FryDog62

You might have to hang that rod on the wall next to the fish replica!

I have NRX+, Conquest, P5 Destroyers, etc... but I don't like them any more than my cheap $50 Daiwa Aird X Medium 7 foot Medium casting rod. They say it's a "Fast" action rod - but it's a moderate/regular at most. Funny thing, I bought it by mistake on an Amazon order to a place I was going to fish once and leave behind to use if I ever returned. Liked it so much, I ordered another as soon as I returned home. I use it mostly for Spinnerbaits, but it works well on 3/8 oz Chatterbaits and small/mid crankbaits. The magic of this rod is when it loads up with a big fish. It isn't a noodle, but it bows from tip back to the butt section as well as any rod I've ever used, and always keeps fish pinned. It's a blast of a rod!

Actually, I just remembered - Berkley Blade Dancer. Super expensive on eBay - anyone have another source or make the molds?

Going from a bass boat to a kayak has been interesting, but it serves a lot of my current needs. I have had to pare down my number of rods (30+) to about a dozen - I can only take 8 with me on the water in a kayak. During that narrowing down process, I have come to really appreciate certain rods that are just so versatile. I can take them out and cover so many techniques if needed. My number 1 rod that does so much is the ALX ZOLO Toadface. It's a 7'2" that is MH in the tip and Heavy in the butt section. Unique taper, and very light, sensitive and well-balanced for a rod on the heavier action side. In fact, I sold a half dozen St. Croix Rods in LTB and AvidX because this seemed so heavy and tip-weighted after using the Toadface. Yet the Toadface is just as powerful. Here are the techniques that I have used this rod for - probably why I have 2 of them and could almost justify a 3rd: Frogs Toads Buzzbaits Texas Rigs 1/2 oz Carolina Rig 1/2 oz Football jigs Swim jigs Dark Sleeper Chatterbaits Larger Spinnerbaits Larger underspins Swinghead 3/8-1/2 oz Swimbaits 6 inch Magdraft I think its best uses are Toads, Swim Jigs, Dark Sleeper and Buzzbaits but hard to narrow down... What is your most versatile rod?

I don't have a picture unfortunately... It's a lure I believe from the 1990's -2000's that had a metal body and a curly tail off the back. Cast out and let it sink - and it does a wide wiggle back and forth as it sinks. I think it had the word "tail" in its name Tailwalker, BladeTail, or something like that. Anyone remember?

I have the NRX+ version but it's one of my favorite rods. I use it for: *Yes, spinnerbaits *And swim jigs *Urchin baits *Dark Sleepers *Poop baits *Small swimbaits *Underspins *3/8-1/2 oz swingheads

Wondering if anyone has these sunglasses? They are polarized and offer a “Chameleon” lens. You can pick your preferred color - amber, gray, etc. however, the chameleon lenses darken in bright conditions, and lighten in low light. Sounds pretty cool to me and might eliminate my need for 2 different pair. I’d be curious to get reviews on them as they compare to other prominent brands like Costa, Oakley, Maui, etc. in terms of quality, clarity of lens, etc. TIA

The issue with frog hooks, like treble hooks - is that I think is the ball of the Urchin slides down into the hook gap. With dense plastic between the mouth of the fish and the hook point leads to a poor hook up ratio. I like the Trigger Hooks or Dice Rigs that have a cradle or keeper that prevents the ball from sliding down.

We all know that, but how slow…? I spend time between Minnesota, Florida and South Carolina. While in Florida last winter, we had the local fisheries expert talk to our group about largemouth bass, stocking, weeds, etc. He mentioned that largemouth there can get to 5 pounds in as little as 5-7 years. Also, this new strain of Florida largemouth called Titans may grow even faster... Fast forward to this summer, and I'm fishing in Northern Minnesota on an old favorite lake near Longville, MN. I had caught a tagged fish 8 years earlier on this lake - and lo and behold, I catch another one this time around. I measured the fish at 16 7/8 inches and took a picture of the tag and fish, and sent into the DNR. Here is what they came back with: "The tagged Largemouth Bass you caught was initially tagged in 2015 as part of a population estimate. At the time of tagging the fish measured 10.7 inches long. This is the first angler reported capture of this fish." This means that the fish was likely "born" in 2012 and was now 14 years old and not even quite 17 inches in length. It grew a total of 6 inches in the last 11 years where a Florida largemouth strain may have grown to 10 pounds during that time and passed away from old age! The tagged fish I caught 8 years ago measured 19.25 inches. The DNR at that time responded to me then by saying the fish was actually 19 years old and had been caught and recorded 2 other times. That’s about an inch a year over almost 2 decades. This years catch: 8 years ago: This is a nearly 2 decade old Minnesota largemouth... pictured with a 6 decade old man that peaked at 5'10" Medium XFast, and is now 5'9" Moderate-Slow.. 😝

Not sure where you are in Florida, but a friend of mine brought his Lund at Liquid Planet Marine in Clermont just West of Orlando. He said reviews on the prior owners were mixed, but the new owners have been a good experience.

Aluminum, I'd get another Lund Pro-BV Bass 1875. Unbelievable storage and rear seating set up... Glass, I'd be in a Phoenix...

Dang, I knew I bought mine a little too soon before this came out!

I found fish yakkin' up a lot of crayfish parts this week all over the floor of my yak, which let me know they were feeding down in the rocks. Water is very warm in Central Minnesota - so it's that time of season for the Ol' Ball and Chain!

Only 11 for me, but hope to increase that this next year...

Remember that a craw without appendages is basically a Scat lure. Those were all the rage before Strolling and Urchin baits took front center…