PhishLI

He's kinda sorta retired, he thinks, maybe, so he's giving up the goods. Yup. Baits and specific techniques. They even spot burn in this one.

It's the opinion of several Daiwa guys here and elsewhere that the new 2020 Zillion is superior.

I'm digging this one for right now.

For anyone upset about the price, or rising price, of a handcrafted specialty luxury item, stop and think. Look up what's considered a small business. One primary and a few workers doesn't qualify as one. It's microscopic. There is no economy of scale. Things take time. Workers get paid. The manufacturer risks everything, pays fed, state, disability and family leave, unemployment, accountants, and whatever else they come up with for every dollar earned. Heat, A/C, water, carting, packaging, and on and on. If you don't want to pay the asking price, then don't. Build it yourself or buy something else. Discouraging strangers on an online forum from buying from a tiny business that's taking all the risk while you take none isn't nice and it isn't necessary. I don't own a single Kistler anything. Being in the same boat, generally, makes me wonder how I'd feel if some anonymous internet personality was gunning for me simply for trying to keep the lights on and not because I'd actually done anything wrong.

Try these guys: https://carolinafishingtackle.com/pages/ourbrands https://www.thehookuptackle.com/

If the bassin gods took away all my toys, but left me with a choice of just one, that would be easy. The Megabass Hazedong Shad 4.2 in Green Pumkin Blue, NUMA EBI, or Moroku, rigged on an Ownwer TwistLock Light Weighted CPS 5/0 3/32oz(5167W-705) This bait can be fished anywhere. Through Lily pads, on top, middle, and bottom, and just about any way imaginable. Just about perfectly weedless. Go to a lighter hook to change things up for a slower fall. There's nowhere that it doesn't get bit and everything wants to eat it.

Here you go

I keep a box full of them in stock in a range of sizes and colors, 'cause when they're keyed in on them it's on. They're great here from ice out until the weeds choke us out, then I put them away. Not a bait for throwing around wood. You'll lose them one after another. I've caught fish retrieving them any way imaginable, but burning them on the bottom has done the best for me. Bigs, smalls, and anything in between will chomp them.

If you're struggling to get dialed in with a typical weightless fluke, but wish to stick with a fluke type bait then try a 5" SK Caffeine Shad. A 5/0 round bend worm hook, or even better an Owner 5/0 Twistlock Light (unweighted) combined with that bait will be quite a bit heavier than a standard 5" Zoom fluke. I can cast it nearly frog distances on a Powell Inferno 703CEF 7" MHXF and a Lew's Tournament Pro LFS. It's also a good fish catcher around here.

I was getting nowhere one night in early March. 38* water temps. Tied on a WP 75 in perch and it was on. Stuck with it. Was my best producer up until May 1st where water temps only reached 42*. The two 5 1/2ers below were both caught in 42* water.

Our water was stuck in the low 40's due to the relentless wind and cold nights last spring all the way up until the close for the spawn on May 1st. We did very well on wakes, glides, and Whopper Ploppers beginning at the end of February. It was nutz.

New swimbait rod for the Yak. Short handle and nice 'n light. Irod Genesis III Swimabit Jr.

Oy. Thank god I was born in the 60's surrounded by "danger", and nobody even blinked. Just about everyone I grew up with is still here, except for one that lost in a shootout with police. We knew he was crazy in the 1st grade. So now YT videos present a danger? C'mon. Frank and Dean smoked and drank on TV! Evel Knievel broke every bone in his body every few weeks, and all the little kids gathered 'round to watch. Ali said terrible things to Joe Frazier, and we all heard it on Sunday morning on Wide World of Sports. Most of us were protected from nothing, and those who were usually turned out to be the most wild. Ever try hiring some of these new gen "protected" mushballs? Yeesh. It's ponderous. The previous generation to mine thought we were a bit soft, and we were in comparison, but now? Those guys wouldn't believe it. OP: Teach your children to be alert. Show them examples of poor choices and their possible consequences. Hide the world from them and they'll only want it more, and they'll deceive you to see it. YT is everywhere you're not.

That line rating starting at 8lb is meaningless. Some guys use 4000 size reels to further reduce management problems with plastic mainline. I'd use 2lb mono on my 3000 without a second thought and reap the benefits of the larger diameter spool.

I am.

When I hear plastic mainline is a must my impulse is to recommend the Tatula LT3000-CXH. It's the shallow spool version, but it still holds plenty of line, and the large spool diameter is the difference maker. I've had no line management issues using line from 6lb fluoro to 8lb copoly. Casting distance, if I need it, is also great with the larger diameter spool. Plus it has an AR switch if that matters to you. It does to me. I swap mine between 6'6"M and 7'M Tatula rods depending on where I'm fishing. It's worth a hard look, especially if you've had line twist issues with smaller reels.

several more over 10 on the same day

There's a good chance we'll get to see this catch on YT very soon seeing that Milliken is in this pic with the Zark. It's probably legit. P.S. All the catches were caught on camera on Milliken's boat. 6th Sense baits for all catches. Should be an epic vid.

Then you don't need a heirloom quality reel. You'll be fine with your choice.

There's a St. Croix Mojo Yak series out. 13 has a new Yak Series Omen Black 3. There are others. They key feature is shorter handles. Worth a look.

Yup. Straight into the Grey Poupon.

Me too, but ain't that just the way it goes? The good stuff will kill ya.

Personally I'm never discouraged. I spent years getting the living crap kicked out of me then went back for more simply in order to compete. That's just how it goes. Getting skunked is just like getting a bruise. Skunked comes down to my failure to find fish. Not the moon cycle, or fishing pressure, or the barometer, just me. In my head if I keep thinking and working I'll win eventually. Winning soothes the bruises every time.

Do a google search. It will bring you elsewhere. I don't think I'm allowed to link to it here. As I said above, it's thinner and smells like a portion of MEK( Methyl Ethyl Ketone) is mixed in. Could break down several different ways. Whatever the mix, it's unhealthy to breath in for sure. Personally I'm not interested in the expense and time trying to concoct an alternative for something that costs $12 at my local F&S. An ounce goes very, very far. Here are a few tips:

It's not exactly pvc cement. It's way thinner and comes with a strong whiff of MEK. You can find the breakdown of components and ratios tried over the years to match Mend-It. They're out there, but an ounce goes a very long way. It'll fix many hundreds of baits. Smear some vaseline where the cap meets the glass jar to form a seal, then store it in a cool dark place like a drawer. Some claim the frige is the best place. It lasts a long time if you close the cap between each application on each bait. nope