Drew03cmc

I knew you'd say D Shad @TOXIC, but I can't get them locally and would love to feel them beforehand. Guess I will just have to order some.

Which do you prefer and why? I've been a Super Fluke guy for years, but always looking to improve my odds.

Honestly, I use both casting and spinning gear and don't see a reason to get anything special for the situation. Avoid dunking your reels or laying them in sand and fine gravel. You'll be fine. I've used everything from old Sedona FB to Stradic FL and Kastking Sharky II to President XT (current) and Metanium DC to Kastking Stealth. My current casting reels are Kastkings from the Megajaws to the Megajaws Elite (fantastic reels btw). I've had one reel get sand in it, a JDM SLX MGL and it was quickly cleaned out. Just be careful and have fun.

I may have to try these XRap Sub Walks. I bought a bunch of shallow KVD 1.5 from you and have yet to fish them. They will get thrown this summer though.

Maybe like the 1st, 3rd and bottom on the left. The others have a depth around 2 to 5 feet. I'm primarily asking about the 0 to 1ft range.

Does anyone else love themselves a super shallow crankbait bite? Which ones do you throw and what do you throw them on? I throw and have thrown the Duo Kabuki 50 SSR, Bandit Footloose and Megabass Griffon Zero. I'm going to grab a couple Yozuri SSR here in the next few weeks, but was curious what others are out there. I throw them on my 6'10" M MF Ark Lancer Pro and Kastking Megajaws Elite with 12lb Contra mono, same as I use for smaller (sub-1/2oz) topwaters.

It doesn't adhere to the Cali rules, so Weakley didn't approach IGFA about it. They have gone on record saying it may have been accepted anyway, but we will never know.

I found a handful of square bills and Plopper 90s recently. Give them a scrub with some Dawn and an old toothbrush, new split rings and trebles and they're still being fished. It makes me wonder what one has to do to snag and lose a topwater.

I'd be using topwater exclusively. I had a similar experience last weekend, small pond, pressured, never seen a fish over 12", went and pulled a 5lb fish out on a little walking bait. They're in there.

I love the Splash It. They cast like a dream! Tom, 100% agree. Both are incredible.

Is the Flush really that good?

My issue with the ZMan is the rate of fall. Elaztech is buoyant. I am often fishing a Fluke in 5 feet of heavy current and need them to sink when rigged weightless.

In the past 2 days, I have fished both the Ziggy and the Boyo. The Boyo walks a little wider for me, but both are easy to walk. I caught a really nice fish today on the Ziggy.

Honestly, I have a 7.2 and 8.1 RLE and have the 7.2 on an all purpose MH rod with 17lb fluoro for jigs, Texas rigs and other techniques and the 8.1 on a 7' H for Buzzbaits, toads, light cover frogs, swimming worms, etc . That's got 40# braid on it.

I have 8 KK casters. My favorites are the Royale Legend Elites, but the Speed Demon Elite Skipping reel is really nice, as is the Megajaws Elite. The Upgraded is pretty nice as well. I also have 3 regular Megajaws, 1 5.4, 1 6.5, 1 7.2; and they're all 100% serviceable. The 5.4 and 6.5 have Abec 7s in them and cast further than I can.

I've been wearing these for 18 months and they're pretty great. https://m.kohls.com/product/prd-2799969/crocs-swiftwater-mens-leather-fisherman-sandals.jsp

Definitely can't argue this. I haven't gone to chase my river smallies yet this year and it's killing me. The $60 for gas there and back will be $80 or higher this year.

Black and white are the only 2 colors I need.

You're not wrong. As for my choice, rivers 99 days out of 100. The other day, it's probably a local(ish) lake with long, rocky, almost riverine arms

Yeah, the upper ends of Pickwick, Wilson, Wheeler and Guntersville wouldn't be bad from what I've been researching. I'd love to get on a rig or single 4 to 5" paddle tail bite.

Lake fish do nothing for me. I chase smallies wading or floating on bony Ozark rivers, so skinny fish for 8 months a year are normal. Also, I want to see what the TVA is all about and chase a giant smallie. Might holler at Ryan Salzman about getting in the boat with him.

I would likely plan a trip during peak time. I just want to get into at least a 5lb smallie and the TVA system seems like the best bet.

Thank you. As it's a 9 hour drive to Pickwick for me, ideal generation is nice, but when I can go, is when I will go, so I'd definitely want a guide.

Appreciate the offer, my son and I will likely try to get down there sometime this year. I'm unsure when, but I will definitely put up pictures when we can make it. Ah, makes sense to me. I don't object to crap weather.

Killer. I've just become completely blown away by the trophy brown fish down there. I want to get down there so bad. Any suggestions on time of year and a guide to use? I'm in the planning stages now, so definitely open to ideas.