Joedodge

Congrats!!! Those are some gorgeous fish!!

Well nothing to report haha. I’ve been out a few times. Very short trips. Caught some dinks. I’ve been tying jigs at home. And sticking up to tie a lot this winter when it’s ice out. Resting up the elbow. Kiddo started school and I start a new job next Tuesday. So closing out the chapter at my current job. Hoping to get one a good bite as it starts to cool off here.

Best advice I can give you. A old guide buddy in Florida gave me. I used to track the tides, moon, barometric pressure. All of that. We went out together one time flats fishing on our kayaks. He was a kayak guide. He said Joe. Just fish. Bring the coupe lures ya wana fish and fish. Pay attention to what’s going on at that moment. Don’t worry about all that stuff fish that moment. Look for birds, chop, bait busting. Just enjoy and fish that moment and be confident. Then you will catch them

Exactly. Some of my best ever days chasing saltwater in shore fish were those exact conditions. When I lived in Florida the bays and passes would be loaded with guys out on the water. Magical times really when nature opens up like that.

You can pay attention to barometric pressure also and how a front changes that. It triggers feeding or hunkering down not to say fish don’t bite. You just have to find them. I don’t believe the lock jaw deal. Ya just have to find them. But leading up to a front that rain and wind and awful conditions as others have said. Turn the bite on amazing. Some of my best days ever were miserable conditions

Never paid a ton of attention to a front. I treat it the same as any other day. Water clarity, wind, clouds and such. Different retrieve and lure profile till I get a bite. That said I fish a lot of smaller finesse stuff anyway.

Thank you. I appreciate it. I actually love fleet farms fishing section lol

So a local fleet farm has the lews gen 3 speed spools for $99 in the clamshell package. Local scheels has them in the box for $130. Is there any difference in the internal parts between the two packages? Or is one just a older price?

Believe me some of them are fishing stuff they aren’t sponsored by. They just don’t talk about it. And most of them didn’t make it by getting good at one lure. They are proficient in alot of them. And it’s important to remember they are salesman. Some of the worst advice out there is from a pro angler. They’ll say whatever the guys signing checks want. Remember they get some free lures but they are getting checks too. Sponsors are how they pay for tournaments that cost thousands to buy into.

Some Walmarts carry the entry level falcons. The lowrider is a great rod at a great price point. Shimano slx rods aren’t bad either.

Nice. Nothing wrong with that. If ya ever get to try any falcon rods toys like them. I have a couple low riders and they are moderate fast. And true to it. Not a moderate. Not a fast. Right in the middle and I do like them a lot.

Never did like the Laguna. I had a Procyon years ago I loved. And the tatula xt are a great $99 rod. But in almost positive you will think the tips too fast. Why are you looking for such a moderate rod though?

War eagle has been my favorite. Booyah has never treated me bad though. Biggest thing I like is a compact bait. I’m not big on the huge spinnerbaits they just don’t get bit for me.

I’m with @Pat Brown I wacky a trick worm More. Always have. I usually target pockets in filamentous algae with it or grass edges and such. I don’t try to blind cast it. It takes forever to cover water.

It’s all about balance, sensitivity, and quality. A higher end rod will be all of those. Not to mention. This is my hobby. I like nice stuff and take care of stuff. Why wouldn’t I try and give myself the advantage of having the best I can with in my budget? I’m not saying go buy a $400 rod. But you’d be surprised the difference stepping up to $100-150 rod. Not to mention in my experience a lot of times stepping up in pride the reel seat and trigger gets nicer. I can’t stand a baitcaster that isn’t comfortable to palm on a rod. Little things also pop up. Nicer cork, nicer fit and finish. But if you are happy with what ya got run with that. Ive fished a lot of rods over the years. In fresh and salt water from bass to sharks. But I will say price and quality and customer support wise. Falcon rods are great. @casts_by_fly will agree

Yes. All of it till it gets bit. Don’t make it that hard make it instinct.

Pretty much exactly what we used to do when I lived in Florida. Knocking stuff off the top of bottles as another fun one

Wow those are beautiful! That’s what was going for. Maybe next time. Please let us know if he does!!

I started fishing early here in Iowa this year. About the 2nd week of march. I was literally the only one out anywhere I went except one day I bumped into one guy. I knew it was too early but ice had thawed and we were in the high 30s temp wise. If I fished a rapala x rap jerk bait slow. I mean slow. Pop pop and pause 20-30 seconds probably. They would hit it on the pause. Or a jig fished incredibly slow on the bottom. So slow you had to really watch the slack line. I enjoyed it. New challenge out by myself kinda deal. that said fishing a jerk bait up hill sucks lol. I was constantly cleaning dead and decaying vegetation off the treble hooks. But it produced.

Nah you could do it if i can. It’s a lot of fun

Thank you. I’d say maybe 10 mins or so

Thank you. lol kinda reminds me of that. They call them puff ball jigs. I didn’t quite get the trimming right though.

Thank you. I’ll throw it this week then. I’ve never messed with a rubber jig at all. I was just under the impression they were a colder water deal. But there is no rules to any of this lol.

Channeled my inner Gary Klein with a 5 tab round rubber jig. With a lot of bounce as he says. Hoping it’s great for cooler water this fall. Never messed with rubber

Great topic! Man I wish I still had my first. I can see it in my mind lol. Blue and gray Plano. But the most memorable was an old Shimano 3600 bag that held 4-6?? Boxes. I wore that thing out as a kid fishing piers in Florida saltwater. The sun eventually degraded it to the point it fell apart.