zelmo

Great information. Thanks guys.

It is a bit worrisome that there are so many negative reviews on the MGX. Are there really so many issues with them or is it just unjustified bashing?

Before I bought the rod I had also read about the weight and balance aspects of Dobyns, but I wasn’t able to get the actual weight of the rod. I already had a DX701C and liked it so I decided to give it a try. As I said earlier I haven’t given up on it yet but I may switch it to a different application. I should know what I want to do after a few more times on the water.

Thanks for the responses. Do you think 1 ounce is a big difference on a 7’+ rod or am I over reacting?

One of my best producing baits is a Kut Tail worm on a Spider head. Since this is very similar to a shaky head presentation I got a Dobyns DX842C-SH and put a Steez CT on it. I have only had it on the water a few times but something just didn’t seem right. I put the rod on a scale and found that it weighs better than an ounce more than my NRX+ or Zbone rods. I am not giving up on it yet but I have some concerns about using it for hours on end. How much do you let a rod’s weight influence how much you use it?

You are correct - I use LH reels even though I am RH. Also correct about the stock at TW. I don’t intend to throw anything more than 1/2 oz total weight and more like 3/8 max. I like small reels. I was going to get another Steez CT when I saw the Revos. I realize that they aren’t in the same class but I could find an application for them.

Too funny! That reel is why I haven’t bought another.

I haven't bought an Abu reel for about 15 years and haven't kept up on their offerings. Can someone explain the differences between the Revo AL-F and the Revo MGX Gen 2?

There have been several comments about colors and blades making a difference. For those dedicated SB guys how long do you stay with one that isn't producing before making a change? When you do change is it a small tweak or a bigger change, like Colorado blades to willow?

Good point to think about IPT in addition to gear ratio. Thanks for all the replies. Fishing the Susquehanna does mean snags. Anything to cut down on them is a good idea.

When using a baitcaster for 3.5" and 4" swimbaits do you prefer a high gear ratio or a lower one?

Our strategy has another potential problem. One lot that I use is like a big rectangle. You enter in the middle of one of the long sides and parking is at either end. It too fills up. I got there once and was the first boat out. I chose a spot to park where I thought I had little chance of damage. Upon my return it was no surprise that the lot was full. The problem was that some JA decided he was just going to park his rig in the center of the lot. He blocked in about 6 other rigs. Luckily I was able to squeeze by and get out. One space over and I would have been stuck. I am glad I didn't have to risk seeing my temper kick in.

Exactly! My situation is compounded by the ramp I often use. It can be a zoo and the parking lot is horrible. Being the first boat out lets me beach the boat while I park (I fish alone) and get a good parking spot.

A-Jay, I just found your thread on night fishing on the General board. There is a lot in there that can apply to the questions I have been asking. I wish I had found it before starting this topic. In the first post of that thread you said "There seems to be 90 minutes or so after actual sunset where the bite is pretty slow." Is there anything like that before first light?

Thanks for the responses. I now have plenty of things to try. Something nobody mentioned is how active they are at first light. Are they actively looking for food or do you need to bounce it off their nose? As for colors I usually have a dark and a light color tube and swimbait tied on and ready to go. Which should work better in dark conditions vs the times when it is pretty bright for nighttime? When it is pitch dark do you need to use a bait that produces sound/vibration? I was going to make a comment about floating grass affecting topwater come July, but I was out today and it has already started. I need to find something that works in it better than Sammys and Whopper Ploppers. I have never caught a fish on a buzzbait so I don’t think about using them. I need to work on that.

I am a morning guy which is part of my fishing strategy. I like to be on the water before first light. If conditions dictate I will just idle to a safe spot and fish until there’s enough light to get on plane. At some of those “safe” spots I drop the anchor to avoid damaging the TM on the rocks. Those rocks inevitably produce snags so I often throw something inexpensive like a tube or swimbait. If there isn’t grass floating in the current I will try topwater. These tactics don’t produce many bites which has me wondering if that is because the smallmouth aren’t active that early or they aren’t seeing my offerings. I really don’t want to be losing more expensive spinnerbaits or chatterbaits before I can safely retrieve hang ups. Any suggestions on the best baits to use? How does cloud cover and moon brightness come into play?

As I said earlier the Susquehanna gives up many C class fish, and because of that it attracts many fishermen from all over. I have often wondered how big they could get in that river if there wasn't so much fishing pressure. It hasn't produced the state record but I suspect it could without the hordes.

I am fortunate to have 4 ramps on the Susquehanna within 15 minutes of my home, and several more that only take a half hour or so to reach. This river gives up many citation smallmouth (20+) and I catch several each year. My biggest was 22 1/2”. It weighed 6lbs 13ozs. Weight on these fish can vary a lot depending on the time of year. I caught one last week that just missed 21”. I didn’t bother putting it on the scale because it had spawned out and I figured that it wasn’t much more than 4lbs. (I wasn’t bed fishing, it was behind a rock.) Fighting a 5lb smallie in current gets the heart going.

They used to close the main stem of the Susquehanna to bass fishing from 4/15 to 6/15 to protect the spawn. The water temp has been over 70 for a couple of weeks even though we are still in May. That is why I was wondering if they may be done already.

I realize that. My question was how do you know when they are done for the year?

I realize the timing will be different depending on where you are but what is the best way to figure out when the spawn is over? There is a spot that I like but the guides have been hammering the bedding fish there and I didn't want to participate so I have stayed away. I figure once the easy pickins are over the guides will move on.

Do you alter the amount of weight as flow increases or falls?

Since my last post on this topic I have been able to order about 75 bags of Yamamoto Kut Tail worms. Some were at prices not too far off from what I paid before while some were at a price that I wasn’t happy with. If they become readily available again I will have wasted some money, but if they don’t I now have a good supply. FYI - if you are willing to pay up the Yamamoto site has them.

Thanks. I hardly ever add enough weight to keep baits in place for the same reason as you. I can think of several ways to rig them, from ned weights to football jigs to slider heads. I was thinking that a 1/16 slider head might work best but that will move along pretty good in current. Another rig that I might try is a worm hook and small bullet weight.

There are several companies making hellgrammites now. For those that use them when fishing for smallies in rivers and streams how are you rigging them? Do you use enough weight so they stay in place or are you having them move with the current?