FryDog62

I'd consider any crayfish colored plastic (Baby Rage Craw, or tube if you need to go slower) .... but if you really have some isolated "holes" you want to keep the bite in the strike zone I'd try drop shotting or even a Wacky Worm.

And... the braid would have zero stretch compared to fluorocarbon. I bought 150 yards of Tuff-Line Hevi-Core for $20. I also plan to buy the SufixGravity2 product (because I tend to like Sufix regular braid) and Spiderwire fluorobraid as comparisons. So far, the jury is out on Hevi-Core and I'll reserve judgment until I compare to others. At $20 its not any more expensive than other braids so worth trying to me...

The only 2 sinking braids I'm aware of are the Spiderwire Fluoro-braid mentioned above and Tuff-Line Hevi-Core. I have only used Hevi-core and plan to do a review after I compare it to Spiderwire Fluoro-braid... Hope to do it this year but will see if I get time...

Haven't seen anyone post any pics of a Yar-craft (now owned by BassCat). Here's the 1997 brochure boat... re-powered with a new Yamaha 4 stroke, Shorelander trailer, dual Hummingbird 998's and iPilot Link. Its a smallmouth river catching machine! But Yar-craft hulls are also known as wave-eaters too and have had it out on Rainy Lake and other waters with 3 footers with ease. A very versatile 2 man rig!

Thanks for the input... I have one Lew's at 10 pounds, another Lew's at 14 pounds and a Revo at 20. Very similar reels in most other respects. Have to admit I've never had a "drag" problem with any of them and I started to wonder if I missing out on something ~

You could also try sinking braid with a fluorocarbon leader. I'm experimenting with one right now from Tuff-line and plan to get the other by Spiderwire. If both the braid and the fluorocarbon leader sink you might have the combination that gives you what you need without the manageability issues of fluorocarbon as a main line.

Looking for input, thoughts on drag for bait casting reels. Is there a certain amount you like for specific applications, or what is an approx poundage you prefer, i.e. 10, 14, 20 lbs, etc drag?

Its been a week so I thought I would refresh this thread. Wondering 2 things: 1) If/when anything goes on the web site now that its "Mid-September." and 2) If there are any more details on the two versions of the boat. I've heard of a "southern" bass style (I assume those are the pictures we've seen thus far)...and a "northern" version that is to be more multi-species in layout. Not sure what that means but I would be very curious to see ~

I think a marketing campaign to talk about the upgrade in materials and manufacturing, sign on a prominent pro to use/endorse the product.... and back it up with a warranty like St. Croix has - and it may sell again ~

Its a hot controversy here, even the Governor is involved... the biggest issue is the netting/spearing that goes on during the spawn. Many big female walleyes are taken out annually. May have to do more with that than fishermen over-harvesting slot-sized walleyes. But its not politically correct to discuss the netting so it will continue after a one year hiatus ...

Yes it is, that's why you're seeing more smaller fish. 4 years ago the average was 17-18 inches and usually a couple 20-22. Now lots of 13-15 inch and a couple bigger ones. The smallmouth are being harvested at record rates because in Minnesota the walleye is king. And when the walleye population went down they needed a scapegoat and opened up keeping up to 6 smallies. Of course as all of these smallmouth are being cleaned, they aren't finding any walleye fry in their bellies - its almost 100% crayfish. Also, an independent survey was done recently and found the biggest predator of walleye fry? Answer: adult walleyes... So they continue to harvest up to 6 smallmouth per angler and even some 22 and 23 inches are being kept on the charter boats. Plus many walleye fishermen that are mad about the walleye population going down either keep their 6 smallmouth (and throw them in the dumpster afterwards) or worse yet, slit their throats/gills and release them in the water to die. They are ruining one trophy fishery at the expense of another. They need to understand that walleye and smallmouth are not mutually exclusive. In a 128,000 acre lake you can have both a vibrant walleye and smallmouth (and muskie) population.

I fish a small river that is a tributary to the Mississippi River in Central Minnesota. It has semi-stained water that is almost chocolate colored at times. I had mixed success over the past few years until this year my catch rate went up 3X. I learned I had to slow way down and put something in front of their face they will see and react to. I stopped throwing faster moving baits and went almost exclusively to wacky worming. Using a 1/16-1/8 oz VMC wacky jig with the single weed guard wire. You need just enough sink rate to not get swept away in the current...but not too much to go straight down and snag. I went to an almost white Senko that really shows up in the water - Yamamoto (956) Blue Pearl/Silver. My avatar is a picture of 4 smallies between 17-20 inches all caught on that worm and the water was pretty murky. Give it a try ~

I don't mind dirty grips on my poles so much, yeah it shows it gets used and you catch a few.... However, I was looking at selling the pole and getting it back to/near its original condition. The Magic Eraser worked well. Within 30 minutes of posting the rod for sale it was gone. I'd like to think the clean handle had something to do with it

I included BPS fluorocarbon in a line test I did last Spring. Out of 9 fluorocarbon lines tested, it was 4th in terms of overall stretch. Of the 9 FC lines tested, five of them including BPS, also snapped at the maximum line rating of 8 lb test. I would rate it in the middle to bottom third of the lines tested. I personally think you can do better for approximately the same price. Based upon the results of the tests, my fluorocarbon choice would be Sniper, co-polymer would be Yo-Zuri Hybrid and mono would be Trilene XT.

I am a big fan of St. Croix but the only Rod in their line up I don't like is the Mojo because it lacks sensitivity IMO. It felt "numb" to me. I sold it and bought a new AvidX and it is night and day to me... Just my .02 cents...

Right now my default rod for skipping is a Loomis Mag Lite 6 foot XF. It's an unbelievable Rod but I'm looking at selling it to get something a bit beefier for skipping. It's a little light to skip anything of weight, so many times my lure ends up veering to the right because the tip doesn't catch up to my cast fast enough. Plus to stratos point above once you do hook a fish of any size in cover or under a dock it's a lot to ask a smaller rod to manhandle it out of there. So all these suggestions are good, will be selling my Loomis and don't want to break the bank but want buy something for this application as I skip more and more and don't want to keep going into a gun battle with a knife

Thanks Jeff and Stratos...good info. I currently use a Fenwick 6'-9" MXF and it works pretty well. I'm thinking of a second rod specific to skipping and was thinking something shorter would complement it well. Could be 6'-0" will have its limits, I don't know of any 6'-3"s so maybe a 6'-6" The search continues but I enjoy the process and other peoples input... Thx

Heck I just side-arm a chandelier with a couple of treble hooks on it !

Unfortunately there aren't any stores in my area that carry Procyon... I might order both a 6-0 and a 6-6 and return one. Can you tell me what the "Minima" grip is like (comfortable or fingers on the threads?) and the do the black guides screech a lot when using braided line? Or are they pretty smooth... Thx, -Fry

Just used the Magic Eraser, worked great! Anyone in the Minneapolis area have UB-40 cork sealer. Can order it online but shipping will be as much as the product. I'm getting cheap in my middle-age

What is the best way to make a cork handle grip look new again? Cleaner, solvent, sandpaper, etc?

Thanks Joe, what weight jig head for the tubes when skipping?

Procyon looks interesting. What about the 6'-0" either Medium XF or 6'-0" Medium-Heavy Fast? Is that too short, or would it be a little easier to skip some baits at that length?

Then that would include my first wife ...

I fish smallmouth in rivers 75% of the time. For me personally, I only like to fish with Extra Fast action tips for this type of fishing. I use 2 primary spinning rods - Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth rod in 6'-9" Medium XF, or if the current is stronger or lures are heavier a Daiwa Tatula 7'-2" Med-Heavy XF. I also have a baitcaster for jerk baits and topwater - St. Croix AvidX 6'-8" Medium XF.