BigAngus752

I would have to agree that MaxScent does not get the attention that it deserves. I've gone from skunk to good day by pulling out the MaxScent Generals and Kingtails.

Anything made out of ElaZtech.

That's great info. That changes my mind on the Meyer rod. I was afraid of that. I looked at the Andy Montgomery and assumed that the "skipping tip" would require a harder hookset and I'm not going to skip with it so I was looking at one of the other H/F but I read some reviews that they require some extra swing also. That doesn't take them off the list for me as long as they are sensitive. Thanks very much. That's interesting that they are supposed to be the same blank. The Tatulas and the Tatula Elite (non-AGS) get completely different descriptions in reviews and forums. I keep reading that the Tatulas have more backbone and a stiffer tip. Very intesting and confusing. I've found a place that it's only a $13 difference between the Tatula and Tatula Elite. I prefer cork and dark colored rods so if this is the case perhaps I'll just try a regular Tatula.

I am shopping for a jig rod that will be used for 3/8 and 1/2 jigs. I was originally going to purchase an Okuma TCS because I love my older Scott Martin but I'm not liking what I'm reading about the new reel seats. Now I'm trying to decide between a Tatula or Tatula Elite (non-AGS). Anyone have experience with both? I've read that the Elites may have softer tips that require a harder hookset? And guides that bend easily? It also seems that the Tatula ratings my run a bit heavier than the TCS and Dobyns? That has me looking in the MH range rather than the heavy range as I would in TCS or Dobyns. Any suggestions or opinions either way would be appreciated. I am also going to purchase a new finesse spinning and I've made up my mind that the Tatula Elite ML Cody Meyer is the one I want. Feel free to give me some thoughts on that if you have any. Thank you. UPDATE: Well, it's a moot point for now. I just talked with the owner of the shop and he has them listed on his website but can't get any from his suppliers right now. The Tatula rods are pretty much sold out everywhere. That gives me more time for research I suppose. In the meantime if anyone can suggest a good finesse spinning that has a nice sensitive tip but will still cast a Ned rig please do so. It will be used exclusively for Neds. Thanks

No you don't.

There may be others with more experience but I have fished it a few times. The plant doesn't produce as much energy as it used to. It's a coal plant and it's being phased out. It still makes for a warm-water lake, but I'm telling you this because I'm not sure how the current temps compare to temps ten or fifteen years ago. Previously you would be well past "prespawn" in March. It was common to find fish on beds in February (think Florida). The lake may be cooler now so maybe the fish might be moving later. You definitely want to start on the hot side (west side). There is no secret to finding fish there that I am aware of. Figuring out what depth they are would be key and you might get some tips with conversations at the boat ramp. I've heard numerous tales of 30-40 catch days in February using topwater during a heavy snowfall. If you want the best possible shot at a Newton giant I suggest you call Tab at the Outdoor Sportsman's Lodge in Newton and arrange for a guide. He will know exactly what stage the fish are in and he will get you on them fast if you only have one day. The biggest piece of advice I can give you is make sure you are 100% legal and stay 100% legal. IDNR is at that ramp every single day, sometimes more than one officer. I know a couple of them personally. They are good people but you will get no slack. Obey the 25hp limit. Keep your big motor out of the water unless you are loading or unloading. Make sure your boat is up to date because they board and inspect several boats a day, especially on weekends. Don't give them any grief. Like I said, they are good guys just doing their job. The citations are expensive. Good luck!

My favorite lake for the past two seasons is an hour and ten minutes. The "biggest fish" lake in a 100 mile radius is 55 minutes, but it's a cooling lake and it can be really, really tough to fish. There is a HP restricted lake (which means TM only for me) 35 minutes away that can be a decent place to fish depending on the season. It can be a real pain patiently (or not patiently) running the TM on high trying to get somewhere though. There is a tiny, electric only forest preserve lake 10 minutes away that is a good place when I don't have a lot of time.

That bird creeping in the background, "Whatcha got there?" LOL ?

This discussion about Clunn is interesting. In every other major league sport we would EXPECT that an athlete, or multiple athletes in any contest, to be petty, childish, and generally poor sports. It happens constantly in NFL, NBA, and MLB. Those athletes like Walter Payton, Peanut Tillman, Kurt Warner, Coach Tony Dungy, they are the exception to the atypical celeb athlete. But in professional fishing it makes the news when someone throws a tantrum or has a bad day and acts foolish. I think that's wonderful and it's even better that fishing is becoming more popular. These guys are usually setting a great example for the rest of us.

Plus, when you spend more money than any sane person would spend...they give you a free t-shirt! I have a lot of their t-shirts.

It's 9 degrees here with a 20mph wind. What to do? Stay in the warm garage, get out the carpet cleaner and squeegee the fish stank out of the boat. Can you tell that I'm bored?

It's called "Sharpie Shark"....'cause that's what I just named it....caught a ton of fish for me a couple days last fall. Notice that I still can't stay between the lines.

My wife's gonna need a bigger pan.

X2 on the GatorSkinz. I just had an Ultrex installed at a Minn Kota service center and the tech said he needed to redrill the holes because Ranger install the Fourtrex with the head sticking out over the gunwhale. He put the Ultrex in at a new angle and wanted permission to put GatorSkinz under the Ultrex to cover an old hole and some scratches from the Fourtrex just as the OP said. Excellent decision. Looks spectacular. And the Ultrex is completely inside the rub rail when stowed. Great work.

When the fish like a larger profile it's the Rage Craw. When they like something a smaller and more flexible its the Net Bait Paca Slim. Those are the only two I ever use anymore.

True. But I wouldn't suspect Walmart of selling a knock-off. If they were on Amazon it would be a no-brainer. I can tell you that "back in the day" you could go into Walmart and buy a Remington 870 12ga shotgun in a blister pack hanging on a hook. These were Walmart-specific shotguns made by Remington and they had slightly different internal parts than other 870s. Everything was totally interchangable but there were differences in the parts. I would think it would be more expensive to change the design of the lipless crankbait just for Walmart but who knows. Maybe leftovers from an old design? I know the paper packs are getting tougher to find and it's worrying me! LOL

Walmart sells a Cordell lipless in a paper card package that is not sold anywhere else (that I have found and I have looked diligently). They also sell Super Spots in the plastic boxes that you can buy anywhere, but there are several colors in the paper cards that are, apparently, Walmart-only. It just so happens that one of those paper card colors is the absolute deal on one of my regular lakes and I buy out the three local Walmarts of that color every year. They have seem to have smaller rattles than a real Super Spot but they weight the same (lighter/shallower than a RatLTrap). Amazingly the hooks are not terrible. Several years ago I posted a thread about my #1 lure for that year and it was one of the paper card Walmart Special Cornell’s. I have about 25 of them right now.

And that is now in my list for next time, thanks. ?

These are cheap and worth every penny. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003E7AZQA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I'm on my second after wearing the first one out and they are very accurate. You'll be shocked at the inconsistency of advertised lure weights and even the actual weight of those lead/tungsten weights you are buying. You will also be shocked at how much some of your presentations weigh in total.

This has to be a discouraging but I'm certain you can work this out. If you were proficient with Blue Max then you are going to absolutely love both of your Daiwas when you get them squared away.

This is not intended to be snarky in any way. Have you used a baitcaster before? Unless the CT has a mechanical issue this really, really sounds like a problem with casting technique. I can cast much further with my CT and CT-R than I can with my SVs (using lures with some weight). You seem to be setting the reel correctly. What @PhishLI says is something to look at also. I think you need to stop looking at the reel and look at everything else.

^^^this^^^ I admit I've flipped a lot of 1.5 - 2 pounders when I've had their momentum working for me but that's laziness and I try not to do that. The more I practice lipping and netting the better odds I have of NOT losing my next trophy at the boat. And that is where I lose 90% of the fish I lose. Within 5 feet of the boat.

Not at all if you only need a light bench. You may want to put supports between them if it wobbles. Scrap 2x4 works perfectly for that.

Couple thoughts if you are flexible on size: You can buy hardwood plywood at the big box stores in 4x8 sheets. If you buy the maple plywood and seal it with Tung oil you get a nice hard top for cheap ($50-ish). If you rip the 4x8 sheet lengthwise you get two 2ft x 8ft bench tops or one top and one shelf. If you need a heavy bench you can put 3/4 OSB under the 3/4 Maple plywood and you've got a nice thick top. If 4x4 legs are too expensive you can buy the cheapest length of 2x4s and screw them together for a sturdy leg. Also, as mentioned by @.ghoti., if you look around in the kitchen or discount areas of the box stores or talk with an employee in the kitchen departments you can find all sorts of different brand new "damaged" or just "not picked up" counters on the cheap. Same with Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. The easiest, cheapest light duty bench in the world is someone's old Craigslist kitchen cabinets and counter and they usually look pretty good. Happy shopping! One other suggestion, if you are going to try to cut corners/price and build a lightweight bench I strongly suggest that you buy some angle brackets/corner braces/hurricane brackets to use instead of just screws. The brackets cost pennies and will make a wobbly design much less wobbly.