CybrSlydr

Then what, some mono then?

Something like this perhaps? https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/offshore-angler-power-plus-trophy-class-jigging-spinning-rod

It finally happened - bro and I bought a Deeper Pro+. Problem is, we weren't really equipped to fully utilize it and were pretty... scared... with it today. lol Last thing I wanted was to Center Field to Home Plate that thing and have the 6lb P-line we had snap and lose a $200 piece of equipment (I did think to buy 100ft of 550 cord but pulling the guts out of 100ft of paracord is a right pain in the ass, so I gave up on it). The Deeper Pro+ weighs 3.5oz. We want as cheap a spinning rod as possible that can bomb this baby around. We're looking at getting some 50lb braid to tie on so we don't lose it on that either (unless you guys have a different suggestion). We're also going to use my spare Okuma reel, so all we need is the rod. I was thinking Ugly Stik but they're a bit expensive in that lure-range. Anything you can offer as guidance is appreciated!

Well, today was a good day. Went fishing at Burr Oak for a little bit and caught my new Personal Best Bass. Granted, those of you that have seen my previous bass, you'll realize it doesn't take much to break it. lol Drug a whopper plopper 90 in Pac-Man along the right side of some lily pads and on the 5th retrieve or so this guy came storming out from under and smoked it.

Still catching dinks here - dunno what I'd do if I actually caught a fish over 1lb. lol

Caught this little guy on a Pac Man plopper 90 yesterday at Tycoon Lake.

Thanks folks. Going to be hitting up a trout release tomorrow at Monroe Lake Wildlife Area. Coworker's birthday happens to be the same day so we're hitting it up.

That requires registration, insurance and a class for a license.

My brother DOES have one of those, the inflatable kind with oars. He's paddled around before but never had any luck on it.

Oh hell no. We tried a canoe tandem and that has to be the most unstable thing I've ever experienced on the water. We rowed back to shore and I got out. Last thing I wanted was getting dumped in 30ft of water, even with a life jacket. I had my nice camera with me then as well.

The other problem with kayaks is size - my brother and I are both big guys, so we'd need 13ft kayaks or larger. I'm about 275 and he's 250+. So those 10ft Sun Dolphins that WalMart has on sale for $200 won't really work for us.

It's just a little stocked one I caught over at Wolf Run - but I finally caught one. Using chartreuse PowerBait on a little treble along with a long leader, about 3 split shot and a slip bobber. This was back on... 24th of March. Was windy and chilly that day.

We would love to have a kayak - it's a matter of funds, honestly. Kayaks are expensive. Then there's the paddle. And the life jacket, then all the kit for the kayak and the thing to tow the kayaks with... Kayaks are on our list for the future - it's just going to be a long time before we get them. Which is why it drives me nuts that people post on here fishing from the shore catching these huge fish (to us, 3-4lb is huuuuuge) and we get little squeaky at best. lol

Nowhere really special or out of the way - hit up Stroud's Run State Park which houses Dow Lake. We got there around 2:00pm or a little after. Sun was out and a few clouds were available. As you can see, the water was extremely stained from all the rain we've had recently. You can also see my brother in the yellow hoodie - it was breezy but not unbearably cold. I was in shorts and a t-shirt though I brought a jacket just in case. We stayed for a little over an hour (Penguins were playing the Flyers at 3:30 and we wanted to see part of the game - lake is about an hour from home) and I managed to land a "Sampson Bass". I didn't even know it was on until I started reeling in and I saw the line moving horizontally. As you can see, it's a tiny little bass. Hence it's a "Sampson Bass". That's about the only size we ever catch, if we catch anything. My brother didn't get a nibble. Caught it using a 1/10oz Ned Rig jig head and a 3" TRD in green/black as you can see. Also, as PROOF to you strangers in the south as to why I revile it there, it was 65 degrees and gorgeous out, we were out for barely over an hour and this happened. The tops of my forearms are ALREADY GETTING SUNBURNED. I freaking haaaaaaaaaaaate the sun. But, just before we left, I had to snap a pic of the Jeep.

Thanks folks - good to be back. Might be taking it out today with my brother back to AEP to do some stuff together!

I was with 4/10th 5/25FA in 10/13. Unfortunately, I wasn't an angler when I was there, so I didn't find out about places like Toledo Bend and the like u til after I'd MedBoarded.

Oh snap, you have my condolences. I was at Polk and... yeah. It has a reputation for a reason. lol You with 509th?

Mostly because we couldn't go fishing in the winter. Got really cold in SE Ohio this year - Muskingum river actually froze over for a while. Hasn't happened in a long time. Not much actual snow to speak of though. But today, I was supposed to go fishing with my brother up at AEP - why AEP you ask? You've read my numerous reports in the Fishing Reports section about our total lack of ability to catch fish there (or lack of ability to catch them anywhere, actually...). This is why. I'm the new owner of a 2006 Wrangler Rubicon! Now we can really wheel around at AEP and reach some ponds that were until now, unreachable for us! Brother had to end up going by himself though - my boss ended up having a funeral today and I had to cover the shift, which meant he went fishing in my Jeep and I took the Beamer to work. Suffice to say he was out there for a few hours and didn't catch anything - temp was hovering around freezing and it was windy out, but sky was clear and the sun was out. When he brought it home, there was some caked on mud that he kindly took down to the car wash and power sprayed off for me. lol Even vacuumed the interior! Looking to get out sometime soon and see if our luck is any better. Currently planning on hitting up Wolf Run on the 23rd as it's the day after they release rainbow trout - my brother and I are going with a coworker of mine and looking to start around 7am. See you folks around!

Why would you use a heavier leader than mainline?

As an update - I'm currently looking at some Orvis Silver Sonic convertable tops - more than I want to spend but they sound worth it.

Oh wow, a store right in Cleveland! Do they have a larger selection in-stores than on their site? They only appear to have a couple options on the website. Encounters are in my price range, both the boots and waders. Really think I want Korkers though, that interchangeable tread thing looks nice - but I think my feet are too big. lol

I didn't know that. Wonder what they have up around Cleveland.

Well crap. Went to Cabela's yesterday to get a pair of breathable waders and I was too late. They've sent those ones back and only have the neoprene ones. None of the wading boots were my size either (only one was a $200 pair of Simms). Crap. Might ask my guide if I REALLY need waders for this trip or not...

Brother and I are looking at getting these waders to go steelhead fishing. Obviously since they're stocking-foot, we need boots. I was looking at the Korkers Greenbacks as this would keep us around $200ish. This a good pairing?