Tackleholic

I tried to buy 2 Daiwa rods but ran into the same problem.

Creek Chub Pikie Minnow, Arbogast Hula Dancer, Heddon Sonic, Bass Oreno, Tin Liz (if I still had any), Johnson Silver Minnow, River Runt, Johnsonite Feathered Spoon.

I have a lot of rods, mostly from the same mfgr., but I am probably going to make a change. In general, can I get some comparisons and opinions from those of you who are familiar with one or the other, or both. I prefer sticking with one brand. Thankyou to all. Price is not my guidline.

Sometimes pads are concentrated in very shallow water with mud bottom and no accompanying shade from the bank. This water heats up pretty fast and usually doesn't hold much of anything but Carp.

A stream in Illinois where I would wade for Smallmouth wearing only shoes and shorts, carry everything in a belt pack. I would continue for hours; never see or hear a vehicle or another person, only the wildlife. I would usually turn back after 30-50 Smallmouth and a few of other species. I now live in a great area for fishing, in Arkansas, but that Illinois stream was true paradise.

Hope I remember that in 2 years when this one goes.

Good point, I'll add that to my list of personal excuses.

It could be a good idea to let about half of the spooled line drag, weightless, behind the boat once the wind knots begin. Just noticed Tennessee Boy said it first; we're on the same page.

An option for the "old guys" is to take a year off to study and learn to use the new electronics until they are on par with the young ns'.

I agree with A-Jay; ten years is a good run for just about anything on a boat. I had a 4 bank charger which came with my new boat, it lasted 2 years. The replacement also lasted 2 years, but this time the mfg. repaired or replaced it, not sure which. Trolling motor battery went into it's 5th year before giving up the "Ghost"; I thought that was pretty good.

Could not have much worse than that, I wish you a full recovery. I had a scary situation with ground wasps while mowing with my zero turn mower; lucky I wear glasses. One of them bounced off my glasses while another got me on the eyebrow and closed that eye for about a week. Nasty critters!

Gotta say I have it pretty good. In 10 minutes I can be backing my VX21 Vexus out of my stall at the marina on Bull Shoals Lake. In the heat of summer and cold of winter when the Bass bite seriously fades, I can have my jon boat in the White River in about 15 minutes for world class trout fishing. I spent my younger years wade fishing for smallmouth in Illinois.

Clever quote QuakeNShake, but IMO you are wrong.

I used Berkley Trilene Fluorocarbon for many years, but last year I began to suspect it had too much stretch. To compare, I bought a spool of Sunline Super Sniper; big difference, I've switched to Sniper.

No. All my Shimanos are back in their original boxes and in the garage; Daiwas are rigged and ready.

FFS and other related new technology are forcing some of the "oldest and best" true anglers out of their livelyhood. Younger generations will always be moving up in the ranks of all sports, but the old veterans are losing their status to kids who have been playing video games since they could crawl. It's not fair.

Were the Carp spawning?

I've tried a lot of them, but always went back to Megabass. These days they are all I buy and all I use. No Pike, Pickerel, or Muskie here.

I prefer the SPRO brand.

I begin with 2-4, finish with 6-8; different presentation on each.

Hi Scott and welcome. You must live near my old stomping grounds; I grew up wade fishing for Smallmouth in the Mazon River and prowling the strip mines. I don't make it back there anymore.

White skirt with 4 nickel willow leaf blades when there are lots of small shad; not unusual for fish to bite the blades.

The above photo posted by Bazoo is a Ringworm.....isn't it?

My favorite smallmouth worm was a 4" curly tail in the color Tequila Sunrise; Rattlesnake made them, I don't believe they are around anymore but I still have 1 bag from over 20 years ago.

I always use a trailer and have used most of those mentioned above. This year I switched to a Z man Scented Jerk Shad 3.5 inch. The slim profile and buoyancy aid in keeping the spinnerbait from rolling over.