MassYak85

Lol I was in Dicks Sporting Goods this morning and felt obligated to grab one. I grabbed one in a craw color. I justified it by telling myself I don't have any lipless that big haha. Not sure how much I'll use it, I'm not a huge lipless guy (yet).

Thanks for the recommendations everyone! The ones A-Jay recommended are on their way! I might do a review when I get them if I feel like sacrificing a couple hooks.

I think I'll give those a go then, thanks again!

I was looking at those actually, thanks! Do you think they'd cut an St-66? They seem pretty heavy duty.

That's what I mean, I'm not going to use that technqiue with a fish attached to me, I'm going to grab cutters and cut the hook, split ring, or the eye of the lure if necessary but I want something I can reach for and know that no matter what hook it is it will cut it with minimal effort. I will be carrying a section of braid for instances where I just accidentally hook myself.

Thanks for the suggestion. If it means 30 bucks for something I won't have to replace then by all means, I'd rather pay 30 up front than 10 or 15 only to have to upgrade later on anyways.

I've seen the technqiue but these are for worst case scenario, like an st-66 is buried in my hand while the lure is still in the mouth of a thrashing 3 foot pike worst case scenario. I have looked at the Knipex and will keep them in mind, definitely a little pricey but if it's truly worth it I'll give it some thought.

So I fish out of a kayak quite a bit and got to thinking recently I should really have something to cut hooks in the event I get one in my hand 2 miles from the launch and have to paddle back. I do have a small pair of cutters right now but they are pretty rusted out and I don't think they would cut all of my hooks. What do you guys use? Since these are for a worst case scenario...I am looking for something that would be able to cut an Owner St-66 or 12/0 Owner Beast Hook as well as anything smaller. The only ones I have looked at so far are the Cuda 10.5" cutters, which seem reasonably priced as well.

Offshore fishing is definitely my biggest weakness, and the one I plan on focussing on the most this year. I am uncomfortable fishing beyond 12 or 15ft of depth, but I realize how important deeper structure is. I am going to try and force myself to anchor more and fish slower. This should help me commit to an area of prime structure. One thing that helps me mentally is just everyday looking at above ground things like trees or houses, and realizing 20 or 30 or even 40 or 50 feet isn't actually that much distance. I think at the time of that thread I would have said I need to improve my jig fishing, which I definitely have, I now have complete confidence in jigs.

It's just a slow rationalization process lol. "Man $20 is a lot for a lure"...."I don't mind spending 30 bucks on an S-Waver but I could never buy a triple trout"...."So how many slammers is too many?"....."Hey guys! Finally got my Hinkle Shad order and my dedicated dobyns 908 rod to throw them on! Pumped!". Right now I'm right in the middle haha.

I think I might try and get out in my kayak tommorow for the first time this year, slight chance of rain so we'll see. If I do go I'm gonna give the blade baits and hair jigs a shot.

Are those 7.8 Keitechs? I'm kind of glad I haven't caught the glidebait bug yet, that's an expensive niche part of swimbait fishing, which is expensive enough as it is. I have enough trouble not worrying about losing a mattlures or slammer, nevermind something like a deps, hinkle, hiro etc.

I fish War Eagle, some Nichols, and have added a couple Stanley spinnerbaits this year. I might have a couple break a year but I have been quite pleased with those brands.

Just an FYI, do not use the Okuma GS Swimbait lineup for frogs, they are more of a moderate action and I imagine you're hookup on hollow body frogs would be abysmal. The handles are also kind of long to be working any kind of topwater with a twitching motion.

The only time I use a swivel to attach a leader is when the leader is wire, or when I am Carolina rigging, but in that instance the swivel's main purpose is not to join the lines.

Ditto on the Tatula from ALF ^

The offseason is spent buying things I think I need. Then during the season I realize what I actually need... I actually haven't bought that much tackle wise so far. I did get a couple new rods and a reel but that was just to upgrade some other setups, no net gain of equipment really. I have been buying some clothing and other kayak related stuff in anticipation of the summer though.

That was painful to watch, they've pulled off that play before but to see it fail in the SuperBowl... I do hope if he gets a 6th though he calls it quits right there and then. I love watching him but I'd rather not see him go the route of Peyton Manning where the only valuable thing he's got left is his brain (even though Peyton did get his 2nd ring).

Smashtech Shiners

I used to fish T-rigged and wacky rigged senkos on a 5' Ultralight Ugly Stick spinning rod and had a blast before I knew any better. You're rod should be adequate for most things.

So I realized I am lacking in weedless swimbaits so I picked these two up.

Another vote for Bassresource, and Informative Fisherman. Also KeepinItReelFishing, that guy is a must watch for Northeast anglers. Tackle Advisors also has some amazing reel reviews and teardowns and gets into the nitty gritty of reel maintenance.

What kind of deal did they have on those? I've eyed them for a while but the price has kept me turned off.

Wow and I thought I was anal about line. I check after every catch, but don't always retire. If I really hammer home a hookset into a good fish, or it's a pickerel, then yes I will retie even if the line appears good. But just catching average bass I feel the first 6 inches of line with my fingers after unhooking them and then get right back to it.

Good to hear! ACK canceled my order because they ran out of the color I wanted, so I ran back to REI tonight to get the one I had tried on (ACK was cheaper which is why I ordered from them first).