Michigander

New truck day is always glorious!

You could try some fly tying lead wire and wrap that around the hook shanks. Likes GetFishorDieTryin said, you might be negatively impacting the lure action with too much weight. Drilling and filling is also probably a good idea. I would tie bullet weights to the hooks to get the total amount of weight it takes to keep it submerged and then focus on a strategy to add that specific amount of weight.

I was planning to build the G2 on the X-Ray I got from you, lol! I ordered the split grip NFC 3KEFXG3.75 kit, so we'll see how those weigh up on the scales when they get here. They have a picture of the grips on a scale on the NFC site but it doesn't have all of the components being weighed together so is of limited value to me. For my sensitive rods, I will have an NFC, a G2, and a Winn Grip setup that will all be similar and used for similar techniques. Hopefully, I can find either a clear winner or supreme confidence in saying that it doesn't matter so I can just go all Winn Grips from here on out, lol.

Not sure what one of the cats would do on the kayak, but adventure doggo likes it!

I've seen those advertised. Never encountered one in the wild.

Which is that?

I have a third rod that I might splurge on the G2 grips just to try them. Without the direct on-the-water comparisons, I will never truly know unfortunately.

I think the hook in hand thing is a main reason my tourney partner likes the keeper up front. I seem to get my line wrapped around a forward keeper once or twice a year so I don't like them up there. Having it integrated into the lock nut is also a cool way to go, like on this broken Intenza rod that I am repairing.

I feel like this winter is going fast compared to previous ones. Despite the forecasted winter-ness coming, I feel in a rush to get all my downtime tasks complete before soft water returns.

G2 stuff in the Bushido was on the short list, but due to its weight and cost, I went with NFC EBX grips to see if I like the carbon fiber life.

I also use the Texas Tackle ones, and Hyperwires. I don't recall having any deformed rings after upgrading.

What don't you like about the SSR tips?

Well, I can find a wacky custom rod for next week's rod deconstruction if you want. ? Just wanted to use production rods because they can have oddball components that might be a little more challenging to puzzle through.

You're like my tourney partner, hates them anywhere other than forward and under. I'm the opposite. However, per the game rules, the hook keeper needs to be rear of the grip and floating above the blank for this week's rod.

How would you do the keeper?

Buy colors based on the jigs you have confidence in, or colors similar to your favorite soft plastics. Or do what I did, buy a random variety pack, a few packs of green pumpkin, and then like ten packs of anything I thought looked awesome. Also, check out Smalljaw's channel on YouTube. Wealth of information.

So awesome to see those in metal!

Yes

I just don't bring my nicest stuff on the kayak.

We don't have shad here either, but we have light colored panfish and the bass seem not to mind. As long as it looks like food or something that deserves to die, a bass will probably take a shot at it eventually.

Thanks, Glenn! I have read those before but with winter upon us, I will read them again!

Snack Daddy Baby Elites. Stupid rigged.

What would be some starter keywords? Normal English probably isn't optimized for that search engine.

Note to self... only vacation in Minnesota... never live there...

What is a good source for scholarly articles on largemouth, crayfish, and vegetation? My wife is a professor so she might have access to her college's academic logins if that helps.