Fishin' Fool

Metro Detroit area about 30 minutes from St Clair and about an hour to Lk Erie.

Spring is the best time. They are shallow but the weather is hit or miss. 5-6 foot of water you don't have to go far from shore.

5.5 pound smallie on a lipless in the spring on St Clair. It's almost impossible not to catch them.

My friends and I that fish St Clair call those "black pandas"

Do you guys keep the tail as one piece or separate it?

I know I'm probably about 2 years late to the party on these lures but how do you guys decide which one to throw? Is there certain situations where the Rage Bug is more cut out for than the Rodent or vice versa. They both look pretty killer.

I had a thought today while day dreaming about fishing. Does anyone swim these as a grub or do most people just flip/pitch this bait? I'm curious as to how it would swim as a grub with that tail. Or even work on the back of an underspin.

So you're saying I'm gonna need some practice. I'm thinking I'm behind the eight ball before I get going. Because I envisioned I was gonna flip with my right hand, switch the rod to my left and reel with my right hand.

If you're flipping more scattered stuff can you use a MH rod or do you still use a H?

Let me preface this with I live in the north so I've mainly learned on spinning rods my whole life. The last few years I've added to my casting gear. I'm ready to increase how much I flip. My question is up here in the clear water am I better off flipping with braid or fluorocarbon. I understand if it's thick nasty stuff it braid. But what if it's more scattered weeds? Thanks for your input.

There is no set answer to this question. It seems that most drop shot rods are 6'10". Personally I like a longer rod. 7'3" is my choice. I like Medium power and XF action.

So I've been doing a lot of research on this technique the last 24 hours. I see the majority prefer a straight shank hook with a snell knot. I was a little intimidated by the snell knot so I found one that was developed by Ish Monroe that has a second eyelet a little lower than the original. With this hook you are supposed to be able to tie any knot other than a palomar. I'm looking forward to trying this technique this summer in Michigan. I have a good 6-7 months before we will have that many weeds lol.

I try to add one technique to my fishing skill set per year. This year I would like to add punching. I know it's a heavy rod, 50 to 80 pound braid, I'd imagine high speed reel, tungsten weights, crawdad imitation baits. If you'd help me out shortening my learning curve what else do I need to know? I don't envision that I will buy a new rod at this point just use my frog rod.

Probably not. Personally I choose to fish G Loomis rods because I like the in between rod sizes they offer like the 7'3". Theven extra length comes in handy when smallies make last minute runs at the boat.

You want either the fathom or the brine. I have a smallish head and both of those work well for me.

Is this you?

Like the question says how much unopened tackle new in the package do you own? I think I have at least a $1000 worth. I probably should do a more precise inventory this winter, mostly soft plastics senkos, and other Yamamotos, some Strike King crank baits and the Lucky Craft collectables that I am afraid to turn into muskie chow. Oh yah and I have 6 MTB pro boxes with all the tackle inside. Those alone are almost $300.

Thanks guys. It looks like I have a few new ideals to try.

You want either the CI4 or the FK. I like the 2500 size reels. Tight lines.

Back in the day we had one rod and it used to do everything.

I good a very good tournament day before on a windy day throwing a one knocker lipless crankbait and caught fish after fish. My partner was throwing a regular lipless crankbait and couldn't get bit.

I'd say confidence in a bait. Because if I don't have confidence in a lure I might as well not have it tied on.

Check out the Buckeye Lures J-wil light wire swim bait head.

The Ballistic appears to be the Daiwa comparable reel in price. I have nothing more to offer than that. I personally have 4 Stradic reels.

When you're fishing in a tournament or just for fun, besides a Senko (or similar) what is your go to worm to get bit? I'm trying to find a few more options but a 7" Berkley Powerworm has been good to me in the past.