r83srock

I don’t throw drop shot hardly ever. Ned’s I use a St. Croix triumph 7’ medium fast with a Daiwa regal 2500. Straight 10 or 15 lb power pro braid no leader.

I like amber. I also like Caribbean or moss if it’s really bright out.

This is me also. I really like a trap, I don’t throw it enough but plan to much more next year.

I have moved away from: 1). Drop shot I know it effective, but I find equal success without the the line twist frustrations from other techniques like a Ned rig or swimming a grub. 2). c-rig Sort of like the drop shot it’s a pain for me to rig and awkward to throw. I’ve had moments in time where I’ve done well on one but it’s not a go to for me. I would rather fish a heavy jig in the same places. 3). a-rig Again, awkward and frustrating at times. I remember catching a good smallie on one about my 5th cast ever, that sent me down a rabbit hole. I’d Rather throw spinnerbaits. 4). swimbaits I don’t throw any of the big swim baits. I will always have a small simple ball head jig and grub in my arsenal for smallies though. 5). chatterbaits Ive had some good days on one, but it’s never out produced a Spinnerbait or lipless or swim jig in the same areas. It seems you have to spend a small fortune to get a good one, and it’s a northern pike magnet. I just don’t like em much. 6). Deep cranks I have a box full of these if I ever go to Kentucky lake. My waters don’t require them. 7). whopper plopper I can count on one hand the amount of bass I’ve caught on one. It’s a great lure for pike. I’d rather throw a classic buzzbait, comes through cover better for me. 8.). Swim jig I remember learning to throw a swim jig before it got “big”. Early 2000s up here it would have ran toe to toe with the senko, and was a top technique for me for years. It’s not as magical is it once was. I can’t just wind it in year round and fish smash it like they once did, something has changed. I pitch a jig a lot, always have always will. I’m confident that that basic jig is a bait that has stood the test of time. Sure there are days a t rig out produces it, especially in the summer, but I rely on it so much. I quit buying specific swimjigs. I still swim a jig, but it will be my standard flipping jig to gauge the mood of the bass. I may modify that same jig to suit the situation, but I’m done buying the “balanced 28 degree line tie, tinsel skirt swim jigs”. The windows that it works for me anymore are very small. This year I stuck with: punch/weighted/weightless t-rig (senko, put boss, fluke) Jig n pig 1/2oz trap pop r small spook jerkbait (limited use) ned grub spinnerbait buzzbait frog These baits worked nearly everywhere and if I wasn’t catching fish it wasn’t the lures fault. I plan on lightening the boat next year but removing stuff i didn’t use. I won’t get rid of stuff, just pull it out of the boat.

I have a friend that fishes NPFL and he uses rods by Jewel, FX rods before that and they are 100% factory rods. I do remember years ago Gary Klein had flippin sticks I believe made by Rich Forhan that were spiral guided when that was a “thing”. He then had his quantum signature rods with that same wrap. I also remember when you could order a St. Croix avid with SIC guides and a split grip handle before that got popular, but it wasn’t exclusive to pros anyone could do that at the time, at least I knew several guys who did. Rods and reels are so good now, regardless of who makes them.

Tournament fishing doesn’t drive me. I enjoy it, but I know where my lane is and that’s as far as I care to go. I keep it to club/local level stuff and take preparation as seriously regardless if I’m fishing a tournament or taking a day trip somewhere. I could fish a 100 boat tournament and later that evening I could be fishing the bank with a simple selection of gear, I just love to bass fish and I thank my dad he introduced me to fishing an taught me. Bass are far from the hardest fighting, but they can be pretty sporty and at times surprisingly strong. They are plentiful in my waters and the pursuit to figure out their ever changing behavior never gets old.

I fished yesterday and am going today and tomorrow. The water temp is 41-42 degrees. I’m still catching them on a jig best, a trap, Ned and jerkbait round out the rest. I lost the biggest smallie of my life this time last year on a Spinnerbait, the water was 38 degrees and the small baitfish were pushed up super shallow. It was a very cold day also. It’s never too cold.

It’s awesome isn’t it? I’m in the Green Bay Area. I’ll have the boat out tomorrow.

My gosh the Echomaps are just so good for the money. I have two and have no regrets. I see Russell marine has a used 9” for $500.

This last year I kept 10 rods in the locker of my 18’ Ranger most of the year and it about drives me nuts because I feel it’s too much at times. 3 or 4 out at a time is about max for me. You only need what you need in that moment. Similar to wrenching or changing an outlet in your home. I might need a meter, a screwdriver and a wire strippers, but if I need to wire a whole room, then the list of tools changes. I like to be as minimalist as I can but still have options, it’s a tough balance. I rarely have multiple of the same lure on. Sometimes two different Texas rigs in the summer, we’ll definitely two if you count a punch rig.

Beautiful fish as always, A-Jay! Amazing! Had a few hours to get on the river yesterday. These are all over 4 with one pushing 5. I still have not caught a 5 lb smallie, even on Sturgeon bay. I’ve got quite a few that are close. Most of my fish came on a bitsy flip jig yesterday, but the biggest one came on a blue/chrome rat-l-trap. I’m hoping to get out once or twice yet before deer season starts. I don’t mind. I love the thanksgiving and Christmas seasons coming up. And I have all winter to puttz with the boat and tackle.

I have the rod glove and 6th sense neoprene sleeves and like them a lot. The have held up and protect the rods well, especially when they are in a rod locker. They can get wet but seem to dry out on their own in no time.

I miss the riverside stuff. I believe they got bought up by yum. I use yum also and they are affordable, but riverside really fit the budget of a 12 year old mowing lawns. I miss the Berkley havoc line also. Budget friendly. Although pricy in its day, I miss the terminator titanium spinnerbaits.

I used to put a topwater down after a certain water temp. I ended up winning a club tournament a few years ago fishing a frog in 48 degree water temp. I fish a topwater now as long as there is soft water.

6” BPS Stik-O

I grew up using mono. I remember original fire line and spiderwire, also Berkley whiplash. So shows you my age, not that old, but old enough to remember the mass introduction of fluorocarbon. I gave up on fluoro, prefer Trilene XL or big game. I fish a lot of heavy grass lakes, heavy cover. Braid wins for me in those situations. I still prefer power pro after trying many others.

I’m in agreement with telling the bait monkey to take a hike. Upgrade that mojo to a comparable victory or LTB and enjoy! Those two series are great rods and worth the upgrade.

I’m not a fan of leaders. Strait braid or strait mono. Rods that I use treble hook baits, except maybe a big topwater or a trap in grass, I will use mono. I keep to similar spinning setups in the boat, one with straight braid for wacky rigs, flukes and one with mono for Ned’s, tubes, grubs. I could go straight braid on everything and be totally happy. If I have a rod with straight braid on it and need to fish something, anything, I just tie it on and don’t sweat it. I had too many issues with leaders.

Less than many prior years that’s for sure. I did buy one new rod. I sold several reels last winter to buy some others. I purchased a new boat prop, insurance went up a bit. Didn’t burn a lot of gas. Fisheda couple tournaments, won a bit of money back. I would guess around $3000 or so when it’s all said and done.

I am real familiar with the original 6’6” mojo bass jig n worm rod, also the later 7’1” version. Caught lots of good fish on those rods. I have a last gen legend tournament 7’1” mhxf that I’m very fond of for 1/8-1/4oz bitsy bugs. But for 1/4-1/2oz flipping jigs I’m really liking my legend tournament in 7’3” HXF. It’s a really sensitive rod and just the right qualities to make a great jig rod. I would say the victory in 7’3” HXF is 90% of the rod the legend tournament is for $120 less. Both are great! I put a t-rig on one and a jig on the other. They are versatile too.

Same, like it a lot. Got a vanford 2500 on mine.

Awesome! Great to see it resurrected. I have a soft spot for the black max.

I use an x zone adrenaline craw quite a bit. I like the yum Christy craws too. Those homemade craws above do look good!

Lots of good tips here. I like loctite red, haha, need a torch to get it off. My dad picked up a baby monitor. He puts it under the cover and any motion sends an alarm on the monitor and his receiver device in the room. Fortunately he hasn’t had any issues but I have no doubts that it would work much like an alarm system.

Welcome back! I was on the bps forums also, as Curadoluvr. Haha. I was a teenager then. My dad has always gone by crankb8.