Kev-mo

Dang, you guys are killing me... been holding off on the SB's, and those sonic sides yeah they look real good!

Kayaks are a 'thing' because a whole industry has been built around it. It's just that simple.

Pinch down or snip off the barbs on whatever cranks they might use. Sure they may lose a fish or three but's it beats a clinic trip etc.

You don't. OP only mentioned removing the blunt end if you want to use them like snips.

That green... along with the cranks and the way they reflect the light from the reels, that's friking awesome!!!

1/2 oz. spinnerbait, 3/8 and 1/2 oz. buzz bait 5/8 and 3/4 oz. jerk baits, bigger swimbaits. All this stuff fishes and casts more efficiently on equipment that is rated for it.

What would you guys recommend using when wading? Looks like maybe the Plug Knocker, Strike Zone or something similar. Sometimes stuff is just out of reach even with the length of the rod. Do you ever break any lures or bills letting a 2-3 oz. weight slide down the line or is more of controlled slide and crash with a line tied to the weight? Do you tie a retrieval line to those?

I'd suggest the M tall, only 2 more inches in inseam and accommodate 10 extra pounds of person versus the medium but you'll get the better sized bootie.

X3 on going a bit bigger. Also try them on with the boots you plan to wear. You'll want to get booties that fit your feet so those mediums will be too small IMO. Sure the neoprene will stretch but you'll stress the seams too much and cause leaks (happened to me). I wear a 13 shoe and get a XL wader so I get that 12/13 neoprene bootie with plenty of room to layer for the colder months/water.

Don't make a big investment, just put them on one lure and try them for a day/week/month to see how you like them. Also those Mustad's are extra strong while the Gama G finesse are light wire. The Gama's are sweet hooks but you kind of have an apples and oranges thing if you are comparing the two.

This^^ saw a couple young you tubers talking up/about Shimano just like they were getting sponsored by them. Perhaps Shimano is once again ahead of the game?

It's been pretty mild for us also and December was a good month for me. I fish small to medium size rivers. Lures that have worked have been a swim jig with paddle tail trailer, float and fly, square bill(s) and jig/grub, big and small jerk bait and tubes.

Another vote for McCoy copoly.

You really want to look at inches per turn rather than ratio, and that will vary based on reel sizes (50 vs. 200) and how full the reel is. The biggest advantage to having a higher geared/more IPT reel would be to keep up with a fish swimming downstream towards you after hooking up.

What were doing when you bent out hooks and split rings? Only asking because I bent a couple regular round bend gammies on square bills but it was all operator error. Improperly set drag on bigger fish in current. As far as hooks for jerkbaits I like the gammie magic eye and both the light and heavier version of the TWG gammies. Oh and A-jay; I'm a semi selfless human...

X2 what Preytorien said. I think it's a rod/lure combo though. Too heavy of a rod and too light of a lure won't allow lure drag to be created so no tension on the line creating loose coils as you reel. Using braid helps a little...

It sounds like your cadence is off or your jerking with too much slack line. Maybe you jerk then bring your rod forward for the pause and the line falls off the reel just enough to create a loop before you start the reel/jerk process again.

Keeping your hands dry is key and the blue nitrile gloves work great! I also picked up a pair of Patagonia R1 gloves a few years ago just to try and those work exceptionally well also (little pricey though...).

If you felt like there was too much bootie that will eventually be a problem either from improper fit/wear on the bootie or it could even cause you to trip while wading leading to who knows what. I highly encourage you to look at other wader brands to get the proper fit. I believe Simms are the only ones who use Gore-Tex so that leaves everyone else in the same arena. Cabelas are decent waders, but the sizing was off for me. Their 12-13 bootie was too small and eventually leaked. Look at Reddington, Orvis, LL Bean etc. Check out the warranties and get something that fits properly.

Did you try any boots on with the waders? Were you wearing the socks you would wear while wading? For reference I am a size 13, about 6'2" and slender. I am very comfortable in Simms XL, size 12-13 stocking foot. Plenty of room for layering if needed and extra inseam length for bending or squatting. I wear a M/ML weight wool sock and could wear something a little thicker if needed for colder temps. Also it seems to me that most wading boots are sized to fit the neoprene bootie and a thicker sock. Not all boots are sized/fit the same just like shoes. Some are boxier etc. You're kind of in between sizes which is tough. You will have seam leaks in the booties if they are too tight (been there...). I've had several different brands of waders and I think Simms Gore-Tex are the best (thus far). Yeah they have leaked from brush busting and operator error but they were repairable.

You can do either. I've found that some presentations are easier one way but other than that it really doesn't matter. The best argument for upstream imo is safety especially if you are wading at waist level or above and can't see the bottom. You don't have the current pushing you if you trip over something, are in a shelf like area or step into a hole or a soft bottom muck area.

All waders leak at some point so I guess it depends if you're looking for something that will last and is repairable or if you're leaning more towards throw away once they leak. As mentioned LL Bean has a good warranty. Cabelas used to have a lifetime warranty but who knows now... Definitely go with a breathable stocking foot and separate boots. Make sure you get a stocking foot that says it fits size 13. Don't think cause it's neoprene it'll stretch and be okay. You will stress the seams and they will leak. Speaking seams... if you stress/stretch them they will leak. Make sure you oversize a little bit so you have room when bending, squatting, lifting your leg over a laydown etc. Also if you plan to wade in cooler temps you'll want some room to layer both on top and bottom. As far as brands go... personal preference just like everything else. I think Simms are the only ones using gore tex so they stand apart.

Been lurking for awhile... lots of knowledge on here; not sure how much I can contribute but will chime in when appropriate. Now I mostly chase stream smallies either wading or new to kayaking this year but fished for most species at one time. Some of you guys and that d**n monkey are responsible for a smaller bank account but an increased catch rate; so thanks!

Long time lurker... I'll introduce myself later. Probably not the best first post as it's dissenting but have to 100% disagree about not fishing "downstream". While it's true fish generally position themselves facing upstream they also roam depending on current flow and you can easily and naturally present your offering by quarter casting downstream much in the same way fly fisherman drift a fly. While the mechanics are different the process is the same. I've done this with plastic, swim jigs, jerkbaits, squarebills etc. I'd also "argue" you can just as easily get hung up fishing upstream bringing your lure downstream with the current. You have less control and it's easier for the current to swing your jig/lure under a rock or into a snag. I'm not saying fishing "downstream" is better, just that it is a viable and potentially productive option. Let the river conditions and fish activity dictate if you fish upstream or downstream.