Loochy88

I buy a log of Berkley Havoc plastics and Abu rods and reels. In fact the local walmart just clearanced out their Vengeance MH baitcast rods @ 20 bucks and i bought out their entire inventory! (haha!)

I believe these rubber bands are actually cut surgical tubing. I haven't had any issues with it breaking yet but time will tell.

I own a Fiblink 4 piece casting rod I purchased of Amazon (med heavy). For 40 bucks or so I absolutely love it. I'm considering trying the spinning rod as well. There used to be a 7' med Piscifun spinning rod on Amazon that was a really wonderful 4 piece for 30 bucks. Both were very nice rods. Despite their low price I wouldn't hesitate to recommend either.

The spawn is on at Lake of the Ozarks! Caught this one sitting right outside our condo...

I've been throwing a maribou skirted custom chatterbait lately that the fish have been going bananas over. Don't know if anyone else is making these, but it's been amazing.

I thought about pouring my own, but at the prices I'm buying jigs I can't even justify it. I now have a plano box full of numerous head styles for much cheaper than if I were to buy the materials to pour them myself. I dont know if I can post the seller's ID's on here due to BR rules, but I'll shoot you a PM with the best sellers I've found on ebay. The shakey blades are what they are. The stainless seems plenty durable, and they do the trick. they're not exact copies of the Zman blades, but extremely similar. If you buy the coffin style available on Ebay, my reccomendation is to buy the L or XL. (probably the XL) They get to vibrating just as quickly/easily as any other chatterbait I've thrown. They have about the same feel to me as the Zman OCB. Fish seem to love them plenty. If you're planning on making your own chatterbaits on non-flat eye hook jigs, plan on braking a few hooks. I use a vice grips to open and close the eye. Its a pretty delicate process on some jigs . Specifically the mustad hooks on my poison tail jigs are extremely brittle and prone to snapping.

I've never been much of a jig fisherman because I tend to gravitate towards budget baits. I've got a tacklebox stocked with plastics, chinese crankbaits, and walmart spinnerbaits. These baits work for me, but Ive wanted to get into jig fishing. I've scoured ebay for the least expensive unpainted arkies and poison tails I could find. I've paired them with chinese ebay shakee blades and jig skirts, walmart acrylics, and automotive clearcoat. I've got the cost per jig down to around 1.30 per jig all in. I'd say the results look pretty good, and more importantly they've been catching a ton of fish this spring. (And I dont feel as bad about it when I lose one) Thinking about using living rubber. Anyone have any suggestions on deciding between the "fine" and "medium" material?

Wacky senko, black and blue rage blade, green pumpkin or black trick worm, and a swimming super fluke jr...

I hear you on overthrowing the bait. One of my favorite tactics at LOTO used to be chucking crankbaits as far as i could. I don't do that much anymore since my spine doesn't agree with it. Hope you're feeling better soon. Seems way too good to be true, but what the heck. It can't really hurt right? Maybe I'll give it a shot... ... upon further research, the legality of this stuff seems a little sketchy (at best). What is this stuff...?

Great to hear you've been able to stay on the water after everything you've been through. Based on your pic, you're not avoiding all heavy lifting! Haha! Nice fish!

I hear ya. That's pretty much what it comes down to.

Appreciate the reply Tom. I should add that I've been seeing a wonderful pain management doctor for the last 7 months. I've had a series of cortisone injections (si joint and L5 nerve root). Unfortunately neither has yet brought me any substantial relief. I'll continue to explore options with the PM doc before I go for surgery. My sister is a licensed PT. I've seen her both officially (in office, through insurance, full visit), and on the side since my flare up in June. I have been doing all recommended exercises regularly and I just haven't been able to get better. I'm in the STL area, and I have appointments next week with 2 highly rated neurosurgeons. I'm not jumping into surgery, but I do want to educate myself on my options. A microdiscectomy seems like a relatively low risk procedure with a generally positive outcome. A fusion scares me to death. Hopefully they'll recommend the MicroD, if anything at all. I'd have spent the money too. Quitting fishing is not an option in my book!

I'm glad to hear that your Dad found relief with the inversion table. I do actually own one, but I haven't tried long sessions like you describe. I typically only used the table for several minutes at a time. I may try longer sessions to see if that gives more relief. Makes sense that an extended period of decompression would help my issue.

So they say that 30% of the population is affected. How do you guys deal with it while fishing? I'm 34 and trying to deal with an awful episode of back pain and sciatica. Herniated disc. The whole lot. Aside from family and work, fishing is my escape. I've been obsessed and infatuated with fishing since I was 5 years old. I find it difficult to stand for more than 30 minutes and get enjoyment out of it right now, but I love the experience so much, I usually just push through the pain for a couple of hours until I just cant stand anymore. If I'm bank fishing, I'll usually just pack up and head home at that 2 hour point. I've found that a TENS machine usually helps, but only for so long. Kayak fishing has been out of the question lately. I can't drag the boat to the water from my truck. If I have the energy to put the jon boat in the water, I can take some breaks, sit and relax before another 30 min of standing, but that even that process can only be repeated so many times before I surrender for the day. Its tough. I miss those 8 hour days on the water, but I'm still greatful for the time I'm able to spend out there. It sort of makes you appreciate it even more, so I guess that's the silver lining. I'm contemplating surgery at this point, and I hope through that, the meds I'm starting, or some other treatment, I can eventually get back to normal and pain free, but in the mean time, if anyone has any tips that you've found helpful to keep on the water, I'd love to hear them. Thanks in advance for any replies and tight lines everyone!

Thanks everyone! Keith, I watched Glenn Mays video last night on the spook and he mentioned the same thing. I'll be using a split ring.

Just bought my first name brand Zara spook. Pulled it outta the package and the attachment point/line loop looks all crooked. Is it supposed to be like this for the walk the dog action, or is this just a quality issue with this particular example?

FWIW, here are the FAAs guidelines in general drone operations. https://www.faa.gov/uas/model_aircraft/ Obviously further regulation will apply over private property, park land, etc... Note that regulation states that the operator should maintain visual contact with the drone, so you should be able to track down the individual buzzing your airspace. If you can't well then that's rule one that they're breaking. Also, they should not be flying "near" anyone. Open to interpretation what near means, but when I fly I basically head in the opposite direction of anyone I see out and about. I tend to fly most often on private property anyhow so it's not usually an issue I run into. I think it all comes down to mutual respect more than anything else. I still think most drone operators tend to follow the rules and give others their space... but like all hobbies we have our bad apples.

I'm sure someone finds your shotgun loud and offensive too. Not me - I love to shoot... but I'm just saying. I guess my point is that if someone's bothering you with noise or crowding your space, there's a better way to deal than slinging your jig at it or blasting it with you shotgun. Can't we all just get along?

I know a few guys who fly drones and even have one myself. I don't follow anyone around with mine, and most guys I know don't either. Most hobbyists are mainly out exploring and enjoying their hobby. A boat with a fisherman is probably nothing more than an interesting point to focus on momentarily. If they're respecting your space, I don't see the big deal. Id say if they're not crowding you to the point of being a danger, no real need to try to cast it out of the sky.

I use the notes in the Deeper app. I mainly keep track to recall which tactics worked....

I used to laugh off the fear of snakes. My mom got bit by a (baby) copperhead a couple years ago. Shes ok but it did a number on her. Nothing wrong at all with a healthy fear of snakes, but a good pair of boots and a little bit of awareness will go a long way.

Happy Easter everyone. And check out what the Easter bunny (my wife) brought!

I caught this at Simpson Lake in Valley Park. Technically I didn't catch it in the lake, but in the creek that feeds back into the Meramec river, just past the dam.

First fish of the year worth mentioning. Pulled from the meramec river this evening on a black/blue rage blade.

The streak continues today. Just sayin...