Turkey sandwich

Cheers!!

I hate to say it but, selfie stick.

Cheers, dude!

Congrats! 27lb limit?!!

Exactly the same experience.

This thread feels like I'm reading a series of commercials.

I believe Crown Royal made a maple syrup flavored whisky at one point. It was completely un drinkable and disgusting, but it would have been the perfect breakfast condiment for anyone who believes breakfast is the most important meal of the day and that sobriety is total ***. If you've ever thought to yourself, "I love pancakes, but somehow they just aren't getting me drunk." this is the liquor for you.

I liked the above post because I have no idea what that phrase means, but I'm totally going to steal it and inject it awkwardly into daily conversations. Thank you!

If you like Laphroaig, and get an extra couple of bucks, Lagavulin 16 will be your new favorite whisky. If you like Laphroaig, and don't get an extra couple of bucks, Johnny Walker Double Black is actually really good.

Seriously, if that award show consisted of Sturgill Simpson and Hank III performing and winning everything, I'd be cool with it. Watching Toby Keith profit off of American tragedy and false patriotism is everything wrong with that genre. The Outlaw Music Festival was one of the best shows I've been to in years. Why? Because no one currently on country radio was there.

I'm ticked that Wheeler Walker Jr got snubbed.

So, things like specific techniques, the type of water you'll be fishing, and where you're located can all impact this a bit, but as a good starter rod, I'm going to suggest a Medium or Medium heavy power fast action around 7' long. The medium action rod would be the better choice if you aren't fishing lures 3/4 oz or larger, aren't fishing super heavy vegetation or are planning on fishing techniques like grubs, tubes, weightless Senkos, etc.. I generally suggest a Medium power as a starter rod because of versatility, but you'll be alright with a MH for most applications as well. As for brands, just about all of the major brands have quality rods in the $100 ballpark. I have a preference for St. Croix rods, but also own an Abu Veritas crankbait rod that I like a lot. Whatever your preferences are, Abu, St. Croix, Duckett, Shimano, Dobyns, Fenwick, Daiwa, Powell, and a ton of other companies all make quality rods at that price point. One suggestion I will make is checking places like Fenwick's website, St Croix's bargain bin, or Cabela's sale items for heavily discounted rods that are either last year's models or higher end lines being discontinued. it's not unheard of to find rods being sold at 40-50% off. Through that kind of bargain shopping, I've picked up St Croix Rage rods for under $90 ($150-180), a Fenwick Aetos for $85 ($180), and a Sage VXP fly rod for around $250 ($450).

So almost like dropshotting a streamer? The multiple presentation drop shot keeps bringing me back to thinking about nymphing below a streamer or dry fly for trout. I've never considered it for bass, but I suppose drifting a streamer in current with a larger stone fly nymph dropped below would probably be pretty effective when River smallies get finicky.

I'm a little jealous. Definitely provide a review!

Sensitivity is pretty unique to the individual, but I'm a little shocked that you have such little feel. For such shallow running baits, I would prefer a medium power rod, but I still wouldn't expect a MH to have such little sensitivity.

Fall can be a headache to pattern sometimes, but when you get it, it's maybe the best time of the year for size. There is a ton of good information on this thread already, but man, KEEP IT SIMPLE. Trying to get into anything too complicated will only make learning more difficult. A 7' Medium power fast action spinning rod spooled with 6-8lb mono is a great, inexpensive start. For now, just leave the swivels at home. Learning how to fish basic techniques/lures like inline spinners, 4" grubs, tubes, poppers, jigs, and Crankbaits will pay dividends because you'll catch fish when you find them, and because you're going to learn a lot of the more advanced stuff as you get better. Also, especially now, start keeping a journal. Note the conditions at the time if each catch (best you can) and include weather (including the week leading up) depth, location, water level, lure/presentation, and any other basic details you can. Once you start collecting your own data and learning patterns, you'll be better able to figure out or even eliminate a lot of tough days and have more fun on the water. Good luck!

I fish a 7' medium moderate action crankbait rod for baits that run to 10' or so and even with the lighter, softer tip, I feel a ton of vibration and any cover/the bottom very easily. It's a Veritas 1 Winch, and while not an expensive stick, it does the trick well. My point being that virtually any Med Moderate or Med Heavy moderate should allow you to feel a crank bait. If anything, I would argue that because of the vibration thrown by the lures, a crankbait rod doesn't need to be as expensive or sensitive as say a drop shot or jig/worm rod to be "a good rod." I've even had old Ugly Sticks that worked well for Crankbaits. That MH moderate is probably more ideal for deeper diving baits (at least to my preference). For deeper running baits, I might even prefer a 7'-7'6" MH MF. Still, I can't see any reason for it being the rod. What make/model is it? Is it spinning or casting? A few things to consider... How are you holding the rod? Are your Crankbaits well tuned and running straight? How big are the Crankbaits you're throwing and what is their depth?

I think a drop shot creates a lot of opportunities to experiment with multiple presentations at once. I've heard of shaky heads fished on the bottom below whatever of the existing six million drop shot baits you fish a foot above it. Really, I can see fishing multiple drop shot baits, fishing the floating jig, or the shaky head as actually being really effective, viable presentations.

Zebra mussels?

I have not tried the Old World, but this description is spot on for the regular Whistle Pig. It's easily one of my favorite ryes and one that you don't need to be crazy about ryes to enjoy. Super smooth, very clean, and while the rye bite is present, at no point is it really over powering.

d**n! I like pumpkin pie, but that is NOT cooking whisky!

Pappy Van Winkle is good, and the aged varieties are delicious, though they get crazy expensive. Congrats on the anniversaries, fellas!

With the two different spools, either a ML XF or M F will cover most of your bases. A lot of it will come down to preferences and what techniques you fish the most. I have a ML XF that's put quite a few 18"+ fish in the boat this year.

On much of the Susquehanna, I find that water levels and a different migration pattern really come into play. Unlike a lot of upper Midwest rivers or the Tennessee River, it doesn't flow into a whole lot of reservoirs or lakes until it gets nearly to the Chesapeake. Because of this, even in winter, fish will still sit along current breaks (points and bridge pilings are excellent) so long as there is protection from the current and access to deeper water. In between (fall), the trickiest part for me is just figuring out a pattern, which I find is mostly dependent on water level and bait fish. If water is rising, smallmouth move away from fast current and to the shore and feed voraciously - spinnerbaits, chatter baits, and lipless rattling cranks are money. If the levels are low and current slow, they can be following bait anywhere, and it can be way more tricky. For example, I was out 2 weeks ago with crazy low water levels and water temps from 55-60. I was seeing fish, but could hardly buy bites in shallow, fast runs and tail outs (3 weeks earlier I could have caught 20-50 fish on this pattern). Instead, they were holding in slow current (back bays/oxbows even) near matted vegetation ambushing bait and smashing schools of perch over deep, open water with little current. X-Raps and Shadow Raps saved my day. My biggest came right after dusk fishing a chatter bait with a 4.3" swimbait trailer near bridge pilings at a tail out/ledge. It took 3/4 of the day to find active fish, but an 18" smallie that thinks she's a 5lber smashing a chatter bait you can barely see makes it totally worthwhile.

For rocks and particular nasty stuff, I use Hybrid and it's never let me down. The stuff is tough. Ridiculously tough.