FryDog62

Agreed on Jocasse. Went there last Fall after Helene in my Autopilot kayak. At 3.7 mph I went 90 minutes on high power and didn’t even make it to the first waterfall. Was afraid I’d run out of battery. Since then I got a larger one with a Bluetooth meter to monitor how much battery I have left. Days like that I miss my bass boat, but I definitely want to get back there!

I plan to get to Lanier hopefully soon… I moved about 9 months ago to Greenville, SC and have fished Hartwell, but not Keowee yet. Are the spots that much better on Keowee than Hartwell?

The entire body of the T-Mac is more consistent than a Trick Worm - subtle difference but if you fish it often enough I think you can tell. The Airtail Wiggler’s air bubble tail floats one end straight up the best of the three IMO.

Since switching from a bass boat to a kayak - I haven’t really changed my rods/reels much to adapt, but one I’m considering is a different topwater rod. The tip down motion with my current rod is hitting the water more than I like. Looking for recommendations for a baitcasting rod for poppers and walking baits 3/8-1/2 oz - In the 6’3” to 6’6” range. TIA

I agree, if you want to try a couple worms that look like the trick worm but float much better for things like Neko or Shaky try either the NetBait T-Mac worm or the GrandeBass Airtail Wiggler. I haven’t gone back to the Trick worm in years since switching over…

I use an ALX Zolo Dragger at 7’4”. On a regular bass boat I use 17 lb fluorocarbon with a 10 lb mono dropper. On a kayak I still use the mono dropper, but tie to 30 lb braid. You can’t take that extra step backward in a kayak to lay the lumber to them on the hook set, so I go with the no stretch braid. It frays easier than fluoro so you have to check it/re-tie more frequently. I also use a 7.1 Tatula Elite reel which is key to get maximum casting distance when throwing the old ball and chain.

And he caught it on my boat, when his reel blew up and I offered to help fix it, while I gave him my rod/reel, had him cast to my spot and he catches the biggun. Oh well, love the guy anyway. Best men in each other’s weddings 👍

I’ve heard Lanier is outstanding, but heard Alabama spots may even be better ?

If you like catching smallmouth, whities might be the only freshwater fish that rivals pound-for-pound… and maybe a tad more at least in old water …

I’m a closet white bass fanatic. When I lived in Minnesota I was in pursuit of the state record. Figured out a great, sleeper lake few if any fished. Got close, within 9 ounces. A friend of mine I took to that lake got within 8 ounces, dude beat me but very happy for him… (below is his monster)

SE guys - what are the best lakes/reservoirs for Spotted Bass - ranked by: 1) Quantity 2) Quality 3) Or both… Thx, -Fry

The Trick Worm has a long history of catching fish. However, at times I have found them inconsistent as far as floating. A better alternative and more consistent float rate IMO is the Netbait T-Mac worm. Looks like it, floats better and also well priced.

Agreed. Sometimes less is more in terms of twitching. Not usually big jerks, just subtle ones and let it dart, slow down, swim horizontally awhile, then it changes directions. Twitch/twitch again - rinse and repeat.

Twistlocks all the way baby ...! The centering pin holds the body of the Caffeine Shad straight and horizontal (also helps with the plastic's durability). My biggest pet peeve with traditional EWG or other hooks is that the back of the salty/heavy plastic sags over time (like a swayback horse) and impedes the subtle, forward swimming action of the Caffeine Shad. Instead it just kind of sinks vertically like a wacky worm. I usually use a weightless 4/0 Twistlock LIGHT, unless on a deeper weed edge, then the 3/32 oz. There is magic in the action of the bubble tail Caffeine Shad, but it has to be the right hook!

I will add one rod to my list of a products that don’t get enough love. And it’s a super cheap one.. Daiwa Aird 7’0” Medium Fast $55 baitcasting rod. Bought this and took advantage of the free shipping and had it sent to a friend’s place 1000 miles away for the 1-2 times a year I fish there. Leave it behind for next time. It’s more of a moderate-fast and is crazy good for spinnerbaits, Mini Max and small cranks. Really loads nicely and keeps fish pinned - even with braid! I “left it behind” but really miss it already. Bait Monkey might get another one out of me!

Well, it did start out in Minnesota with below zero temps for 3 winters, then spent two summers in Southern Florida... surprised its made it this long !! That was me for the past 3 decades... I started leasing before it became fashionable. Then the buyout on this vehicle at the end of the lease was about $8-10k less than what I could sell it for so I bought it. First time for everything, we'll see how it goes... I don't tolerate things that don't work very well.

Blasphemy ! Lol, actually I would’ve included that in my list above too had I thought about it. When I do use green pumpkin, it usually has other colors blended in with it, because it’s just too plain to me.

Are there popular rods/reels/lures that you have tried but don’t like? Maybe it’s just me, but there are some I’m surprised are so highly regarded. Likewise, are there some lures or equipment you either like that aren’t very mainstream or used very often? Popular but not my fav •St Croix rods - ML and Medium not so bad, but anything MH and Heavy I find so much heavier, thicker and tip-weighted more than almost any other brand. It’s a well-made product, but just heavy/fatiguing/cumbersome to me. •Shimano Expride 6’10” jerkbait rod. Might be the most praised and coveted jerkbait rod on the market - but the handle is unwieldy long in my opinion. A real pain to jerk and have the handle bang your side, forearm, or catch the pocket of your hoodie all day long. Had one and sold it after one day. •Daiwa SV reels. Actually a love/hate relationship for me. They are the best spools/reels for skipping anything - but a buzz kill in terms of casting distance, especially lighter lures. Yeah they don’t backlash, but only get 3/4 of normal distance. I only wish Daiwa could make a reel that casts as far as a Tatula Elite, but could also skip lures. I guess you get one or the other.. I like, but you don’t hear much about •Strike King Caffeine Shad. Seems like there is a new fluke that hits the market every year, but none with the air bubble tail and action of the CS. Works far far better on an Owner Twistlock Light hook than your standard EWG. Unbelievable action, swims on its own with just a few sporadic twitches. Number One lure for me the last 10 years. Smallies, LMB,Spots, rivers, lakes, reservoirs - don’t leave home without it! •Dock skipping Nekos. My #2 lure the past decade. Not only great along weed edges, structure, etc. But a great skipping lure that I think few use for that technique. Its fall rate is faster than a wacky rig so you can get the reaction bite. Floating worms also stand up once on the dark bottom under a dock and undulate so fish can spot it, unlike a traditional reaction style skipping jig which has already hopped on by. Third, the lead is buried inside the plastic so it’s silent when banging off docks, pontoons, etc. (it happens). Doesn’t spook fish or tick off homeowners. •The Banjo Minnow. Okay, kidding… just seeing if you’re still reading ..

I have typically leased vehicles for the past 30 years, but bought my Grand Cherokee out and the end of its lease a couple years ago… It will turn 6 years old this July, and so does its original battery. Do most of you replace your battery proactively at a certain point in time, or just wait until it doesn’t work some day?

Yes, and my 0-2 record against him. Oh well, at least I’m a humble Loser! “L”

When I lived up North I listened to/watched: •Lindners •Pennaz •Matt Johnson •Matt Stefan Now that I’m further South, these guys talk about the areas I fish more: •Brian Latimer •MikeyBallz •Kristine Fischer/yakker •Richard White/yakker

Blanton’s guy here for special occasions - otherwise Beam me up scotty…

I have more expensive BFS reels, but the Curado is still an excellent reel and value.

For sure, however I can’t get how he retrieves low and slow and sometimes like a jerkbait. Would be great to see a video on this and how he imparts this subtle action.

Yes, I heard that plenty and we were blamed as the ones that brought the bad weather with us. Bummer though, we had some good smallmouth lakes picked out for day 2 that would have been really fun to get back to. The fish were definitely on the chew despite the weather...