldn't work through my protective case, though I have no information either way. Do you charge wirelessly through any sort of case? Not talking Otter or Pelican...nothing crazy thick, but I do have a shell with a metal disk in middle of the back.

I need my phone's camera and one or more apps when tournament fishing, so the watch wouldn't work, I don't think. I use and highly recommend Rogue Fishing tethers. Outstanding product line. I do have the occasional day when it has been pouring and I can't charge for a while, but it is rare. If it happened more frequently, I would get a wireless charger.

Nowadays, I doubt that 'dead-on-balls-accurate' would fly as a standard for most anything outside of nuclear or space work, if there, even. Near perfect will always be too expensive. Gotta give me some limits I guess that's part of one of the points in this thread....there's an expectation that part of the increased cost went to working within narrower margins

So was the machining the problem? Or was the allowable tolerance the problem? Hard to find fault with a process with results in 'acceptable range'

MF; 20#braid with fluoro leader, 10 or 12....whichever is handy when I am re-tying

I know nothing of tolerances, materials, or engineering. But I have owned reels with at least ten different brand names on them. The only ones from the OP price bucket that I recommend without reservation is from the Quantum Smoke PT family. I like most of my other reels....loved some of them new....but none are as consistently smooth and trouble free after years of use. I will give an honorable mention to an old Speed Spool that is sort of like new after a decade. I'd trade any of my other reels for a well-maintained Smoke HPT.

No. I fish Potomac. Mostly between Dogue Creek and Aquia. Mattawoman, Aquia, Dogue, Gunston Cove....all good for snakeheads

FB has a lot dedicated dragon hunters. There's at least a few groups of MD, VA and DC folks. I don't target them, but catch plenty fishing for bass in tidal (and some non-tidal) waters around here. No bass lure they won't eat. As @VolFansaid, target the edges....but sometimes you will also find plenty in more open water BTW, whatever happened to @Snakehead Whisperer?

I hate winter, freezing temps, hard water. Enough so, that I resolved years ago NOT to complain about the heat. I don't necessarily relish it when it's 96...degrees and humidity....but I will work with and around it in order to fish. For me, the far bigger problem with hot summer days, is the severe pop up thunderstorms that come along so often.

I have two ML spinning rods that are both outstanding bass rods, and often carry both. I use DX702SF for dropshot, and a Fenwick Techna 7'3" ML F for Ned's, light shakey heads, weightless trickworms, flukes, etc.

That rod is likely to be perfect for something. Best if you figure it out instead of having us guess. Not trying to be an azz, but you really have to go out and try a variety of different things in or close to the weight rating. It might allow you to skip like Andy Montgomery.....or be a perfect drop shot rod. Go out with the mission to try a range of light lures and techniques...you will almost certainly find something that rod does much better than your other spinning rods.

Another pro tip, this one a carry-over from hunting trips beginning or ending in the dark: Never, ever set anything down between the car and the boat.

This guy hit Rage Bug I flipped into a laydown. I've caught a couple on worms, but never on a beaver-craw type before.

Did you have to pay extra to upgrade from a regular paddle to the 'Selfie-stick-paddle'?

It is awesome. With a little scary thrown in, sometimes. A few things I do every time I'm out well past sundown or well before sunrise: -Check all batteries: headlamp, all-around light, fishfinder (GPS and depth monitoring become even more important to me after dark) -Put away all treble hook lures -Have bug spray available -Tighten cast control knobs at least a couple clicks. Backlash in the dark is ten times worse than in daylight. -I don't leave headlamp on. It kills night vision and attracts bugs. I do switch it on momentarily sometimes to check shoreline, laydows and overhanging trees. The scary part is when I get stuck on a stump or stick up. It has happened more than once and it is totally unnerving in pitch black night.

Tough to guess until a bill is written. Most countries that successfuly tried to enact sort of reform instituted buy-back programs. Hard to believe anybody thinks that owners would voluntarily scrap weapon-related stuff without compensation.

I have, too. But for me, that has been one of the most difficult hook-sets. I missed so many that I got away from it and use other things, now...mostly light or weightless plastics

It may take some time and work, but Craigslist and FB can put you in partnership with someone with barn, shed, garage or carport space. It will still cost you, but nothing like a self-storage place or marina.

Agree. In fact, I can't answer even just for me. I use a custom MF spinning rod most of the time, but mainly because it is my preferred Senko skipping rod and I can't pass a dock without skipping a Senko. It is good for light grass and open water. But I also fish a senko in laydowns and pads, so I also use stouter rods and lines. The best rod at any one time could be any of five or six with me.

Lots of good info above. Only things I would add are that as I move into a big pad field, my eyes are biggest asset. Move in to a good looking spot with holes in pads nearby, or different weeds among the pads. And then sit quietly for at least a 3 or 4 minutes. Just watch intently. Two reasons; you will see where big fish are, and they will get over the disruption of you crashing around. Sure, I do end up chasing some carp, but bass are in there, too. Flipping will get it done. Spinnerbaits and chatterbaits anyplace you can. Also when frogs and toads don't work, some days a buzzbait will.

1. Rage Bug 2. Cut-R 3. Spinnerbait 4. Rage 7" Thumper 5. Jig 6-10. Other stuff