Dan N

I’ve had a few failures with the Trilene knot lately, but I’m fairly certain it’s because of my failing eyesight 🤣 gotta start bringing the cheater glasses with me!

I only put on 100 yards at a time, I have the backing line set up so that’s all I need. It’s pretty cheap, so I respool the 100 yards of mono a couple times a season for sure.

I would suspect maybe you feeling the bite sooner, setting hook sooner, before the really inhale it. But I’ve also had frustrating days when some throw the jig. Sometimes I think they are just not as aggressive on the bite.

I do zero topwater. I don’t think it’s a great option. Occasionally, I realize it is . But not often where I fish

Check bass pro shops off shore rods, I’ve had many of there store brand rods and reels and thought they were solid and at good prices I would suggest going to baitcasting equipment, once you learn to use it, you won’t turn back, if you’re more comfortable with spinning, it will definitely work👍🏻

Square bill cranks Texas rig jigs ned rig if I had to pick one, I’d go 3/8 bitsy flip jig, craw trailer. Swims great , or bounce, drag bottom

Congrats to Cliff , first time winner, been around awhile, has to be an awesome feeling!!

So is it official? I can’t tune in live

I’ve never felt the need to use one. Not too many really big bass here in Wi. And I would think the Musky and pike would be an issue 🙄

Only 5 elite series wins in the entire top ten. Cool to see a possible first time winner

Recently decided to work on fishing the jig, both standard and swim jig, and am loving it. Soon as I caught a couple, my confidence went way up, can’t stop throwing them now!

It worked

This spring I purchased a 50$ Kastking reel, just to see what it’s like. I have far nicer reels. I will say it seems great, very smooth, casts great, drag not bad. However, I have no expectations of it lasting more than 1-2 seasons. I would say if your expectations are not too high, some can be just fine, just don’t expect them to last long. And if you can get some fishing done, on a budget, that’s great. And it matched the rod😂

I simply have more rods in my boat so I don’t have to retie everytime I wanna change baits. May have 1 spinning with drop shot 1 with wacky 1 with Ned for example. all the same setup basically.

I’ve never had an issue with a new baitcasting reel with a “sticky, chattering drag” you should not need to do anything on a new reel to make it work right

Northern pike is excellent eating! white flaky meat. Slimy? True full of bones? True but if you learn how to clean them, excellent table fare. also great pickled, then no worry about the bones

Tokyo rig

I keep an occasional bass, and would say they are fine eating. One of my local lakes just took the size limit off the bass, and 2 different locals that live on the lake asked me to keep them all. The lake is over populated . I kept a limit of 10-12” bass . I’m sure they will be excellent eating. I would not normally do this, but the lake is full of small bass.

Side note: if dealing with soft bottom, a Tokyo rig is a great option over a Texas rig. I use it a lot.

I’d think a crankbait would be a solid option. I rarely fish really dirty water, but would think chartreuse or orange , bright fire tiger would be a good choice.

If you interested in having a custom rod made to your liking look into ALX rods. Great customer service, and the owner will work with you directly to get you what you want.

I have never disassembled and greased a new reel . I don’t understand why that would be needed… I would think if you tried sending it back now it would be an issue if they looked at it and could see it has been disassembled.

Bass getting relentlessly getting caught off beds. I know most get released, but it can’t be great being caught several times and constantly bothered. I’m talking bank fishing at my local channels. I’m sure this doesn’t happen everywhere, but in this particular area it’s constant pressure.

Nearest Bass pro shop or Cabelas

Wow, lots of stuff I’ve never carried🤣