roadwarrior

Upsize! Big baits catch big fish. If you want to catch some big largemouth, focus on soft plastics and jigs. On the otherhand; Why waste your time fishing for green trout if smallmouth are an option?

sunfishkid, Welcome aboard! avid, The G.Loomis Xpeditor service is $50 "all in", no additioanl charge for shipping.

Although I don't really think the color is important, smoke blue is fine. I blends especially well in stained water. You found yourself a sweet deal!

DO NOT buy the Triumph. I suggest that you keep an eye on the Flea Market on this Forum. Chances are good you can pick up a Symetre or maybe even a Stradic that will fit your budget. As a matter-of-fact, if you are patient, you will probably be able to buy a combination (rod & reel) at a better price.

That's a great day in my book. Thanks for the post and pics!

Thank you for the post, there is nothing you can do about the weather. It seems to me you guys did alright under the circumstances. We're three weeks away with fingers crossed!

You might be surprised... I've been fishing some water in my back yard for about five years. I haven't actually caught any fish yet, but sometimes at night, after a few beers, I think I have gotten some bites! :

I fish all soft plastics and light jigs on a 7' MF spinning rod and #6 Ultra Soft.

Prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Rainsuits are "standard equipment."

That sums it up. Very clever, Zel. "A" for aggravating coverage really strikes the heart of the matter, "What audience are they targeting?" Not me.

I fish #6 on spinning tackle and #12 on baitcasting gear. I have never been broken off by a fish using this line. Can you use #8 or #10 on spinning tackle? Maybe. You will probably like it just fine, but leave a little extra margin when filling your spool.

Tomato stake? Throw it away.

The length and power rating you choose has a lot to do with personal preference. I fish all soft plastics on a 7' MF spinning rod. Medium power has plenty of backbone for landing big fish and makes bass under 5 lbs more fun to catch. I think the power rating has more to do with the weight of lures you plan to use rather than the fish you hope to catch. Medium Power fits me very well.

Excellent!

Yellow Creek is going to be better suited for targeting largemouth and Kentucky bass. Still, you might be able to pick up a few smallmouth off of main points. The docks and creek mouths are sometimes hot, but not necessarily for the brown fish. Smallmouth prefer current on this river system. Your best shot is fishing the river below one of the dams.

Welcome aboard! My preferred artificial lures are jerkbaits, but I think grubs, Hula Grubs, Fat Ika and tubes are more productive.

Three weeks and counting! Great fish.

Cabela's Guidewear is The Bomb!

From a "product quality" stand point, X-Rap and Husky Jerk stand well above the Smithwick Rogue. However, all three of these lures catch fish. You just need to test your Rogues before fishing them and then keep an eye on them because they also go bad. I buy mine at BPS and have never had a problem exchanging defective products.

G.Loomis SJR783S or 843S St. Croix Avid AS66MF or 70MF Now, if you want to kick it up a couple of notches, my smallmouth rod is a G.Loomis GLX PR844S.

Well, I understand what you're saying about the physical appearance of the fish, it doesn't look much like any smallmouth I have ever seen, either. However, the "species" or the fact that this is THE FISH David Hayes caught has NEVER been in question. All of the controversy has revolved around the actual weight and accusations of inflating that weight by adding lead to the fish. Those charges have been found to lack substance and the preponderance of evidence has led to the certification of this fish as The World Record.

Raul, We already know your Pixy is not pink, just a very subtle red! :

Hey Fish! I notice that one in your avatar is smiling. What did you do to her?

Slow day? Here, let me tell you about my new Daiwa outfit: So, wadda ya think? :

Smallmouth seem to run together as a "year class." When they are schooled, they all seem to be the same size, big or small. I have never caught a big largemouth in a spot associated with big smallmouth, but I have caught big Kentucky bass in the same areas.