jitterbug127

Very nice! I've got a 1980 Johnson 35 HP tiller on the back of my boat. I just keep up with routine maintenance, and it will serve me well for many more years. Electric start with the recoil back up was a big deal for me. I was thinking "electric only" when i read about no wake. Let me change my answer a bit. I'd get an old Johnson or merc and throw it on the back of your boat. If you only use it just in case still 100% worth it. I've probably got 50 of them running over the last few years. Fun hobby. Simple. Cheap. Dependable.

I'd go ahead and find the biggest/baddest/most powerful bow mount you can. Something with spotlock. and keep that transom mount as a back up. I have 0 desire to be on the river and only have 1 means of propulsion ever again.

I like to get stuff of marketplace so prices are a bit all over the place buying used. I’d say most id my Rods are around $150-200 new and reels are around $200-300 new. The real answer is whatever vanford costs is what I’m willing to pay. Love that reel.

Reading this book through slower a second time....Post above is WRONG! I thought i knew this stuff. Not even close. The Smallmouth Modern Fly Fishing Methods, Tactics, and Techniques is phenomenal. It talks about the exact type of fishing i like to do. I am going to have a fun season trying to apply this knowledge in 2026. Thank for the recommendation.

Only time I do is if it’s is REALLY stiff. Tubes I like to scuff.

I bought fly fishing book mentioned in the second post after the op. So far I really am enjoying it. Truth being told I probably know most of the information in here but it’s presenting it in a way that’s is actually applicable which is wonderful. Knowledge without ability for execution in fishing is pretty limiting in value.

I bought an about 1 of every color and weight 3/8 And 1/2 oz they had in the evo and 2 of each of the 3/8 mini max lures. No 1/2 mini max in store. My combo I bought is a Shimano slx composite 7’2” medium heavy moderate and a Shimano slx dc 6.3:1 spooled up with p line cx 15 lb copoly. It I don’t like they like I’ll swap to invizx.

I bought pretty much everything they had in store. Think I bought 30 chatterbaits. 15 mini max 15 evo or so.

bladed jig evo vs tungsten evo? I got about 100/120 bucks to spend. Would yall get a ton of the regulars evo half and half or tungsten evo only? I’ve never fished chatterbaits before. I’m referring to the dicks sale buy 3 get 3. I could get like 12 tungsten, 24 of the regular evo or 6 tungsten and 12 evo regular for around the same price.

In my kayaking days I tried to get it down to 1 3500 box for the day: floating the river and fishing 1-3 techniques I think will work for the day.

Let me just say I've got enough stuff that I can fish my whole life and my son who is 4 can fish his whole life and we'd still have PLENTY left over. I couldn't even begin to guess. Most of y'all have invested in 401k...I invested my future in something I'll have much more use out of....

For several years I used a 6 10 Ark rod lancer pro and curado k with 30 lb braid worked great for 1.0 and 1.5 square bills. This year I’m going David fritts perfect crankbait rod 6 8 with a curado mgl 151. 10 lb copoly

Well there were a few other lines that came but I don’t know if they’d be great or not 10 lb p line cx 12 lb p line cx 14 lb trilene xl

I’ve throw a bladed jig about a dozen times in my life so relatively no experience with it. I had a nice gentleman give me several spools of line he no longer wanted. i have 3 I think Will work on my bladed jig set up. Not sure if best one. 20 Lb Seagar invizex 20 lb seagar abrazex 15 lb p line cx Which would be y’all’s first choice on this?

Glad I asked. The 7.3:1 can be bought locally and save me $50. Ill do that

I am interested in getting a new reel for my St. Croix Victory Rod. The rod I own is the sb ranger swimbait rod 3/4-3 oz and 7' 10" heavy fast. I have settled into the Diawa tatula 2025. I like the line capacity, light weight and smaller profile. I am trying to decide if the 6.3:1 or 7.3:1 reel would be better for a first swimbait reel. The 6.3 has an inches per turn around 29.4 inches per turn and the 7.3 has 34.3 inches per turn. THis reel will be a general purpose first swimbait/glide bait rod/reel. Another factor that might help yall decide...I can get the 7.3:1 locally for $180 and the 6.3:1 Ill have to order for $199 or $229 depending on what i can find.

I was watching it like a hawk at work and got called away from my desk. Someone else sniped it at the last minute.

The Diawa zillion 5.5:1 that I found is 24.2 Inches per turn. I just bought another shimano curado mgl 151 6.2:1. This reel is super versatile 24 inches per turn. I got one for $180 brand new locally. MGL spool is great for this range and you can use it for spinner baits, crankbaits, chatterbaits almost anything really. Up until about 10 years ago a 6.1 was considered a fast speed reel. Its probably still my favorite speed to use.

Take that down...Im the winning bidder right now 🤣

Friend of mine works at the local university Library. She is going to try to track this Them Old Brown Fish book for me. Might be able to read it for free. That would be a score.

Expride would easily be choice 1 here

Y'all have given some good resources here for me to check out. I read through about 1/2 of A-Jay interview again last night. I haven't in awhile and it was a good reminder

Hoping this sale comes back.

Yes! thanks for the reminder. it has been a few years. I will read it over again today and tomorrow. Wonderful information from A-Jay.

Does anyone have any books, videos, or other media that helps pattern smallmouth bass? I’d love to be doing more research on how to learn.