NYWayfarer

This is a prime example of why you should check what's in the background of a photo before posting it.

I like the Rapala Countdown Minnow for suspended Smallmouth Bass. Cast past where you think they are count down to the desired depth and retrieve the bait right through the pack of fish.

I fish them all the time with limited snags from my kayak. 90% of the time I can get them unstuck by simply paddling past the bait and pulling from the opposite direction from where it got stuck. I hop it along the bottom of the river where I fish just past the weedlines and laydowns or deeper water for Smallmouth. Anywhere that has heavy vegetation is not the place you want to use this type of lure anyway.

Most of the time B, If not B I leave the hook completely exposed. Example would be rigging a Yum Dinger. There is a slot in that bait to hide the hook. No tex-posing necessary. I also like to pass the hook through enough that I can get the knot buried inside the plastic.

I still have some crankbaits from the early 90's that cost me $5 apiece. I can still catch fish on them all I had to do was replace the treble hooks. 1990's crankbait for $5 still going strong. I don't have any soft plastics that lasted that long. I keep buying senko's, dingers, etc. That's the true cost of lures right there.

I like the Yum Swim-N-Dinger. That swimbait paddle tail it has really works well as a Neko Rig.

The only thing that has broken on the Z-man jigheads I have are the baitkeepers. I am constantly pulling on the TRD's to straighten or adjust them on the hook so they sit properly and the little wire keeper snaps off eventually. Like @frogflogger says don't let the TRD sit on the hook as is will corrode. I dry mine or spray them with KVD line and lure conditioner after use. I find the hooks on these jigheads to be stronger than they look. I hop them on the bottom when fishing which always seems to get them hung up. I have pulled up huge branches and straightened the hooks without breaking them when trying to get them unstuck.

My motto is go cheap on plastics and expensive on hooks. A bag of Yum Dingers and some Gamakatsu hooks is all you need. With hard baits that I get cheap I will switch out the treble hooks with better quality ($) ones. Fishing doesn't have to be expensive but going too cheap will cost you in the long run.

Standout plastics: Yum Dingers Zoom Flukes Zoom Fat Alberts Z-man TRD's Roboworm Standout hard baits: Whopper Plopper Rat-L-Trap

Those things never go on sale. You can always get one of the cheaper knockoffs from RTIC or ORCA. SO what if they only hold ice for 8 days instead of 10 like the Yeti. For a day trip on the boat they are fine. Use the money saved to buy a new rod and a Yeti Sticker to slap on the knockoff.

Same here. I like the Nut Butter Clif bars best. I also carry a Hydro Flask insulated water bottle full of ice water. Stays cold my whole trip.

Dawn is dead time indeed for me. I could get shot by the duck hunters around here!

I picked up 2 Field and Stream Tec Spec Elite rods at Dick's for $19.99 each. I guess this rod is discontinued and on clearance for 60% off the lowest ticketed price of $49.99 original price was $79.99 36 ton split grip rod with SiC micro guides, EVA handles and double locking fore grip. Nice electric blue color. Only Dick's around the Capital region of NY that had them was the one at Crossgates Mall.

I have the Lew's Carbon Fire spinning rod. Bought it a month ago when the had a half price sale. I love the rod. Great sensitivity combined with the split Winn grips makes it a great buy even at full price.

Rod sleeves help I recommend them. The biggest hazard transporting my rods in the car is lifting the lid of my center console and breaking them.

You are a great example for us all Ajay. "The longer we wait the harder it gets. The first step is the hardest." I agree with you 100% My son says he has abs and you Dad have flabs. The struggle is real. I have battled weight issues all my life. I am down to 190 lbs from my heaviest 280 lbs I lost the weight in stages. 40 lbs came off when I quit drinking soda. 25 lbs came off when I got an app on my phone to track calories. 25 lbs came off when I got a fit bit and started walking 10,000 steps a day. I have been doing the 22 for 22 challenge since early last year. Once I have done 22 push ups a day for 22 days I start over again at 1. I feel like I am doing a Benjamin Button and aging in reverse as I am in the best shape I have ever been now.

I have the WP in Bone and Bluegill colors. I have caught LMB, SMB and Pickerel on them. As a matter of fact just yesterday I caught my PB Chain Pickerel on the Bluegill one. Are they magic? No. Do they work, yes. One of the best topwater lures I have the patience for. Patience is the key. I was out for 4 hours yesterday drift fishing a river casting at anything that looked promising. I caught 2 Pickerel in 4 hours. Took a lot for me to keep casting and not pick up a Ned rig and change that 2 to a dozen or more SMB dinks.

Believe me the immature 16 year old part of my 52 year old brain wanted to type, "Pics or I don't believe it" about the GF being a hottie comment. Seriously though, I have never hooked anyone other than myself and it was minor. I would feel real bad if I did.

How much are you looking to spend? A good Baitcaster for under $50 that's pretty hard to backlash would be the Kastking Spartacus.

Same goes for me when Kayak fishing. When I find a spot that's productive I throw my anchor and stay put for a bit.

I rig it the same way. It resembles a Ned Rig when hopped on the bottom yet the hook is facing up not down like the Ned. Don't know why just know that it works. I have been having better action as well using a worm with a paddle tail.

Assassin and Stealth have dual brakes, centrifugal and magnetic. Speed Demon has magnetic only. Stealth backlashes the most for me. It has a crazy light spool which might be part of the cause. Speed Demon backlashes the least. When brakes and cast control knob are set properly its like fishing a spincaster. Almost impossible to backlash.

For the record I drive a Hyundai Elantra. Third one I have owned. Last one was still running fine when I traded it in at 160,000 miles. I guess my best bang for the buck attitude doesn't just apply to reels. Born in 1965, old dog as well right here.

They are missing out then IMO. If I were a budget angler (and I am) I would compare what I could get for my money. For example $60 will get me a Lew's American Hero baitcaster or a Kastking Assassin. Lew's AH specs: Graphite body and sideplates weighs 7.2oz, 5 bearing system, rulon drag 10lbs, magnetic brakes. Kastking Assassin specs: Carbon fiber body and sideplates weighs 5.7oz, 12 bearing system, carbon fiber drag 16.5lbs, centrifugal and magnetic brakes. The Assassin is lighter, with dual brakes, 7 more bearings and a better drag. For the budget angler I think it is clearly the better deal. You can stick with your more established name brands though that are sold in box stores. Kastking has been around for 2 years with more positive reviews than negative. How long before we can consider them established?

I fish "bigger" tubes with heavier internal jigheads on a bait caster with 10 to 12lb mono. Zoom Salty Tubes and Berkley Havoc Smash tubes are prime examples.