Shadow1

Between St Croix MOJO Trigon or Premier Split Grip. The MOJO is in extra fast. Both 6'8" med power. Very sorry had to edit!!

Hey guys, I really appreciate the info passed on so far. My problem with the Dobyns rods is I won't be able to put it in my hand before I order it. A fishing friend of mine told me to never buy a spinning rod without first holding it to feel the finger location and grip. I have held one of the St Croix Mojo rods and like it. Anyone else out there with a recommendation, your info is really appreciated. Thanks again guys.

Just bought a Shimano Miravel 2500 reel. Looking to match it up with a Dobyn's Fury rod. What do you guys think?

I use Owner Stinger ST36 hooks. They are the exact size as the Megabass hooks. They are very sharp and seem very strong. I have never had one bend or break.

Want to keep this as short as possible. Went out on a small lake today with a friend, and another guy I didn't know until today. Anyway, we start fishing (smallies) and things are a little slow. A pretty good front went through 2 days ago. After about an hour the guy I didn't know, starts lighting them up. Some pretty nice fish. After about a half hour and not much action, I have to ask what's he doing. Anyway, he had a 2.75" Megabass Hazedong swimbait with a dropshot hook through its nose. He then had a 1 /16th oz splitshot 18" above the bait. He said it acted like a fluke in the water only a much smaller profile. He caught more fish than my friend and I combined. I have used a 4" worm on a splitshot rig but never a swimbait. Anyone else out there ever do this?

Not sure where you live in Ohio Ohioguy25, but if you go to Dixie Marine in Fairfield, Ohio they have Tim Poe spinnerbaits, and another brand right beside his, they are killer on Smallies. I fish them on creeks here in Ohio as well as lakes in Canada. Great baits!

I'm from Ohio so I am not sure where you can get these baits out of state, but . . . Big Joshy Swimbaits in a 2.27" on a 1/16 oz. Owner ball head jig. Smallmouth here in creeks tear them up. I've also used them in Virginia and Maryland on rivers and creeks with great success.

Have found many lures over the years . . . however, my best find was while fishing for smallies in western Maryland . . . I got my lure hung up on a log in about 3-4 feet of water. I waded out saw my spinerbait reached into the water and saw a wallet wedged between the log and a rock. Got it out of the water, opened it up to find $200, a driver's license, and credit cards. My wife found the guy on Facebook, and sent him a PM. I sent all of his stuff back. He lost it the year before.

Soft Plastic: River Rock Helgripede, 4" Senko (black), BPS Tender Tube (zucchini) Hard Bait: 1/8 oz Tim Poe Spinnerbait, Megabass Pop X, Heddon Baby Torpedo

I caught one of my biggest creek Smallies last year in an area that looked like that. The waterfall drop wasn't as steep, but still a drop . . . I threw a Megabass Pop X just into the white foam, and when I popped it to the edge . . . BOOM . . . an 18" big girl just blew up on the Pop X. Caught 3 more in the same pool just not a big.

That's not what I am sure of heavyduty. I googled it, and so much info came up it was confusing, so I thought to ask on here. I will take any info you can/will provide such as . . . what time of the year is best, who is an outfitter that can supply us with a canoe, can we camp etc. Thanks much for your reply and in info you can provide.

Looking for some info about the Upper James River, Virginia. A friend of mine and I usually take a trip to Pennsylvania or Wisconsin to do some smallmouth fishing. I am wondering what time of year is best for the Upper James and if anyone has any info for possible guides or outfitters in the area. I've done a Google search and there is a vast amount of info there. So I am looking for someone who has actually been there or regularly fishes this system. Thanks for any and all info!!

Love the Flirt and the Pocket Rocket. I take a VMC Rugby jighead 1/8oz, cut an inch off the Pocket Rocket, bang . . . creek smally killer.

2 hard rips, let it set for a short time, 2 more rips. They hit it at various times. They wanted the violent quick rips. They have 2 props. Had some rain today. We'll be in the water at 7 in the morning. Different creek, but a good creek.

A friend of mine and I took a canoe trip down one of our favorite creeks yesterday. This story actually starts with a visit to a mom and pop tackle store last Saturday. I bought a couple packs of TRDs and kept looking around . . . I found an interesting lure sitting with the topwater baits. It was a bait called the "Phillips Krippled Killer". I bought the only two they had. Move now to yesterday. My friend threw poppers, buzzbaits, and ploppers. He caught a few but, I absolutely killed them. Caught at least 15 fish including a 16" smallie that knocked the bait clear out of the water. Anyone ever use this bait before, or even hear of them? I've never seen this lure anywhere before. Very glad I bought them. Going back out tomorrow to a different creek. We'll see if the bait is really good, or it was just a lucky day. I need to add that my friend is a very good fisherman. He usually fishes me.

Don't want this reply to be too long so, I will give my opinion and then a short story . . . Chug Bug. Now the story . . . in Canada 5 years ago with 3 other friends. We made friends with a cabin next to ours. We were all there for smallmouth and a few eater walleyes. Anyway, the weather wasn't real good lots of cold fronts moving through. I was the only one in the group fishing Chug Bugs. There were guys throwing Ricos, Popmax, Pop rs etc. They couldn't buy a topwater bite. However, the old Chug Bug was what those smallies wanted. By the end of the week, I had sold a few of my other Chug Bugs to guys in the group (at quite a profit for me $$$). Not sure if it was the action, sound or what, but I had a very good week considering the weather.

Was looking at YouTube last night and came across a video of these Jigheads being used on Redfish with a swimbait attached. Was wondering if a Z Man Hula Stickz would work as a texas rigged Ned type bait. Anyone familiar or used this jig head?

Sorry guys, forgot to specify . . . Casting reel

I know there might be a topic about this already. I couldn't find it. I am on a little budget . . . got a daughter in private college for another 3 years. I have 3 older Shimano reels that are showing there wear and tear. I need to replace one for sure and probably another before its over. Can anyone recommend a solid reel that won't break the bank? Thanks guys, great site.

Just want to start a little discussion here and maybe get some ideas. I think we all know that in the right setting, all baits work. I just want to know if some on here have found Swim jigs to be better overall than Spinner baits. I know a couple of guys that have told me their success with Swim jigs is overall more successful than Spinner baits. They explain it by saying that the Swim jigs look more natural. Just curious as to what others on here think or believe.

Guys, I fish mainly old strip mine and limestone quarries where I live (some farm ponds). One is particularly good to fish. It is very hard to access (3 mile walk), deep with timber, and the water is not real clear. The fish here just love a small 4" black finesse worm. So, I want to start using braid on my spinning reel. What length of leader do you recommend for me to use. I did a search and couldn't find an answer specifically to what I was looking for. There are some really big fish in the water, but for some reason they love smaller darker colored baits. Thanks!

Fished an old Limestone quarry yesterday. Had really good results for this time of year. To make a long story short . . . I took a couple of old jigs, did some trimming on them, and cut down some Keitech Crazy Flappers. Made me sort of a swim jig. Easily out fished my friend 3 to 1. So . . . now I would like some info on swim jigs. Is there a particular one you can recommend? Colors, retrieve. Just kinda fell into what I did. Thanks for any info.

It might have been on here and I haven't seen it . . . does anyone use the Ned rig for smallmouth on smaller creeks and rivers?

Has anyone on here have much experience using Hi-Seas Grand Slam fluorocarbon coated line. Found some on super sale at a Field and Stream store. This is not Grand Slam Select. Thanks for the info guys. Normally I am a Yozuri guy, but this line is real cheap.

Comartin, I fish Musky probably 10-12 times a year including a trip to Canada or Northern Minnesota and you can't go wrong with Gander Mountain rods for musky. I have 3 of them and they are great. There is better out there, but if you are like me and just like the challenge of musky a few times a year, the Gander Mtn. rods are the way to go.