walleyecrazy

Sometimes I feel like it’s an episode of Scooby doo, and at the end of their videos someone is going to pull off their masks and expose them as the bait monkey ?

Honestly they are both fantastic hooks. It just comes down to personal preference. When I use the owners I usually go for the light mosquito because I use a drop shot rod with a very light tip, and I find I get a better hookup with the lighter hook.

I’ve had a super duty 300 for about a year, and have loved it so far. It’s a fantastic casting reel that is also very smooth on the retrieve. I can’t speak to longevity however as it isn’t something I use everyday, and I’d assume that guiding would see it used quite a bit more than I use it.

Wow, I wish we had them up here. I would definitely grab a few just for the hell of it at that price.

Costa Reeftons are by far my favorite pair of sunglasses. I actually like them enough that I now own three pairs of them.

Picked up some Big TRD’s to replenish my supply, and a couple other baits just to try them out.

That perch one is amazing! I need to get my hands on something like that. Most of the lakes that I fish are loaded with perch.

That has been my experience with ordering rods from Amazon. I decided after my last experience that I will no longer be ordering rods from them. I ordered a Daiwa Tatula Elite with the AGS guides through them. It showed up in a long cardboard box that was all of about 2"x2" and had no protection whatsoever for the rod. I opened the box to find the rod in two pieces. It hurt my heart a little to see such a nice rod treated like that. I returned it and promptly ordered the same rod from tacklewarehouse knowing that they know how to properly ship a rod.

FYI not all plastic bodies are created equal. An example is the difference between the Fuego LT and Tatula LT. The Tatula LT has a fiber reinforced “Zaion” plastic which is much more rigid and resistant to flex than that of the Fuego LT. I believe the same is true with the Shimano reels where the Stradic CI4+ has the fiber reinforced body where the cheaper models do not. Also as far as the Daiwa BG, I will say that it is an incredible reel for the money. I would say it is probably the best spinning reel you can get at its price point.

The handle screwing into the gear like this is actually a more secure way of doing it. My Tatulas actually have no play in the handle. The one thing you may want to do is replace the bushings in the knob with bearings. That really tightens things up even more, and is worth the few dollars it costs.

Mine go to is a 4” roboworm in the Aaron’s magic color on a #1 VMC sureset drop shot hook with a 1/8oz cylinder weight. A close second is the dream shot OPT in the magic color with the same hook and weight.

After my personal experience with the Mach crush, I would say hold off on it. It is actually the only item I have purchased from Lew's that I have been disappointed with. It feels much cheaper than its price tag and just lacks overall refinement in my opinion. If you are dead set on a combo I would spend a little more and get the custom black speed spool lfs combo.

That’s really going to depend on what range of “light” you are speaking of, but generally you will be throwing that stuff on spinning gear. I have from ultra light up to medium rods for the lighter stuff that I use for various different techniques. What lures are you looking to throw? That would help us to better recommend a setup for you.

Picked up a couple of jerkbaits that I needed as backups, and a few other baits just to try out. I’m actually thinking of having one of the Mikeys custom painted.

You will be able to fish the ned rig with that rod, but it is not ideal. You will be lacking distance on your cast due to the lure not being heavy enough to load the rod tip. You will also have to ensure that you are not setting the hook as you will likely bend out the hook with that rod. Make sure your drag is set nice and light, and just reel into it when you feel a bite and you should be good.

I didn’t catch any monsters last year, but my biggest came on a 2.4” Megabass Dark Sleeper.

I think that exact setup is going to be my next purchase. I’m currently using a Dobyns Colt 7’ ML paired with an Abu Garcia Revo SX20, and I’m looking to upgrade.

After heavily fishing finesse stuff the last few years I finally decided to get myself a dedicated rig for Ned rigs and hair jigs. Daiwa Tatula Elite 7’6” ML/M fast action paired with a Tatula LT 3000. I’m itching to get this thing on the water and see how sensitive these AGS guides are.

My wife once told me I have too much fishing stuff. I told her that that may be the dumbest thing she has ever said to me. She just shook her head with a smirk and walked away.

I've had great luck with the Spro rats. I found that I do the best on them when I slow them way down. I use a very slow retrieve so that they are doing a slow wobble on the surface usually parallel to shore.

I generally wear a pair of Columbia convertible pants that I have. They are actually meant for hiking but they are very similar to the PFG stuff. They are very light and breathable, and work perfect for fishing out of my kayak so I don't get sunburn on my legs.

For $150 for a reel I'd keep an eye on the Daiwa Tatula LT in the 3000 size. You can regularly find them for that price, and they are phenomenal reels. As for rods in that $150 range I'd look at the Daiwa Tatula, Dobyns Sierra, or Phenix Feather rods. Probably something like a 7' medium power with a fast action would be a great all around rod to start off with.

I have owned a decent number of Lew's reels, and was dissapointed in the Mach Crush. It just feels cheap and unrefined to me. I have cheaper reels from them that feel way more refined. I have actually been a fan of all the stuff I've had from Lew's with the exception of that reel. I would definitely go with the Daiwa over the Mach Crush.

My most expensive lure by a long shot is my S-waver 200. I think the next most expensive baits that I own are probably a couple Jackall Mikey 140's that I got for $20 each.

Don't usually listen to anything while fishing. I do usually have some southern rock or similar type music cranking on the way there though. Usual suspects are Whiskey Myers, The Steel Woods, Cody Jinks, Whitey Morgan and the 78's etc.