DubyaDee

I'll pinch the barbs down if we're catching them like crazy with treble hooked lures. We'll pinch the barbs on wacky hooks also when we've got inexperienced folks fishing with us. Not just to save the fish from a gut hook, but to make it easier to remove the hook from flesh.

I'll throw a jerkbait year round. 1. Megabass Vision 110 in Perch 2. Rapala X Rap XR-10 in Ghost Glass 3. LC Staysee 90 in Ghost Minnow

It's a spybait jighead from Japan. I've been trying to find a jighead like that for a while and finally found them. The plan is to tie some marabou on them and use them when the smallie bite dies down. The description said to use them with the split tail flash j minnows, so I picked up a few packs of them as well.

They look killer on a drop shot. What's your experience? The package says drop shot, split shot, surface. Surface? Do these things float?

My stash finally came in from Cyber Monday I'm trying to slow down and finesse the big girls in next year.

Keep in mind the better drag and casting distance that usually comes with larger size reels. With light line applications drag is key. I usually opt for 2500 or 3000 size spinning reels.

My wife is getting me some nice Simms bibs, if I'm good I'll get the jacket next year.

I'm a power guy for the first couple hours. If I'm catching them I'll stay power, but I usually always end up going finesse for the rest of the day. I am determined to be more of a finesse guy next year.

It's been great watching you fish my dream lakes this year in the new Lund. One day I hope to vacation in those spots regularly and hunt those smallies down. Figuring out new water is a challenge with a sweet reward. This year I've been addicted to throwing a spybait for smallies. Spinbait 80 is easily #1 in my book. I hope you give these a shot in 2017. 1. Dou Realis Spinbait 80 in morning dawn 2. Canadian mist tube jig 3. Vision 110 in yellow perch 4. Evergreen SB 125 in Skeleton Chartreuse

I use a 704cb for 1/2 ounce and lighter topwater. It'll walk a super spook jr, or throw a popper very well. Sometimes I'll complain that the mod/fast action doesn't get enough snap for walking the dog, but I rarely lose a fish so it's a win.

Last fall I got a 2000 Javelin Renegade 19 with a Johnson 175 for $6000. Keep on looking, now is the time to find a steal.

Those spybaits attract lots of pike too ?. Do crappie ever have that minnow shape that the spinbait 80 has? Love those spybaits!

I've been out with @MIbassangler30 a few times on St Clair. We'll get back at it in the spring hopefully. I feel like I go fishing with @A-Jay all the time, really it's just me watching his video's while I'm in my office at work.

I think it would be fine as long as you'll be fine with the length. If you can't impart enough action using mono try a braid. I like a med mod/fast for 1/2 ounce walking baits, then step it up to a MH fast for 3/4 and up. If you need more stiffness use braid, if you want more flexibility use mono. Don't read too deep into what anyone tells you. Get out and fish what you've got and you'll decide what you think is appropriate for you.

During tough conditions I'll dropshot a neko hook with some marabou tied on. I put a lot of value into using presentations that are different and more subtle that what everyone else is doing.

I love fishing out of a canoe. You almost feel closer to the fish, it's a much different experience. Enjoy it!

I'd get the Mag Med for what you're looking for. I have the mag light, and I also thought it was too whippy at first. I don't have any issue hooking or landing fish with this rod. If you're looking for an all around spinning rod, you should get something heavier, but for drop shot I like the mag light. Technique specific rods generally don't make great general use rods.

I got hooked on jerkbaits with a x rap xr08. Lots of numbers, nothing of size though.

ML XF all the way. 7 foot med fast is super versatile, but for throwing a wacky worm and drop shot go with the ML. I'm curious, what are the rods?

I was in a similar position last year and I picked up a Shimano Calcutta Conquest 101. The Conquest is extremely smooth. I love it for slow rolling a spinnerbait or swimbait. It's tough to put it down once you pick it up. I'll have the conquest for the rest of my life.

I'm switching between a Dobyns 704cb and a Shimano Poison Adrena Medium 7'2". I think the Poison has a better snap, and still pins the fish well enough. The Dobyns just feels a little too moderate for me. Although the Dobyns is a little mushy on the jerk, I don't lose many fish with it. I'll probably have both of those with a jerkbait on them for a while before I really make up my mind. One will win out for jerkbaits and the other will be a designated topwater rod.

We all have seen the Hornady Zombie Max rounds that they produced during the zombie craze these last few years. How long will it take them to make a Clown version? I really hope this fad of dressing as a clown and harassing folks fades away fast. How soon till we hear about a clown shot by a CPL holder?

It was last year this time that a 9.32 was caught on Hubbard lake on a split shot chartreuse grub. A month ago we heard about the 9.98 caught on a night crawler. This time of year produces giants, especially the waters that you're fishing. I'll be lucky to get our 3 times this fall, and I can't pick and choose my days to get out. I'm always envious of your reports, so thank you and keep them coming. Good luck this fall!

I haven't seen the lake, but I'm sure it's a mess. We've had 4 days of rain, and it'll continue this weekend. I'm going out next weekend and am already worried about the water clarity.

You say you don't know me but you're 100% correct! I spend more time in my garage and driveway playing with tackle than I do fishing. With a young family and a business, I only get on the water twice a month. Playing with tackle at night is how I can stay connected to fishing. Last year I bought a 15 year old boat. I spend more time fixing and upgrading the boat than I do fishing out of it.