FryDog62

I have been using 1.5 and so far flawless…

I entirely agree. Best I’ve found for them at balancing act is a graphite rod for stiffness with fluorocarbon/mono/co-poly line to provide some give near the boat.

I’ve been a fan of Dark Sleepers since they were introduced years back. Have caught a lot of largemouth, smallmouth, pike and even walleyes with them. I like to fish a couple times a year in South Dakota in the shallow weeds for walleyes with the 4 inch, 1 oz DS. It rocks, and we have caught some dandies! At different times I throw the DS here in Minnesota in summer and Florida during the winter. During early post-spawn here in Minn I have had a lot of luck throwing Sleepers down low. The plus-size lure really attracts big fish. But I’m done using the big/heavy 1 oz variety for bass. When I catch walleyes on the 1 oz they hit it surprisingly hard… but walleyes stay down and I can’t remember ever really losing any. However, the problem with largemouth and the big Dark Sleeper is that they spit them.. I should say throw them. The 4 inch 1 oz is a huge chunk of plastic and small hook gap… plus it’s very heavy at an ounce and the fish can get a lot of leverage. At least 3-4 times last year and twice yesterday - I had a sizable fish on and half way back to the boat, they go aerial and with all that lure weight not only spit it, but throw it several feet. The two fish I lost yesterday were large fish, the first maybe 20 inches and the second possibly the largest bass I’ve had on in Minnesota. Same pattern, hit it like a ton of bricks then half way back they come airborne and launch the lure several feet almost like giving you the bird with an exclamation mark! I’m heading to South Dakota for walleyes next week, so the 1 ouncer is still tied on. But after that it gets cut off til I visit there again next year. I don’t have this problem with the 3 inch Dark Sleeper, even at 1/2 or 3/4 oz. They are bite size like a Chicken McNugget and bass really choke them and don’t let go. Funny how fishing is a constant learning opportunity and I got schooled the hard way on this one!

If you want graphite and under $175 maybe consider the ALX IKOS Buzz. I have the same rod in the ZOLO series (Dream) and it's very versatile including using for squarebills. Dobyns Sierra is a possibility too...

I have an Old Town Autopilot 120 that I leave in Florida and fish around gators... never got one close to me. For the most part, they are like deer that come upon you and don't want to get close. I'd head to Lake Murray in SC, sounds like some great water. If you have a kayak, maybe to Lake Tugaloo - no gators there and motor restrictions make it yak friendly.

With less than ideal aerodynamic lures like spinnerbaits, buzz baits, etc that are hard to get as much casting distance - I switched from a Tatula SV TW to a Tatula Elite. The difference might be $40 but the benefits are significant and I get easily 20-30% more distance with the Elite, and it's effortless on my tennis elbow. Unless you are skipping a lure, I've come to the conclusion that SV spools are more limiting than good. I used to have a dozen and am down to two. Elites rock ~ I switch between 2 rods for spinnerbaits - one is 6.3:1 and the other 7.1:1 and both work just fine.

I have contemplated this question many times... I'm obviously a huge Smallmouth fan and they would get my vote in this poll - but honestly, I have caught 3-4 pound smallmouth and the same size white bass side by side and would say the whities are the toughest pound for pound, especially in cold water.

If there is even a slight "curly cue" where the line is breaking then it's the knot breaking and/or slipping out. If slipping out, the key on the Alberto is to go through the final loop at the end twice before cinching down. Much faster than the FG and just as strong.

I throw 5 inch Caffeine Shads on a Daiwa Ehrler 7'0" Medium-Medium Heavy XFast casting rod and Tatula SV reel with 12 lb Sniper. Finesse enough to work in open water, but has the backbone/strength to work the lure around cover and skips like a dream under docks.

I ended up with the Zolo Dream. It’s been working great for mini max and 3/8 oz Spinnerbaits. In a pinch, I threw a Frittside 5 on it and it kept a 30 inch pike pinned just fine.

Sometimes it's just genetics. I work out an hour a day, watch what I eat, stay relatively lean, hang out with former super models, and catch small fish... and was just blessed with a clogged widowmaker and my first stent in January. I'm the first male since our family trees were tracked to have made it as long as I have alive or without bypass surgery... Can't choose your lineage ~

I have found in most cases the transducer ping doesn't make a difference. However, the trolling motor, particularly the head spinning of Spot-lock, can make a very significant difference. Bigger/smarter fish that have been caught before seem to remember the whining of the trolling motor at some point in their fight/struggle and repel from it. Talons/Power Poles to hold position especially in shallow water are a major plus over Spot-Lock IMO.

I put Ezee steps on my PVB/trailer a month after purchasing it. Stepping down off the higher bow of a deep-V was okay but I did smack my ankle on one awkward dismount and that did it for me. I stuck the landing, but knew I got lucky and needed a better solution. No regrets, have had several people ask me about it at ramps and all say they think it looks like a good idea and it is.

Actually yes... I only told a half truth that it is a white bass. But I think the tug on the end of the line would feel about the same, and would still be a state record in Minnesota (no hybrids there either lol) ?

23 inch and 6.5 lbs would be a state record white bass in Minnesota. But caught in the great state of South Carolina, a few others around 19-21 inches...

In the old days before gps, we threw a C-rig to get a feel for the bottom, contours, rocks, etc. I hadn't thrown it much again until a couple years ago. Glad I did, it has its place. I probably am 60-40 football jigs to Carolina Rig these days. I can cover more water/quicker with a football jig, but there are days when the drag of the C-rig sinker, a pause, and then the creature bait floats up in their face and it will out fish a football jig 3:1. It's important from my perspective to use a creature bait/worm that floats. The sinker grinding can get their attention, but can also stir up silt/mud on the bottom - so a plastic that then floats up just plain gets seen or gets in their face and generates a strike. GrandeBass Airtail, T-Mac worm, BBB Flying Squirrel, etc.

Peg it if you are around moderate to heavy cover. If not, there are advantages to not pegging. The bait can separate a little from the sinker so when the fish bites, they are less likely to detect anything, or use the weight as leverage to throw the hook.

I have a Phoenix Feather ML-Fast and a ALX Zolo Dream. Both would work well for 1/4 oz jigs. Zero to light cover I'd lean towards the Feather, light to moderate cover the Dream. Feather you could pair with a BFS reel (I use the Curado BFS on that rod) and the Dream one of the more versatile rods I own (Jigs, Texas rigs, spinnerbaits, mini max chatterbait, etc.).

This… I was out on the water for our fishing opener 3 days ago and 2 of the Decoy snaps I put on bent out. Anything you have to semi-mangle to put on isn’t good. I replaced them today with the Owner Snaps that Dwight recommended and caught bass and the occasional pike. Easy to put on, no bend outs, much better!

Very true Gim… I try to stay away from the crowds and crazies on opening weekend. I avoid the big name lakes this time of year or adjacent to any holiday week in the summer So I went to a smaller, semi-rural lake off the grid on opening Saturday. The parking lot at the ramp on this usually quiet lake only holds 8 vehicles/trailers. I got there at 5:30 AM and all 8 spaces were already full and another 8 parked on the county road. Things will get better as the season goes along and fishing/weather will get better. But since Covid, even our lakes have gotten more crowded and tougher to fish. With our short season and the rise in licensed anglers it’s not what it was even a few years ago. I do have 2 trips planned later this year for far/remote areas of northern Minnesota that can only be accessed if you stay at a resort on the lake (no public ramp). I like people, but I don’t like crowds…

I had the one below but returned it for the Phenix Feather. Liked the TFO but seemed a little too powerful for what I needed. I have the Phenix paired with a Curado BFS.

I have an ML baitcasting rod and had an Alphas SV on it and was disappointed with casting distance with light lures. I traded it in towards a Curado BFS reel and like it waaaaay better. I get much more effortless distance and have not had any backlash issues at all (the reason I originally had the SV spool).

For me the electric motor is required as well as the Spot-Lock. Otherwise you spend as much/more time getting into and staying in position. Who goes fishing to spend half the time fussing with the paddle or pedals. Autopilot is the way to go but it’s dam heavy. Get a trailer and/or Wilderness Kart. Skip the Boonedox wheels IMO.

Thanks, good to know the duolock fits well. The other question is if it allows full movement of the blade like the original snap, albeit brittle it does allow good vibration (which is key with the smaller blade).

Offset Ned jigs are good for light weeds (like this: https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage-BLO.html). If heavier cover than that, then consider a Tiny Child Rig... most weedless version out there, but you have to buy the hook and sinker separate. Videos out there on how to rig, pretty simple.