Elkins45

I don’t like fishing with spinning reels. Never have.

When I was fishing heavily in the late 80's I don't think green pumpkin even existed as a color choice for soft plastics. Now that I'm fishing again it seems to me like it's the most prevalent color. When did that happen? FWIW I still catch way more fish on purple or blue than on green pumpkin.

I have my grandad’s early 70’s Ambassadeur but I don’t love the synchronized level wind. It really limits casting distance with lighter lures...although most of my musky lures are pretty hefty.

I know this is a bass fishing forum but I’m looking for a new baitcaster that would primarily be used for musky casting. My normal bass baitcasters handle great and work OK but the drags are suboptimal for really big fish. What I really don’t want is the annoying “flip to cast” lever on downrigger or offshore reels. Who makes a decently affordable big baitcaster that still handles like a bass reel?

Fishing below the powerhouse on Kentucky Lake I brought up a Daiwa baitcaster mounted on a rod stub missing the tip and the back end of the handle.

I've never warmed up to spinning gear. I'm not as accurate and I hate how you have to fuss with rotating the bail around to cast. It seems like every time I either have too much line hanging off the tip or the lure jams into the top guide. I have an old Quantum with a trigger that makes it better, but it's about worn out. I'm getting better but I'm still not nearly as accurate3 as I am with a bait caster.

I picked up an Eagle Claw Skeet Reese drop shot rod for $13.50 at Walmart last week. Normally $89. It was in the clearance aisle and not the fishing section. I actually picked up 5 rods, including a couple of 7' Berkley Cherrywood casting rods for $6. I know they are normally only abut $25 but they make great cranking or musky trolling rods.

I inherited from my father a whole bunch of pristine Heddon Prowlers in almost every color they were offered in. He just really liked the way they moved in the water. I don't think any of us ever caught a single fish on one.

That's it. It's the swimming craw tube. https://bigbitebaits.com/product/swimming-craw-tube/ Thanks!

I don't know where I bought these but I would like to get some more if I could. They are tubes but with claws like a creature bait/craw. If I were guessing I would say I picked them up at Bass Pro but I don't know that for certain. Anyone recognize it?

I only have two packs of the Sportsman’s Products super floater worms left. I have caught more bass on those than any other lure and I’ve told myself I’ll only use the last few if I fish someplace legendary like Okechobee.

That's exactly what I did. I remembered I had some leader wire that my grandad had for musky fishing.

Walmart or the Dollar Store both have some clear plastic storage boxes with lids that latch in place. There's a variety of sizes. I use the ones that are sized for shoe storage because I can just grab one and put it in my storage space or under the console of my boat. The lid won't blow off and it keeps the water out. https://www.walmart.com/ip/12-Pack-Sterilite-17511712-6-Quart-ClearView-Latch-Box-Storage-Tote-Container/383630660?athcpid=383630660&athpgid=athenaItemPage&athcgid=null&athznid=PWVUB&athieid=v0&athstid=CS020&athguid=5e94ada3-007-1739fa1dc12c30&athancid=null&athena=true

Anybody fish a solid body frog like a Ribbit on a swim jig for suspended fish, or is it strictly a top water lure?

40 years ago when I was in high school I did 90% of my fishing with a Daiwa Minicast rig. The three most common lures I used were Rapala/AC Shiner, super floating worm and Beetle Spin. I still keep some of those 40 year old lures in my box.

Even cheaper I could probably just peg it on with a toothpick. Thanks!

I have a Do It mold that makes inline spinner bodies, which are shaped an awful lot like a drop shot weight without the eye. I’m trying to think of the best way to use them like drop shot weights. I can string one on and tie on a plastic bead below it but that lets the line drag on the bottom and probably wear thru too easy. I could maybe pound one end flat and drill an eye like a bank sinker, or make some sort of wire loop to jam into the hole and epoxy or melt it. What would be a source of cheap wire loops other than taking apart swivels or twisting up my own from wire? I’m trying to think out of the box on this one. Maybe paper clips? Those are cheap. Or using old rusted hooks that are straightened and clipped? That might work.

My grandfather (died in 1977) swore that the 6” Creme scoundrel in purple was the single best bass fishing lure ever made. He was an extraordinary bass fisherman. He could catch a whale out of a coffee cup.

I’ve about given up on the rattletrap in spite of the fact it seems like an ideal lure for suspended fish. I’ve also never had a lot of luck with senkos. I love the zman plastics but unless I get the storage issues worked out I’m only going to be able to fish them in spring or fall.

Injured minnow Jitterbug Original Cordell Big-O Creme scoundrel worm Creek Chub pikie minnow My grandpa loved pikie minnows and I still have several of the original wooden ones in decent shape.

I have yet to find a better jig head paint than cheap nail polish from the dollar store.

How do you rig that thing?

My grandad sawed the bail off one of his Mitchell 300s so you had to manually pick up the line and hook it over the roller to retrieve. I think he said he did it to prevent line twist, but I’m not certain about that. I can tell you it was amazingly annoying and I never ever used that reel when I inherited all his fishing gear. I almost always close it by hand just because that big “klunk” sounds like it can’t be very good for the mechanism.

Have a plan to save your tackle if it gets punctured. You will be at the mercy of the wind. You'll also discover interesting physics like going backwards with you throw a heavy crank bait. And if you throw a deep runner with a lot of resistance you can expect to meet it halfway. I bought an inflatable boat when I was in high school and tried to pond fish with it. I soon discovered it was more effort than it was worth.

My grandad's Jon boat trailer finally rusted apart after sitting on grass since 1967. So I guess maybe it's something to worry about in 50 years.