FryDog62

Freshman year of college was playing baseball. Guy from the other team came into second hot and spiked our second baseman. I was playing short and backing up but on top of the play and before I even had time to think I punched the runner as he popped up. It was a reaction bite, really..

Be sure to reach out to Gimruis… ?

Nice, how deep and water temp?

The small size Maxscent tubes have worked really well for me the past couple years. The aren't as durable as Z-Man, but I find they last longer than the standard Power Tube.

I would argue the heaviest rod brand I have used over the years is by far any MH or Heavy St. Croix rod (Mojo, LTB, AvidX, etc). Wore me out and sold them all. Dobyns are not light rods either, but balance better, just feel right for all day fishing motion/activity and are not nearly as tip-heavy the St. Croixs I had all those years.

So I just arrived in FLA a week or so ago from frigid Minnesota and am recovering from some stuff and have a lifting restriction of 10 pounds for a week... of course it's 79 and sunny every day. Four days in, I'm like screw it, gotta at least go across the street to a large pond with lots of bass, mostly small 12-14 inchers, but hey I need to do something. Second cast of a frog down the shoreline, and the shoreline all of a sudden moves. Next thing you know I'm playing tug 'o war with an 8 foot gator... Oops, don't tell my doc !

Just survived a widowmaker event this week. Only reason I’m alive is the regular workouts that give a warning somethings not right. Stay at it all - -

Of the thicker 5 inch types of Neko worms - I really prefer the Grandebass Airtail (both the Neko worm and Rattler). Their tails actually float with the air bubble inside, and I have found many times that to be a difference maker when fishing slow, or even dead-sticking on the bottom. The heavy, saltier worms just lay flat and don't stay in that feeding/rooting around position like the Airtails do. A stand up style worm, that quivers and undulates subtly gets bit!

I groused about the winter in MN for decades and got tired of listening to me... so the silver lining with covid was it has become semi-normal to work remote. Kids out of the house, wife dislikes winter as much or more than me so we just left a couple years ago. Two months the first year, 3 the second, now 4+ months this year. I hope to get out-of-state residency this year and may extend beyond 6 months in order to get away from a high tax state with extreme temps, far from center politics, rising crime, etc. Why live cooped up any more if you don't have to. If you're not happy, change is good ~

I’m sure you’ve looked, but if at all possible try to find slack water, current seams, etc. near the current… I guarantee that’s where the fish hang out and just wait for the conveyor belt of food in the current going by. In those areas, I’d recommend most any application of plastic worms, but Ned/Neko/Shaky would be great.

Lake Rebecca just West of us near Rockford is electric only. Has a decent population of small/mid-sized musky and largemouth. Good small boat waterway at 250 acres...

Does that size come with oars too?!? ?

I was just in that area a couple weeks ago. Found a place to build on a private 400 acre lake, 15 minutes from Santee Cooper, an hour from Douglas Lake, and 10-20 minutes from 3 tributaries that go out to the ocean with brackish water and lots of Redfish. But I'd miss 7 months of winter in Minnesota ?

Yes, that same BigFoot son with size 13's is moving in. My Jeep goes into storage now, so thankfully he has his own vehicle to contend with ?

We sold the house a couple years ago, and are just renting as my wife continues to recover from health stuff. One of my son's apartment lease is up, so he will move in for 4 months to save some cash. Part of his rent is to wax and polish my Lund lol.

Haha, yes I've heard Guntersville is humbling... I have family visiting that week and may take a pass and just focus on Hartwell. Gotta learn that lake, any suggestions for maps, discussions, videos? (other than of course BR!)

Transition time for me... Lund bass boat is tucked in for the winter in Minneapolis - now its off to FLA to the kayak: Transfer tackle to Blackpak Pro storage pack Pack up rods/reels for mostly freshwater and some salt Get to destination next week and mount Livescope + First local tournament on Jan 7, another in Feb and March Friend of mine from MN has a place on Marco and new Skeeter bay boat, fish some Reds, Grouper, Snook hopefully. Toying with Bassmaster Kayak series in Guntersville, Hartwell even though I've never fished either and would get my keester kicked, it'd be for the experience. Return May 1 for some white bass before the official open water season starts again in MN.

Love this rod, great action and balance that won't wear you out all day long. And its on sale: Dobyns Champion Extreme HP Cast Rod 7'4" Hvy FLIP 746 DX746C FLIP HP. Flippin'/ Frogs/ Pitchin'. Hide Information Taper Line Wt. Lure Wt. Guides Handle Type Handle Length Stock Price Qty Fast 15-30lb 3/8-2oz 10+Tip Extreme HP Full A ***/2" In Stock: 1 $279.99

I'm not a fan of Hamm's but actually do like Brain Melt. Tonight its Woodford Reserve Bourbon with my Father-in-law.

The lake that was used for the actual "Land of Sky Blue Waters" commercials for Hamm's is Turtle Lake just north of Grand Rapids, MN... a place I fish for giant smallmouth regularly.

Ah yes, the great 2-for-1 brew... You get both a beer and a laxative in one single can!!

Cold weather fishing is a part of life in Minnesota. If its 30's/40's air temp - I wear the Fish Monkey Dry-Tec gloves below. Waterproof, Thinsulate, flexible, dexterity to cast, thumb the spool, even type a bit on your iPhone if needed. Only thing you have to take them off for is tying a knot. If its below about 35 degrees I'm just not fishing or wearing snowmobile mitts! https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Fish_Monkey_Stealth_Dry-Tec_Light_Weight_Glove/descpage-FMSD.html

I have both a bass boat and an Autopilot 120. If you are used to spot-lock on your regular boat, it will be really hard to go without it on a kayak. Boat control is key, especially in wind or current. Very frustrating on a kayak to spend as much or more time paddling/peddling to stay in position when you're trying to fish.

My rod locker holds 15. I’ve always said if I end up with more rods than that, I’m overthinking it. Therefore, I have 16 now…

If you can afford the Helix 7 MSI I highly recommend it to side image and find good structure. I have this on my Autopilot and it worked great for me last year. I was able to find some isolated rock piles that a lot of other boats never really seemed to find and/or fish. We'd all beat the bank for the easy fish, but when that bite stopped, I could always go a little off shore and pick apart the rocks and find more quality fish.