Fishingmickey

If you can tell you've gotten bit on the T-rigged worm. It's no different then feeling a jig bite. You're already there IMHO. FM p.s. Fishing with a bait caster with Jig's or T-rigged worm. 7' MH fast and a 7:1 retrieve reel will work just fine. 12-16# line, I'd start with a quality mono (Berkely Big game or XL), only fill the spool about 3/4 until you get comfortable casting. That way when you get that "Oh shucks" birds nest you can re-spool and go at it again. FM

I have had a few doozy's. Most of the time is if I catch something on my back cast or I try to throw a bomb cast when I've got the brakes dialed dang near off (most of the time I'm fishing). Also skipping can produce some fine nests when I hit the dock instead of the water. Count me in for one of those hoodies! Fishingmickey ^^^^^ This especially with Fluorocarbon. Also when I am digging out a big'un (birds nest.) I feed the line that I have cleared/detangled over the side of my kayak into the water. This keeps it from getting tangled in itself. FM

When I was a kid. I caddied at a local country club in the suburbs of Chicago. One summer during the 17 year hatch (I think). I caught one off of the ground and when i walked by the water hole. I pitched it in. It vibrated on the surface and was spinning a circle. One of the biggest boils I had ever seen erupted and it was gone. It took less the 4-5 seconds. It made a serious impression. FM

It looks like it is possessed. Does it have the soul of some kind of Japanese samurai fishing warrior baked into it? I like it! FM

Looks great! Mine will be here tomorrow paired with a 7'1" Phenix feather med-light fast. Feeling a little giddy. FM

I've been using a 8lb dumbbell for anchoring & 70' of 1/4" rope. Works pretty well and it's easy to clean when it gets mud or veggies on the line or anchor. Still on my original one after 8-9 years. FM

Thanks Glenn, This one got me to feed the monkey. A Bates Hundo and a Phenix Feather Med-lite on on the way. FM

I'm in the same boat as Cdn Angler: River2Sea. I loike the way the wire comes off the bottom of the head for bumping over veggies and wood. Those two are the jam in my sammie.

And it will probably catch the heck out of fish too! White is one of my favorite colors to use. FM

I'm looking at some of them this year Koz. Probably not Lake Murray. I done a few BASS and some of the Hobie BOS events. I've been kayak tournament fishing for awhile. This will be my 10th season. FM

Fantastic news, A-Jay. Fishingmickey

My sincere condolences to you, Ken. Fishingmickey

A short piece of heavy chain works good as a drag anchor. I've used a 8# dumb bell as a anchor for years. Be careful out there, tugging on a stuck anchor line is a very easy way to flip your kayak. FM

Hello Mo, I have one, I like it, it's a decent rod. I bought it several years ago. I ordered it and it took several months for it to arrive. It's nothing special. I'm not planning on getting another one. I didn't feel like it's a good bang for the buck. FM

Front half or back half of a Strike King Fat Baby finesse worm, maybe. If I was using the front half I'd rig it backwards (front tip would be the tail). FM

Spelling bee and Wordle, I haven't gone down the connections worm hole yet. My sweetheart does all three. We compare answers at the end of the day. FM.

Hi Bulldog, Something is happening somewhere to fray the line. Only thing I can think of is to check the line's travel path. I didn't do the math. I think you're one of the most knowledgeable and helpful posters on BR! You've certainly got some of the sexiest rods and reels on the planet. I'd love to go fishing with ya sometime, we're dang near in the same neighborhood. Best regards, Fishingmickey

Ripz, I think has it spot on. If one of the guide rings is cracked or chipped it will eat your line up. The Q-tip or cotton ball method works. I've had the same thing happen to me a couple of times over the years. It was a cracked ring in both of my cases. One tip top and one of the middle guides. FishTank also brings up a good point to check the level wind guide. I'll bet that solves your problem. Fishingmickey

I'm also "old school" like Papajoe. 7" Berkley Power worm (pumpkinseed) 3/16 weight and a 3/0 Gammy round bend worm hook. FM

Thanks FTank, This just got me for two spools of Mastiff FC 6# & 16#. FM

Yes, I have fished a couple of KATS tournaments on Somerville. Did very well in the 2017 event and decent in the other 2018 event. I fished shallow to dirt shallow chunking a spinner bait at anything I could see. I was running the banks (miles of bank). Chunking at anything that had reeds or wood. Caught some good one's on the jackhammer too. Chartreuse, white or that combo, 3/8 - 1/2 oz with either bait. I know some of the other guys did well fishing deep cranks and carolina rigging deep in the channels. The 2018 winner busted a 100" plus with his five and he was throwing a (dirt shallow) senko to prespawn and maybe spawning fish. Next couple of months if you can find good weather windows between fronts you might be able to go out and catch some big ones like you posted. FM

Beautiful fish, from what can be at times a be a very stingy lake! FM

Shipped today, USPS says two days. Fishingmickey

I've been looking at them too, RLinNH. I'm pulling the trigger on the Xi3 70# 24V. Here's a link to the closest I've found for a Minn Kota with spot lock. They also have the same motor in 24V 70# thrust. 54" shaft is long though. You could maybe cut the shaft shorter. But it would probably void any warranty. FM https://minnkota.johnsonoutdoors.com/us/shop/saltwater-trolling-motors/riptide-powerdrive?v=111886

Thank's for the heads up on the Hayabusa, RRocket!