BoatSquirrel

I had a tackle store owner tell me the shortage was just starting for them. Hence I went on another round of padding the already massive stockpile. Ned heads, Strike King Rage baits, line...I WILL NOT run out of ANYTHING!

With the setup you mentioned, between 15-30 lb seems like a good weight. Braid is very difficult to break off if you get hung up so for sure go with a 4-10' leader of mono or flouro. Check out an FG or Alberto for your connection knot. You have found a tremendous wealth of knowledge here on BR. Welcome back to the sport and good luck!

The way to maximize this number is to make the mistake I did which is the dedicated set-up. Ned rig setup, dropshot setup, jerkbait setup, flippin setup, crankbait setup.... well then I need a second crankbait setup, and pretty soon you end up with a dogpile of endless combos. Then get into swimbaits! Oh boy...

Having lived in both, Knoxville is very nice and has the superior scene for outdoors folks. However, it can seem a bit small sometimes. Nashville is also nice but has fewer big lakes nearby. Nashville by far has the superior city life. A guy could eat at every good restaurant in Knoxville in a month but could never run out of places in Nashville. Bass Resource for the best reports by far!

Wheeler must be headed to the Evinrude support trailer! Happy to see JLucas wacking em. That man is due!

So who else here on BR fishes Middle Tennessee in a yak? I am heading to the Duck River this weekend to show some brown bass my ned rig skills. Anyone else?

The ned is not a great option for grass. TX rig is better. But these heads work well around wood and rock. https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Lifted_Jigs_Ned_EWG_Jig_Heads_3pk/descpage-LIFTND.html There are other folks making similar options, BR's old friend Siebert makes some. Bought some good ones on ebay. Good luck man.

Usually with a dropshot, when the bait hits the bottom and the line goes slack, I pick up and either feel the weight, or feel the fish. The initial drop is my bite getter. I will give the rod a very minimal shake, then pick up and pitch it back out there. Bait size does not seem to matter. 4.75" finesse worm for the win.

That Lite Tackle is all of 85 lbs. Loading the 73lb Jackson is significantly easier. The Ultralight did not take on much water through the scuppers but some wine corks can take care of that. Good luck Ess!

There are lots of good kayaks out there, the trick is matching your fishing style to the right boat. I have been in both of the Crescents. In my opinion, the Ultralight is the perfect creek and stream boat. Comfy seat, very shallow draft and stable. Handles quick. The UL has shallow sides so it feels like it sits low in the water, and I weigh 175. The Light Tackle is a very good do all boat. It feels much bigger than the UL. It does draft a few more inches than the UL but tracks well on flat water and also has a nice seat. The drawbacks of the LT are it is fairly heavy and I could stand in it but not great, and it tended to spin when I stood up. I thought it was stable but my buddy got in it and promptly flipped it. I think the Crescents favor experienced paddlers. Good boats overall. I sold my Lite Tackle in favor of a boat I could more easily stand in. Ended up in a Jackson Bite. Super solid, wide and stable, and tracks surprisingly well. At 73 lbs, it feels much lighter to load in the truck than the LT. Hope that helps!

Anybody else notice this week's MLF at Sturgeon Bay has a reduced payout? Winner only pays $65K as opposed to their normal $100K...A very interesting turn of events. Wonder whats next over on that circuit.

Yet another reason to ditch FB

I think theres a fairly significant group of anglers who would walk out of MLF tomorrow if not for that $50K buyout. Lots of factors in play for 2021. Going to be interesting!

You are definitely onto something Eddie. When I first saw the TokyoRig, my first thought was "gimmick!" After watching guys catch fish on them I thought it was worth five bucks to try at a pond I fish that has a muddy, mucky bottom. There is no gimmick about the TokyoRig. The swimming action that the ring produces combined with the way the bait stops before it hits the bottom is money. I may not be able to buy a topwater strike this year but the Tokyo has been a flippin mo-chine for me. Good job making your own!

Choice A.

AJ, do you always run your menace on its side?

The Swimjig Master...

It just seems like the days I get to go, the pressure is high or something is keeping the fish looking down. The jerkbait and senko bite was great this spring, the flippin bite has been killer. Catching plenty but just crazy luck of the draw I guess...

Both answers above-and my beloved Bomber Long A. Numerous 20+fish days year after year.

Am I the only one that cant get bit on a topwater this year? 2018 was the exact same. I throw topwater first, third and again in between cathching fish on other baits until the end of the day. Soft plastic bite making up for it but I am DUE on the frog, spook, plopper...Yall?

Dont let those rednecks get to you Jed. Generosity is rarely wrong. Besides, those chumps will go back to drinking, beating each other, or meth soon enough.

You will!

This topic has been hook focused but lots of factors at play here. I fish with 3 different guys. The two that are the more experienced sticks cannot seem to land a fish on a ned rig to save their lives. The least experienced guy can catch em because he uses the right rod for the technique, a flimsy little crappie rod that loads up right. Is the rod you are using too stiff?

I love frogs. Spro Bronzeye and Booyah PadCrashers are interchangeable, both very good walkers. The Jackall Gavacho is the easiest of all the frogs I have fished. They all will walk with very slight rod movement, and some good ol powerpro braid.

Last year I caught my pb smallmouth on a WhopperPlopper 75. The fish came clear out of the water after it. They eat that thing with absolute anger!