Bdnoble84

Its the very front, no tag end sticking out. It only happens with the alberto. I do wet the knot before i cinch. Maybe but ive never had the fg do this.

Ive been catching alot of sheepshead and redhorse suckers in the river while smallie fishing. Redhorse are actually native to illinois and are a sign of a healthy ecosystem by my understanding. There are days it annoys me to catch them instead of smallies or walleye, but they have saved some fishless days as well. I had a sheepshead nearly rip the rod out of my hand last night it hit my bucktail jig with a leach last night. Its one of the hardest hits i have ever had. now the small stream i have grown up on has become full of pike (good ones too). It also seems i catch less and less smallmouth each year. Other people i talk to that have fished the stretch forever say the same thing. I dont know for a fact but it feels like the pike are choking out the smallies. Pike are fun but Id rather catch a 3lb smallie than an 8lb pike. And definitely 10 smallmouth of decent size that 6-7 pike of good size.

Ive never broken it on a fish. I fish rock strewn rivers and snags are inevitable. I admit that i am putting excessive stress on the knot/line trying to get them out, but i have never had an fg fail. Its the same reason i went from a regular triline knot to the super triline.

The line isnt slipping out from what i have seen. Its a straight break. That being said, i will give the double wrap a try.

I guess i am wondering if its more a collector thing or if there is some legit reason for the price

I agree. There is just more of a learning curve and you need to finish it right so it doesnt unravel.

Basically looks like the alberto i tie just wrapping the mono over the braid instead. I used to do that, but the mono would slip out.

This is my approach as well. The alberto is my on the water, palms too sweaty, too windy for lighter to melt tag end knot. But countless times i have had it break right in front of the knot. It really doesn't take me long to tie an fg these days, its just the conditions i mentioned. im kinda the same way with the palomar as well. It hasnt ever failed me. I just struggle getting the loop through itself and it seems to waste alit of line.

First, this is not a post to bash any luremaker for their prices. I‘ve been seeing a lot of baits that go for a couple hundred dollars. What is it about these baits that draws this type of desirability. I’ve never really gotten into swims/glides but have made a couple i throw just to try it out. They definitely do take some work and ive had more fail than actually work. Its just hard for me to imagine paying that much for something i might lose. I know there are alot of production pieces in the 30-60$ range. Is the price due to a unique action, color scheme, or something else. from the outside looking in it feels like almost a status thing. Again not bashing, just want to understand.

My dad always called it panther tick because thats what the old timers he was always around called it.

Smallies eat em. I have a lot of success on a hair jig with a worm trailer. River fishing especially i will tip it with a piece of live crawler or a leach if the bite is tough. Skirted jigs work also.

I’m done with the Alberto. It likes to break just in front of the knot. I lost a crankbait and jerkbait snagged in rocks the other night that i should have been able to pull out. Its worth the extra time for me to tie the fg. Since i got it down it never fails.

Spinnerbait is one of my most productive river smallie lures. I have absolutely crushed them on a chart/white with chart/whote bldes over the years. Especially burned through riffles repeatedly. Its an agressive reaction response. I have also had luck rolling them along the bottom slowly. also dont forget the lowly jig spin (beetlespin without the beetle). These were the first bait i ever really started having success with as a kid.

Need to go weedless with a little worm hook and 1/16 oz slip sinker

And here I am a ned rig teetotler, abstaining from the ned. I hardly am able to bring myself to throw one, even though by all accounts the experience is great, especially targeting river smallmouth. I’m hoping to change my prudish ways this year and give it a chance.

I have found what you describe to be my biggest key to success fish smallmouth in rivers/ current. I dont know how many times i have had to find that one angle on a current seam or around a rock to produce fish. Especially current seams. Its not always necessarily with the current either, although that is part of it the majority of the time.

Berkley has really gone downhill for me. I’ve always thought vanish breaks too easily. i used to love sensation, but the last few spools i have bought have been virtually unusable. It instantly coils and rolls right off the reel or backlashes horably (I rarely backlash braid). The same goes for XL and XT. Maybe its how im spooling it but its seriously disappointing.

Depends on quality of the material. If i have plumes with nice long wispy fibers and a good flexible shaft im definitely palmering.

This is when i go to it as well/ cloudy days on the river.

First foray with Bass Wood. (Bottom). It sure does carve out nice. Slipped a little rattle in as my balast well. Thinking it probably needs a craw pattern. Should be a tighter wobble though, so maybe i will go with a minnow pattern. the larger one is pine. Just doesnt clean up as well but ive got some nice action with that shape.

I know where you are at, but never been there myself. Try a rapala dt4 or dt6. I have good luch with those in rivers.

Does the positioning look good. It actually is inline with the hook. I put sally hansons on the weedguard when i was tying the skirt.

Not sure about glide baits but i work both spinnerbaits and jerk baits aggressively all summer long with success. Get some good ones that way

Love when a homemade lure works!