pawpaw

Gotta love 1982! This is where I would normally say Go Cards, but this years team just isn't very good. I don't think they're going anywhere for a while. So, I'm just gonna have to go along with you on the "Choke Cubs" thing. Anybody BUT the Cubs!!!

I would probably choose 7' mh casting & 6'6" med spinning

Yep! You fished the wrong lake. I recommend going back and dragging your yak up the hill to West lake. I believe you will be pleasantly surprised.

WOW!! NICE!! You let out a loud grunt and a crow hop on that cast didn't you?

I fish the 1.5 the vast majority of the time. I've had quite a few days that they were smoking a 1.5 and I switched to the 2.5 to see if I could improve on the size. I can't remember a time that my numbers didn't go down and I can't recall the size ever increasing. Not saying it never happened, but if it did I can't remember it. For this reason I see no reason to throw anything other than a 1.5 on a square bill bite. It just flat out catches more fish for me. The big fish don't seem to mind it either.

I've done best by reeling them in steady with the rod low and at a 45 degree angle to the bait. Experiment to find the speed they like. Some times though they want a pull and reel up slack retrieve. Similar to a Carolina rig. There's probably no wrong way to fish them.

THANK YOU!

Very cool. Thanks

I try to keep every thing my Grandkids use Texas rigged. I'm afraid of them hooking themselves or others with any open hooks. We mostly use a 4" plastic worm with an 1/8 oz weight and a 2/0 hook. That set up is about as weedless (snag proof) as anything I can think of. If they HAVE to cast and retrieve to be happy we go with the little swimming fluke Texas rigged. We ALWAYS make them wear some sort of glasses as well.

Nice fish. But.....You're kinda lacking on giving up the details though. Sooooooo????

Crock o gator for me.

Japan Tackle

I try not to go anywhere that carrying is prohibited by law. It's not always possible but I do my best to avoid those places.

Ok, makes sense now.

For me the old saying "When in doubt..... don't" has served me very well over the years. As for you, I would suggest you do/say what your conscience will bear. Is there more to the story to explain "lesson learned #1" or am I not getting something?