GReb

I’m about tired of watching people fish Guntersville, st Lawrence, Champlain, St. John’s, Chick, etc.

I have two dedicated squarebill rods. My 1st string rod keeps 15lb Invisx on it. My secondary rod has 15lb McCoys Mean Green. From what I can tell the Invisx dives 6-12” deeper than the MG with most standard 1.5. That’s entirely a guesstimate based on my feel. The MG seems to hold up better around a lot of wood though. Regardless I like having the options. Plus I throw a lot of top water walking baits on the rod with MG so that’s a major reason why

Interesting nugget. Unfortunately that is something I’ll likely never have to worry about

Some of the younger bunch may not back reel but I have seen more than a couple grab the line and pull out drag by hand while fighting fish. The more control I have as an angler the better. Drag washer be dang Also the theory of applying light pressure and guiding a fish away from cover has absolutely worked for me on numerous occasions. I only apply the technique when hooking up on a long cast. The angles are more in your favor

Invisx

Most every reel above the $100 price point from a reputable brand will be serviceable. However they are all a little different whether it be ergo dynamics, brakes, etc. You may find that one fits you better than another. Or more likely one fits a certain bait profile better than others. I’ve owned them all and have figured out what works best for me. For instance I cast mostly Daiwas and flip/pitch Shimano. I prefer the mag brakes for smaller moving baits and wire baits (not aerodynamic). However I’ve always pitched with centrifugal brakes and Shimano has the best in my opinion. I also prefer Shimano when casting heavier lures like bladed jigs or swim baits. The beauty of reels is that you can sell them easily and they keep their value. I’ve sold numerous reels for what I paid for them the year before. If you have a little extra money and time I would advise anyone to buy different reels and sell the ones you don’t like. Until you do so you’ll always wonder about others. Plus it’s fun to try new equipment The flea market is a great place to buy and sell.

The Coastal SV is also an incredible reel that you can find around $150 with a little patience. I own the SV Tw and 2020 SV as well and they are all better reels than the Fuego, CT, and 100. I currently own them all. The 100 is my least favorite of the group. The curado K is great for heavier applications and I still prefer my chronarchs for pitching. The Daiwas are more well rounded in my opinion though.

If ya ain’t backlashing ya ain’t tryin hard enough

From my experience extreme accuracy and presenting the bait very finesse into the water is crucial. A big splash will cost you fish

I fish 6’8” - 6’10” rods for most applications. It’s the best compromise of accuracy, distance, and stamina for me. However in leverage situations I fish 7’2” - 7’3” such as flipping, frogs, and general heavy cover. I sold everything outside of these ranges. It’s just what I found works for me

I use 683 for jerkbaits, flukes, senkos, shakyhead, small traps, etc. You need the 684

The KLX graphite crank rod is still the best squarebill rod I’ve ever used. However the H3 73H I own is not my personal favorite and I’ll probably sell it this winter. It’s a sensitive rod and overall performs well but others fit in my hand better. It’s all personal preference

The Coastal is a beast and absolutely bombs lures over 1/2 oz. I use it mainly for bladed jigs but where it really shines is throwing spinnerbaits and buzzbaits. Baits that typically catch wind resistance and flutter.

So does Bass Tank with code BT93

My Zolo, Champion, and Zodias are all pretty close in sensitivity. I really have no complaints. However other rods in my arsenal such as Cara, Expert, and Helium are more sensitive in my hands.

I’m an expert at putting my hook in wooden objects This subject makes me think of something I heard a pro angler talk about recently. In the past top pros were experts in certain techniques. They relied on that technique to work for success. Now days these top guys are not expert in any one technique. I believe it was Wheeler that said his goal was to be above average at every technique, depth, etc situation. Being an expert at adapting to your situation will get you a lot further in the long run. I was listening to Patrick Walters on Luke Dunkins podcast the other night. They were discussing panoptix and about how Rick Clunn even has it on his boat. So you have Clunn who I would consider the foremost expert at bass fishing and is also an expert at adapting to new technology and techniques. Thats what it takes to win Bassmaster trophies spanning 50 years

Ski goggles are a life saver once the air temps cool off. I zip up my outerwear all the way and with the goggles it covers up practically everything. That combo is fine down into 30s and if it’s colder than that I’m staining in

Sportsmans outfitters has Bucoo rods for $69-79 with free shipping. I love my Bucoo trap caster. The original Lizard Dragger I is not enough rod for frogs in my opinion. Although the new Lowrider series only has one Lizard Dragger and I’ve heard it’s more comparable to the old Lizard Dragger II. I can’t say for certain though. You may want to try the Expert Bayou rod. It’s a shorter rod built for frogs. You can typically get an Expert for $150-160 if you make an offer on Ebay. Or just wait for Black Friday deals.

Happy to see live coverage coming back to cable. Streaming from the website is not a problem for me but you will never reach a new audience doing so. It’s good to see Bass making a strong comeback after MLF gutted them. Competition between the two is going be great for the future of the sport

My assumption is the drama of landing fish or losing them at the boat is too much to lose by allowing nets. I have no problem with either format. The 2 Lb minimum in most MLF events this year was a drastic improvement.

Crystal has always been my favorite. Louisiana next

Falcon Expert Head Turner. Light, sensitive, and one of the best all around blanks I’ve ever used. I own 3 Head Turners and if someone gave me 3 more I’d keep them all

same

I can’t ever seem to catch a fish on a crank over 5 feet deep. Most of my damage is 0-2 feet. That may be because i fish shallow lakes and reservoirs with stained water. Or maybe I just haven’t found the right spots. Regardless squarebills and wake cranks are always a producer for me. I’ve really focused on lipless this year and finally have caught some fish. On days where I can’t buy a fish on anything else a 1.5 or lipless has saved the day

I bought one several weeks ago and have only used it a couple hours. But from limited use I can’t tell a difference between it and my original CT. I actually prefer the I knobs though. also like so many 2020 Diawas it came dry as a bone.