Jig Man

When we are it has been really good. The last 4 trips to Stockton have produced quite a few bass, respectively 74, 75, 82 and 60. We have caught smallmouth, largemouth, spots and meanmouth. It’s been a good run but since I had a cardiac procedure yesterday they want me to spend the next 3 months doing rehab which is going to put another cramp on my water time.

Twice my former neighbor cast a Curado out and dropped it over the side. I was able to get it back by snagging the line. All of the line spooled off as I was hauling it in. If the line weren’t tied to the spool it would be in Davy Jone’s locker.

The first time I fished with a guy who was using fluorocarbon line (12#) I was using clear mono (10#). We were fishing worms in one of my spots. He was also in the back of the boat. He boated 7 bass before I had a strike. That day lesson learned. I’ve been a straight fluorocarbon guy since.

I’m right there with you. My eye surgery was 15 years ago. Over time I have found more and more need for reading glasses especially in dark restaurants. I probably have a dozen pairs scattered around the house, car, truck boat, and garage workshop. Some are getting cloudy. When they bother me I send them to the land fill and buy a replacement. In my current collection the Optx-2020 Executive are the best ones that I have. I believe they were $6 at Wally World.

Technically I guess I troll. I fish shallow most of the time and keep the boat moving at .3 to .5 mph because we don’t catch many fish from the same spot. When fishing Shaky or Ned the bait tends to swing behind the boat and sometimes I just leave it there for a while which frequently gets me a fish.

The last time out my neighbor and I caught 75. All but 2 were on the Ned 1/16 oz head.

It depends on the body of water that you fish and the characteristics of the fish in it. Where I fish the bottom is so rocky that the heavier heads are hung up all of the time. I carry heads in sizes from 1/16 to 1/4 but rarely use anything heavier than 3/32. You can’t rely on what someone from a different area has to say if it is different from your area.

Most of my shaky worms and Ned baits are several years old as I have walked into places that were closing them out and bought their entire stock. I’ve bought as many as 150 packs at once. I don’t pay attention to their age. I just fish them.

The lake that I fish most of the time is 26,000 acres. Because of the lack of forage it takes 10 years for a smallmouth to reach 15”. In it Ned rigs and small swim baits are the dominant smallmouth lures. A 5# smallie is a monster in this lake.

I just checked. They do have a web site https://marinerepaircenter.com/

2 (5:1) Shimano Curados that I use for Arigs and top water.

Not on line but my electronics guys are Marine Repair in Springfield MO. 417-833-9191. If they don’t have one they should be able to guide you to a source.

That sounds like the micro switch is out. That has always been an issue with MG. When I ran one I always carried a spare in the boat.

I don’t have the reels which you mentioned ( Shimano fan boy) so I can’t speak to them. I use 8# line on many of my setups so I have all of the reels both spinning and bait casters set so that the drag slips a little on the hook set. That way I don’t break off when I swing for the fence.

I have been wearing golf rain gloves for 20 years. They are synthetic and thin.

My Fulton jack has been up and hundreds of times. It is coming up on 10 years old.

I reread your post. You mention a little oil on the water. Are you choking the motor when you start it? If so don’t and see if that changes. I don’t know what you mean by air in the line. As for leaving it hooked up in a parking space, mine was often hooked to the truck for two weeks or more when we did a lot of camping.

I’ve used it all. I used nothing but homemade buck tail jigs for years. I carried them in over 20 color combinations in 3 sizes. I don’t know how many I have caught on them. I fished them all year long. Then I got to using living rubber and got away from bucktail. I used rubber exclusively for several years then tried silicone for the color options. Now I carry all three types and vary which I use. I have grown partial to the Pee Wee jigs made by Jewell. I make some of my own but also buy there skirts for a change of pace. I the water column I’ll take bucktail. On the bottom give me rubber or silicone.

Besides white my off colored water is the bleeding shad which Wae Eagle used to make.

I don’t recognize anything that you have there.

Falkus if you would respond I might be able to help you. I throw jigs into tree lay downs and fish them back from limb to limb or completely across the limbs and back.

The first thing that I would like to know is about your setup. Then I might be able to offer you some advice. Please tell me what rod, reel, line, and jig type and weight you are using.

I know where you are. I am there also. Last fall my 2016 Z20 fiberglass fenders developed holes. I took it in to order new fenders. The main tech said if you order them I won’t install them. The problem is the springs have gotten weak and let the tires rub the fenders on every bump in the road. So we ordered new (stronger than original) springs along with new fenders. This was going to be a major cash outlay so I had them go ahead and do the bearings and hubs. I still look everything over before leaving home, before launching, after loading and when I get home. It’s been a year and I still am not comfortable. Even though we both have yearly maintenance I guess we are nervous Nellies.

Over time the wood might scratch the gel coat. If it were mine I’d either recarpet that skid or have whoever did the work replace it.

If you have one in your area check out Discount Tires. You can get almost any brand from them. I have bought tires for my boat trailer, utility trailer and truck from them. When I go back they check the air, rotate and balance the tires for no additional charge.