fishwizzard

What is the "Photo and Music Clip"? I assume it isn't a Japanese rap mixtape.

The Decoy does have a longer stright hook segment, but it's still a ballhead.

If you liked the Owner, you should really try the Decoy Nailbomb. It seemes to be a bit better in terms of holding the bait and in hookup percentage. The line tie is also 90d, which I feel helps me keep the lure nose up so I snag it less in current.

That is interesting to know, thanks!

Very interesting. I have been trying to get into wacky rigging of late but have had just awful hookup ratios with weedless wacky hooks, but was snagging too often on open hooks. Is that like an 1/0 or 1/2 worm hook you are using there?

I am not sure what I am looking at here, but I think I like it. Do you fish it fast so it spins and causes a ton of disturbance, or slowly so it twitches and falls?

They are also great on a 1/16oz shakey head and even work well weightless as a micro-fluke.

When I am not in my kayak, I don't fear lightning, but recent local flash flooding has made me look at the wisdom of spending time in river valleys during heavy rain. I have yet to rig an anchor so a strong wind does make my kayak days a hot mess, but I suspect my 10' bathtub boat has something to do with that.

I have found that a 3" senko rigged weightless on a 1/0 Roboworm hook will always catch a fish. It might be a 5" panfish, but if I am 15 min from dark and I have been skunked so far, even a 5" panfish becomes attractive. Of course, this rigging makes for a single hit lure, but again, the bar is closing and I don't want to go home alone. I do only buy them when I can find them on deep discount, but as a bait of last resort, they do work. I have been looking at the BPS 4" split tails as a river bait, but still have a backlog of tiny plastics to work through before I give them a shot.

I hike a lot and always bring a rod along. Tackle is an issue as I want to stay light, but also don't want to damage my plastics by jamming them into my daypack. I ordered these the other day and just picked them up: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B012ETLYL8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 They look like they will hold maybe 6-8 5" senkos and 3-4 flukes each. They don't seem to be as sturdy as a plano but they are perfect for fishing on the go. I also picked this guy up: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011ANCAJO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I was looking for a bag to use for outings more then 1/2 a mile but less then 5, when I bring a real back. I had one of their chest packs that I loved and this one is looking to be as good. It holds a singe 3600 box with enough room left over for a change of socks, a few bags of plastics, misc supplies and first aid kit, and a raincoat strapped to the bottom. I loved the "workbench" on my chest pack and this one is even bigger. I am leery of slings due to lugging around over stuffed messenger bags for years, but with some self control I hope to keep it light enough to be comfortable.

Really? I have found tiny smallies in the Little Pax but never caught anything but perch in the big Pax. I had no idea they were stocking.

Keitech 4" Impact, on a Owner 1/16oz-1/0 jig head. It's an expensive way to fish as every fish that it pass by will hit it and they usually only last one or two hits, but they seem to work even when the Ned fails me.

I'm about 30m north of you, and all I can say is "learn to love perch and stripped bass" In all seriousness, I don't there there is much in the way of freshwater bass in the corridor between the Pax and the bay. However, right across the Pax from you is the Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary, which has a few small ponds, and Cedarville State Forest has a small pond that has just enough bass in it to keep me coming back. There are some other spots scattered around the area, but sadly nothing huge or super exciting. But, you do live right in the middle of some great brackish/saltwater fishing. Right now the white perch season is in full swing and come late Sept/early Oct, the stripped bass will come up into the tidal rivers and even a kayak will get you plenty of action.

Thanks for the input guys, I was leaning towards the Twistech, it looks like that might be a good choice. I'll post some pics once I get a few built.

Hi, I am looking to start making small inline spinners for perch fishing over the winter. My plan is to make them using tungsten worm weights as a body to allow me to have a very compact lure that has enough weight to cast far under docks and to stay down when reeled quickly. I want to make them small with #8 Mustad single hooks and a simple hair skirt. My hope is to make a lure the rough size of say a Mepps 1/16oz spinner but closer to 1/8-3/16oz in total weight. I am looking for some guidance on what wire form tool to buy for this project. I am only going to make a dozen or so to test, so I don't need the best on the market, but I would like something well made and non-frustrating to use. Thanks

Who currently makes a good one of these? I held an old junker in those exact specs at an antique store and man did it feel right somehow.

If you hunt around used lower-end StCroix rods can be found for $50-70 pretty often. They go fast so you have to be quick on the mouse. I own a Okuma Citrix travel rod that I like and they sell a normal version for about $100 that I have heard good things about. I have also been eyeing some of the Lew's spinning rods as I am a big believe in Microwave guides and they are one of the few places that offers stock rods with them.

I used to be a stagehand and could, when I was 19-25ish, pick up and carry a 4x8 ~120lb stage deck by myself. It wasn't fun but I could carry them all day and not be too dead the next morning. I tried to do the same thing last year at age 37. It went about as well as expected. I only hurt my pride, but it hurt for a week.

To add to the "pay it off monthly" advice, look for a card with a cash back offer. It is never much but it does add up, I get a few hundred a year just making all my daily purchases on the card. I also forget about it for months at a time and it is allays a pleasant surprise to discover money in there. I have about $200 in right now building up for a finesse casting setup.

Anyone know a source for bathymetric maps of the various freshwater MD lakes and ponds? I have found them for the larger reseviors but nothing else. I am fine with buying them if they are available but without a FF/Sonar I don't think I could read a map chip on my PC. I am itching to hit some more places with my kayak but I could use a leg up.

I am in MD, and while it doesn't get super hot here, I have noticed the same issue as I keep a "go bag" in my car at all times. I found that just a decent cooler does a good job in heat up to the low 90's. I borrowed the thermometer from our fridge and tested the cooler on a hot day. After 5-6 hours parked in the sun the inside of the cooler was around 80-85 degrees while the interior of the car was off the chart. I also use an old packing blanket to keep the cooler and the rest of my gear hidden from view, so I am sure that helps with the temp as well.

Mods please close this thread, I have enough plastics already and do not need more ideas! I will contribute a favorite of mine, Eiron Breaker Lure Company. The guy sells jigs and jigheads, the latter of which are a staple of my tackle collection.

Thanks for the reply. I am not really upset, just curious and the only reason I noticed was that I gave them the "full stretch" I was used to doing with TRDs and Hula Sticks instead of the more gentle "tug" I do for the Zlinkers. There is every chance in the two or three years I had these packs open they absorbed some moisture, I kayak and wade fish a lot and wetness gets everywhere some days. The whole "salt absorbs moisture" thing escaped me, maybe I need to throw a desiccant pack into the bags I keep in my car. Honestly, I prefer the spongy texture as I think it gives a better action and in any case, other then three I ripped up, the rest of those baits caught me hundreds of fish, so I am completely satisfied. If you ever come across a batch of extra salty TRDs, save them for me!

I rarely fish treble hooked lures and when I do I pinch the barbs, having had all manner of screws, nails, and staples stuck in me at work, I am pretty ok with loosing fish if it mean avoiding another infected puncture wound.

Yep, that is the guy. I never see him doing anything but pitching that worm to those same two chunks of pads. I also almost always notice him catching, while I am ripping flukes out of the weeds and cussing. I hope I get smarter when I get older.