softwateronly

Ha Ha!! I'm not always a fan of trekking out on the rocks, but that's the narrow breakwater entrance to the harbor full of current and deep water. Talked with the CFD the other day when their rookie rescue diver was putting in time, the older guy said he's seen schools of giants right at the mouth of the harbor. So for now, I'm gonna continue slo mo goating out there to get a chance. It certainly helps! April and May can get the big girls within reach. scott

Got some time walking the rocks on the big lake and got into a few fat clones. 1/4oz ball head and little ez in hammonds herring did the catching. scott

Without electronics, I'm always somewhere between randomly covering water and finding fish. Where I fish, I've spent a lot of time on, so I do have a pretty fine tuned understanding of the structure from maps, dragging, and time. I also watch the birds. scott

Love a swim jig this time of year. I always have a 1/2-3/4oz and a 1/4-5/16oz tied on. The heavier swim jig reeled at a medium pace with some reel chops hugs and bangs into the bottom and comes off the breaks right in their face and they often chase and smash it. If they seem to be feeding up, I'll put some more time into the lighter jig. scott

You certainly could w/ a light drag, but that rod/line set up seems more appropriate for a regular swimjig. It comes in 1/4oz, you could just trim out some skirt and then lean on them a bit more if they are in heavier cover. I throw the finesse on a M w/ 11lb armilo. Gambler little EZ and EZ and largo shads are my current favorite trailers for lighter swimjigs. scott

Used at ALF for less than an expride. Great rod, might be my fave. scott

Ordered mine from ALF last fall, got it late in the winter. Really glad I picked it up. It's like a giant jerk bait if you want it to be, can dance in place practically, nice to sit over the break/cover and twitch it. A couple slurps, but most have been tagged. Hardware is really nice. scott

First 5lb+ of the year. Shallow mud flat on a cold and rainy afternoon. The spro chad shad is getting mauled. Love the ability to twitch hard without it blowing out, drives them crazy. scott

**how hard should I be pulling on the leader down as I tighten down each wrap?** The wraps need to be correct more than tight. I think too much emphasis on tight has the leader getting kinked. I'm not sure what method you're using to tie the fg, but I like to give the leader a tug against the wraps after the first 6 wraps, next 4, and final 6. This has helped me from having wraps that double back on themselves and help set me up to have a clean effective join by keeping the wraps all aligned. I've gone down to PE .8 to 8lb shooter flouro without issue. scott

Jackall rhythm wave and gambler EZ vibez would be the options I'd add to a spark shad, easy shiner, and Miyagi. scott

I’ve gone the other way over the last few years. So who knows, maybe I’ll revert back. I just enjoy dragging and swimming jigs too much right now. scott

I have a champ 735 and sometimes frog with it. Open water/light slop frogging is definitely in the wheelhouse. Soft tip with a powerful backbone is how I would characterize the rod, definitely feels like a Heavy/XFast to me. Haven't been able to fish a 736. The general internet consensus that I recall was the 736 was best in thick slop and 735 in open to moderate slop. scott

Took me awhile to get some time on the water, and was finally able to get my first smallie of the year. scott

My favorite by far; Nishine Erie Darter 115SD/MD hologram smelt The MB oneten series, rerange, pointers, world diver, stunna, and the duel hardcore minnow make up the rest. Jerk bait fishing is a blast and I definitely seem to find success with the more expensive baits, but the nishine could be my only one. scott

No, it has a very unique to me action. Soft enough for trebles but there's some real power in there for single hook too. It's the only rod from the p5 series that I've handled, so I don't know how it compares within the line, but a powerful, sensitive, regular action rod feels like it can do most everything. scott

I throw regular magdrafts and bullshads on the expride 7'7H, MB Tequila Bacarac, and will throw it on my new 2 piece travel rod, major craft days 702X. I haven't really gotten a chance yet to give it an honest review, but it feels great and is very affordable. I prefer the expride 7'3 or 7'6XH for the freestyle. The MB TB is very good as well but prefer the longer rods. scott

Neither of these are pitching jigs, but I both cast and pitch them and they are my favorite 1/4oz finesse jigs. They have great hooks for M-MH, 8-16lb line, come through light weeds/rocks well, and get bit. DHT punisher jig and Tight rope firework finesse jig. I tend to stick with a beaver style bait, cut down to size or a small chunk. scott

The 7.5” is over 3 oz. I don’t think it’s a good idea for a ML. scott

Haven't used livetarget baits, but savage gear has similarly priced swimbaits that have caught for me. The 6" is light enough for a heavy jig rod, but the 8" definitely needs a swimbait set up. scott

Orion black rose for me, seems like a good weight/power match up. But in reality, what’s your favorite baits to throw? That should be where your most expensive rig goes. scott

Sounds like you can’t really hunt or fish the way you like now. If the docs say it’s time and the rest of your life is lined up, it’s probably better to do it sooner rather than later. I’m not speaking from personal experience but my friends and relatives that have been down this road have all said I should have done it sooner. I’m gonna do my best to take their advice when it’s my time. Best of luck to speedy recovery. The fish will be there. scott

I have both reels and don’t think one is better than the other for what you’re doing. So if you wanna stick with diawa, zillion hd is perfect. If you wanna try shimano you’re matching up nicely. I think the bantam is still significantly cheaper too. The regular zillion and the bantam at these jdm prices are almost impossible to beat. scott

This might not apply to algae or triple tag ends, but counterintuitively a longer tag has held less weeds than a short, stout tag end for me. scott

6’11 M+ poison adrena w/ 30lb braid to 16lb floro. From 3/16-1.25oz both single hook and trebles I’d feel comfortable enough. Doesn’t hurt that I also caught my biggest bass on this set up. scott

Also kicks butt in clear water. 2.8 keitech or 3” spark shad will catch anything, bass, pike, crappie, perch, bluegill. scott