PotatoLake

Excellent news. I just got a new rod, and decided I was going to seal it, and then decided why not tackle a few more if I can clean them up and use U40 on them as well. Thanks!

Hey all I'm bumping the post back to the future. Quick question, if you have rods that are used and cleaned with a Magic Eraser, can you still apply u40 or is it too late? As in, U40 is for new rods only.

Love my Furys when they’re all in one piece. Be careful with them. They’re fragile.

Ozark bass dig orange. Also when I fish in Minnesota/Canada for pike, if had a good deal of luck with an orange and black buzz bait. But yeah, mid-column on a spoon is wild. I like the perch theory, if that’s their forage. I think orange spinnerbaits are a thing for muddy water…

Really? I saw this as Strike King seeing Rapala sell a ton of OG Slims and saying, “We need us one of those.” Didn’t think it deserved to win the Icast award. Will it catch fish? I have no doubts.

Dude, if you’re a pond guy, get yourself a gill colored swim jig,(I like 6th Sense) with an XZone swammer in the 309 color. Money. It’s my skunk repellent.

I get all that. I simply think it’s lame.

I was absolutely intrigued by all the new JDM stuff that TW talked about today. There is some far out stuff coming out from over there. Like the dancing bone doctor, the heavy poop stick bait, the flip gill, and I learned about a new technique called hover strolling. One bad thing I’ve noticed this year, it seems like there’s even more stealing ideas from company to company.

I am super happy with the discussion on this topic, and I appreciate everyone's input. Selfishly I was weighing options on a new stick after breaking an old rod that I used for ned rigs. I finally decided on the 6'10" SC Victory MLXF. I think what @Bluebasser86 and @fishwizzard said about using light rods and light lures, just giving a quick reel set with those thin wired hooks is more my style of fishing. I think if I throw a heavier jighead with a trd, etc in deeper water, I have a M/MF rod that I would probably use. Again, good stuff everyone, that's why I love this site. Everyone trying to help some random dude catch more fish.

Just curious what your preference is when throwing a Ned rig? I’ve never owned an XF, just wondering if it suits Ned rig fishing.

Stick a ned style trailer on those. It gets bit.

Rebel Pop-R P71, Megabass Popmax , and Devils Horse in Yellow/Black.

I've had good luck throwing them with a trd or x-zone's ned zone. Really nice hooks.

If you're a P-Line fluoro guy, Academy has various line sizes 50% off right now.

You beat me to it. It works quite well.

Next week. I hear it's supposed to rain off and on the whole time.

Awesome, I have a couple of original minnows/husky jerks and such and for sure have a stash of finesse worms. Thanks for the tips gentlemen. Frothing at the mouth to get at em.

Yeah, I thought for sure 8lb had to by hyperbole by the tourism website. I'd be happy with having some fish consistently tug on my boy's lines, and for me to get a few descent ones. I was thinking of throwing Plopper 75s, Paddle tails / grubs on a jighead, tubes. Trying to stay away from anything too snaggy, but I'll also probably have a hula grub on a football head jig in case they won't chase. Do you have any suggestions or favorite lures for the area?

I have and they do indeed have a good catch rate for me. They have a really loud pronounced chug noise. They’re built super sturdy, and they’re bigger than normal pop-rs. I like them quite a bit.

Thank you for the reply. I’ve somehow got my family to agree to a day on Fontana, and a river float so I’m grinning ear to ear. I suppose a day of river smallies of any size are better than a day at work. Hey I’d love to just have a couple shots at a hoss.

Has anyone done any fishing on the Tuckasegee or the Little Tennessee Rivers for Smallmouth? I've read descent things about both. The guides take their clients to the Little Tenn apparently, but I read this quote about the Tuck on the county site dedicated to fishing information. "The river is home to the biggest smallmouth bass in the Smoky Mountain region, most averaging 16-20 inches with some going upwards of 8 pounds!" I very dubious of that being reality, but it peaks my interest. So that being said, has anyone done any fishing in this area that could say either of these or even somewhere close that's the best bet? Would you trust where the guides go over a blurb on the tourism site? My brain says trust guides, but a 16-20 average...

Does a rod that covers all of the mentioned applications exist or would you split that up between 2 rods? I theoretically want to be able to throw like a Zoom Ol Monster or Berkeley Power worm TR with a 3/8 oz weight all the way up to Punching with a 1.25 oz weight. And everything in-between. I’d take suggestions in all price ranges. As always TIA.

Hey, I have that p71 pop-r. It’s been catching them. Loud chugging noise.

Anyone notice a lack of 4th of July sales? Or at least a lack of anything enticing?

Well @A-Jay It’s not quite a Homer Simpson lure...