HawkeyeSmallie

Top Two: Dirty Jigs California Swimjig Megabass PopMax Honorable Mention: Frittside 5. Not for the numbers of fish caught, but for the quality of fish caught in only a couple of weeks time late this fall.

Well, what are you going to get? I'm looking to spend some money as well. I said I was done sports gambling but loaded the old DraftKings account up over the weekend and have done very well. LOL

Boat rash? Apply it anywhere you want.

Personally I like a bait that doesn't rattle at all. Way more natural. Frittside 5 (standard size) was my best late fall producer this year. Primary forage for my lakes are bluegills. My go to:

Wouldn't suggest braid unless you have a very deep pocket. Any slight backlash (they will happen) and you can kiss that swimbait goodbye. Line stops, bait doesn't. Use mono or floro. Don't need anything heavier than 25 lb in my opinion. I use 17 lb Tatsu. Disclaimer: I'm not a swimbait expert but I researched a bunch before I purchased myself.

I have a Curado 200 M but I wish it was bigger. You can cast a swimbait a LONG way.

I'm working on a desktop with multiple monitors and I can't see jack squat. Maybe I'm just too old. LOL

Can't catch your PB sitting on the couch. Probably gained some memories and maybe learned something. Time well spent.

THIS. I'm the exact opposite.

Very different in my opinion. If you stop a buzzbait, it sinks. A Whopper Plopper you can retrieve it like a buzzbait but stop it periodically if you choose. A popper you can cast near cover and just give it small twitches. Can work an area much slower if you want. Speed it up and can walk it dang near like a spook. Love me my popper.

Sure would be nice to fish a crystal clear river for some native smallmouth. One that hasn't been changed from runoff/farming/humans. Might as well go back about 150 years.

Anyone order from JLS lately?

I had to google Lake Bemar but it looks like it neighbors the Quetico Park, my favorite place on earth. Enjoy your trip!

A co-workers husband was diagnosed with stomach cancer this fall. He's probably around your age as well, maybe slightly older. Everything is going really good for him. You got this! "Don't give up. Don't ever give up." - Jimmy V V Foundation. 100% goes to research. https://www.v.org/

I've not only failed myself, but I feel like I have failed other Bait Monkey Club members. I only took advantage of one sale, and it wasn't even "bait". It was stupid tackle trays. Don't quit me.

We got 12". Hoping for a warm spell this month and I can go out sometime still this month. Even just ONE fish would be worth it.

When I started buying high end rods I struggled with this decision as well. I scoured the internet trying to find opinions. I ended up buying U-40. Who knows if it was a good decision or not. It's a light coat though. I've seen some rods that look like they were dipped in lacquer and it's 1/4" thick. No way I'd do that.

I throw both the standard as well as the Jr on one of mine. I'm no expert but to me it works well. My other combo is for topwater. Works great with poppers and walking baits. I throw straight braid without any issues. When it gets too cold for topwater I switch the line which allows me to have two jerkbait rods on hand. This year I switched lines and ended up throwing the Fritside 5 on it. LOVE that thing. I've thought about getting a Loomis or something else but to me, the P5's are without a doubt the most enjoyable rod to fish.

Dang, maybe I need to buy a third OneTen Special. LOL Clearly it's my favorite rod.

I figured it would be too much rod. It's not really the goal, the goal is more finesse cranking. Smaller squarebills, flat sides, etc. My favorite right now is the Fritside 5 which is 1/3 oz. I can throw it on my OneTen Special so I would think it would be great for this rod. 1/2 oz squarebill a little too much?

Too much for a Karashi I assume? I’m wondering how small I can go on it. I’d love to be able to throw like a Shad Rap on it which sometimes requires a spinning rod.

What are your plans with it?