Steveo-1969

I have a suggestion if you're looking for a rod that's on the lighter side of ML. But I don't know if it's against the rules to put a Daiwa reel on a G. Loomis rod? ? WPJR 821S GLX is a Loomis walleye jig pitching rod. The 1-power is labeled "mag-light" and the 1/16-5/16 rating seems about right. The action is XF and the rod is not "whippy" at all. Light as a feather, super sensitive, and plenty powerful. I'm guessing because it's a walleye rod it's never talked about here but it is by far my favorite spinning rod.

@Glenn Is the Butt Dial what we've been waiting for??????

Welcome to Bass Resource Steve. BEAR DOWN!!!!!!! Steve

Welcome to Bass Resource! I'm a fellow Upper Potomac wet wader.

I sent you a message.

I had a custom casting rod built by @Delaware Valley Tackle to specifically fish 3/16 ounce SK Bitsy Bug jigs (3/8 ounce total weight). It's built on a St. Croix 5S610MLXF blank (extended to 7'2"). This blank's lure weight rating is 1/8-1/2 ounce but is more powerful than the ML power rating IMO. I fish it with 10# line, I started with fluorocarbon but have been using 10# Sufix Advance Monofilament for the past year and really like it. Don't know if you've thought about going the custom route but I can tell you I have zero regrets!

Welcome to Bass Resource! I was born and raised in Wisconsin but kicked out of the state in 1997. GO BEARS!!!!!! ?

I don't think anyone has mentioned "ease of breaking off" as a reason to use a leader on your braid. I used braided line on my spinning rods because of line manageability. Line twist doesn't affect it like mono or fluoro, it casts well and it lasts for years. But I fish a shallow rocky river and get snagged frequently. Having a mono or fluoro leader makes it easier to break off than trying to break braided line. If I'm fishing somewhere that I'm not as worried about getting snagged I will fish with straight braid.

Downsizing your presentation has been a technique to catch pressured fish for a long time.

I saw this thread yesterday and was reminded I've been putting my Bassmaster Magazines in a pile when I receive them in the mail and I haven't read one in a while. I counted last night and I haven't read the last 9 issues! They are just collecting dust.

I haven't fished the river since June, but I usually fish anywhere from Shepherdstown upriver to Dam #5. Wet wading (or bank fishing if the river level is too high to safely wade). Smallmouth numbers are way down in the UP right now so unfortunately it's no surprise you aren't catching many fish. MD DNR has been stocking the last couple years and a recent survey showed a good spawn in 2020 so hopefully smallmouth numbers will be better in coming years. Please practice catch and release on any smallies you do catch. Website for you to check out: https://dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/Pages/smallmouth_bass_stocking.aspx

Welcome to Bass Resource! Given your location and username I'm assuming you know the fishing store Susquehanna Fishing Tackle? LOVE that store!!

Not apples to apples, but I've fished the SC Mojo Bass 6'10" ML/XF spinning rod for the past couple seasons. For your first dabble into <cough> "expensive" rods it's not bad. Not bad at all. I'm gonna guess you will be very happy with it!

Welcome @Brian Martalus from a fellow boatless Upper Potomac wet wader!

The river I wade fish is 75-100 yards wide and I'm likely standing in the middle of it so leaving an extra rod/gear on the bank is not an option. So only 1 rod. It's either a ML/XF baitcasting rod or a ML/XF spinning rod depending on what baits I feel like fishing (lure weights on each rod are quite different). I carry everything I need in a small over-the-shoulder tackle bag (think smaller than a loaf of bread).

Dang, I never thought about water running downhill and moving water out of the bays. That makes sense! We fish the northern part of Kentucky Lake, from Kentucky Dam to about 20 miles south (water runs from south to north). I'll be honest I don't understand how the dams and generating current really works. But I'm guessing being only 20 miles or less from Kentucky Dam when they pull water through that dam we can see/feel that generation fairly quickly?

Thanks Glenn. Watching this video is actually what got me thinking about the existence of a thermocline in a reservoir like Kentucky Lake. If you mentioned this in the video I missed it?

Thanks for the replies guys. I can understand a thermocline developing in some of the deeper bays of KY Lake where the water isn't affected as much when they are generating current. We've swam in them before and there is definitely a layer of colder water as you swim down. But I've never thought about finding the thermocline with electronics and fishing above it. I think we are in for a tough week of fishing next week. We generally stick to secondary ledges out on the main lake but looking for a thermocline in the bays may give us something else to try.

You are Egall816?

I guess I'm asking specifically about Kentucky Lake as I'm headed there next week on vacation. Can/does a reservoir develop a thermocline in the summer? I was assuming there would be no thermocline (at least in the main lake) because of the frequent current running through the lake.

I have one custom rod, a casting rod by @Delaware Valley Tackle and I asked for spiral/acid wrapped guides. First reason is because I just think they look cool. Second reason (which may not be valid) is I always find a spinning rod more sensitive for bottom-contact than a baitcasting rod, so I wanted my custom bottom-contact casting rod to have guides similar to a spinning rod. Does it help with sensitivity? In my mind it does and that's all that matters..... Oh, and did I mention spiral/acid wrapped guides look really cool???

I'll give it a shot, but I'm terrible at guessing the weight of green bass and even worse with brown bass. And it's always very difficult with pictures, though you don't look to be long-arming it. 3.17 pounds

Welcome to Bass Resource. BEAR DOWN!!!!!!

Welcome to Bass Resource Ryan. BEAR DOWN!!!!

Very cool! And congrats on getting to fish with Steve Pennaz on Lake Commandos again. Looking forward to the episode next year.