Crow Horse

I use JJ's Magic and dip them the night before an outing. Dip, let dry, and zip lock bag them. If mixed together they will end up bleeding onto each other. JJ's is weapons grade garlic and is really powerful. I have to dip baits outside. I've used dipped plastics a year later and they still had a strong garlic scent. They are only messy if you are messy. I would never use it while in my yak. Good stuff and I believe it helps. I've used Spike It and it works well. The markers work well and are easy to use. I believe the JJ's lasts longer. YMMV.....

I feel the need to apologize for my cursory description of Stalking Wolf. Reader's Digest Version - "Stalking Wolf was raised free of the reservations in the mountains of northern Mexico. Born in the 1870's during a time of great warfare and violence, he was part of a band of Lipan Apache that never surrendered. He was taught the traditional ways of his people and became a shaman and a scout. When he was twenty a vision sent him away from his people, and for the next sixty-three years he wandered, seeking teachers and learning the old ways of many native peoples, and others who lived close to the earth. Stalking Wolf traveled the length and breadth of the Americas, following the Creators call. He never held a job, drove a car, paid taxes, or participated in modern society. When he was eighty-three years old, he encountered a small boy gathering fossils in a stream bed. He recognized that boy as the person with whom he would spend his final years, and to whom he would teach all that he knew. That boy was Tom Brown, Jr. Tom became the recipient of not only all that Stalking Wolf had learned during his travels, but the distillation of hundreds of years of Apache culture as well. These are the teachings that Tom passes on at his famous Tracking, Nature, and Wilderness Survival School. " If interested, this portion of video starting at 7:42 is Tom recounting 2 learning experiences, one taught by Grandfather and one by an old fisherman. It paints a very accurate picture of who Stalking Wolf is...... Grandfather & The Fisherman, Tom Brown Jr.

Tobacco is considered by Native tribes as a universal gift. It can be an offering of respect, guidance, protection, and gratitude. It can be presented in several ways, smoked, prayer ties, or a simple pinch. My primary intention of the tobacco is to give thanks for allowing me to be part of the natural world that is so magical. The feather has been gifted to me and I pass that gift along to higher powers. Occasionally I'll burn a smudge stick (sage) while on the water to purify and restore balance. The offerings are general and not specific to fishing. Success on the water is strictly left solely up to me although I'll gladly accept any assistance if I am worthy. Gliding On Mist....

Not fishing personalities, but when I hit the water, I try to follow in the footsteps of Iron Eyes Cody and Stalking Wolf. Iron Eyes Cody was the crying Indian in the Keep America Beautiful campaign in the 60's or 70's. Stalking Wolf was one of the last Apache (Lipan) scouts and a shaman. Every time out I police the area leaving it cleaner than when I arrived. I also leave a tobacco offering with a feather near the launch site as an offering of gratitude & thanks. I do the same when I first get on the water with tobacco offerings to the 4 directions. In addition to gratitude, in silent prayer I only ask for safe passage and that any fish I catch can be released unharmed. On the water, I try to listen to the wind and wildlife. They'll tell you things. In every way possible I try to become part of nature and not apart from it. It's as if I'm entering the holiest of holy. I recognize that most folks would consider my way part of the lunatic fringe, but it's my way. I hold these two men in high regard and walking in their footsteps resonates true.

Brush Gripper rigging

Brush Gripper

For what it's worth.... The Owner tear drop #2 split rings #4186-021 weigh the same as the original split rings on the Oneten, Oneten Jr., and the X-80. .07g according to my scale.

I use a 1 1/2# grapnel anchor and with sufficient line deployed works really well. The pond I fish is small but because of the surrounding geography , wind is constantly changing & swirling. When I don't wish to use the anchor, I use a drift chute to slow my drift to a very slow crawl. I do have an 8', 2 piece stake out pole but don't use it hardly ever. I also have a brush clamp that I'll use when close to shore and can clamp it onto anything solid. Anchor line management is something you'll want to consider. You can make one DIY or purchase the below.

Older thread. Has anyone had any practical input about the Toit knot? Toit Knot

I'm a huge proponent of wearing a PFD while on the water. Like many others, I see people on the water without one even though it's required by law. It blows my mind when I see the parents not wearing one and thankfully their kids are (for the most part). What is this teaching their kids? About 2 summers ago, a former coworker of mine who was well acquainted with canoeing & kayaking (he frequently competed) was out with his family in their canoes. He was alone in his and was paddling ahead of the rest of the family. He rounded a bend in the river (slow moving & tame) and went out of sight of his family. When they rounded the bend, they discovered his empty canoe and he was not in sight. It took 4-5 hours for rescuers to find his body. He apparently had a cardiac event and dumped into the river. Apparently he wasn't wearing a PFD. Although a PFD probably would not have saved him, it would have saved his family the 4-5 agonizing hours waiting for his recovery. If he would have worn one, it would have saved the responders 4-5 hours of searching and the risks associated with that. Every rescue or recovery has some risks. Tragic. He was only in his forties. I feel naked if I'm not wearing my PFD. While fishing with one or more of my fishing buddies, I pass out 2 way radios in the event of an emergency. Also have a whistle, flashlight, and a strobe leashed to it. Always be prepared......

Regardless if you use a trolley system or not, make sure wherever you terminate your anchor line in the yak, make sure it can be released quickly in the event of an emergency. I use a zig zag cleat and it works well. In addition, tie in a float on your anchor line so you can retrieve it. I used this once when one of my fishing buddies turtled on the opposite side of the pond we were fishing, I heard him take the plunge and released the anchor line and was able to retrieve it later after I towed him back to shore. I also have a dive knife lashed to my pfd shoulder strap in the event that a quick release goes sideways. Float & anchor rigging....

I use 2 Nocqua 10ah batteries on my yak. One powers a Gopro and one powers a Garmin Striker 7sv, Gopro, and a Gopro remote. One of my batteries will be going on it's 7th season this year. If it craps out, I'll replace it with the same.

Megabass bait monkey bit hard. Picked these up from a variety of sources over the past month. Never fished them before and can hardly wait to start throwing them...... Onetens, Oneten Jr.'s, & X-80's. Edit* The color selection was guided by the many recommendations of BR members, thanks!

Thanks! I was concerned about the "balance" and how it suspends. I ordered some Owner #2 tear drops and I'll weigh them and compare to the original split rings.

Do oval or tear drop split rings affect the action? What size would be a starting point for 110/110 jr.'s? Edit** Think I found it. #2 ?

What got me first interested in learning about Megabass lures aside from reading about them here was one item in particular. They use guanine in some of their finishes, the same substance that are in fish scales that produce the iridescence/light reflectivity. I was really impressed by this much attention to detail. My wife works in quality control.assurance for a major high end artist paint manufacturer and their attention to detail is amazing. I saw that echoed in Megabass. If they go to that length in the finishing process, I was curious as how that translated into the other parts of production. Plus, I had no idea how they actually manufactured the lures....

The videos posted add a new perspective to the weapons we use. Very interesting! Thanks! Are there "Megabass collectors" out there? Some of the prices I've seen on Ebay are insane. They are pricey normally. I can't see tossing a plug that cost 3x-4x's the normal price. (I'm not debating their normal price point)😀 For the most part, that's the course I chart. There are times depending on water clarity and a whim that I'll try an unnatural color (ie, bubblegum or neon colors). Sometimes it works and other times it draws a blank.

I got bit by the Megabass bait monkey really bad and I'm geeking out on them. I've been watching countless videos about them but haven't found anything about how they are made. Does anyone have info regarding how they are made or how they are painted?

Thanks again for all the recommendations. I think I have a pretty good base to work from and true to form, I've gone overboard. Several more are currently in transit. I've got Onetens, Oneten Jr.'s and several X-80's.

I too have been practicing with the Daiichi Knot Assist tool. I haven't been able to tie the FG knot without the tool and the tool makes it very doable for me. Using instructions found on YouTube, this is how I'm doing it. 10 wraps finished off with a locking half hitch. Reposition the lines in the tool and do 6 alternating half hitches. Cut tag end of leader and then 4 more alternating half hitches. Finish off with the Rizzuto finish. The resulting knot is thin and seems to be extremely strong. I have no practical experience with it while fishing and that will have to wait till spring. In the mean time I'll keep practicing. I bought a second tool that I'll keep on my yak. I feel confident now that if I have to retie while on the water, using the tool I'll be able to do it. Hope this helps and hope that I'm tying it correctly.

Update - I've been playing around with these bands and came across an even simpler method. Cut the elastic to size (shorter is better). Allow for at least a 1/2" - 3/4" overlap and use a gel super glue. You can use a hole punch (designed for leather) to allow for the line to pass through. Alternately, you can use a pencil type soldering iron or heated nail to make the hole. It's cheaper & faster than the first method I tried.

Interesting capture on one of our security cameras..... Orb Capture

That Velcro is really handy!

This has been done before in a number of different ways. I like to tinker and I've been meaning to do this for a while. It keeps the line readily available and contained. I used 3/4" elastic from Walmart and some 3/16 grommets I had designed for Kydex. Easy peasy..... Looks a bit better than rubber bands.....

Interesting. I've seen several variants of the FG knot. All were basically the same with only slight variations. I would think that burying the tag ends would be preferable, but I certainly could be wrong.I'm a newbie with this knot but this is how I've done it: 10 wraps each side lock wraps with 1 half hitch 6 alternating half hitches cut FC tag end then 4 more alternating half hitches - covers FC tag end finish with a Rizzuto finish (braid tag end gets buried) Do I have it right? (apologies for the crappy photo)