Crackintubes

Can be however much you make it. Bare minimum for a basic rod would be in the $200-$250 range I'd say. If you decided you want lots of aesthetic parts, like a good, aluminum trim, etc, it'll really start to skyrocket.

For sure, this was pic before I had it all torn down to the frame and cleaned. The main gear wasn't really too bad, I'd say just enough.

Hahahahaha! I'm gonna have to find one of those for my lunch pale

You can use a split shot if you want to sort of " dead stick" and just wait for the bite. Depending weight, it sort of "pegs" the chub in one spot, sort of like tying it too a leash. Obviously depending on weight and the length you leave between hook and sinker, it'll also adjust the depth the chub can swim around at. I have found it to be most effective when.fishing the current, as in, casting downstream and fishing the bait back upstream. I've had small mouth swim past my legs in the current and hammer it once they got past me. Also works great if you find a deep hole, and fishing the downstream side of the hole.

I have noticed this as well on the tatula line. I wouldn't call them rough or bad, opposite in fact, however, a good clean and oil seems to help. That said, I spin the handle once when they are new out of the box, and immediately take them apart and do a clean, oil, and grease job, so can't say I've seen effects long-term.

I tend to use weighted techniques more so in the areas I fish, but, that's due to fishing faster currents in the rivers and streams I fish. It also depends on bottom structure, if the bottom is all sharp rock, brush, heavy weeds etc..I'll employ the free swimming technique, so I am not hung up constantly. But, again, most of my waterways are sandy bottoms or small river stone. I dont necessarily think it is less effective, I just employ other tactics first. I'd say it's more just due to how I was taught by my father and grandfather than anything else. Old habits die hard they say. But, I have used them all effectively. Most important thing is to take all the information from everyone, and try it, adapt, and see what you like. You never know, you could figure out a whole new way to fish em that works flawlessly. There are countless of ways to fish em. I've hooked them through the mouth and "jerkbaited" them with small pops and twitches, threaded them onto underspins, etc etc. The fish will tell you what they're into

Thank you! Thanks!!

If fishing em for walleye, either a lindy rig or nose hooked on a jig. Dropshotting them also works effectively. For smallmouth in rivers and streams. I use either a light weighted lindy rig setup, because I normally always have one tied on one rod, but there are many ways. As stated before above, a "slip-rig" works well. A simpler set up would be a small slipshot, enough to keep the presentation stable in current, anywhere from 8"-24" in front of the eyelet of the hook. This varies on depth of water and where you want to have your chub swim in the column. I have found the shorter in length you go from the eyelet, you may have to help.add some action, and "pop" the line every once in awhile with the rod tip. A friend of mine uses a very simple setup, he simply tail or nose hooks a chub, free spools his reel, and let's the chub swim. I've seen this be very effective. If I recall correctly, it's very similair to "mooching" for salmon. You have to have very lively minnows for this though.

Hello! I'm from you're sister state up above the bridge Thanks!

I was not a huge fan of the tatula elite montgomery rod. Felt very very stiff in the tip.

Steez AGS 7'1 MhXF works well for this. Lots of custom blanks as well if you wanted to go that route. Edit: sorry I missed the budget part. In that price range, Daiwa kage 7'1 mxf or the 7'3 mh are great, as are a few other brands.

New metanium MGL skips well, as well as the older model, Bantam MGL does good, DC reels. Just have to fidget with the settings to find the reels sweet spot. Dc reels by far the easiest. Or, you can go the other route, and use little to no tension, and master use of the "thumb"

What is your budget? Numerous options, depending how high or low you wanna go

Sure am! Although, Gramps taught me the technique long before Mr Z

.303 Brit or 6.5 swede!

Mine was very dry as well. Lubed her up and she's good to go. Very nice reel, better than previous gen IMO Here are some pics of the inside Main removed, soaking/cleaning it.

New metanium MGL is no joke. Love it Used to use a curado 51e as well.

Not overcrowding and a nice aerator will help do the trick. A friend of mine used to run a bait shop, and was having problems with lots of minnows passing away in a short period of time, even though he had top notch coolers and water recirc setup. This may seem counterintuitive, and I don't know the science behind it, but he talked to a few old timers, and they recommended adding table salt to the tanks. He tried it, ( don't know how much he was using, or what the ratio is for salt/gallons of water), but, it exponentially increased the minnow life, and he had significantly less loss.

Thank you!

I have found in late season, deep cranks, from 10ft +, deeper jerkbaits, dropshot, jigging blade baits, and of course cracking tubes :), work extremely well. Cracking a marabou jig along the bottom also works well.

Chubs worm excellent for smallies, and walleye as well! As was stated in the thread before, be sure not to transfer from one body of water to the next.

Hello there, newbie to the forums from smallmouth country! Long time lurker, loved the information so decided I would join in on the fun!