Finessegenics

They’re good baits for the price. Though when i went on my week long walleye trip earlier this year, the Shad raps massively outperformed them. I think it was more of a case of the fish preferring the silent Shad rap. The flicker shads have a nice tight action and the stock hooks are great too.

You’ll hear a lot of this^. I also like X Zone’s XTube, they have some interesting colors

I agree with @Fishes in trees. I have come across the same situation a handful of times. I would throw a popper or swim a large grub on the surface when i saw baitfish jumping out of the water, and the birds going nuts on them. I wouldn't get a bite and it left me scratching my head. Your topwater bait gets lost in that mess since there are likely hundreds, if not thousands of tiny baitfish in the area. What tends to work is a bait that runs deeper since the predators are usually below the baitball. I like a swimbait on an underspin, or some minnow style bait on a jighead. I imagine a spinnerbait would really stand out too. Throw it where you see the baitfish busting and there should be bass, or whatever predator underneath.

The bite was hot yesterday evening. The temps have been cool for a while but I was struggling to catch fish in my last few outings. Seems like the switch finally flipped and the bass are in feeding mode. They’re setting up on the same spots they were in the pre-spawn, which I find interesting. Caught most of em on a ned rig but had a few t-bone my fluke. None of them really got the hook though, it was more of a quick swipe.

Try fishing it on the back of a Carolina rig. Use a long mono leader to get the most out of the bait. It’s not going to be the same look as the standard WR but it might work.

Bass Talk Live is probably the most popular bass fishing podcast/radio show but you won’t like it. Most of it is tournament talk, but there’s still plenty of stuff to learn. The only one that comes to mind at the moment is Tackle Talk with Andrew Hayes. I listen to him on Spotify. The shows cover everything from seasonal techniques, to baits, and he also does the occasional interview with a pro. My only gripe is the episodes are already kinda short and there’s always a few minutes of ads so then it feels even shorter, but hey it’s ‘free’. I just realized there is also Alex Rudd, who has a youtube channel as well. He doesn’t host the podcasts regularly but I don’t find the content as entertaining anyways. He talks more about techniques and tips/tricks.

That’s a beautifully coloured smallmouth. You can go to just about any Canadian Shield lake and if there is SMB they’re going to be giants. I’m in the suburbs east of Montreal. There are LMB nearby but I’d have to drive at least an hour to get to some good LMB spots. My guess is the LMB don’t like the cooler weather and it stunts their growth since the summers are shorter (meaning less time to feed heavily) and the winters much harsher. The same goes for smallmouth but they apparently prefer water temps a few degrees cooler than LMB. There is also a heavy, constant current in the rivers/lakes near me and LMB don’t really like that either. The smallmouth are more prevalent because their characteristics and preferences are better suited to the environment here.

Extremely easy? I’m not a walleye guy but I’m going to have to disagree. Maybe it’s less work in the sense that you’re trolling or bottom bouncing , so you’re not constantly casting/working. But those schools of summer walleye roam like smallmouth do and can be hard to track. Even once you find them, it can be pretty hard to get them to bite without live bait. To answer your original question, largemouth are just far more prevalent and that’s why they are more popular. They get more attention from media because they are easier to make money off of especially if they’re more common throughout the country than SMB. It makes sense for the industry to gear itself towards largemouth because the baits would be easier to sell and so on. I know this is the reason because it’s the opposite here. Smallmouth are much much more common than largemouth and get bigger than the largemouth. Sure, there’s probably a 6-7 lb largemouth somewhere in Quebec but any largie above 4lbs is rare. In the meantime, almost all our waters have smallmouth and the opportunity to catch a 20” + is present in any river or lake. If you go to tackle shops here you will find a lot more selection in dropshot baits, tubes, ned baits etc... Flipping jigs, creature baits, 10” worms and even just a tungsten weight heavier than a 1/2 oz are harder to find. The flipping jig section at my local tackle store takes up a few pegs on a 4 foot stand.. Meanwhile they have a whole wall dedicated to different TRD colors and Zman baits.

That’s exactly my problem with them. The more budget friendly Shimano’s and also some of the higher end ones, are ridiculously heavy to me. They’re smooth, rugged as hell, but just way too heavy. I find they completely throw off the balance on shorter, lighter powered rods. Since this thread was originally about the Fuego, let’s stay in that price range. Say you want to to put a Nasci 2500 on a ML rig. Thats an 8.8 oz reel. Heavy. If we take a look at similarly priced competition (all between $80 and $100), it’s a different story: Fuego 2500: 7.2 oz Pflueger Supreme 30: 7.5 oz Okuma Inspira 30: 7.4 oz Lews Mach Crush 20: 8.4 oz Revo X 20: 7.7 oz Yea, I concede that the Nasci has a sealed drag and other features which the competition do not have. This can be the reason it’s a little heavier but the features are not worth the extra weight in my opinion. For a spinning rod, a light and comfortable setup is key. You can repeat this test with the Sedona, Ultegra and so on... I tend to shy away from Shimano spinners because of this but I might drastically upgrade and drop the big bucks on the Vanford when it finally gets in shops here in Canada. I actually own a Sedona 2500 which is currently on a 7’2 M rig. I’m going to finish the season with them but come Black Friday or Boxing Day both rod and reel are being replaced. I’m really interested in the Fuego (hence why I’m closely following this thread), Pflueger Supreme and the President XT. I’m looking for something lighter than the Sedona or Nasci. Just doesn’t feel right throwing finesse baits on a clunky, heavy reel.

I can’t give you much help about the Caffeine Shads. I own one pack in Smoky Shad and I think I’ve only ever thrown one of the baits. Didn’t care for them much but I’m sure they work. I know people who actually put them on underspins and swim them. I’ve also seen someone use them jigging for big walleye. Not much action but I suppose it’s just something the fish don’t see often. Anyways, I agree with you about the flukes. It’s pretty annoying to have to boil them. A long time ago, I switched over to the PowerBait Jerk Shad (the old model if you can still find them, https://www.berkley-fishing.com/berkley-bait-soft-bait-berkley-powerbait/powerbait-jerk-shad/1285513.html). They’re bulkier and have a bigger profile than a fluke but I find it works just as well, if not better. They’re not as soft as the fluke but they last long. And most importantly they rarely have the bent tail problem. Same goes for the newer model which I’m about to mention. The new PowerBait Jerk Shads (linked bellow) are identical in profile to a fluke. They are just as soft too. I do like them but not as much as the older models. They work well and are considerably different than the Caffeine Shad so maybe you’d want to check them out if you’re looking for an alternative to a fluke. With the fall transition here, at least for me, it’s the perfect time for throwing a soft jerkbait. So stick with it and I’m sure you’ll get bit. https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Berkley_Powerbait_Jerk_Shad_10pk/descpage-PJS.html Edit: here’s an interesting thread I just found. You might want to give it a read. Seems like the caffeine Shad is used more as an alternative to a senko instead of an alternative to the fluke.

My Mojo bass MLXF has to the same lure rating as your Procyon, 1/8-1/2. That covers all the weights I tend to throw on spinning gear. I like stroking 3/8 oz and 1/2 oz tubes on spinning gear, but I’d never do it on my ML. To me it seems like unless I’m fishing vertically, anything 3/8 oz or more just doesn’t feel right for MLXF. I didn’t mean it was impossible and of course there would be no issues using my ML rod. I just meant to say that in my experience it’s been more comfortable on a M. Not all rods are created equal either so whatever label they thrown on means nothing. I actually used to own a HMX MF and I found that thing to feel more like a MH. The tip was way too stiff for my liking. It was sensitive but I didn’t like the overall feel. Never threw a wacky rig on it though so I wouldn’t know what that’s like.

I don’t mean to hijack this thread but since were talking about the Fuego LT, I heard some of them have problems with uneven line lay. Have any of you guys experienced any of this?

I’m partial to St Croix. If your budget is around $200, the Avid X is a good rod. The mojo bass is also very good for just under 150$. There is a Mojo 7’1 Medium but that’s as long as their spinning rods go. Same with the Avid X, the longest rod in that lineup is also 7’. I’ll leave the decision of which brand to go with up to you. They all make good products and you’ll end up with something you like. Id definitely go with a M over a ML. I can’t imagine throwing a wacky rigged GY Senko on my ML rod. They’re pretty heavy (the worm itself is 3/8 oz but don’t quote me on that) and cast a lot better on a M rod. Same with a shakeyhead. Even if the jighead itself is an 1/8 oz, throw on a 6-7 inch finesse worm and the bait is approaching a 1/4 oz. That’s too much for a ML rod. The only issue I see is if you’re throwing 1/16 oz ned rigs, it’ll be a bit tougher on a M. The M is still overall a more versatile stick if you truly only needed one spinning rod.

You’ve got it nailed down already. Ned rig, small swimbaits and senkos are about as good as it gets for creek fishing. I’d also throw in a small popper, some sort of floating minnow bait and an inline spinner. The floating minnow and in-line spinner will let you catch just about anything that swims in there, including the trout. A tube would be great too but they tend to get hung up like crazy so I’d shy away from that unless I knew the spot wasn’t insanely snaggy. Creek fishing is simple, target deeper holes of slack water near current or if you’ll be casting into current, have your bait naturally drift by a rock or log jam and you’ll get bit.

Any regular ballhead jig with a long enough hook would to do the trick. If I’m not mistaken though, the Ikas work best when rigged weightless on an EWG. If you want to fish a tube style bait on the bottom, just look for any hollow body tubes, I like the Strike King Coffee Tubes. Strike King also make some pretty decent priced heads. I’d go with 1/8 oz or 3/16 oz for a body of water that shallow. https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Strike_King_Tour_Grade_Tube_Jig_Heads_4pk/descpage-SKTJH.html

I’d go with the medium fast spinning. First off, when wind becomes a factor it is just so much easier to throw on spinning gear. Some of the jerkbaits I throw are pretty light (under 3/8 oz) and even though I have a DC reel I don’t get much distance. You can really bomb a jerkbait out there on a windy day with spinning gear. Secondly, a M/F spinning can be used for a lot of things so it’s pretty versatile if ever you want to throw something else on it. IMO, you don’t need a sensitive rod for jerkbaits. The hits are obvious, it’s not like you’re slow fishing something off the bottom. I’d still want a nicer rod because you’ll be working the rod a lot and a lighter one, like the Dobyns Sierra (im assuming it’s considerably lighter and more well balanced than the uglystik) will be more comfortable than the Ugly Stik. If you truly want to save some money though, the ugly stik should get it done. A shorter rod is also more comfortable for jerkbaits since you’re making that slashing motion. A long rod will be cumbersome and I don’t recommend anything over 7’. Most people use 6’6-7’. As for the line; Even if it is a suspending bait, fluoro isn’t a great choice because that will cause it to sink. Even if it’s braid to fluoro. I’d use mono or YZ hybrid as my line/leader so that the baits run true.

M/F is more universal but I have a ML/XF in my hands 90% of the time. I don’t throw ned rigs or hair jigs (1/16 oz up to 1/8 oz) on a M/F, it’s just way more comfortable on a ML. Then again, 1/8 oz ned rig and a 1/8 oz shakeyhead are not the same. I think the cut off for me is at 1/4 oz. that’s when I start bringing out the M/F. I also throw senkos and poppers on my M/F but I can easily do that on a casting MH/F. Same with stroking a tube. I usually opt for 3/8 oz and sometimes 1/2 oz. sure, I do it on a spinning M/F but if I really wanted to it could easily be done on a casting MH/F. That’s why I think a ML spinning rod is more useful for someone with only a few setups.

Shore fishing at a new spot today. Believe it or not this is my first fish on a chatterbait! Never understood the hype for that bait but I used it in place of a spinnerbait. Was using a slow, straight retrieve with some pumps mixed in. Also one of the very few green bass I caught this year.

Busted my Pflueger Supreme XT last week. I actually decided to downgrade and I think I’ll be okay with that decision! My President XT came in today and I got to say I’m impressed. 80$ less than my supreme xt and it feels just as great out of the box. Sure the drag isn’t as smooth but for the price I paid I’m very happy. I especially like how light the reel is and it’s what drove me to choose it over other similar reels like a Sedona or the regular President. Gonna test it out tomorrow morning on some shallow water largies. Anyone have any experience with this reel? I’ve heard that the knob on the handle is prone to falling off. Any truth?

Spinning reel, Pflueger Supreme XT. Always stored indoors after a trip. I didn’t dry it immediately because the reel felt fine for the rest of my session. I figured nothing was wrong. It was only when I took it out for my next outing that I felt the seizing up. Seems like it must’ve been wet when I put it away and never dried. I just took apart my reel and none of the gears seemed to have any obvious dirty spots. No fine sand or any debris really. I cleaned them, I’m now going to apply a bit more grease and see what happens when I put it back together. Pretty bummed about it because I liked the reel a lot and it performed well up till now. I’ve dropped plenty of reels in the water before and never had this happen.

Was wading a river the other day, and I lost my footing and fell in to the water. No big deal, my reel couldn’t have been submerged for more than 3 seconds. It felt fine the rest of the day. When I out yesterday though, the reel was a mess. It was seizing up but after a few handle turns would become normal again. I stopped using it because I didn’t want to damage it more and figured I’d have to tear it apart. So I was pretty disappointed that the reel was trashed after only dropping it in the water for a few seconds but I guess that’s what I get for being stupid and wading a river in flip flops. So is there anything specific I should do? I know I have to let the pieces dry off but do I tear apart my whole reel or just open up the side plate, let it air dry with all the pieces intact and then apply some grease? Thank you

Only time he doesn’t catch em is when I choose him for my fantasy team ?

Any line will deteriorate after extended exposure to the sun/heat. Not sure about the color changing thing but I’m guessing you mean the line doesn’t look clear anymore and looks somewhat used up. Follow your intuition, it’s probably time to change your line if it’s been on your reel for a while.

Which swing head do you use for that? I have trouble finding any swing heads with small 2/0 or 1/0 hooks.

If your river is usually clear but is now muddy for whatever reason, the fish will be tight to cover. If you know of any big boulders or sunken logs, I’d target directly behind them. I like to use tiny swimbaits or small worms on light jigheads. If the usual structure isn’t working, I cast upstream and let the current take my bait to present a sort of natural drift. I twitch/jig my bait to avoid getting hung up and to keep the bait moving. A lot of times something will pick it up, you’ll think you’re snagged but nope, fish on! Any color works for me but I like chartreuse and some green pumpkin orange variation. Another bait that has been doing well for me is a swing head. Run it like a crankbait over the rocks. I use a 3/8 oz head with a 3/0 hook. I usually throw on a craw trailer but a swimbait would work too.