J.Vincent

I owned a Silver Max that did the exact same thing after 2 years of fishing 120 days a year in freshwater and brackish/saltwater, but it was a 2014 SMAX2 version before they redesigned the clutch and improved the reel.

For a craw trailer maybe consider the BOSS Creature Skirts. They have built in Claws. No need to thread a trailer on if you don't want to.

For many years I fished ABA Michigan Division 9 Tournaments and we did paper tournaments in late May, only a few days before your June 4 and 5 trip. Most of the time in late May the fishing is very good on St Clair and 5 fish would often go between 14-18lbs. But with St Clair what’s amazing are the numbers of Bass that can be caught on a trip. It’s a Smallmouth Factory even when or if you aren’t catching giants. So I would say you will most likely enjoy the fishing .

Also the length was calculated at just over 2 1/2 of my size 10 hiking boots. So conservatively between 31 and 32 inches

Went fishing for Largemouth today in Southeast Michigan. I was pitching a Berkeley Pit Boss along a reed line where I generally catch Largemouth in May; and caught a Godzilla sized Freshwater Drum. I didn't have a scale to weigh this monster but it was half as long as my body, and way rounder than a regulation football. Is there anyway to calculate the weight ? Or does anyone have a guestimation on the weight ?

I recommend learning how to rig up a 6 or 7 inch Texas Rig Worm with a 1/8oz or 3/16oz. Bullet Sinker. Fish the Texas Rig until you can confidently determine the difference between a Bass biting and a Panfish pecking. This technique will teach patience and lure control. Many very good anglers began with the Texas Rig.

anything the color of a Baby shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo Baby shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo Baby shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo Baby shark! or just a plain ole White Shad or Chrome/Blue Back in the Fall and any Red or orange Craw pattern in the Spring. There are other colors I like and fish locally that work very well but overall those colors I mentioned seem to be universally productive.

Yes if they are solid instead of hollow

Strike King Red Eyed Shad Tungsten 2 Tap 1/2 oz Lipless Crankbaits are on sale at Academy today. They have 7 colors and they are $5.99 as opposed to $7.99 or $8.49 at other stores

Because everyone wants to eat the Breakfast of Champions !

Thank you for everyone's input....it's about $40 dollars worth of Mojo Weights and they are the color of chalk....if I can remove the oxidation then it's a success and a savings. Plus I'm very particular about how my tackle looks and works.

About 10 years ago I left a Mojo/Split Shot Kit in my cousins boat and the slip sinkers and Split Shots became oxidized or covered in a calcium like powder. What's the easiest way to clean up this old unpainted lead ?

No worries....I might just drive over and see if Dicks Sports has any on their shelf. Thanks !

I’m looking at the Lunkerhunt Kraken Walking Frog....not the Frog they make with chicken legs....has anyone fished the Kraken yet ? Was it the Lunkerhunt Kraken Walking Frog

I typically use Booyah Pad Crashers but I noticed Dicks Sports and Field & Stream , have the Lunkerhunt Hollow Body frogs on sale at 3 for $10. They look good and are priced nicely with this promo, but do they work well ? Opinions ?

Plano 3700 Pro Latch and Plano 3750 Pro Latch are very good boxes. They have slightly thicker plastic than many other brands, rounded hinges and quality latches.

Drifting and Dragging Tube Jigs , when Smallmouth are relating to the bottom in water between 10 and 25 foot deep, sometimes as deep as 30ft. This is a classic Great Lakes approach

For those type of lures I would spool up with 14lb Cajun Red Line, 12lb Pline CXX or 12lb Yozuri Hybrid

Yes that’s exactly what they look like. I did notice in the 50ct of bulk jigs I bought, it looks like on half of them the lead was slightly over poured and the eyelet isn’t cleared properly. Could this be low quality control or maybe they are from a custom Terminator mold ?

I’m not sure, I’ve searched Terminator Jigs and everything they currently make has an exposed style line tie. Luckily I have enough of these for a very long time!

I agree with this 100% . When I was 20 I loved fishing in the rain and wind and would fish no matter the conditions, now i have to mentally prepare myself to endure fishing in tough conditions.

Yep there are two Ollies within 20 minutes drive.....I will have to check and see if they have any LC lures in stock this year. Thanks for the heads up !

I have a few of the Smithwick Rogue from back in the mid 90s. I never took to that lure very much, seemed like my casting distance wasn't so great and if I remember correctly, there wasn't an internal weight transfer system for improved casting. Have they changed the design since the mid 90s ?

Yes I have a few Rapala XRaps in the box...and your right they are a good lure....but I actually have more of the RCSTX by Luck E Strike than anything.

Right Now in Michigan on Lake Erie; where the water is 48 to 49 degrees, off colored and raining; the bass don’t know what the heck to do !