Tackleholic

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.

In the Ozarks it's Baby Poop in springtime.

I agree with WRB about using a circle hook, but practice is necessary with the hookset; read up on it. I also agree with Functional when he said to keep a finger on the line; that's very important in detecting bites. I used to use barbless circle hooks when wacky rigging for smallmouth but they were hard to find.

Not sure, but maybe you are using a thin, high quality fluorocarbon line and having difficulty seeing the line move; when fishing weightless most of your bites may come on the fall. If that is the problem, you could try switching to a high visibility braid for the mainline with a fluorocarbon leader; you should be able to see even the slightest line movement.

Good post on creatine, A-Jay, I'm a firm believer in it. I've been supplementing creatine 10 years longer than you, but you will probably catch up with me since you are 17 years my junior. I'm a gym rat when not fishing and most serious weight trainers are on creatine.

I should have worded my statement with "strive" to drop the meds. Let's get back to fishing.

I messaged you.

Drop the meds if you are on them, drop alcohol if you are drinking. Spend more time being involved with fishing, and join a gym. No one can go fishing every day, but today's gyms are mostly 24/7. You will gain new friends, attain new goals, probably adapt healthier eating habits, and go to bed tired every night.

Used them in the 1950's; "Bomber Goes Deep Where The Big Ones Sleep".

No one recognizes me without my Border Collie on board the Vexus, in my truck, walking, etc..

Caught a large bullfrog on a 6 inch worm; he leaped and grabbed it 3 feet in the air on a long cast.

Do you know the brand name of those wire cutters and where to find them on line? Thankyou.

Arkansas is the same. Oppressive heat, water temp. 85 degrees and climbing, baitfish everywhere. Begin fishing at 5:30 A.M., head for home at 7:30 A.M., maybe 3-5 non-bragging size fish, maybe zip.

Any chance you could post a picture of the wire cutters you described?