Fishin Dad

I have been looking for a JDM spinning reel for around $200. I know the value is there with a weak Yen. It is just hard to navigate all the different unique names etc. I have tried to look them up on the manufacturers sites, but I am still not sure. Any recommendations?? I really like a a 3000 size reel with a higher (6.?:1) gear ratio. Thanks.

Drop shot is amazing in Minnesota. When I take my wife and kids fishing, it is usually a drop shot, sometimes a Ned rig. I love drop shot for them. It helps them keep the depth correct and they can leave it or move it and it works. I don’t love fishing it , but sometimes, like right now it can be necessary. The weeds have recently died and are laying on the bottom rotting. A drop shot keeps your bait up and out of that garbage. Wife and I just hammered them this morning on the drop shot. I also threw a football jig, Ned, Texas rig. All a pain in the weedy rear end. Drop shot was the ticket.

I am just glad they stick mostly to big tournament lakes. I bet anyone who lives on/fishes some of the smaller lakes on the list are not happy. I bet Ivie in Texas has been destroyed with all the social media hype and now the list here. With the popularity of fishing now, and the social media craze, even my smaller lakes around home are getting pounded. Then, with all the technology, nothing stays secret for long.

Wow, I am jealous. Great fish. Good on you for doing the right thing!

Fish the moment is Jonny Schultz. Randy is never on Fish the Moment, but yes, Jonny and Randy work together on other stuff through Fish the Moment. Jonny Schultz is fantastic.

They just refined the reel using technology from some of their flagship reels. It is a great reel. I just really like the feel of the 2016 and am not bothered by the over braking some don’t like. The new Zillion does cast farther.

You all have had some great partners. I have some buddies I fish with frequently, but I really fish alone most often. I actually like it though. I fish during the week while they are working. Lakes are mostly empty and quiet. They ask to fish on the weekends, but it is just not the same as weekdays and I hate crowds when fishing. My favorite is fishing with my wife and two daughters. I often play guide instead of fishing, but nothing is better than watching their excitement and how proud they are. I always hope their pictures encourage their friends to get outdoors and enjoy. That would be a really cool partner!!

I have both and many Tatula SV. I really like the older Zillion SV. It may not be as refined as the new one, but I like the feel of them. They have a very connected feel to me. If you decide you don’t want it, I would love to pick up another one.

I use both with and without the weed guard. I do leave the hook exposed.

I like a 3/4 oz. I throw it on a 7’6” heavy rod with 20 lb. Fluoro. I use it on deeper rock (9-15’) and for isolated lay downs in 4-8’. I cast it as far as I can, let it hit the bottom, then drag it back keeping my rod tip low to the water. The fish will pin it to the bottom then suck it up. I always give them a second to get it. I will also just shake my rod tip keeping the jig in place. I did really well football jigs last season. I actually just posted about football jigs asking if there was a better jig for what I was doing and many confirmed the football jig is best for bottom dragging. I had heard/read that some are saying to just use a structure jig and football jigs are outdated. There were good posts talking about the benefits of football jigs. I am glad because I bought around 50 over the winter.

Yep, looks like it has been confirmed. I will keep confidently using it.

I was just looking at the JT version from Evergreen. It is the silent version. I keep hearing that the silent top waters are solid. I might have to give it a try. It seems like people either love SB or hate them.

This is kind of what I had been hearing. I do have some of those jigs as well. The football just worked so well I was wondering if others had the same opinion. Thanks. I kind of discovered this last year. I had a what I thought was a bite, swung on it and nothing. Threw it back out there and just shaking my rod and not moving the jig. It got hammered. I use it often now. I hope this year shows the same success as last year. It was really fun. Thanks for the tips.

Thanks. That makes a lot of sense. I really liked using the football head jig last year, so I wanted to make sure I wasn’t missing anything. I throw an Arkie type jig all the time. It was just last year that the football was awesome. I might have to try the senko trailer!!

Awesome! Glad to hear that. I stocked up on football jigs while they were working so well. Your name (jigman) tells me you know what you are talking about. ??

I had really good success last year dragging a football jig on rock and submerged wood. I know a football jig is designed for rock, but I have read that they are outdated and not needed. A lot of fisherman are using structure jigs or others instead with better success. I usually use a 3/4 oz jig and fish it in 4-15’ of water. Football jig or not?

I have seen Livescope both through the ice and open water. It is amazing and a great tool. I opted not to out it on my new boat last year. I do have 360, which is enough electronics for me. I just don’t want to go fishing and look at a screen any more than I already do. I know it would be fun and a great learning tool, but, Computers at work, phones all day, tv at home……………I fish to try to escape all of that. I fish small tourneys around home and with my buddies and family. If I need that to win, I will be fine finishing where I do.

I judge my day a “good” day if I get the lake safely, the lake is not crowded, the boat runs great, and the weather is fishable. I rate it a great day if I catch some fish and don’t get off by a bunch of pike. I consider it an excellent day if I catch over 18 lbs. for 5 fish, catch over 25 bass, any bass over 5 lbs. or I figure out a really great area or technique.

I despise sunscreen. My mom and my wife have both had skin cancer surgeries. I spent my whole life in the sun. Much of it shirtless and hatless. I have been lucky so far, but still get checked annually. The whole check if you know what I mean. Shocked me the first time. I was like, “ I am not a nudist”, I think I am good down there. It SHE is thorough! ?. If I am out from 10 am - 3 pm, I am in sun pants, sun shirt with hood, hat (no protection up there ?), and fingerless gloves. Many of my sunshirts have built in buffs, so if I feel it on my face, I will pull them up for a while. I will put a little sunscreen on my nose and cheeks at rare times. I actually feel cooler wearing all that than with shorts and t shirt.

Haha. For sure. I think I just want it to work so bad I can’t get away from it. I love skipping a jig with a heavy rod and putting the onions to em. Goal for the season = don’t listen to my stupid brain, listen to fish and believe them!!

The bite has been so weird here this year, I am trying a lot of different things. Starting with finesse to try and get a limit, trying to force big baits and heavy weights, etc. I like the idea to start with power fishing to get the active biters first. That is often my plan too. I am just too darn slow switching to finesse when I should. Not sure what is going to happen this year. It is just a different start to our year up north than usual.

Fish the moment is very informational. Jigsquad, The Tackle Shop, and BTL on Thursday with Frank Scalish. These are more Tackle and technique specific. I listen to a lot of others that are more tournament and other info. When driving by myself, I usually have a podcast going.

Wearing sun protection clothing protects you from the sun and actually keeps you cooler. Pants, hooded sun shirt, hat, gloves. It is all I wear when fishing now.

I would be fine if Minnesota never makes the list again!! Luckily, we have so many smaller lakes that will never be heard of. Once Mille Lacs made it, it got pounded on.

Had my first tick in probably 15 years this year and I am an outdoor guy. I feel lucky I haven’t had more. I just assumed I don’t taste very good, so they have stayed away from me. The leeches bring back a nasty memory. My brother and I were in the BWCAW and saw a “natural hot tub” along a river. It was a place that the water had swirled and dug out a literal 2-3’ deep hole about 6’ I. Diameter. It had filled with water during high river and had warmed in the sun. We stripped down to underwear and jumped in and took a warm break. When we got out about 30 minutes later, we were covered in leeches. They were small ones, but they were everywhere. We picked what could off ourselves, then, like monkeys, we started picking them off each other. It was nasty.