stk44

Set magnetic brake to 0. Adjust each bait for a slow fall when spool is engaged. Set brakes at 5 and adjust from there. It's a finicky reel for some lures IMO. Is there a particular lure that's giving you issues? If so what is the weight?

What does everyone use for a river crankbait rod? I have a 7'3 mojo glass MM casting rod that I use for most of my lake fishing. The smallmouth in the river haven't been crazy about the fatter shad style cranks typical of squarebills, rapala DT's etc. I've been catching most of them on Shadrap 4's and 5's. Needless to say my baitcaster doesn't cast these light shad raps well, so I've been using a light action ugly stik. Does anyone use a ML OR LIGHT rod for cranking this small balsa cranks?

Ok I'll give it a shot. I don't see many current breaks where I'm fishing, maybe that's part of the problem... That really sucks about Austin kayak. Good customer service will make or break a company. It's a shame they arent taking care of the issue. Did you try calling?

Still no size. The biggest one was 15 inches but only 1 lb 10 oz. I actually just received my anchor trolley that I need to install from Austin kayak. I'm glad that I didn't have any issues and that sucks you haven't been able to get out. The left side of sycamore island is maybe 12-15 feet at the deepest ( from what I can recall. I am still a rookie on reading my depth finder. So I'm pretty sure I'm seeing little humps or boulders that I was trying to dropshot but with no luck. Should I be targeting deep water yet? Also, the flow is VERY slow on the left side of sycamore. It's protected from that bend( I guess that would be called an outside bend.) I'm thinking maybe this was a descent prespawn and spawn spot, but I'm starting to question its productivity for pre-summer. What are your thoughts?

The bass are definitely in there post spawn/ presummer period. I went out on Friday with water temps around 71-72 degrees. I caught 6 fish. The biggest in a shallow grassline at the end of sycamore island where all kinds of minnows are funneling. He was burried in grass and had mud on his belly. The other 5 were smaller and in less than 8 feet of water. All relating to some piece of cover like a lay down or in a pool just past a current break. Yesterday I went out, water temp 73-74 degrees and I caught 1 bass ( same shallow weed line) and 1 walleye. I tried to look for some deeper water just on the outside of sycamore island and drop shot it, but no luck. I actually saw a few bass hit my shakey shad as I was retrieving it to the boat. In the morning near the upstream side between shore and sycamore island, I lost 3 bass on a shad rap 5. I changed colors and added rattles and nothing worked. Where would be some good summer spots to hit?

Tom, That is exactly what I'm looking for. I hope a local store has them so I can match them up. I'm thinking the 3/0 would do just fine if not. Thanks again!

I fished the last two days. I caught 20 bass, 14 of these just on a biwaa armored craw. I really like the action- not too much, but not too little plus the claws stay upright. It skips great and I really like the small profile that makes up the main body. I do have one question though. What is the ideal way to Texas rig this bait? I started with a 2/0 gamakatsu EWG. This was too small. So I went with the 3/0 gamakatsu. The back end of the bait is so thin, it gets torn up really easy. So I cut the butt end off the craw and now it's too small lengthwise to fit a 3/0 but too thick to properly seat a 2/0 hook. Any suggestions? Edit: I guess what I'm getting at is: they are awesome baits, but at 5.99/ 6 pack, I don't want them to get torn up after every fish.

I have a 7'3" MM mojo bass glass rod with a 6.4:1 Reel for most of my cranking. At what point as far as deep-divers go, should you switch to a stouter rod and a lower gear ratio?

I have a silver max. After comparing it to my revo SX it feels so-so at best. And I also have an MGX which only feels a slight bit better than my SX In my opinion. If you want to go the Entry level Abu route, I would get the black max instead because I believe the only extra on the silver max is one more bearing and a flipping switch which is useless. If at all possible I would try the pro max or maybe an SX. OR EVEN BETTER- If you could save up about $170 and wait for a sale, you could get a Revo STX or a shimano Curado.

EGO S2. TW has it for 80 bucks. It's compact, it extends, it floats, it's awesome.

I am definitely no expert, BUT, I will say that a bait caster when used for the right application seems much more efficient. I grew up with spinning and have always used either fly rods or spinning gear for trout and pan fish. Even still, I can probably get twice as many casts throwing a search bait with a bait caster than a spinning. If you get into flipping and pitching, GOOD LUCK with a spinning rod. I don't think you NEED both spinning and bait casting, but I think you are limiting yourself if you don't use both. It definitely is a learning curve, but once you've got it, it's really fun to cast and really productive. Watch some YouTube videos and practice in your yard. Start with at least 12 lb. mono or fluorocarbon or equivalent line diameter braid- that seemed to help for me.

Gushing blood for hours and you didn't bleed out. I'd say that's pretty lucky in itself.

Agreed, an $100 rod shouldn't do this.

I have an old 5'6 Ugly Stik lite and I noticed the same thing. I don't know that this was meant to be fished with braid. I took a small round file and the grooves came out. I ran a cotton swab through the guides and I haven't had any issues since. I don't know what it costs to replace the guides, if it's cheap, I would go that route. As for my case with an Ugly Stik, I'll just file the guides, it's a cheap rod and I treat it as such. If you want something better, you'll have to dish out some more money.

I've been having luck with a small, natural colored, minnow style crank with rattles. However, the river I'm fishing has been fairly clear and the bait fish have this same profile. Have you tried downsizing your search-baits? That seemed to be the ticket for me.

I'm going to be heading up one day that week as well.

Cool, I'll keep that in mind. Water temp has been between 57-60 degrees, so not too much cold water anymore, but I'm sure that will work post-front for smallmouth. Thanks again!

I caught 5 more yesterday. The average size is getting bigger. But I had one fish at 14 inches and 1lb 1 oz. I didn't have any luck with tubes, jerkbaits or shad raps. I only catch fish on a cotton Cordell 2" minnow. I don't get it lol. I think the bass want something that rattles and the shad raps do not rattle, that could be why I didn't get anything with them. I fished the same spot as last, but this time I pulled back into 10-11 feet of water and fished the 8-9 foot range. I have some bitsy bug jigs on order. I'm going to pick apart that area next chance I get.

Thanks for the info. I've been fishing the Allegheny river a good bit and I always find myself drifting under trees or getting close to some overhanging bushes, etc. Would it be worth my time to mount a rod-holder like the ram tubes completely vertical? I had vertical rod holders before and I guess I adapted, I just liked the though of laying them down or keeping them at a 45 degree angle away from obstructions. Let me know what works for you.

Hmm...I usually store stuff behind the seat. I was thinking of only using 1 rod holder for my cranking rod, and then using only single hooks up front in the cockpit. I'll have to sit in the kayak and see if this will work...

Actually, now that I'm thinking something like this may be best: Can anyone foresee any issues with having to pivot and grab a rod with this type of rod holder?

I'm looking to get a tube style rod holder to install on my Predator MX kayak. The lay down rod holders are nice, but after my net getting caught on a treble hook on my spare crank bait rod and losing a barely hooked Musky because of it, it's time to get these rods the heck out of the way. I'm looking to mount the rod holders on these plastic mounting panels: I have a secured tackle bag that I keep in the open-rear storage compartment, so I'd prefer not to get a crate. Let me know what you like or what you think will work. Thanks, Steve

Ok, thanks for the replies. I will do a little more research and watch DIY's as well. I'm leaning towards the yak attack.

Awesome! I was supposed to head up this week but my friend cancelled. I probably will head up late May early June. Hopefully the smallmouth bite will still be hot.

I said almost 2 dozen "Here we go!" 's this past weekend..