Junk Fisherman

If this is your first finesse setup then I would get a ML rod rather than Light. The medium light is more versatile and you'll be throwing a lot of tubes and dropshot which will be better on the medium light rod. Now I do use a light rod for my Ned rig (1/16th oz jigs and TRDs) but I only use it for my lightest Neds and hair jigs. It's better to throw a Ned with a ML than a tube or DS on a light action rod. I use 8 lb fluorocarbon rather than 6 lb. Good luck.

8 and 10 lb fluorocarbon line diameter was a rabbit hole I did not think I would go down tonight. I averaged 10 popular fluorocarbon lines in 8 and 10 lb sizes based on the diameter listed on Tackle Warehouse (Yeah, I am bored). The 8 lb had an average of 0.00996 and the 10 lb had an average of 0.01075. For what it's worth....

P-Line Tactical and Original 8 lb 0.010 Gamma Touch 8 lb 0.0095 Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon 8 lb 0.011

14 lb YGK G-Soul and 6 lb Gamma Edge. The Gamma's thickness is comparable to other lines' 8 lb diameter. It's abrasion resistance is great and I've tried a bunch of them.

What reel are you putting on a ML baitcasting rod and what lb line are you using? What techniques are you using it for? Unless you just don't physically like use a spinning combo, what does a finesse baitcasting combo do better than a comparable spinning combo? I am I trying to see if a ML baitcaster combo would be more effective than what I already have.

44 degrees yesterday with light winds so I tried for lake trout again. 38 to 44 degree water temps. Nothing. I would usually catch a brown or laker during late season smallmouth fishing but when I am trying to catch them I am 0/2. At least it was enjoyable running the boat and getting out of the house for the day.

I can't answer your specific questions but I have a 703 and for the applications you mentioned, that is the exact rod I would buy assuming the 3/8oz jig is your max. A lot of people will recommend going to a 744 but I prefer a slightly softer, lighter rod than most.

I have never caught a bass on a jigging spoon or whopper plopper but I have never used one either. Don't even own any. I have definitely considered the jigging spoon on some of the shad lakes I fish but I haven't tried that yet. I haven't caught any smallmouth on a Dark Sleeper, and I have tried, but I have caught plenty of largemouth on them.

Feider on Mille Lacs

Yeap- I have a $5000 replacement coverage on my equipment. Doubt I could replace everything for that amount though. Think I am going to email my agent based on Luke's recommendations. One thing I am going to inquire about is taking an online boater's safety course and see if it would apply for the discount. I took a class 20 years ago but lost the documentation when I last moved. It's a $30 or $40 dollar yearly discount.

Huge changes for me primarily since I have become more of a smallmouth fisherman than a largemouth fisherman over the last 6-8 years. Because I fish for smallmouth so much, I have taken those finesse techniques and deep water structure fishing to my largemouth fishing. I used to be primarily a pitch and flip, bank beater, dock fisherman. I don't fish that way nearly as often anymore and focus much more on deeper water. Confidence in a variety of techniques and knowledge of the waters I fish have greatly helped as well. Learning how to position my boat and fish in the wind with the help of a spot-lock troller and a Talon have been game-changers as well. Back in the 90s when I would fish with my dad, if the wind was much over 10 mi/hr we were looking for protected bays. He even said a couple trips ago how much different I fish now compared to when I first got a boat. And all of this has resulted in me putting a lot more fish in the boat compared to when I first started out.

This is so true. Using braid and a high quality rod, you get the feel of the bait and develop the ability to work it through cover. You know when you have the smallest weed on. A lot of time you can shake off weeds.

I use a 3/0 or 2/0 with my small swimbaits and tubes so I am not opposed to bigger hooks in principle. Experiment and use what works for you. After using the original Zman jigs, I started making my Ned jigs with a 1/0 hook thinking that the bigger hook would be better for hooksets. I did catch fish on them but when I went back down in size to a #1 and then a #2, my success rate went up. This matches with what Ned Kehde and some of the other Ned rig experts say about the presentation.

If I was getting just one pair I would get copper-colored lens. I do own a pair of Costas 580g in green mirror for fishing the very clear water I experience in the Great Lakes. My everyday driving glasses are Suncloud copper lens polarized glasses. I wear these often for fishing and they are excellent. For around $50 they are a great value. The Costas are definitely better but not 3X better. While I do think Costas are overpriced, I did just ask for a pair of yellow-mirrored low-light Costas from my wife for Christmas. (she always wants gift ideas)

Why do you want a big hook? What weight jig are you looking for? My preferred setup is a 1/16th oz jig with a #2 hook. I started making some jigs with #4 hooks but haven't fished them enough to have a real strong opinion yet. The advantage to the smaller hook is a more subtle presentation, slower fall rate, and more snag-resistant. Ned Kehde has often talked about the benefit of using smaller hooks. Many people would be surprised how big of a fish you can catch on small hooks.

I caught a few smallies on jerkbaits last spring but everything else was on some sort of plastics.

Lake Michigan in NW Indiana is one of my main local fishing spots launching out of either East Chicago or Portage. That is where I was referencing when I said we are all fishing the same water and usually fishing in a similar fashion. Guys don't get close enough to see what dropshot bait or swimbait someone is throwing. And the Lake Michigan smallie guys definitely do not freely share information. Tippicanoe? My uncle has a cottage on that river. It was the first place I ever caught a bass back in 1980-something.

I've never had a problem with people copying what I was doing. lol- maybe that says something about me as a fishermen. Usually, they are too far away to see what I am actually throwing or it is a communal fishing area and most people fish their preferences. But if I am on something and someone comes by, I will pick up the chatterbait till they leave. Around Chicago there are a lot of bass fishermen and we are all fishing the same few bodies of water. Most guys don't share how they catch fish. I have experienced the bent pole patterning often which can be extremely annoying. Worst example was when I was fishing in a huge Great Lakes bay way out in middle on this dropoff. This guy idles up so close. At first I thought he was a game warden or was going to talk to me about something but then he turns off his motor and drops his trolling motor. We were a mile from shore and I could have cast in his boat. That was ridiculous and I soon left the area. Great Lakes are the areas I see more of the bent pole patterning than anywhere else. Often, fishermen are going to these places for the first time and don't really know where to go so they follow other fishermen. If they see them catch a fish then they creep in. It was worse 5-6 years ago. I imagine that is a major problem on a place like St. Clair.

While I am frugal in some areas, I never skimp on line. You never know when that trophy is going to hit. If you have doubts, don't use it. I wouldn't.

Most veteran fishermen have specialties that they can share vast amounts of knowledge on. And the majority of us have areas in our fishing that we are not as knowledgeable on. So a forum like this is a great place for people to match up their strengths and weaknesses. I can help someone with light line finesse fishing and hopefully get the advice I need on topics I am less informed on. And you don't have to be a professional to give great advice.

I use my 3000 Tatula but that is the size of most other manufacturer's 2500 size.

I own the 7' LTB Sweeper Spinnerbait rod and love it for spinnerbaits and bladed jigs. It has a moderate-fast action. I also use it for buzzbaits, Zara Spooks, and Sammys. It's a versatile rod for me and my main power fishing stick. That 7'1 MH-F would be better suited for plastics or jigs IMO. Good luck.

I have learned to give my mom links because the alternative results with me going to the store and returning items. So I told her a 3 month GC for Bass University. I also sent her a link to that Daichi FG Knot tying tool. For my wife I sent her the link for a pair of Costas with the sunrise silver lens for dusk/dawn and lowlight conditions. The only big ticket item I need to get this winter is a Daiwa Tatula 3000 but I'll wait till the Tatula shirt offer comes out.

65 lb braid and 15-17 lb FC leader with the FG Knot for a smaller profile is what I use for 1/2 to 3/4. This is my standard football head jig setup. I am considering going to 50 lb braid though.

And that's why I am buying a place up north but will be taking a long trip down to Tennessee every November and March. Getting on track with the thread, I was sharing the water with KVD a couple years ago on my favorite water up north. He had a video boat with him the 2nd day. Yes, it was smallmouth country.